European Travel Ban Lifted: Back to Italy !

Such good news to awaken to !  

Today, the European Union recommended that its member states lift the ban on leisure travelers from the United States, a move welcomed by Americans eager to travel to Europe after 15 endlessly long months!  The US is considered safe from an epidemiological point of view, meaning that Americans may enter the EU even if they are not fully vaccinated, on the basis of a negative PCR test for an active coronavirus infection. 

“I have never been away from Italy that long !”

“I plan on eating my way through Italy to make up for lost time !”

“Finally you can help me plan my honeymoon in Italy !”

“My soul is longing for Italian museums and art.. and a long time in vineyards…”

Italy is doing so well, with nearly all of the country in the “green” category (very low risk, positivity for the last two weeks less than 4% during testing)  as evidenced by this EU  map.  Those regions of the south that are designated as moderate risk will with close to certainty slip into the green zone on Monday, which puts them in line with the rest of Italy.  

Should I come to Italy now or postpone till 2022?

My suggestion is to come now and enjoy Italy in a way you may never see the country again and before tourism retakes our major destinations.

Does Italy feel like Italy? 

Yes.  Do not expect to find Italy muted or closed up.  It feels like Italy.

But is it safe? 

While Britain has recently seen a rise in cases, news in Italy is really good.  Science and disciplined policy have guided Italians out of their pandemic, and the percentage of the population that has received the first vaccine is among the highest in Europe, closely tying with Belgium and Germany.

On a rolling 7-day average basis per 100 people, Italy is today vaccinating twice as many of its residents than is the US.

Another statistic: at the speed that Italy is vaccinating today,  72% of Italian adults (61% of the entire population) will be at least partially vaccinated by mid-July.   If we add to these those who are yet unvaccinated but have had Covid and thus have Covid antibodies, Italy by mid-July will effectively have herd immunity.   The staggering number of Italians — as of today registered at 4.024.000 — who contracted and survived Covid here contributes very favorably to Italy’s public health profile.

What regulations are in place to make me feel safe?  

We feel very safe in Italy, where we have national regulation that requires

A. Social distancing everywhere but in your home and

B. Wearing masks indoors at all times except within your own residence and in all outdoor places unless you can guarantee total isolation from others.

Italy throughout Covid has been one of the most pro-mask countries in Europe.  Rules are backed up with steep fines for non-compliance.

Italy has since the pandemic began been divided into three color codes, indicating regional infection rate.  “White” is the lowest rate and means no restrictions beyond the just mentioned national regulations.

Nearly all of Italy is a “white regions”.  By the first day of summer, Tuscany, Marche, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and the province of Bolzano will join the list.  That leaves the Valle d’Aosta region which on June 28 should be the last at the party.

“White regions” are exempt from the nightly curfew (midnight to 5 AM) currently in place in the rest of Italy.  Nationwide, the whole curfew will be scrapped entirely on June 21.

But I still feel unconfident that I can visit and move freely within the EU?  Am I wrong?

Yes, I am happy to say that you are wrong.  As of June 3, free movement within the European Union was fully restored.  All European citizens and residents will by July have access to a European vaccine passport (already available in seven EU countries) but North Americans who are going between EU countries (say Italy to France) will need a Covid-negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before travel time.  These can be done in many pharmacies throughout Italy, cost no more than 20 Euro ($25) and results are available in 15-30 minutes.  We will tell you just where to go.  In cities, these pharmacies are easily accessible from your hotel on foot.

In the US, outside of federal indoor spaces and all public transport, mask-wearing is not required in most places.   What is the policy in Italy? 

Unlike the US, where rules vary by state, and as of this date only 15 states require masks in indoor settings, in Italy we have cohesive policy and national rules that cover the entire country.

We wear masks in all indoor spaces that are not our own homes, and all outdoor spaces unless we are in isolation.  If we are eating or drinking we may remove masks only while enjoying food and drink.

Are restaurants fully open? And bars?  I am coming especially to eat.

In all “white regions” (most of Italy) restaurants are fully open for indoor and outdoor dining.  Spacing between tables and extended outdoor areas means that eating out in Italy has never been nicer.

