Travel

[Alter Ego]

@VaBelle35   Although I have no plans to go, I do think it's interesting to hear about what they are doing though because I have been there and everyone has their own idea of what the casinos are like.

I don't really understand how you're describing the temperature check, but I guess they may be like some of the checks that I've seen at foreign airports.  I wonder if this would give a more accurate temp given how hot it is outside (and how cold the air is in.). Has anyone read anything about this?

I did see one photo.  Guess masks are not required and, other than the employees, I didn't notice anyone wearing one.  However, photos can be deceiving and one can't really go by that.  I admit I didn't even hear of the casino they were in - May have been downtown or a small one off Strip.  Haha.

I've always heard that the big casinos blow in fresh air or oxygen or something.  Maybe an old wives' tale.  But, I guess I assume they have better than most ventilation systems and maybe that helps.  I also hope that, because it's so hot outside, that the virus will have a harder time surviving and spreading.

Fingers crossed all goes well.  Things need to open and people just need to be smart about what they do.

Wonder how the odds are? 😊

[VaBelle35]

@Alter Ego   

This is the 11 page opening plan for Live Casinos.

https://www.livecasinohotel.com/sites/default/files/Live_Casino_Hotel_Clean_Commitment.pdf 

Thermal Screeners.

Contactless thermal cameras will be installed at all guest entry points and will scan guests for body temperatures above 100.4°F. If an arriving guest records a body temperature over 100.4°F, they will be escorted to a private area and asked to undergo a secondary noncontact temperature screening. If they refuse the secondary screening, or if the secondary temperature screening does indicate the presence of an elevated temperature, the Security Department Team Member will wait 30
seconds and conduct a second temperature check. If the second
temperature check indicates a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above, the visitor will be denied entry.

Denial of Entry - If a visitor indicates an elevated temperature, the Security Department Team Member will politely deny them access to the facility and suggest they seek further evaluation by a medical professional.

Air Filter and HVAC Cleaning

The frequency of air filter replacement and HVAC system cleaning has been increased and fresh air exchange will be maximized.

[Alter Ego]

I’ve been seeing quite a few articles lately regarding countries requiring a negative Covid19 test taken up to 72 hours before travel. It looks like you would also be tested again upon landing (not sure to what extent; each country is likely different.) One country (Sri Lanka, but maybe more) will require additional testing during your trip (after 5 days and again after 10.)

Someone just posted this story about Cambodia on Instagram. I realize this may not be on anyone’s radar, but it may be indicative of what to expect as countries begin to open again. They are apparently the first country to require a travel deposit (copied from article on C-MW NET (which I haven’t heard of, but is also on other sites)

***

Any foreigner planning on entering Cambodia from 11 June will be required to pay a US$3,000 deposit as well as other fees relating to coronavirus testing.

Cambodian Finance Minister, Aun Pornmoinroth, announced the decision following a request by the Ministry of Health to charge foreigners for all Covid-19-related expenses. The new requirements are in addition to the rules that require foreigners intending to travel to Cambodia to possess a health certificate issued less than 72-hours prior to departure stating the traveller is free of coronavirus, in addition to having a minimum of $50,000 health insurance.

The Cambodian government has previously born the costs of screening arriving passengers and the medical treatment for those who test positive after arriving from abroad.

All arrivals to Cambodia, whether locals or foreigners, must currently go to waiting centres and undergo a Covid-19 test. They must stay there until the results are clear, usually around 24 hours.

Foreigners must now pay for all expenses, including US$5 for the transport between the border and a waiting centre, $100 for the coronavirus test, $30 for a day at the centre, and $30 for meals.

To ensure all foreign arrivals pay the fees, $3,000 will be collected from visitors with the charges deducted from the deposit before it is returned.

Anyone testing positive for Covid-19, everyone on their flight will need to undergo 14 days of quarantine, with foreigners required to pay $84 per day for the duration.

Foreigners testing positive for Covid-19 have to pay $225 per day for hospital treatment. The Health Ministry added that a charge of $1,500 will be levied for cremation services in the event of death.

***

What strikes me is the comment that, if anyone on the plane tests positive, you need to quarantine for 14 days. Wow.
Historically, I think Asia was considered a cheaper travel destination, so maybe this deposit will keep some people away.

I think we’ll see more and more countries require the negative Covid test (and states - Alaska is). Not sure where we’re supposed to get them! Thinking these “deposits” will just be for poorer countries who can’t afford to treat foreigners. At any rate, travel will not be fun for the next few years. I’m already assuming I will be moving my January trip - I just don’t want to think about that yet. Will be very sad when I have to do that.

[chprsp]

Wow! I'm glad we took what trips we could over the past 10 years and delayed remodeling the house. We were hoping to take a trip back to Ireland or Scotland in the next 2 years but who knows if we'll be able to do so.

[Alter Ego]

@chprsp  So much of Europe isn't ready to open to foreigners, so I haven't really seen any requirements yet, with one exception.  Iceland is opening - not to Americans - and will be doing testing at the airport.  I think I read that you need to stay in your hotel until you get the results.  It's a waiting game - things will probably be different in a year and then different again in two.  Sigh.  

[VaBelle35]

Some airlines ban alcohol to prevent spread of COVID-19
Delta, American Airlines, Easyjet, KLM, and Virgin Australia have suspended either all or parts of their drink service as a way to reduce interactions and "touch points" between crew and passengers.

CNN International

[Alter Ego]

Yay!! I had one nonrefundable room for my trip to France in July and I just heard back from the hotel. Cancelled with no charge. Not even a credit; just a full cancel. Have rescheduled my trip until next year, when I will be able to spend a few extra days. Should be an all around better trip.


(I usually never choose nonrefundable, but Avignon usually has a month long festival the same time I was going and all rooms available were nonrefundable.)

[Alter Ego]

THESE ARE ACTUAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY "THOMAS COOK VACATIONS" FROM DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS:
1. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."
2. "They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax."
3. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."
4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."
5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."
6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow."
7. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallartato close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be banned."
8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."
9. "Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers."
10. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."
11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."
12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."
13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."
14. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the resort.' We're trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service."
15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."
16. "We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning."
17. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."
18. "I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes."
19. "My fiancée and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

[NantaOf3]

Wow, these are unbelievable but sadly true. Pretty scary that there are actually people like that. I’ve heard some pretty similar stories from tour guides over the years. I know a woman who went to Poland and when her camera broke, she complained that the girl in the camera shop didn’t speak English.

[Alter Ego]

That's 13.625 days; basically my entire vacation time. Not something I would ever do, but I wonder how many people have?