Manila

[Red Kilt]

I'd seriously advise anyone thinking of booking for the Philippines in the next few months to wait and see what the decree is about visas.

At present I believe only PH passport holders and permanent residents (39 A visa holders and others) can enter the country once the restrictions are lifted on or after April 14.

I have a 39 A and a booking to return on April 17 and my travel agent asked for a scanned copy of my permanent ICR card to assure that I wouldn't be bumped off the April 17 flight.

Wait and see when BoI advises that visas-on-arrival (tourist visas) are again being issued.

For those getting the run-around with Agoda, Hotels.com has an option to get full refund on cancellation; part refund on cancellation or no refund. The prices correlate with the options so choose your own risk level.

[Sammon]

I am an Agoda VIP whatever that means. For some unknown reason I like to make all bookings hotel, airline, trips etc well in advance. Never had a problem before. Situations like what is happening now upends most plans.

Here on I will book hotels just a few days before going. There is not much difference in prices. Actually sometimes it goes down. I have tried using Agoda price matching guarantee with no clear progress. For my last trip I got refunds only after I called Agoda USA hotline. Initially they say it is already paid for and no refunds. I kept at it and sooner or later I found an sympathetic agent and she arranged my refund after put on hold for a long time. This trip one hotel in Bangkok absolutely refused refund. But I am complato Agoda and hopefully get some Agoda bucks to be used for next booking.

Airline bookings are easier under current situation to get a refund. Air Asia known for stiffing you gave me credit for funds to be used for next booking. Well, Air Asia is the cheapest airline anyway in terms of fares. It is always better to book air tickets six months in advance to get the best fares trans continental.

[SeaTraveler]

I just had my go-around with Agoda. On a prepaid, no refund, reservation at Shangri-La in Jakarta.

Here is how it worked for me:

1. I emailed Shangri-La first and they replied in a day that because of Corona they would honor a full refund, but I had to go thru Agoda for the refund.

2. I had 2 email exchanges and a phone call with Agoda. No result.

3. I received a 3rd email from Agoda asking for a copy of the Shangri-La refund email.

4. After sending a copy of the S-L email to Agoda, I got a full refund in less than 24 hours (has yet to post to my CC).

GOOD LUCK.

[Member #4698]

I'm speaking with Agoda now, but it seems they will try to contact the hotel and work with them on a refund. Should I still try to cancel the booking on the app now? Yours might have been a special case if you booked before a certain period, or your hotel is generous with the cancellations.

I would not outright cancel a pre-paid, no show, full penalty Agoda reservation. That is asking for trouble. Be patient and let the system work. Agoda is overloaded with cancellations, but once Agoda contacts your hotel, you will most likely receive a full refund. Anyway, that has been my experience with Corona and a Agoda Hotel full penalty reservation cancellation request.

Meanwhile, I have had much easier cancellations / refunds / point re-bookings with Expedia (easy & fast), Hyatt (seamless & perfect), Marriott (no problem but it took time), Intercontinental (still waiting for one of their expired vouchers to be extended so I can use it, but otherwise good), Scoot (great), and United (no complaints).

My absolute worst experience getting a Corona refund has been with Air Asia. After many tries I finally have 2 Air Asia reservations "in progress" towards receiving a full refund, but it was not easy and Air Asia tells me it may take up to 30 days before the refund hits my CC account. I have a 3rd Air Asia ticket that I wish refunded, but the flyer (guest) is one of my girls - Yangon Sally, and the Air Asia auto refund program kept malfunctioning on the final line of the refund process. So I finally gave up on getting a refund for that ticket after the umpteenth attempt and had to settle for a 365 day flight credit in my Air Asia account instead.

Thus my message to you is be patient, yet persistent with Agoda and I think you will eventually get your refund. But the moral of this story is do not forget who gives you trouble refunding and who is a breeze to work with when it comes time to make your next booking(s).

[Goferring]

I'm speaking with Agoda now, but it seems they will try to contact the hotel and work with them on a refund. Should I still try to cancel the booking on the app now? Yours might have been a special case if you booked before a certain period, or your hotel is generous with the cancellations.

Sorry, I misread your reply saying that you are already speaking direct to Agoda. I'd still have a look and see what their online cancellation page says, cancel with refund there if it's available, or continue to see if the reps can help you if it's not. Again, expect a wait as they will be receiving 1000's of similar requests.

Cheers. G.

[Goferring]

I'm speaking with Agoda now, but it seems they will try to contact the hotel and work with them on a refund. Should I still try to cancel the booking on the app now? Yours might have been a special case if you booked before a certain period, or your hotel is generous with the cancellations.

Go to the App's cancellation page and read it carefully BEFORE doing the final acceptance. As I said, mine had an instruction that all cancellations would be honoured and I received a full refund, even of supposedly non refundable, cut price bookings. If yours says the same thing then I'd have high confidence you will be the same. If you receive a message that your booking is non refundable then don't finalize the cancellation but talk / email Agoda's Customer reps. Remember that wait times could be quite long as they will be inundated with similar requests.

