strange situation
 

We have an odd situation going on.

As some might recall, as you were all very helpful - we are a family traveling on June 28 from Southern California to Paris - then onto South Africa, then to Rome prior to coming back to the US.

The primary reason, duration of our stay is in South Africa. We are going over to work with homes that have children who are orphans.

My daughters are 13 and 10. My 10 year old is a normal healthy child - very active et - She has come up with a strange virus over the last month or so. They have done lab work and she had Mono - but now they are concerned she also has Hep A. ??? We are in the process of having tests done - and should know by Monday or Tuesday.

Aside from the the obvious concern for her health, we are very concerned about our upcoming trip.

There is no way she would be in the orphanges and working with children with already compromised immune systems (most are HIV positive) -

Hep A seems to last several weeks - and I have no idea what her status will be at the date of our current travel...

We have a ton of money and yes, no trip insurance ... :::sigh::: apartment in Rome, hotels in Paris, tours et -

If she is not contagious and safe to travel to Europe - (I would not take her if she was still contagious of course) I have tickets to Paris - and back from Rome - and booked in Paris from June 28 - July 1 and then Rome from July 9-13 -

What would you book inbetween??? I am looking for suggests if that is what is comes down to a plan C so to speak.

Plan A is she is healthy and able to go (I am VERY nervous about taking her into Africa right now)

Plan B is stay home and eat the money

Plan C is go to Europe and book something inbetween.

If you have made it this far, thank you in advance for any suggestions!
Dawn

Hep A can be very mild in children, but you need to rely on your doctor's advice as to whether it is advisable for her to travel (as I'm sure you are).

Assuming that it's too late/impossible to cancel the flights and Rome/Paris bookings, I would wait and see how she does. You could start researching someplace in between to go for plan C (maybe Switzerland?) that would be restful and not too strenuous. But don't make any reservations for accomodations yet---you can wait a couple of weeks, until you are sure she will be OK to travel.

I think Africa is out of the question for now---the long flight would be too exhausting and stressful for her after this illness.

Nora -
Thank you so much for your response. I agree that Africa is simply out of the question. Hope my husband can see the reasoning.

Could he go to Africa while you stay in France with the girls? Are there other people that you know going to work in Africa as well?

dawn,

I agree that Africa is out of the question. I recently received an e-mail from Air France, and there are some good fares within Europe. You might want to check that. Go to their "within France" site, www.airfrance.fr.

dawn- This is a great example for your girls of how to make lemonade when life gives you lemons. What about getting their input on where they might like to go, then have an online race to find an apartment that is still open?

Hi Dawn,

Check with the airlines regarding cancelling your SA visit due to illness.

You might get a credit.

>Paris from June 28 - July 1 and then Rome from July 9-13.

Actually, this illness might not be as bad as it appears.

Instead of 3 nights in Paris, you now have at least a week.

Then fly www.myair.com from Paris ORY to Venice, and train to Rome on the 9th.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Hi Ira,
Always nice to "see" you!

I will check into what you suggested.

Blueswimmer,

Good suggestion. I know my 13 year old is going to be very upset - as the highlight of the trip for her was going to the orphanges - she has a sweet heart and did a whole report on AIDS.

Nora - I think I might try to limit the airtravel - and spend more time in Italy - or France..? Rather then heading to Switzerland - but thank you again for the replies. No, my dh will not go onto Africa without us - I am actually the person who wanted to go and arranged it with Acre of Love (they have a nice website for anyone interested in seeing where we were going). I met the founders several years ago - they live local (by me) and we have become friends and stayed in touch via fundraising et.
Toupary - thank you for the link. Our airfare to S.A. and back to Paris then Rome is with AirFrance. I will look into what their policies are - they are very pricey tickets.

Thanks everyone! I will keep you posted and if it turns to this - I am sure I will be BEGGING for housing suggestions as I am a BIG planner (have to be when traveling with a larger party imo)...

It still might not be too late to get trip insurance. Check with www.insuremytrip.com.

Actually, what I meant was to stop in Switzerland on your way by train from Paris to Rome---thus further limiting your air travel (or eliminating intra-Europe air travel alltogether).

Paris to Bern by TGV is 5 hours. The Alps are another hour or so beyond.

But adding extra time in Paris is a fine idea too. My daughters (that age) loved Paris.

regarding the trip insurance - everything I read indicated that trips canceled due to illness needed to be booked no less then 14 days after you pay/book...? I will research again.

I can't imagine that you could buy trip insurance now that would cover this problem.

However, it is worth talking to Air France about credit for the SA tickets toward a later trip---I have done this when illness forced a change in trip plans, with a note from my doctor. The airline was SAS, and they were very accomodating. I did not have trip insurance for that.

I hope Air France can be flexible about this for you.

I doubt very much if you can get trip insurance that will cover you for a circumstance that is already known to you.

It would certainly not be possible in Ireland or the UK, and I think the same broad principles would apply in the US.

Trip insurance covers unexpected illnesses. Some plans cover "pre-existing conditions" if purchased within a specific amount of time after your first booking/deposit. You have to read all the fine print, particularly regarding "exclusions".

On all the comments regarding trip insurance - that is what I thougth I had read as well - I have no intentions of trying to "scam" the insurance company - I actually abhor this type of thing and so does my dh.
In the future I will most likely purchase trip insurance esp. with the high cost of this trip and when traveling with children it seems many things can come up.

One of my many concerns is the health care in Jo'burg. I do not feel like it is a good idea to chance that

Nora - that might be a great idea - I did not realize it was on the route/way!

Having lived in Jo'burg, I can say that health care there is as good as anywhere, at least when we were there. However,the consensus is to not take your daughter there anyway and I agree with that.

Don't know how you feel about splitting the family for the African visit, but you and your younger daughter could spend the time in Paris while your older daughter and husband travel to Africa. All meeting up in Rome as originally planned.

Good luck and best wishes with what ever you decide to do.

Regarding the splitting up the family..if all else fails maybe dh could stay with the younger child and you could go on to Africa with your other daughter, since you did the original arranging. I can see where you have many things to consider to arrive at a solution that will suit everyone. Is there only your family in your group for the Africa portion. I know some of these trips involve a several people and often a doctor is in the group. Just a thought.

historytraveler - that is good to know. I guess all the reading I have done is for lower income/clinics perhaps? (regarding the health care) I apologize if my comment was offensive in anyway.

I talked to my dh about him going down to Africa with out dd and I - taking our older dd - and he is thinking about it.

Goingconcern - it is actually just our family - we are meeting up with the founders and traveling with them in country. My dh suggested what you did - (when I suggested what historytraveler did LOL) and I just feel weird about him caring for our 10 year old - I would be worried sick. I know, I know..silly - he is perfectly capable.