ConvenienceBigs,
Today I want to talk about the Coronavirus.
Festivals, conferences, flights, and events are being canceled. Hotels are empty. Companies are telling employees to work from home. Italy just closed all its schools today!
I'm not a doctor (and I've never played on TV, though I did grow up with doctors and nurses in my family) but a lot of people are asking if they should cancel their travel plans so here are my thoughts:
With 93,000 cases around the world, those infected represent a tiny fraction of the global population. And, while the Coronavirus has a higher mortality rate than the "regular" flu, it doesn't transmit as easily. (And given how mild the cases are in most people, the mortality rate is probably a lot lower than official statistics. I mean the U.S. has only tested 500 people for it so there could be a lot of people who have it but aren't counted.)
And those dying tend to be people who are more susceptible to illness. In my opinion, unless you already have a compromised immune system, I don't think you should cancel your travel plans. I know the media is painting a grim picture of things but that's what they get paid to do. They play into fear, our most powerful emotion. At the same time, governments are enacting draconian measures because if they don't, they'll get blamed for the consequences and voted out. No politician wants that.
Instead of giving into fear, listen to the experts. They aren't telling you these are the ends times. They are telling you to be cautious and practice good hygiene: wash your hands regularly with soap, use hand sanitizer when you can't, use disinfectant wipes on public surfaces (especially airplanes), and avoid sick people.
And, if you are sick, STAY HOME!!!!
But a lot of the fear and worry comes from the unknowns and uncoordinated government responses. When I was in Taiwan, people washed their hands, the government was transparent, there were temperature monitors everywhere, and people were pro-active about getting tested. Everyone was working together.
As such, there was less fear and panic there. People were cautious but no one was panicking.
This is not the Plague.
And I know most of you aren't concerned about getting sick. You're concerned about getting stuck or quarantined.
This is a very valid concern. The situation is super fluid and the poor coordination among governments isn't easing anyone's anxiety.
But it's a big world out there and you can always pick a destination that isn't a current hotspot like Italy or South Korea.
Book your trip and buy travel insurance. You can find policies on Insure My Trip that are "cancel for any reason" but, while most policies specifically exclude coronavirus, they will still cover you if your hotel or airline cancels, the government declares an emergency, or something else interrupts your trip.
Remember: you're unlikely to get sick. And, if something does happen with your plans, then travel insurance will have you covered.
If you're worried about being stuck, find a "low risk" destination. Italy or South Korea might have flights canceled but plenty of other places will not. Shift your travels but don't completely cancel them.
Go out and enjoy the world. Be cautious. Be clean. Get insurance. Monitor the situation.
But don't panic.
TravelCon Update
TravelCon 2020 is only two months away in New Orleans! We'll have 60 incredible speakers and 40 travel brands and destinations there to meet and partner with YOU! We're also offering in-depth writing and photography workshops as well as 19 free FAM trips all around New Orleans.
If you're thinking of joining the travel industry (or are part of the industry already and want to level up your skills), come attend this event and learn how to grow your audience, reach #1 on Google, network, pitch editors, make money, and so, so, so much more!
As a member of this email list, you can get $75 off your ticket with the code 75off.
Click here to see our speakers, schedule, participating brands, and secure your spot today!
Community Events & Updates
1. Want to meet other travelers in real life? This year we launched The Nomadic Network to help travelers connect, learn, and get inspired in real life! Our next three events are NYC (3/10), Portland (3/19), and Juneau (3/24).
2. Planning a trip to Europe? Take Walks organizes walking tours, day trips, and food tours in a dozen cities around Europe — and they gave us an exclusive discount! Just use the code WALKSPARTNER10 to get 10% all their tours.
3. If you want to learn how to get free flights and accommodation this year, check out my free primer on travel hacking! It will show you how to collect points and miles and avoid paying for hotels or flights when you travel.
4. Thinking of starting a blog? We created a free PDF that will walk you through all the steps of setting one up. Just click here to get it sent to your inbox (along with some other tips on blogging)!
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As always, if you have any questions or need advice, tips, or guidance, send me an e-mail! I'm happy to help.
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- Be sure to check out our destination guidebooks and get your copy today!
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