Coronavirus: What Our Contributors Think of the Outbreak

Italy suspends Venices world famous carnival amid Coronavirus crisis
Italy suspends Venice's world famous carnival amid Coronavirus crisis | © Graziano Quaglia / Alamy Stock Photo
Culture Trip

Culture Trip writers across the globe share their experience of how COVID-19 has affected their lives and the cities they live in.

Culture Trip asked some of our hundreds of contributors across the globe to share the atmosphere they’ve observed in their cities since the coronavirus outbreaks hit the media. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Culture Trip.

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Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Rebecca Hughes, 27, journalist, Venice, Italy

The number of those infected will continue to rise, but reports from Venice are painting an overdramatic image of a city devoid of people – a ghost town. In reality, locals are treating the situation with typical dry Venetian humour. At aperitivo hour, the bars are full, and whenever coronavirus crops up in conversation, the general joke that a spritz is the best prevention and cure. Beneath the jocularity, there is an undercurrent of fear – but not of the virus. Tourists numbers have plummeted since the outbreak began, leaving local business owners wondering if they’ll have enough to pay the rent this month.

Kate Phelan, 31, writer, Wexford, Ireland

The Republic of Ireland has only one confirmed case so far, but there’s a definite sense of unease about what’s coming. That case is a couple of counties away in Dublin, where my husband works – he and his colleagues have been told to prepare to work from home if the city goes into isolation, and most of Google’s thousands of Dublin staff will stay home today after one of them reported flu-like symptoms. Culturally, the St Patrick’s Day Festival will be the biggest casualty if the situation worsens. A five-day, cross-city event in a fortnight’s time, its parade typically draws a crowd of half a million people. Its fate is due to be decided later this week.

Mel Moore, 42, travel writer, Iceland

Iceland has been bombarded with cyclones, avalanches, floods and earthquakes this year, so the coronavirus is just another thing to add to the list. We tend to laugh it off with our favourite saying: “Þetta Reddast” – it will all work out okay. But we are a close-knit community, so we know it will spread easily and fast. The risk to our small Icelandic population was considered potentially devastating.

There are around 300 residents quarantined at the moment but locals are frustrated that there are no restrictions on tourists. With nine confirmed cases and the fact that everybody knows everybody here, it’s just a waiting game until we all know someone who has caught it. The biggest concern is that there are not enough medical facilities to cope if many people get sick.

Noa Weisberg, 24, university student, Tel Aviv

The Ministry of Health ordered residents who are returning from specific countries to self-isolated in their homes for 7 to 14 days. This announcement took many travellers by surprise, and families in Israel opted to cancel upcoming holidays. Like them, my family has decided to cancel a long-awaited ski trip to Austria.

On Monday, it was Election Day, our third in the course of a single year. There were separate polling stations made from plastic sheeting for those under isolation, a situation I don’t recall happening before. I hope that Purim, a traditional Jewish holiday that includes big festivities and parties, will take place as usual next week.

Luke Waltham, 21, university student, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Coronavirus has not yet reached South Africa, but the fear of it has. The medical faculty at my university is trying to provide facts to counteract hysteria. But my academic tour to Greece may be affected by the outbreak as flights are already being cancelled to certain countries in Europe and Asia. The virus caused so much panic that face masks sold out at big pharmacy companies in South Africa. It all makes me feel very anxious because South Africa is already dealing with illnesses such as TB and HIV.

Taylor Branco, 30, a content strategist, Hong Kong

My husband and I live with our cat and dog in the city’s shopping district, Causeway Bay. On any normal day you will find it hard to walk down the street without bumping into at least a dozen people. But ever since mid-January and the surge of coronavirus in mainland China, Causeway Bay and Hong Kong itself have been left almost deserted. Not only are mainlanders not traveling to Hong Kong to shop, but Hongkongers are not leaving their houses. I didn’t leave my house for nearly three weeks. My office closed for the entire month of February, only to resume work this week with staggered office hours to avoid too many people coming in all at once.

Every morning, without fail, there is a line outside every single pharmacy in the Causeway Bay area that wraps around the block – twice in some instances – full of people waiting to purchase masks.

Eunseo Song, 25, officer worker, Seoul, South Korea

People on the streets are wearing masks as if it’s a scene from a doomsday movie, and heads turn aggressively away when someone coughs on the metro. I had planned a month-long trip to Guam in March, which has now fallen through, but nothing compares to my friend whose wedding has shrunk in size from 120 guests to only immediate family members.

Caitlin Ghegan, 29, adjunct professor and writer, Boston, Massachusetts

My students are emailing me saying “I think I’ve got coronavirus”. It’s probably a bad cold. It’s possibly a fib. In any case, my attendance sheet is full of O’s, and there has been one confirmed case at the university.

Boston is full of hospitals and medical miracle-workers; in spite of it and because of it, we feel anxious. Passengers on the train clutch tubes of hand sanitiser. Yesterday, my mom texted me from the suburbs to say her local pharmacy has run out of ibuprofen.

Last month, our mayor proposed to rally customers to Chinatown, calling on neighbours to grab pastries or boba tea there. But the restaurants stay empty, and the streets are quiet.

Débora Anunciação, 22, journalist, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Curiously, the first confirmation of the virus here was announced on Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the end of the revelry of Carnival.

With this news came the panic. Lots of misinformation has been shared on social media, and my job as a journalist has become even more important. But you can sense the fear. A couple of days ago, for example, one woman was left behind by her Uber driver because she was wearing a mask, and she missed a medical appointment for her heart condition.

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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