Travel to Bangkok and Singapore in Late September

Lshakman on 25/02/2020 - 09:07

Hello All,

First Time Forum Poster Here, please be gentle.

I am taking my kids in Late September to Singapore for 1 night and Bangkok for 4 nights.

I am very concerned with the Coronavirus, and in particular, that we are going to Singapore on the way to Bangkok for a night and on the way home I have points tickets to fly Cathay Pacific back to Australia via Hong Kong.

I need help in that I can change the return flight via Hong Kong to a flight via Kuala Lumpur, but I am now unsure whether I should try to change the Singapore stopover as well or try to cancel the whole trip..

Any help or advice would be great

Travel Asia Bangkok Singapore Thailand

Comments

  • brendanm on 25/02/2020 - 09:12
    +7

    shakes magic 8 ball

  • GG57 on 25/02/2020 - 09:12
    +3

    It is your decision.
    If it were me, and the travel was not specifically necessary, I would change my plans and holiday somewhere that I felt less at risk.

  • Ryanek on 25/02/2020 - 09:13

    What's the difference between Hong Kong and Singapore though?

    • shakman on 25/02/2020 - 09:31

      Both locations have higher cases of Coronavirus in Asia.

      • Caped Baldy on 25/02/2020 - 09:39

        *reported cases

        Indonesia has next to none as they've only tested a few hundred people..

  • Ocker on 25/02/2020 - 09:23
    +4

    September is 7 months way - anything and everything could happen by then

  • Halo375 on 25/02/2020 - 09:42

    I reckon it will be resolved or more controls in place by then. Check your travel policy to see when you can change flights and hotels if you need to change. Important to not panic about coronavirus (unless you’re over 60 and with existing health conditions then you’re at much higher risk).

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 25/02/2020 - 10:39
    +3

    If you are very concerned then just cancel. Go on a road trip around Australia and 'support' those communites that have been affected by bushfires, flood, recession, drought, unemployment, sickness, illness, tragedy and so on.

    Otherwise, go explore the world - that includes Australia - and live life on your own terms. "One day you'll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember" thanks Avicii !!

    I will be in Thailand in 9 days time, and then back again in April. If I catch anything I will let you ALL KNOW and quarantine myself behind a keyboard.

  • thatonethere on 25/02/2020 - 10:43

    I've got the same issue - travel booked to Japan in September.

    There won't be a vaccine by then so either the whole place will be a shit show or they will have some kind of containment.

  • iampoor on 25/02/2020 - 10:48
    +1

    I wouldn't worry about it.

    I was recently in Singapore and Bangkok - the level of hysteria is amazing.

    Death stares from a cough, being questioned as to why you need paracetamol when you are purchasing it.

    Thermometers, hand sanitiser and masks were all sold out, with lots of people wearing masks.

    Singapore has 90 cases as of today with a population of 5.8M so 0.0016% of the population is infected.

    Bangkok has 35 cases as of 17 Feb with a population of 8.2M so 0.0004% of the population is infected.

    What are the chances of you or your family catching it?

    • TheMindsetTraveller on 25/02/2020 - 10:54

      @iampoor and you are absolutely spot on - the fear is out of this world.

      Can you believe 28,000 people die in China each and every day?

      On a global scale, around 125,000 people die each day.

      Since "coronavirus" started two months ago, 2,000 died within China and only 15 people have died outside of China.

      I'll keep a thorough watch out when I cross the streets later, more chance of getting hit by a car than this virus.

      • brih on 25/02/2020 - 11:19
        +2

        Your numbers are a bit out of date. Check here for the latest, updated daily: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2…
        2595 deaths in China and 23 outside.

        There has definitely been an alarmist reaction though. I was supposed to be on a business trip to Tokyo next month and would be perfectly comfortable travelling there, however the local organisers have cancelled the event.

        I'd be reconsidering travel in the next month or two to Korea, Italy and Iran. Not because I think the risk of catching the virus is too high, but because things will simply be more logistically challenging (a bit like protests in Paris or Hong Kong).

        For OP, I'd have no concern about travelling in September and would not change my plans. Just keep an eye on the situation in the meantime.

        • shakman on 25/02/2020 - 11:29

          Thank you for your thoughts, a very balanced view

        • TheMindsetTraveller on 25/02/2020 - 11:29

          Thanks for the numbers update;

          In the 8 minutes since you replied, around the world around 700 people died.

          Give it another 24 minutes, and more people will have died around the world (from other causes - naturally, cancers, starvation, violence, accidents etc) than the entire amount of coronavirus deaths in two months.

    • DingoBilly on 25/02/2020 - 13:56

      You'd then consider the death rate is about 3% from the virus.

      So you have a 0.0016% chance of obtaining it, and a 0.000048% chance of actually dying.

      For comparison, you are actually more likely to die in your car on the way to work (0.000054% - https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/car-a…), so if you're cancelling your plans out of fear for the virus you should also not be driving a car.

  • H E B on 25/02/2020 - 12:22
    +1

    Why not try to determine if you can actually cancel or change the booking without excess fees first?

    • shakman on 25/02/2020 - 16:13

      Thank you, I have been trying to find that information out today from the various providers.

      The points tickets can be refunded (less a small points loss) and then was a Jetstar Fare, that I will more than likely lose on.

      I am also messaging the accommodation, to see if they can be cancelled or moved to another date.

      • H E B on 25/02/2020 - 17:48

        Don't forget to also get in touch with your travel insurers (if any) to explore your options too!

        I know a lot of the major airlines are being understanding with the recent impacts, especially those transiting in Hong Kong being so close to the mainland with respect to flight changes and waiving rebooking fees.

        A lot of the major hotel chains, particularly in Hongkong and nearby Taiwan, Japan, Korea are also being very understanding too.

        Ultimately it's your choice but anywhere asia this stage seems a bit higher risk to me, particularly if you end up needing to be quarantined that would be a hassle!

  • BOGOF on 25/02/2020 - 13:03
    +1

    Statistically you have more chance of catching and dying from influenza in Australia than Covid in Singapore or Bangkok. Over 250 people died from flu in Australia in 2019.

    http://www9.health.gov.au/cda/source/cda-index.cfm

  • GG57 on 25/02/2020 - 14:01
    +2

    The problem with this analysis is that we don't actually know how bad (or not) this is, and what the situation will be in 7 months time.

    OP should ensure they are fully informed on the latest information as time passes, and make up their own mind; I'm pretty sure there are limited experts (i.e. fortune tellers) on here that can provide anything but a guess (even with the best of intentions).
    Recent travel experiences are fine, but the situation seems to change quickly.
    Travelling alone is different to travelling with children.

    As H E B has said above, review your travel booking to ascertain if you can reduce the financial risk, if you do need to cancel or reschedule.

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