My April flight to Portugal was canceled.

I had some unrefundable hotel bookings.

Hotel in Sintra has said they will refund my money. Hotels in Lisbon, one offered me a credit for a year. I'm sure they're facing a cash crunch.

Nothing booked but earlier this year we were contemplating going to Iceland on maybe July or August. Maybe experience the midnight sun, explore more places than before as many more roads are opened as we learned through this read. But now it just doesn't sound feasible at all. Hope we get some semblance of "normal" soon but it would probably be unwise to book trips anytime this year.

kapia, I have a trip booked to Paris and Edinburgh in December. Who knows...I booked it in March on Delta so if I have to cancel, they'll waive the change fees. I always book hotels that can be cancelled, so the only issue would be more disappointment.

We do have a res for Beijing in September and I'm not feeling the love right now!

Nothing most of us probably don't know:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/sho...n-or-fall-trip

Coronavirus is such a disaster. Better to stay at home and be healthy.

I was lucky
 

I was lucky enough to visit Punta Cana just before this madness. I came back to visit my parents in Bulgaria on 2nd of March and I am simply held here. That works fine for me, but yeah...travel plans cancelled for the moment...

lizzyfields, your parents are probably very happy that you're there with them! Stay healthy!

Where in Bulgaria, Lizzyfields?

The DD of a friend of mine is married to a bulgarian who was working for an NGO in Tallin, Estonia, and when his contract ended about a month ago, they decided to go back to Sofia, where they are now. They had to fly via Warsaw and given that they had both toddler and cat in tow it must have been quite a trip.

I hope all is well with you there.

My mom and I had been planning a trip to France through my old school for two years. It has always been my mom's dream to go to France, so after she finished cancer treatment and the opportunity arose, we jumped on it. The trip was postponed to June 2021, but we don't want to wait that long considering we've already been stretching ourselves thin to make the payments and JUST paid it off and we aren't sure what state her health is going to be in. Luckily we get back most of our money, however it sucks that we don't get a full refund since the trip is impossible to go on currently. Hopefully the borders will open up at some point so that we can take the money we saved up to do our own trip.

Nice, France
 

I've been listening to Rick Steve's podcasts. They appear to be old content, because most of the interviews don't acknowledge the pandemic. There's a prerecorded bit, that we will get back to normal and travel again.


He's canceled tours for the rest of the year but is keeping everyone on the payroll. His book sales are down 90%.

I read yesterday that Iceland is considering opening as of June 15 to visitors outside the Schengen zone, with restrictions. I think Austria is doing the same thing. Testing is definitely the key. It will be interesting to see how it goes!

Las Vegas
 

Hello,
I just read the article that asks :
Can Las Vegas survive a pandemic. or something on those line.

I vacation in Las Vegas 4-5 times a year.
I love every amenity that LV has to offer.
But if not opening because of no free drinks,
no smoking , no dancing, and simplify put the hustle and bustle of day to evening routine,,, then make guidelines that you can control.

No glass ,use plastic. Hence , no recycling of drink vessels.
No smoking in any commercial property. Hence, the rest of the US has no smoking in bars and or restaurants, so what's the big deal.

limit the persons that go into dance club. If you charge a cover charge you might be saying, that you are responsible for what happens in the establishment.

Hence, free will, but still have amount of people limited.

I do believe people that are responsible for their own safety will abide. and then those who don't Well!

Do not open buffets. Having had restaurants in the years I always was Skeptical about the sneeze shield, therefore, I have no problem not eating in a buffet.

Restaurants would have to go with state rules and these new rules concerning placement of tables

I know some if not most of this sounds ignorant, but, we are the best country in the world and this pandemic is not in any way are way of life.

I do however, like having my groceries delivered to my home. I think it is something I will continue this service in future. In our area grocery stores open between 6 am and 8 am for seniors. I am a senior, very active, and have made these changesBut I do not like getting up early in the morning to go to grocery store, Hence, home delivery. Which I see 2 fold, great convenience and employs delivery persons. Shopping on line and curb pick up is also a great alternative.

I want the US to go back to its' (New Normal)... The land of the free. Sounds corny to any one under 40.
But, this is another point: there are some age groups of people that have never known any thing like what is happening. So this has to twice as hard on them. Not knowing the real problem here. That states and the authority are doing their best.
The younger might think this is not right , that its a control thing. So they will and maybe are doing what they have done all the lone. I remember thinking that I was invincible.
I use good sense when I travel to Vegas.
I use Las Vegas as my muse. I design one of a kind clothing and LV has the best of the best couture designers in our world.
So, I spend days looking into stores. Peoples watching, dining in great restaurants,I am a singer so I take advantage of any karaoke venues, Now I have to think about taking disinfectant wipes for the microphone, and I am ok with that.

Regards,
If not helpful maybe you were amused by my rambling on and on.

Pamela Thomsen

Amazingly great first post.

Thanks so much AJ
Its nice to know someone has read it.

Thank you for your thoughts and insights Pamela, and welcome to fodors.

Still waiting.
 

After canceling our much needed trip to Maui this last April we are still waiting for travel to be a little safer and have less restrictions. I really hope when travel restrictions and quarantine rules loosen it wont cost me a million dollars to fly.

UPDATE:
https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/2562261/

WE are tying home this year.

The usual beach trip isn’t so important.

Dave, that is an amazing graph, thanks.

I don't have the energy right now to look at the methodology. The causes shown account for about 7% of annual deaths, so big ones aren't shown (heart disease, cancer, for example). Which is perfectly ok,

gmoney, are you ok? No posts for awhle.