6 questions to help you decide if you should cancel your trip because of the coronavirus

Do you have any urgent plans immediately after your trip?

If you're planning to visit Thailand to relax before the biggest presentation of your career, I would probably cancel the trip. I personally feel blissed out blogging from Koh Lanta, but when my roommate decided against joining me, I also completely understood.

Companies like Apple and Amazon are restricting travel and having employees self-quarantine when returning from China and other countries. With new regions reporting hundreds of cases, it is likely that more countries could be added to quarantine lists.

President Trump has also hinted that he may consider new travel bans, which could make getting back into the US difficult — especially since some potential restrictions, like those targeting Mexico, do not seem tied to the number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Even if the US does not quarantine travelers, your work might. If you have an important work event or are serving as the maid of honor in your sister's wedding, it's probably a good idea to avoid traveling internationally where there are any coronavirus concerns.

Are you going on a cruise?

If so, cancel it. The CDC is encouraging travelers to reconsider all travel on cruise ships in Asia.

You're probably not going to catch coronavirus on a cruise ship in other parts of the world. However, after traveling in countries impacted by the coronavirus, I would still consider canceling your trip.

More than anything, coronavirus concerns have convinced me that being flexible is key to avoiding getting stuck in a bad situation. Iran and Italy both have reported hundreds of cases, making it clear that the coronavirus is not restricted to Asia.

Cruises remove your ability to make independent decisions, instead of locking you in an enclosed space with hundreds of other people. As seen in the Diamond Princess cruise, that is not somewhere you want to be when an epidemic breaks out.

Will you be able to unplug and enjoy yourself?

I think this is the most important question, and it's one you have to answer for yourself.

If the country you are visiting does not have a CDC warning, you are extremely unlikely to catch the coronavirus. But, if you're someone who is going to spend the entire trip worried about getting sick, you should probably cancel anyway.

Spending a week of vacation checking the news for coronavirus updates and freaking out every time new cases are reported isn't the relaxing, enjoyable time you probably pictured for a week of vacation.

If you want to travel, commit to avoiding deep dives into coronavirus updates. Check-in once or twice a day, focusing on where you are visiting and any updates that could influence your plans. Then, ditch your phone and actually enjoy your vacation!

How flexible are your plans?

I can tell you everything that experts are saying and spell out every coronavirus-related decision I've made, but at the end of the day, no one knows what is going to happen next.

For example, few people would have even thought of visiting Italy as a risky move for most of February. Then, in a matter of days, the CDC was advising completely avoiding the country.

If you have a big international trip planned, you're going to have to be a bit more flexible than usual.

If you're planning to visit multiple countries, one region might end up being struck from the itinerary last minute. And, if you have any aspects of the trip set-in-stone, such as multi-day boat trips or expensive stays at a villa, I would double-check and see what is refundable and what isn't before you leave.

Can you get refunds?

If you're planning to visit South Korea and can't get a refund, you should still cancel the trip.

But, if you're trying to decide if you're going to be too anxious to enjoy a vacation to Cambodia, check and see what refunds you can get. If it's easy to get your money back and you know you won't enjoy the trip to its full potential, it may be worth saving till next year. Here's a good guide to figuring out refunds.

Checking refunds is also a good way to check in with how worried you are.

Are you relieved when you see you can get a full refund on a flight, or are you sad because you have an excuse not to go on the trip?

If you're more relieved than sad, then it might be time to cancel the flight. But, if finding refunds leaves you feeling nothing but depressed, don't cancel the trip!

Again, you have a very low chance of catching the coronavirus in most countries. Plus, if you still decide to travel, it's way less crowded — and that means there's a potential for some great deals.