hobbitthefoodlover

I won't that take risk.

Just hoping that the ashes do not blow down to Mexico in June 2010.

tuscanlifeedit

US Airways PHL > FCO took off at 6:09 PM.

Mahya2

Just thinking, when Mt St Helens went off, our weather was affected, up in Northeast, for that year - guess everyone's was...but St Helens did keep on and on and on.....even though it's Europe so far because of the direction of the winds/jet stream...there's nothing to say the winds wont change direction..

I'm thinking our weather is going to be cooler because of the ash clouds filtering sun .... so far the winds are pushing the ash clouds to the East...Europe towards Russia/Ukaine...

then I'm thinking the ice is falling into the Atlantic...hopefully it'sll cool off the waters so we dont have much hurricanes in Florida...that would be nice.

lyb

Please let us know what the hotel says. I'm curious to see if they are made of stone or have a heart and some logic.

And frankly if they refuse to be lenient with their policy, I say blast their name everywhere. I'm usually very understanding of hotels' cancellation policy, but this falls into a totally different game.

AnaBelen

We are scheduled to leave a week from today and have already passed the cancellation deadline for most of our hotels. No trip insurance unfortunately. Losing the money would be a drag, but honestly I just want our Italian vacation, damn it. Our plan is to get on the April 24 flight from Atlanta to Rome if it is still flying and hope that we can get back home from Venice as planned by May 7. Stupid volcano.

hobbitthefoodlover

AnaBelen--I was looking over pictures of my Europe trip in 2009 and am struck on how beautiful Italy (Rome, Venice, Tuscany, etc.) can be.

I definitely understand your statement "honestly I just want our Italian vacation, damn it."

Hope all works out for Fodor travelers!

wanderful

I appreciate the advice many of you have given. I e-mailed my Venice hotel to see if they might be modifying their cancellation policy in light of the extraordinary circumstances. No word yet. I've mulled it over and might cancel there before Monday night (the 19th), which would mean I would incur no penalty at all. It seems logical that there might be last-minute alternative lodgings that I might be able to secure in Venice if I lose my original pick, but I have the feeling that this trip, finally, is not in the cards.

sheri_lp

I'm sure that the hotels are aware they will lose some business due to the ash - but if they don't want to work with you, definitely cancel. Something tells me there will be a room for you somewhere.

bxl4373

wanderful, I also feel that our trip to Italy in 13 days is not in the cards as well.I think we may see what Sept-Oct brings.Good luck.

Mahya2

all 12 flights from Miami to Europe canceled today.

Many flights also leave from Atlanta but I haven't checked there.

Usually Air France - Delta - KlM involvede.

sarge56

I'm in a worse bind than you, wanderful. Our flight from JFK to Rome is scheduled to depart this Tuesday afternoon, April 20th.

I also have inquired of our two apartment agents (one VRBO, one SleepInItaly) as to what the consequences will be if the Rome airport is closed before we can get off the ground. I am fairly sure that if the Rome airport is closed, it is not going to re-open for several days. We will not be able to take our trip if our flight doesn't leave within a day of the original schedule. We would have to re-schedule for the fall.

I won't be out a terrible amount of money, and maybe none at all, depending. If VRBO and SleepInItaly will "hold" my deposits and let me apply them to a later trip this year, I'm good with that.

Wanderful- you can probably still buy travel insurance with coverage for trip cancellation. You might recover some of your costs then, if the Rome airport is closed on the day of your scheduled departure.

I will have a serious crying jag if Rome is closed between now and our flight on Tuesday night.

sigh...

Good luck to everyone with a planned trip to Europe.

cruiseluv

This article talks about ins companies response to this event:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...2vRWQD9F4E7E00

Based on it, I don't think you can insure going forward for this particular event. It is now a "known event" and the insurance companies will not cover you for that.

cigalechanta

Another problem is the fodorites who have booked apartments, may not be able to have the complete week or two if travel is impossible for a few days.

flygirl

Even in canceling there may be a decent chance your own room is still waiting for you.

travelfan1

I'm scheduled to depart for Rome on Thursday night, coming home May 8...USAir told me their flight to Rome today is still on. I don't even want to think about cancelling and we don't have flexibility to move the trip back. This is terrible.........

wanderful

I dropped my Venice hotel with the onerous cancellation policy ( a five-night charge if I cancel 14 days or fewer before the date of check-in) and got a reservation at a hotel that has only a one-night penalty. (For those who might be interested, the former hotel is the Locanda Orseolo, the latter the Hotel Flora.)

Foolishly, perhaps, I'm still holding out hope that I will get to Italy as scheduled on May 2. (I travel solo. My wife, who abhors air travel, is watching my antics over the past 24 hours with a mixture of bewilderment and consternation. She continues to offer useful advice and has only hinted at having me certified.)

CarolA

Well, I just flew out of ATL...

The planes are here and waiting I saw a LOT of big old wide body jets over by international and around the tarmac... just waiting

lyb

CarolA,

Where did you fly to?

sarge56

Rome is closed. I am going to go and sob now for an hour or two...

lincasanova

we stayed at hotel flora on my one and only visit to venice. it was very atmospheric.

I hope you are ALL able to make your trips if not now, in the near future.

My sympathy to all the Icelanders out of their homes right now.