coronavirus travel update
What is it like to travel to Tuscany?
We've had lots of questions about rules concerning travel and staying at Casa Leana as Europe gradually comes out of lockdown. We have tried to answer them below. However if there is something we haven't covered, please let us know.
A note of caution and a disclaimer: As the rules are updated so frequently at this time, please do not take these as a given and remember to clarify, if something is of particular importance (the websites of the UK Government https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus and the World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/countries/gbr/en/ are both very helpful). We have used published National Guidelines as well as legal advice to write these rules but they may have changed by the time you travel.
When can I travel to Italy again?
You must show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result when you arrive in Italy from the UK.
The test needs to have been in the 72 hours before you travel and should be a molecular (PCR) or an antigenic test. You’ll be asked to show proof of your test date and result at the border.
Do not use the NHS testing service to get a test to travel to Italy. You should arrange to take a private test.
Alternatively, you can take a free COVID-19 test at the airport when you arrive in Italy. You will have to self-isolate at your hotel or accommodation until you receive the results.
At airports where fast testing is available, you will be able to get your results within an hour. At these airports, you won’t be allowed to leave until your results are available. Check the website of the airport you are flying to for more information on their process and operating times.
What about the UK rules on quarantine upon return?
At present, Italy is on the amber list for International travel and quarantine is required upon your return to the UK. This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.
Here is the UK government website. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
What are the rules for entering Italy?
The rules for entering Italy vary from country to country, please check out the official Italian Government website, link below.
https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=5411&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto
Is flying safe?
EasyJet is just one example and as, with all airlines, they are keen to get their planes in the air again. You can read about the changes they're implementing here: Easy Jet Covid-19 Flying Procedures - the headlines are: The planes are deep-cleaned every 24 hours, passengers must wear face-masks and use hand-sanitiser regularly, there is no inflight service and their air-filtering service is the same as is used in hospitals.
Easyjet say: "Our aircraft are already fitted with HEPA filters, the same as those used in hospitals, replacing cabin air every three to four minutes. The cabin is thoroughly disinfected daily, which provides surface protection from viruses that lasts for at least 24 hours."
Obviously other airlines exist, and we have no affiliation with Easyjet, but it's a very popular airline for Pisa and they've been very good at providing information.
How can I drive down?
Driving down can be an attractive option and driving through France is perfectly fine.
Is it safe to hire a car?
Many of our previous customers have used Europcar so we looked to them to see how they're dealing with the new situation. You can see the details on this page: https://www.europcar.co.uk/customer-information
The main guidelines are an attention to social distancing during pick up and drop off and a strict cleaning procedure followed by the car being locked, stickered and the keys being cleaned and placed in an envelope.
So hiring a car is a safe option.
How many people may travel together in a car?
At the moment the distancing rules still apply when travelling by car. In practical terms this means that, unless you all live together, no more than 3 people could travel in a normal sedan: the driver alone ahead, and two passengers in the rear seats at opposite sides. Masks must be worn inside the car.
If you normally share living quarters - the obvious example might be parents and 2 children, but any group that live together normally, you can use a car customarily.
But in the case of, for example, 10 friends going on holiday together, you could not hire 2 cars and all pile in - you would need to hire 4.
These rules are being reviewed regularly so we will monitor the situation.
Who can rent a villa?
We recently had an interesting question from a client regarding who can stay in a villa together. Obviously a family that has been in the same household can do so, but what about two families who decide to holiday together? Or a group of friends?
The official guidance states: "Interpersonal distancing does not apply to members of the same family or cohabiting group nor to people staying in the same room nor to people not covered by current interpersonal distancing regulations with this latter being the personal responsibility of those involved."
So it seems that if you rent a large villa as a group it is up to you to make the decision regarding distancing. I would assume that if you have decided to holiday together than you have measured the risks and decided they are acceptable. It may be, for example, that you've all been working from home and self-isolating strictly so feel that you're a low-risk group.
Arriving at Casa Leana
Staying in our self-catering villa is a great choice compared to hotels as most of the regulations revolve around keeping shared spaces sanitised - with no shared spaces the key points to address with a private villa rental are accurate cleaning and sanitising before your arrival and social distancing when welcoming you.
