Italy skiing

[jrek]

Anyone off to Italy this year?
Saw some great deals but wondering if I'd spend the whole week stressing about catching covid and getting stuck there...

I’m extremely confused about the Italy vaccination status. Do adults need to be boostered? We got covid just before Christmas so can’t get boostered until after we are thinking of going. Can we still get a green pass or do I need to get a recovery certificate from GP?

@AppleTree16 you don't need to have a booster for Italy. Double vax for super green pass.

[quote DorotheaDiamond]@massistar are people actually skiing all day with ffp2 masks? Or will buffs count?[/quote]
FFP2 masks were meant to be for closed lifts but we got told off a couple of times for using buffs even on open chairlifts. Didn't need them for actual skiing though.

[quote massistar]@AppleTree16 you don't need to have a booster for Italy. Double vax for super green pass.[/quote]
Thank you so much. This is all a bit mad isn’t it??

The whole thing is bloody bonkers!

If we didn't have relatives in Italy I don't know if I'd have bothered to be honest!

Is Italy ok for double vaccinated 13 and 16 year olds?

@Muchtoomuchtodo yes if you’re double vaccinated you can just show the nhs covid pass QR code on your phone (also print off a copy) as this gives the same access etc as Italy’s ‘super green pass’

Thanks @NotDonna. That’s the next hurdle - getting teenagers in Wales an NHS covid pass……

@Muchtoomuchtodo you’ll also need tests to enter and again to return to U.K. as per government website.

@NotDonna thanks. We don’t have anything booked just yet but are keeping an eye on the situation both for entering countries overseas and returning to the uk.

Very useful thread - thank you!

So just checking that if I have two 9 year olds who are not vaccinated then as of 10th Jan they can’t access the lifts as you need SGP? I’m less bothered about any other activities or eating out etc. But if we can’t get on the lifts then it seems like a non-starter!

@Teds77 the rules don't apply to children under 12 so as long as the adults are vax'd, Italy is still an option for you.

Thank you - we’ll sit tight on our plans for a little longer then!

[quote AdriannaP]@Africa2go please note Austria has introduced new rules at the end of December too.

Please be aware that for teenagers born before 1 September 2006 arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark or Norway (virus variant countries) different rules apply from 25th December. They need to be fully vaccinated (2 jabs) AND have received the 3rd booster jab. They also need a negative PCR test (valid 48 hours) to enter Austria.

www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations[/quote]
It's bonkers, I have a child born before this date so according to Austria she needs a booster. But according to NHS she needs to wait 12 weeks to even get herself a second dose - the first itself was delayed because she caught covid in school I will stick to Switzerland!

We're due to go on 5th Feb, but just 2 fully vaxxed adults, so no worries about teens getting (or not) a pass.

I'm waiting until the next travel review (this week?) before booking tests etc, but am still hopeful that we'll be able to go...

@massistar buffs & snoods were never permitted on the chairlifts even initially they wanted the proper surgical type masks (blue/white usually). Not the FFP2 though on open lifts just the closed gondolas.

This is such a helpful thread, thank you! We’re due to ski next week in Sestriere, me and DH both triple vaccinated and 9yr old DS who obviously isn’t. We should be fine, shouldn’t we? Have just ordered a load of FFP2 masks but can anyone confirm if DS definitely also needs to wear one of those? I know he needs to wear a mask but not sure if FFP2 will be too big and am struggling to find child sized ones.
Also, how does it work when you’re wearing a helmet? Do you have to keep taking off helmet to put on a mask every time you get to a lift? I can’t access my ears with my helmet on so assume so - but what a pain!

@NormaSnickers I have just ordered these for my 7 year old - www.chromagel.co.uk/products/child-size-kn95-face-masks-5-per-pack

Will report back when they arrive!

@Fraggle78 they look good - thanks! Have just ordered some, hopefully they’ll be a good fit.

@NormaSnickers - if FFP masks are only needed on gondolas, and normal masks are fine on all the other lifts, you'll rarely need an FFP as there's only one gondola (which takes you out of Sestriere and up to the link with Sauze). All the other lifts are chair lifts (with a few drags). It's one of the reasons we decided to go back to Sauze, as we know the lift system well and didn't want to be somewhere gondola-heavy.

Even if you do use the gondola, it's the kind of lift you'd only use once a day to get out of of the resort, and then you'd ski back down at the end of the day (assuming the run down is open - it wasn't last time we were there).

If you're skiing just within Sestriere itself, I'm pretty sure all the lifts are chairs.

Fingers crossed the promised snow arrives tomorrow/ Saturday for you - sounds like they need a top-up after some warm temps last week.

We love the area - you'll have a great time!

@ReviewingTheSituation thanks! DH and I had our first ever ski trip together in Sauze many years ago and loved it, so excited to go back with DS. And yes, the snow forecast looks promising so fingers crossed! It’s been rather stressful arranging everything so I’m really hoping once we get there we’ll have a great time. Just hoping we can manage to stay COVID free till Saturday….
Thanks for your very helpful info!

Balls. If by some miracle we manage to get there DS2 is going to miss 4 days of school (Friday being an Inset) - his half term is different from DS1's. FML

@NormaSnickers - do come back and let us know how it was.

We've been to the Via Lattea 5 times, and can't wait to go back. The Sansicario area was our favourite last time, and we'll spend a lot of our week there again this year.

I was holding fire on booking any tests, and I'm glad I did because now it's just the PCR to get into Italy and the LFT when we get home. So I'm keeping everything crossed that we stay covid free for 4 weeks now (or if we do get it, that we get it this week, so we will be well again by then!).

I wonder if anyone can help re nhs Covid pass for 13-15 year olds? I have downloaded the app on my DS's phone and spoken to the Gp who say that as I have proxy access that I should be able to see his vaccination info on the app but it isn't there? I'm hoping to book Italy for skiing feb half term but my DS will need his own QR code for the lifts etc in ski school and I don't feel confident booking until I know we can get this.