Good luck. G.

[ThomKatt]

I wouldn't expect you to have any problems when you deal direct with Agoda. When I wanted to cancel all my non refundable bookings with several hotels, I too contacted them direct. I received a universal 'speak to Agoda'. When I cancelled the bookings on the App there was a message saying that all cancellations will be honoured and I received a 100% refund inc taxes and fees.

Just go direct to Agoda (if you originally booked through them).

Cheers. G.

I'm speaking with Agoda now, but it seems they will try to contact the hotel and work with them on a refund. Should I still try to cancel the booking on the app now? Yours might have been a special case if you booked before a certain period, or your hotel is generous with the cancellations.

[GDreams]

I wouldn't look at Wuhan, the Chinese have lied through their teeth and still are. They disappear doctors who try to tell the world the truth. This is going to go on a lot longer than June or July. If you believe Wuhan is virus free I have some lightly used N95 masks to sell you....

With asymptomatic people spreading the disease, there is no waiting until the last known person is no longer infectious, because there will always be unknown infectious people. There will be some level of travel restrictions in place until they have a vaccine.

The virus is out there. All that can really be done is get prepared with the equipment, medicine and plan to deal with it, allow healthy people to return to their lives and support the at risk for a prolonged period. It is the same family as the common cold, if it were easy to develop a vaccine why do we still get colds?

[AggieDad1]

I wouldn't look at Wuhan, the Chinese have lied through their teeth and still are. They disappear doctors who try to tell the world the truth. This is going to go on a lot longer than June or July. If you believe Wuhan is virus free I have some lightly used N95 masks to sell you....

With asymptomatic people spreading the disease, there is no waiting until the last known person is no longer infectious, because there will always be unknown infectious people. There will be some level of travel restrictions in place until they have a vaccine.

Exactly. Even people who have had it and have recovered should be careful. No vaccine will give you immunity for the rest of your life and the same with recovering from a virus. You will have some immunity for a time, maybe. But no one can tell you how long before the immunity wears off.

[Charm City Dave]

Absent a cure using readily available existing drugs in some combination (a real long shot BTW) we should look to Wuhan to see how long a strict lock down takes to control the virus.

They were locked down 11 weeks. A leaky lock-down will take longer to eradicate the disease.

My wild ass guess is that some form of lock down travel restriction will extend until June or July. I have resigned myself to not making it home to Canada this year for my annual visit.

I wouldn't look at Wuhan, the Chinese have lied through their teeth and still are. They disappear doctors who try to tell the world the truth. This is going to go on a lot longer than June or July. If you believe Wuhan is virus free I have some lightly used N95 masks to sell you....

With asymptomatic people spreading the disease, there is no waiting until the last known person is no longer infectious, because there will always be unknown infectious people. There will be some level of travel restrictions in place until they have a vaccine.

[Kabul Guy]

I am no expert on contagion, but it seems to me a country, any country, will have to keep their quarantine / lockdown in effect until at least 14 days after the last known occurrence or risk a 2nd flare up or until a cure can be widely distributed. The Z pac is looking ever more promising in this respect. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) + Azithromycin.

Absent a cure using readily available existing drugs in some combination (a real long shot BTW) we should look to Wuhan to see how long a strict lock down takes to control the virus.

They were locked down 11 weeks. A leaky lock-down will take longer to eradicate the disease.

My wild ass guess is that some form of lock down travel restriction will extend until June or July. I have resigned myself to not making it home to Canada this year for my annual visit.

[Goferring]

I booked at the Oxford Makati Palace, I've emailed and even facebook messaged them, but no answer. I'll probably have to contact Agoda or my credit card to get the cancellation.

I wouldn't expect you to have any problems when you deal direct with Agoda. When I wanted to cancel all my non refundable bookings with several hotels, I too contacted them direct. I received a universal 'speak to Agoda'. When I cancelled the bookings on the App there was a message saying that all cancellations will be honoured and I received a 100% refund inc taxes and fees.

Just go direct to Agoda (if you originally booked through them).

Cheers. G.

[Wicked Roger]

I am already preparing for the extension. I don't think there is a chance in hell its lifted before April 30.

Seems some law makers think the same.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/125208...in-luzon-story

[Streetlooker]

I hope they do but actually I'm afraid Du30 will extend this enhanced quarantine at least for another 2 weeks till end of April.

I am already preparing for the extension. I don't think there is a chance in hell its lifted before April 30.

[Member #4698]

I am no expert on contagion, but it seems to me a country, any country, will have to keep their quarantine / lockdown in effect until at least 14 days after the last known occurrence or risk a 2nd flare up or until a cure can be widely distributed. The Z pac is looking ever more promising in this respect. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) + Azithromycin.