With many countries imposing travel bans, many travellers’ dreams of a luxurious tropical island escape with just you and your partner are fading into dust. But just because you can’t travel now doesn’t mean you’ll never get the opportunity again – Fiji will still be there when these trying times pass, as will your Fijian travel adventure.

So what should you do now?

Decide now

Even the most reticent governments now admit – we’re in this for the long haul. If you’ve booked travel within the next six months, act now to cancel or change your bookings and travel plans. If you’re booked to travel after September, look carefully at what experts, governments and your own workplace are saying about the length of work from home periods and travel restrictions. Be sure to err on the side of caution and think carefully about the reason for your travel before deciding whether traveling in 2020 is really something you want to commit to.

Change bookings and buy gift cards

The travel industry has been hit hard by this pandemic, and many businesses are struggling to stay afloat. If you’ve booked accommodation, snorkelling or hiking tours, visits to local villages, or crafting or cooking classes, contact your travel agent or the business directly and see if you can alter your booking rather than cancelling it. Smaller businesses are especially hard hit, so if it’s within your budget, avoid asking for deposit refunds, or even ask if you can pay upfront or purchase a gift card to redeem when you finally get there. Even a little bit can help businesses in the travel industry stay afloat, and ensure you’ll still get to visit them when this is all over.

Check your insurance

If you’ve been looking forward to traveling for a while and booked your Fijian travel adventure back in 2019, your travel insurance may cover any flights, accommodation, and other bookings that you can’t get refunds for – including flight change fees and other administrative fees associated with changing or cancelling your holiday. Check your product description, read your provider’s website, or call your travel agent or insurance provider to see what you can claim.

These strange times have hit us all hard, but it’s not all self-isolation and sadness. When coronavirus passes and the travel bans are lifted, Fiji will still be there, waiting to welcome you with open arms and a friendly ‘Bula!’