50% Reduction...When Pigs Fly!

what it's going to be horrible for is the travel industry. we were planning on going to Turkey this summer, but the visa process is a bitch and i would need to purchase tickets now for our late June trip (have to have the tickets to get the visa). no way am i going to purchase tickets now. although compared to a pandemic, my travel plans don't mean much.

falcogold1, swine flew, who knew?

falco, you may be onto something:

http://www.oftwominds.com/blogapr09/swine-flu04-09.html

My advice is to go buy a large stock of big floppy hats.

aboutready, you can get a visa to enter Turkey at the customs when you arrive at the airport. Don't bother wasting your time here at the consulate. There may be a short line, but it is a quick process.

bsdetector, really? well, that would change things. but still, i think travelling last minute might offer great rewards this year, and it would be easier elsewhere. assuming europe hasn't banned the evil american, i've got to wonder what those rental properties in the South of France will go for this year. Turkey's pretty cheap generally (other than to get there of course).

14 hours in a tin can with no fresh air. Breathing God knows what what from 400 of your new best friends. Whew we, sign me up!

patient09, hilarious. we actually fly to london and overnight there before moving on in Europe. much more civilized than taking a night flight. (more expensive too, but you can't put a price on not flying for 14 hours in a tin can).

Turkey is fabulous! You should go there. It's really spectacular. The sights are ancient and the food is wonderful. If you're brave enough - go. And don't worry about the visa. It's a breeze at the airport.

I'm brave enough, i'm just travelling with two kids. The question is whether we go this year or next. I've avoided the south of france the last couple of years because it became so expensive and so hard to rent a house/apartment. Turkey has become far more touristed, but is still very cheap to those of us used to getting killed in the US and particularly the last couple of years London.

Are you planning to stay in Istanbul or somewhere inland or on the coast?

is this bothering Falco? sidelinesitter pointed out that i can tend to go off-topic. anyway, one week in istanbul, one week in the Bodrum area, and one week in the Kalkan area.

hmmm... someone posting about swine flu impacting real estate... now we switch to traveling to turkey. This diversion thing apparently is working!

aboutready - hope you make it to Turkey. It's a gorgeous country with much to see/do/eat. your itinerary of Istanbul, Bodrum, Kalkan sounds fantastic. my family keeps a summer house there and we get back every chance I get. don't rule out the direct JFK/IST flight. it is 9.5 hours to Istanbul and if you get the tickets far enough in advance, you can usually get the bulkhead seats (use a good agent like ATC Anadolu in NYC, they have an in with the airline).

Aboutready, have you tried vrbo.com? I've had pretty good luck with that. It was featured in the NYTimes a couple of years ago, and you can often get apartments for less than the cost of a hotel stay, plus you can cook to save money. Turkey sounds fabulous. I hope you get to go.

what is the overreaction to swine flu? It is not like SARS -- there are antiviral drugs....

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll go either this year or next.

Falco, sorry, bringing it back for you. Angry Bear posts the disseenting view, swine flu vis-a-vis the economy is not a big to do.

http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/04/disconnet-of-my-economy-with-money.html

manhattanfox, i think it's because the death rate appears quite high initially in Mexico. and there is a question of whether there is enough of the drugs for a pandemic.

Sorry,
Had to run to the Pharm. to convsrt all cash into Tamaflu as a hedge against inflation.

convert

What are you going to do when the Tamaflu bubble pops? LOL

By the way, which company makes Tamaflu? I'm seriously consdiering buying stocks in them. If there is another 1918 style plague, I will be filthy rich (assuming I'm alive)

Agree about Turkey, I love it Never been to Bodrum, but looks beautiful. I'm feeling paranoid about travel, too. Supposed to go to France in July & planes are germ incubators. Hope the pandemic ends by July, cuz it's killin' my travel plans.

It seems the problem with swine flu is that it's too early to know how bad it will get. I feel sorry for beautiful Mexico 'cause you know this is KILLING tourism (and a number of ciudadanos). I saw the author of a book on staying healthy on airplanes speak on TV & he says to wash your hands often & don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth (mucus membranes) with your hands. He says that he travels with alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer. Bon voyage! ;)

Turkey visa:

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/BorderFormalities/

And I agree: at least Istanbul is beautiful. Beggars, but if you've ever been to Latin America or the gypsies in Spain, you'll know how to deal with them.

Thanks for the link Steve. I was in Manila and Macao in the mid-80s. I'm good.

Agree drdrd re: no touching & alcohol hand sani, but, what about breathing? The air is circulated.

Aboutready: we're renting in the S. of France this summer. There are millions of places for rent! And they are all very negotiable. One tip is to look on UK websites, as opposed to vrbo.com

nyc10023, that's why i'm tempted to do France this year and Turkey next. The pickings must seem so much better in France than the past couple of years. I agree on the websites, i like holiday-lettings, i think it's .co.uk.

dwell, the breathing issue is tough. summertime is not prime viral transmission season. hopefully this will have all died down by then.