Holidaying in Italy in 2021
For information and for those contemplating holidaying in Italy this summer. The rules for entry into Italy for UK residents changed last Friday, 30th July. Those who have had both vaccine jabs no longer need to quarantine on entry into Italy. We crossed the border into Italy last Friday, 30th July, via the Frejus Tunnel. There was no one on either the French or Italian borders to check our vaccination status or anything else for that matter. The situation may be different when crossing into Italy via Austria or Switzerland and the regulations for UK residents entering these countries is more complex. Sites in Italy do not ask for vaccination status either.
For the first time in over 40 years travelling to Italy, we stayed in France for 10 days ahead of the 30th July date. We stayed on a wonderful site near to the Frejus Tunnel (Les Grands Cols). It's a great site for cycling and walking from (or even just relaxing) and is possibly the quietest site in the evenings and at night during the main holiday period we have ever stayed on. Everyone was probably exhausted from the days cycling and walking activities! The staff were extremely friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them, Highly recommended.
Comments
-
Well done, Dave. It’s a longtime sine we went that way so I just looked through the gallery of photos on the website for that camping. It looks to be an absolute classic mid range campsite and those who have not toured overseas might like to look at the photos to see how a European site differs from a UK one. Safe journey to you.
0 -
Have a lovely holiday in beautiful Italy. I don't think it would have been as straight forward going via Austria and of course, as I type, you will have to self isolate when arriving back in UK from France. We have decided to postpone our planned trip to Germany then Italy at the end of the month, all a little to uncertain for us.
0 -
Dont think France wil be on the naughty naughty step for much longer, however, there may be other obstacles to overcome
"
PARIS - After a slow start, the European Union has now overtaken the United States in vaccinating its citizens against COVID-19. Anti-vaccine resistance remains, including in France, where officials estimate more than 200,000 people joined demonstrations this weekend to protest a mandatory health pass.
Brandishing banners proclaiming “freedom” and “pass of shame,” tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris and other French cities Saturday against government measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and the disease it causes, COVID-19 "
"As of Sunday, 49.3% of France's population of 67 million people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine — or one done of a single-shot vaccine — still far from any threshold some experts say could help largely curb COVID-19 transmission, a mechanism called "herd immunity."
0 -
France 24 5 Aug
"
France 24
"The Green Pass will be required to enter restaurants, cinemas, museums and indoor sports venues starting on Friday.
Italy's cabinet Thursday made the coronavirus health pass obligatory for teachers as well as passengers on public transport, including domestic flights, ferries and long-distance trains.The Green Pass, which is an extension of the EU's digital Covid certificate, will already be required from Friday to enter cinemas, museums and indoor sports venues, or eat indoors at restaurants."
so much for EU conformity, it looks like all countries within the EU are just doing there own thing
0 -
I look at this post from David Nicholson with interest as we travel to the Adriatic coast in two weeks time and we are double vaccinated. Has the rules really changed about isolation when arriving in Italy from the 30th July as I cant find anything about this. Could someone please direct me to the info on this because it would be so much easier if we did not have to isolate. Could I ask you if you were able to go around freely ref the green pass scheme. Thankyou for your post it as given me encouragement that we will be able to enjoy our Italian trip after all.
0 -
Members of our family travelled via France to their home in Italy a few weeks ago. They had to do five days quarantine and it was quite a fraught journey time wise to get the tests en route. All OK now and no quarantine but extremely high temps in the south.
1 -
Ok it looks like Italy is a lottery travel wise, I will go prepared for the worse and then maybe with a little luck get away with a few things but at all times trying to remain safe and protect others. Thanks for all your replies
0 -
Thanks for the stories I will keep my fingers crossed.
0 -
Not sure how Dave got into Italy without quarantine but according to both the UK gov and the Schengen info site UK citizens are not allowed into Italy without quarantine of 5 days.
They do recognise the vaccination certificate but they extended the quarantine for the UK until the 30th August.