And, yes, you can again have your aperitivo, your grappa, your ristretto or your cappuccino standing at the bar counter — one of the great joys of being in Italy.   Bars are doing well in keeping a one-meter spacing between customers, and masks are on until the eating and drinking begin.

How easy is it to get to Italy now from North America?  

Watch this space as things are changing by the minute !   Expect resumption very soon of regular scheduled flights from many US airports direct to major Italian cities.

But you can come now !  “Covid tested flights” are the way to visit (unless you intend to quarantine totally for ten days on arrival) but these are easy to book, easy to prepare for, and once you arrive in Italy… Italy feels like… Italy.

‘Covid-tested’ flights are no different from any other transAtlantic flight except that travelers are required to provide a negative test result, not older than 48 hours, complete a digital passenger locator, then take a quick test on arrival at the airport and finally a final quick test upon arrival in Italy.

FROM THE U.S.

Alitalia and Delta run these “Covid-tested” flights operating on the following routes:

New York – Rome Fiumicino

New York – Milan Malpensa

Atlanta – Milan Malpensa

Atlanta  –  Rome Fiumicino

From July 2 there will also be

New York-Venice

From August 5 there will also be

Boston-Rome Fiumicino

New York-Venice

Atlanta-Venice

From July 1, on return to the United States from Italy, you will be required to present a negative PCR or a viral antigen test and sign an attestation confirming a negative result.

FROM CANADA

Montreal-Rome

Toronto-Rome

 As of now, on return to Canada from Italy you are required to present a negative PCR or a viral antigen test and quarantine for ten days but this should change with quarantine eliminated.

What about trains?

Until at least July 31, safety distancing is guaranteed on all trains, with many seats blocked off and trains restricted to around 50% capacity. Trains are also sanitized especially well.  “Covid-Free” long haul trains run between Rome and Milan, and access to these requires the presentation of a negative PCR or viral antigen test that is no more than 48 hours old or one taken at the Red Cross tents at the station. With our most requested service, Comprehensive Travel Planning, we book train seats for you by number.   As we know the two train companies, Italo and Trenitalia, we chose your seat with the greatest care.

What about museums?  Can I visit the museums I want to see? 

Museums are open and many of them are empty — they need your patronage and what a lovely time to admire extraordinary art!  As ever, masks are required and social distancing expected. Hand sanitizers are available throughout museums. 

Italy offers roughly 5000 museums, monuments, and archeological sites.  Some, like the Uffizi, Vatican Museums, and the Colosseum, must always be prebooked, a service we have always offered with our Comprehensive Travel Planning service.  On weekends, online or phone reservations are often required or highly desirable for most museums; here too we will (as we always have, well before Covid) purchase timed entry tickets for you as part of our most requested Comprehensive Travel Planning service.

What about hotels? 

Hotels are all open again, nearly everyone is offering special rates for 2021.  Staff takes very seriously social distancing and mask-wearing regulations.  Cleaning and hygeine standards are set by the government and are carefully observed. There is, as you will see, enormous care everywhere.

Once I am in Italy can I travel freely in Europe? 

Yes!  If you are going between EU countries and are not an EU resident or citizen, you must possess a negative test result taken within 48 hours.  They are easy and can be done in many pharmacies throughout Italy, cost no more than 20 Euro ($25) and results are available in 15-30 minutes.  We will tell you just where to go.  In cities, these pharmacies are easily accessible from your hotel on foot.

Finally, what are the challenges of traveling now? 

I do not see any significant challenges.  Safety measures are consistent and serious in all hotels and restaurants and museums and public transport.

No different from the situation in a “normal” summer, popular museums, most trains, and restaurants must be pre-booked.  Again, this is our pleasure as a standard part of our legendary Comprehensive Travel Planning service.

What next ? 

You are coming to Italy and we are here to plan for you !   Since 1989, we’ve offered outstanding, customized travel planning services for discerning independent travelers. No other organization in the United States offers services anything like ours.  Can we call you to tell you about what we do?  Would you prefer to visit our website?  We never advertise and are all word of mouth: would you like to hear from others who have used us?

Or go straight to our no-obligation survey, give us a sense of your general interests, and we will be back to you immediately with a first set of ideas and a firm cost.

A presto !