If you were due to fly to Italy in a couple of weeks and your flight isn’t cancelled would you go ?

[Lardlizard]

Yes or no ?

No

Yes, the UK is arguably the most dangerous European country to be in the moment.

No

I have a similar dilemma as we have booked to go to Rome at the end of August. I can't see it being cancelled.

I think the biggest risk is going to be the flight.

I am nowhere near decided. Part of me thinks it isn't a good idea, but part of me thinks it might be worth the small risk if social distancing is being followed once we're there.

Rome in August is hot, which they think reduces transmission. We can sightsee outside a lot. If I have to quarantine when I get back then it isn't the end of the world as I'm working from home. I have travel insurance, taken out in January.

The only nagging doubt I have is the flight.

I work in Italy and commute regularly back to the UK. I'm coming home this weekend by plane.

It is more like business as usual now in Italy, but with masks and hand washing. The bars and restaurants are open, with restaurants now taking more street space, so no need to take inside tables.

The flights are now getting busier, in Mar/Apr/May you were guaranteed to get three seats to yourself. Now even the middle seats are full. Business class upgrades are cheap, which is what I do, so I'm not sitting next to each other. The airports themselves are relatively low risk due to the space available relative to the number of people.

The choice is yours, but I think you would enjoy it and feels (and is) safe. I'd rather fly to Italy than get the tube in London.

I’m in Italy and I’ve just come back from an unworldly, glorious once-in-a-lifetime week on Lake Garda. Very few people, socially distanced restaurants, mostly outdoor activities, self catering and own transport.

However, to an international tourist I’d say it depends on your type of holiday.
Air travel is still risky and you’re traveling with high risk passengers. The UK is behind Italy in R rates. Say no more. Next week hand luggage in lockers should be allowed, so yet more jostling on board. I wouldn’t do it.
Museums are fully policed for mask wearing. We managed two hours and were gasping at the end.
Shops are masks and hand gel. Busy streets and markets are advisable, too. Best to avoid.
The only public transport I considered was an open top boat trip. They are running at one-fifth capacity (one seat occupied with four around it bearing “no entry” stickers). Family groups can sit together obviously.

DD is 14 so well able to cope with restrictions. She knew it would be a low key holiday and understood that Gardaland theme park etc. were not happening. Fractious toddlers would have made it a pretty stressful holiday.

So, the options are there. Italy needs tourism to survive financially and has opened its borders. It’s up to you to decide if you should go.
But remember YOU are the one moving from a higher to a lower risk COVID country.

I don't know why people assume being on a plane is so risky. Currently there is about 1 person infected in every 4000. Planes do not carry that many people! I realise of course that there could be an infected person on board but it is statistically unlikely and that what risk is all about.

Airports are managing social distancing very well. Certainly no worse than your average supermarket.

For me, it is more about what happens if you develop symptoms whilst abroad : or if you are 'track and traced'. That risk concerns me as how does one get home?? It feels to me like Brits are worried about flying, and about various inconveniences, but don't think they will develop any symptoms, whether infected or not, and don't think of the consequences of this.

I was worried about my flight too but when I got on it I felt completely relaxed....like I said though, we were maybe lucky to have no one cIose to us. We brought a 100ml hand sanitiser on board and used it frequently. Our flight was only 1.5 hours so didn't have to worry about toilet or eating etc. Now that I'm here I don't feel stressed at all about the home journey. The seats felt high enough to protect us etc even if there is people behind us.

We go to the same place every summer and I speak the langauge so I wasn't worried about developing covid here compared to being at home. Thats a good point though that people can overlook.

Yes.With bells on. Currently sat in the garden planning an overseas trip for September. Private villa, minimum contact with anyone upon arrival. Go and enjoy

We do have annual travel insurance so it should be covered on that

Yes!! I have flights booked to Rome in early October (exchanged from April) and I'm cautiously optimistic about going. If I could exchange them now I'd probably go in September instead - its warmer and therefore less chance of any regional spikes either here or there.

Off to Lake Garda 1st week in August and CANNOT WAIT!!!!

We've decided against it in the end. Looks likely our EJ flights are going to be cancelled and our return date is too close to the kids going back to school for us to risk getting delayed or stuck.

Was also worried about picking it up at airport or on the plane and either passing it on to my MIL who's at high risk or bringing it back to our area that's not had many cases.

It was the north of Italy though and we'd have been going to a wedding which pushed it over the edge really.