Maybe We'll Get To Portugal After All!
#61
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I've contacted and been contacted by a few of the hotels we have reservations at in Portugal. They all told me to keep in touch and keep track of what's happening, so I'm not giving up quite yet. Nobody knows what's going to happen three weeks from now, much less three months. I'm now living the motto, "Patience Grasshopper."
#62
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I've contacted and been contacted by a few of the hotels we have reservations at in Portugal. They all told me to keep in touch and keep track of what's happening, so I'm not giving up quite yet. Nobody knows what's going to happen three weeks from now, much less three months. I'm now living the motto, "Patience Grasshopper."
#63
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#69
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Looks safer in Portugal than here in the U.S.
#72
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"We are also comforted by the idea that Portugal is a modern country in the EU with modern hospital facilities if ever needed."
I am wondering what insurance you have (or can get) that will cover you if you get Covid-19 while there?
As I said above, I am probably cancelling my late summer/fall trip this year because I do think there is a larger risk of getting sick due to traveling (airport, flight, public transportation, and the realities of what you do when a tourist - not the infection rates of the specific region/country being visited) and if I got sick far from home, in a country whose language I am not fluent in, with questionable insurance coverage - that just seems too risky. Not to mention that even though they have modern hospital facilities those facilities are primarily or their own residents. Not that they wouldn't care for a tourist who got sick, but is that fair to their own people?
I've been traveling to Europe almost twice a year for the past two decades. I literally cry when I think of not going at all this year. But I just can't rationalize it. I would love to hear people's reasons for planning to go, other than just "I want to so I think it will be OK"
I am wondering what insurance you have (or can get) that will cover you if you get Covid-19 while there?
As I said above, I am probably cancelling my late summer/fall trip this year because I do think there is a larger risk of getting sick due to traveling (airport, flight, public transportation, and the realities of what you do when a tourist - not the infection rates of the specific region/country being visited) and if I got sick far from home, in a country whose language I am not fluent in, with questionable insurance coverage - that just seems too risky. Not to mention that even though they have modern hospital facilities those facilities are primarily or their own residents. Not that they wouldn't care for a tourist who got sick, but is that fair to their own people?
I've been traveling to Europe almost twice a year for the past two decades. I literally cry when I think of not going at all this year. But I just can't rationalize it. I would love to hear people's reasons for planning to go, other than just "I want to so I think it will be OK"
#73
Join Date: Jan 2003
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I would echo isabel's sentiments completely.
Do you have insurance that would cover you if you're stricken by COVID-19 while in Portugal?
Are you also comforted by the fact that if you're hospitalized there with the virus you'll be taking up space and requiring medical care that might be more rationally and legitimately used for a Portuguese national?
Do you have insurance that would cover you if you're stricken by COVID-19 while in Portugal?
Are you also comforted by the fact that if you're hospitalized there with the virus you'll be taking up space and requiring medical care that might be more rationally and legitimately used for a Portuguese national?
#74
I won't travel internationally without medical and medical evacuation insurance. This is from the "Get a Quote" page from the company I usually use:
"This plan does not cover a claim in any way caused by or resulting from: 1) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); 2) Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 3) Any mutation or variation of SARS-CoV-2; or 4) Any fear or threat of 1, 2, or 3."
"This plan does not cover a claim in any way caused by or resulting from: 1) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); 2) Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 3) Any mutation or variation of SARS-CoV-2; or 4) Any fear or threat of 1, 2, or 3."
#75
maitaitom, I loved Portugal and would go back as we never made it to Porto. Beautiful country and very nice people, great food and cheap good wine! What more can a person ask?
We have expensive tour tickets, our first ever tour to Israel and Jordan in October and I think we may need to cancel and rebook for a later date... hate to do it as i have business class coming home and have never done that overseas before. Was looking forward to that perk almost more than the trip itself..
We have expensive tour tickets, our first ever tour to Israel and Jordan in October and I think we may need to cancel and rebook for a later date... hate to do it as i have business class coming home and have never done that overseas before. Was looking forward to that perk almost more than the trip itself..
#76
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Our drone footage/Zen meditation/relaxation TV channel has been including some Douro footage as of late. It seems tempting to consider a trip, but not at the risk of serious consequence. One gets the impression that the Portuguese Tourism Board has paid for the dreamy ambient music that accompanies the footage, in order to beckon us all siren-like, "Oh fair listener, just come....get away from it all....beaches? Why yes, we have the Algarve....Wine? Of course. Bucacao Monastery's vintage is worth crossing an ocean for.... Music and History...The Alfama, the trams, the surfing... yes you can....don't worry....you only live once...'brigado."
One imagines those subliminal messages as part of the promotion.
I am done. The fado.
One imagines those subliminal messages as part of the promotion.
I am done. The fado.
#77
maitaitom, I have read of all your medical problems so I assume you are at high risk. Portugal will be there next year. Your Fodorite friends want you to be safe!! Postpone and rebook. We loved Portugal.
#78
If you're considering going to Portugal you'd best know if you will be allowed entry. Among those who are authorized to enter the national territory by air are:
- Nationals of a member state of the EU
- To passengers of the Portuguese-speaking countries, from South Africa, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom under the transitional arrangement and Venezuela, as long as the principle of reciprocity is ensured in those countries to the Portuguese citizens;
- To third-country nationals (i.e. countries outside the EU) holding a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by the national authorities;
https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/covid-19...-ba44aa0a-04fc
This map is updated daily with number of cases. Each dot is a Concelho (like a County). Click on a dot for it's statistics.
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/ponto-d...l-em-portugal/
- Nationals of a member state of the EU
- To passengers of the Portuguese-speaking countries, from South Africa, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom under the transitional arrangement and Venezuela, as long as the principle of reciprocity is ensured in those countries to the Portuguese citizens;
- To third-country nationals (i.e. countries outside the EU) holding a residence permit or a long-stay visa issued by the national authorities;
https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/covid-19...-ba44aa0a-04fc
This map is updated daily with number of cases. Each dot is a Concelho (like a County). Click on a dot for it's statistics.
https://covid19.min-saude.pt/ponto-d...l-em-portugal/
#79
So, if my understanding of “reciprocity” is correct, even if people want to travel, US citizens won’t be able to unless the ban on people traveling from Europe is removed. And that doesn’t seem to have happened as of yet, although there were some noises about it a few weeks ago.
And I’m not talking about the risk of traveling, just the possibility of being able to do so.
And I’m not talking about the risk of traveling, just the possibility of being able to do so.
#80
Join Date: Jan 2008
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In the meantime, maybe listen to Madredeus and also Dead Combo, two different musical styles that are the pride of Lisbon in the post Amalia Rodrigues era. Madredeus was until recently, a sort of pensive folk band with outstanding female vocals, while DC (thx to Bourdain for tip) are still a kind of noir, spaghetti-western, guitar instrumental duo.
It is my understanding that there are still Wanted posters throughout Portugal seeking our arrest---my buddy and I once drove a brand-new Fiat rental into the ground and then some, covering every inch of that country.
I am done. The end
It is my understanding that there are still Wanted posters throughout Portugal seeking our arrest---my buddy and I once drove a brand-new Fiat rental into the ground and then some, covering every inch of that country.
I am done. The end