Given Europe's ash-filled skies, would you take the gamble I'm about to?
 

I'm scheduled to leave for Rome on Sunday, May 2. The skies over Europe may clear by then and permit air travel. Or there could be recurring volcanic eruptions, and air travel could continue to be severely disrupted. The one thing that is certain is that my two hotels, one in Rome and the other in Venice, have strict cancellation policies. Without going into all the details, I calculate that I will lose approximately $2,200 if I don't cancel my hotel reservations by Monday, the 19th. I'm not going to cancel. Would you?

Why cancel?

Just change your reservations to hotels with more liberal cancellation policies. There are plenty of hotels in Italy which will allow you to cancel 24 or 48 hours before arrival.

Yes, I would cancel. I might not cancel the trip, but I'd gamble on being able to find some accommodation of some sort at the last minute, particularly as people's travel plans are likely to be disrupted.

Or, like sssteve said - just get hotels with better cancellation policies.

Ash may hover for days over uncertain Europe

AP – A passnger rests on a camp bed in a terminal at Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt, central …

By SYLVIA HUI and ANGELA CHARLTON, Associated Press Writer Sylvia Hui And Angela Charlton, Associated Press Writer – 12 mins ago April 17 3 pm

"Activity in the volcano at the heart of this increased early Saturday, and showed no sign of abating.

"There doesn't seem to be an end in sight," Icelandic geologist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told The Associated Press on Saturday. "The activity has been quite vigorous overnight, causing the eruption column to grow."

PARIS – The Icelandic volcano that has kept much of Europe land-bound is far from finished spitting out its grit, and offered up new mini-eruptions Saturday that raise concerns about longer-term damage to world air travel and trade.

Facing days to come under the volcano's unpredictable, ashy plume, Europeans are looking at temporary airport layoffs and getting creative with flight patterns to try to weather this extraordinary event.

Modern Europe has never seen such a travel disruption. Air space across a swath from Britain to Ukraine was closed and set to stay that way until Sunday or Monday in some countries, affecting airports from New Zealand to San Francisco. Millions of passengers have had plans foiled or delayed.



Scientists say that because the volcano is situated below a glacial ice cap, the magma is being cooled quickly, causing explosions and plumes of grit that can be catastrophic to plane engines, depending on prevailing winds.

What flights do you have? Non-stops from US (NYC) to Rome have are flying today as scheduled. The effects seems to be greater for northern Europe.

Still, I'd follow the advice to change your hotel cancellation terms, just in case.....

Are you flying out of Venice? One thing I would do is try to change my return to fly out of Rome, even if there is a cancelation fee involved. And ditto to what the others about getting other hotels.

Rome flights could end up with a problem also I would think, but hopefully not.

Wanderful, I agree with others, I personally would cancel the hotel rooms in Italy. But since you say you are not going to it sounds like you can afford to gamble with the $2,200.00.

Malpensa airport outside of Milan is closed down but I haven't read anything about the San Marco Venice airport.

The Venice airport is closed as well. I know of people that couldn't embark on a cruise today due to that.

If your hotels hold you to the reservation when you can't get there because of this situation, frankly, they don't deserve your business. This would not be your fault, though hopefully, by May 2nd, everything will be fine, or otherwise, it will be an even bigger mess and an even more huge financial lost for so many in the tourism industry.

The volcano could have stopped by then, the wind could have changed direction, or we could be up Ash Creek without a paddle. Who can say?
Can you afford to lose that amount of money? If yes then take the gamble, of no change hotels.

If it goes on that long airlines will be seriously suffering and more than a few could fall because of it. Not only European carriers either.

The direct Delta flight from atlanta to fiumincino was cancelled today.

Peace, Greenie

Cancel hotels and re-book where you can cancel up until day of, even if it costs more
Always use a reputable credit card company who will be your advocate if you run into problems.
My husband is stuck in Geneva after a 2 week business trip, trains and cards all booked, Geneva now closed so his re-booking via Madrid is useless. He has a the company behind him, so he is now throwing a big sum at a local cab driver to drive him to Marseille from where a family member can drive him to Barcelona, from where he might get a train to Madrid, from where his plan for DFW may leave....I want you to really think this through, this is enormously stressful, he is there for business and has great financial resources at his disposition, just be prepared mentally and financially before you set out...good luck, we hope DH will be back sometim this week, who knows?

Agree with the advice to book properties with more liberal cancellation policies. Chances are, you'd be able to rebook your original reservation once you know more.

You could also contact those hotels and ask (get it in writing) whether they are willing to modify their cancellation policies under the circumstances...

Latest tv news,

people are stuck in airports, running out of money for hotels, being told they will not be flying for another 7 days, and the airlines wont even give them their luggage, food, hotels, or any help.

I sure wouldnt be getting on a plane to Europe now.

Airlines won't give up the luggage? Seriously? Wow.

I'd cancel the hotels. I was about to reserve the Silberhorn in Wengen just about the same time as the volcano. Luckily I asked their cancellation policies. 30 days out is free, after that - you pay for THREE nights. I'll take my chances. There will be lodging to be had.

Don't you think you should at least email the hotels and ask them how they will handle it? I'm hearing various reports of cruises, the airlines, etc. being pretty gracious about the situation. Give the hotels a chance to alter the cancellation policies in light of this very unusual situation. A polite email saying that you want to keep the reservation but are aware you might not make it I suspect would be welcomed instead of just canceling and having to find a different property.

I would contact the hotel and see if they are willing to "deal" with you considering the circumstances.

If not, I would proably consider rebooking someplace else.

I actually have tought about "back up" plans for my late May vacation and the only "non cancellables" are a round trip Paris Dijon (bought PREM so very cheap) and a ticket to an exhibition. Probably out less then $150 if I have to cancel. (Air if FF miles and I get a few free "redepoisits" a year, hotel is frequent stay rewards, no penalty)

We are due to arrive in Rome on May 2. I just checked our B&B cancelation policy and we would have to give 15 days notice or pay for one night. Cancel 3 days before arrival and lose 100%. I just emailed them to see if any adjustments will be made if necessary. We purchased trip insurance but I don't believe acts of god are covered.

Just read that the last time this volcano erupted it lasted over one year. If it were me, I would cancel the reservations. There will be a lot of rooms to chose from if the ash keeps falling over Europe.