Beaches at JW Marriott sit vacant due to swine flu scare
I wrote Tuesday about some commonsense precautions you should take concerning the swine flu that has been gaining momentum over the last week to 10 days.
There have been some new developments that have many thinking about changing their travel plans. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of H1N1 influenza ("swine flu)." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 27 issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time.
The complete CDC notice can be found at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/.
The CDC's notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizen residing in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico. The report provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of H1N1 influenza.
Please check this site frequently for updates. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert dated April 27, 2009 and provides updated information on closings of schools and commercial venues in Mexico and U.S. consular operations throughout Mexico. This Travel Alert will be reviewed and updated as necessary, and is valid until further notice.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities.
If you had a trip to Mexico in the works before, you are most likely reevaluating your trip. You will need to check with either the Supplier or your Travel Agent you have booked with to see what the current policies are regardless of what was quoted at the time of booking. Many of the leading suppliers we work with have already offered alternatives for clients and I can assure you that both agents and suppliers are well aware of this situation and taking appropriate action.
Carnival for example decided to cancel all calls at Mexican ports for all current sailings and all voyages departing on Thursday, April 30th through Monday, May 4th. In many cases, Carnival will be able to substitute the cancelled call with an alternative port. Additionally, they are working on alternatives for those itineraries impacted by this decision. Once final details are confirmed for these itinerary changes, they will send out an automated message listing the impacted bookings for each affected voyage.
In the unlikely event that the new itinerary options are not to a clients liking, they will give clients the opportunity to reschedule their cruise at a later date. Those details will be available when you call your Agent or Supplier.
InterContinental Hotels Group who own Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and Candlewood Suites among others, said in a statement. "Currently, requests for waivers of cancellation fees for guests' reservations in the U.S. and Canada will be considered on a case-by-case basis." Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood and Wyndham Hotel Group also are among the hotel companies that have waived cancellation fees in some cases due to the increase in warnings and advisories issueed.
Tour opperators such as Pleasant Holidays, Certified Vacations and Gogo Worldwide Vacations can also be added to the list that have waived change and cancellation fees for travelers booked to Mexico. "Our call volume is very heavy," said Sallie Rawlings, senior director of corporate communications at Travel Impressions. "We now have our entire reservations staff available to answer calls coming in on the emergency line, but we still have a backup."
All is not lost when it comes to your vacation at this time, in many cases, it could simply be postponed without penalty. You do however need to check with your individual supplier or travel agent.
As always, any specific questions or concerns about flu or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional.
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