0 -
It looks like it is a lottery and as I have often found in Italy over the years, it is sometimes a very laid back place but this a pandemic and you have to be prepared to present the document. These posts are informative as to the apparent sometimes what appears to be no checks at the boarder sometimes. For instance last year about the same time we were not checked once in the entire return journey UK to Italy but it was not as serious as it is now. The one thing to be aware of is the passenger locator form and the apparent need to inform the local authorities re where you are staying etc. I have seen some recent pics from the German Austria border whereby it looks like the authorities have bigger things to worry about like the exodus of migrants travelling through the checkpoint. I will try and report our experiences on our journey to Italy by Motorhome in 2 weeks time. I hope that we also do not have to jump through hoops to take a holiday but we will be prepared, and we have that review at the end of the month from Italy where it could go either way.
0 -
Stephen, I wish you luck with your journey.
We are also going to Europe in 2 weeks time. Still not fully sure of where as it seems though some countries on our green/amber list are still not open to us from their side.
We thought of Germany, Austria, Slovinia and Italy but at the moment Austria and Italy are not open to us. By the end of the month that might change so we will wait and see it might be Germany Switzerland and parts of France.
0 -
Hi I do believe you can transit Austria without the problem of isolating we will just need to see if Italy gets rid of the isolation regs. It has occurred to me sifting through piles of info that if a person get's caught breaking the rules that can often be brought in at a minutes notice, especially if that person is not tech savvy, there should be some leniency but as always it depends who stops you and their attitude. I am trying to say that probably 99% of folk who fall foul of the regs are probably doing it unknowingly. You need a Uni Degree to understand it all especially travelling through different countries by road. Caraving and Motorhoming ought to be realised as the safest form of transport but we are a minority on the road, and there are no concessions. it is all a mess, but we do have the option of staying at home it is a big risk travelling and some would argue a unnecessary one
.
0 -
Unfortunately I got it wrong and am also puzzled about entries with a van. I'd been told the quarantine was now OK and hadn't noticed the extension on the Schengen web site. This is the big problem, with continuing changes and updates. Our relatives travelled via France in their car to southern Italy and isolated in their own home. We are wondering about the return process if anything else changes, particularly in France. Normally they fly but for other reasons decided to drive.
1 -
Hi Guys, I hope that you all have great trips but for us it will be 2022 before we venture abroad, hopefully to Lago Trasimeno.
We took the decision to have some trips in the UK and added an additional two week rally in June, to our usual two weeks in September, and a 26 night UK trip-all been good so far but its not Italy!
Yesterday a voice behind me said "what are you planning now?" as I looked at routes form Hook of Holland, via our friends village in the Netherlands, to Trasimeno!!
For the interim we will have to just drink Montelpuciano and dream we are there!
0 -
Yes transiting Austria is fine but as quarantine is still required for Italy just now its a no go, plus we wanted to spend time in Austria.
Thinking of cutting the trip down to 6 weeks with not going to Spain, mid October things will be getting quiet and some sites will be closing, weather might not be that great either.
1 -
"We stayed on a wonderful site near to the Frejus Tunnel (Les Grands Cols)".
We have used the tunnel en route to the lakes and Croatia. St Jean de Maurienne is a good overnight stop before heading to the tunnel. There's a supermarket just up the road to top up on fuel, before Italy. http://campingdesgrandscols.com/en/
0 -
Yes they do to a point, but I've found that if one doesn't have the appropriate documents and they ask for them for some reason then they often adopt a more rigorous less relaxed view.
And not all Italians are like that of course, I've found that further north you go the more rigorous and rule following they are.
0 -
Well things are easing regarding travel to Italy. They is no quarantine now and hopefully things will ease further. We set off on Tues 31st via the tunnel and will use our online C19 testing kits on our way before we enter Italy. I will try to give a update as we travel.
0 -
We are now on the Adriatic coast and we travelled through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria. and Italy without any boarder checks or anyone asking for documents there has also not been any problems with the green pass system in Italy you just show proof of your covid injections. The reality of the problems that have been highlighted in the press and online is very different when you actually get there. Enjoy your holiday we have.
0