As with car rental procedures, the house will be locked after cleaning (new for 2020, we have purchased an *antiviral disinfectant fogging machine) and the keys sanitised. We will meet you in our local town of Anghiari (Piazza Baldaccio) and guide you to Casa Leana. Once we reach Casa Leana, due to Covid 19, rather than showing you around the property and gardens personally we will provide video instructions prior to your arrival. Two sets of property keys will be sanitised and left outside the property for when you arrive rather than handed to you.
Casa Leana is ready to welcome you to Tuscany with the new rules in place.
Travel Insurance
The picture on Travel Insurance is emerging at the moment. The advice from ABI (The Association of British Insurers) can be roughly condensed as:
1.If you travel against government advice you invalidate your insurance (i.e. you come to Italy when the government is advising against it).
2.If you don't go on holiday out of anxiety but there is no official advice against it this is classed as ‘disinclination to travel’ and your insurance won't cover you.
But if there is an official ban against travel you should be covered and they will re-imburse you.
However, any insurance booked after the recent announcements may well exclude pandemics - always talk to an insurance broker to make sure you're getting the most suitable policy.
General Advice
It's worth remembering that most people recover from the illness (as described by WHO above) and it is far less deadly than SARS. But older patients, and those with respiratory difficulties (our parents and our children with asthma, for example) are at risk.
The World Health Organisation mythbusters page is a good place to start. After which you should remember the precautions you can take, wherever you are:
1. Wash your hands in soap and water often - or use gel sanitiser
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (elbow) when you cough or sneeze
3. Put used tissues in the bin immediately
4. Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Covid 19 Policy
Learn more about what we are doing to be proactive during this Coronavirus health crisis
At Casa Leana, we have a real passion for travel and opening a world of exciting adventures and travel experiences for you, your family and your friends.
Your health, welfare and safety are paramount when you stay at Casa Leana. Noting that coronavirus dominates the news, we wanted to reach out and let you know we have implemented increased cleaning protocols and processes.
We are closely monitoring the guidance of the World Health Organisation, the Robert-Koch-Institute, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Italian Health regarding the spread of the virus. Our focus is to ensure we meet all the future needs of our guests while doing our part to keep you and our community safe.
We want you to know that your health and safety remains our priority during this pandemic.
Our commitment to hygiene and safety
We want to assure you that during this time, private villa holidays remain one of the safest ways to travel, reducing outside exposure with additional guests and ensuring the utmost in cleanliness and hygiene standards.
Should you choose to visit Casa Leana, our villa is exclusively yours for the duration of your stay, offering a private haven for you and your group.
We've had lots of questions about rules concerning travel and staying at Casa Leana as Europe gradually comes out of lockdown. We have tried to answer them below. However if there is something we haven't covered, please let us know.
A note of caution and a disclaimer: As the rules are updated so frequently at this time, please do not take these as a given and remember to clarify, if something is of particular importance (the websites of the UK Government https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus and the World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/countries/gbr/en/ are both very helpful). We have used published National Guidelines as well as legal advice to write these rules but they may have changed by the time you travel.
When can I travel to Italy again?
You must show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result when you arrive in Italy from the UK.
The test needs to have been in the 72 hours before you travel and should be a molecular (PCR) or an antigenic test. You’ll be asked to show proof of your test date and result at the border.
Do not use the NHS testing service to get a test to travel to Italy. You should arrange to take a private test.
Alternatively, you can take a free COVID-19 test at the airport when you arrive in Italy. You will have to self-isolate at your hotel or accommodation until you receive the results.
At airports where fast testing is available, you will be able to get your results within an hour. At these airports, you won’t be allowed to leave until your results are available. Check the website of the airport you are flying to for more information on their process and operating times.
What about the UK rules on quarantine upon return?
At present, Italy is on the amber list for International travel and quarantine is required upon your return to the UK. This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.
Here is the UK government website. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
What are the rules for entering Italy?
The rules for entering Italy vary from country to country, please check out the official Italian Government website, link below.
https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=5411&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto
Is flying safe?
EasyJet is just one example and as, with all airlines, they are keen to get their planes in the air again. You can read about the changes they're implementing here: Easy Jet Covid-19 Flying Procedures - the headlines are: The planes are deep-cleaned every 24 hours, passengers must wear face-masks and use hand-sanitiser regularly, there is no inflight service and their air-filtering service is the same as is used in hospitals.
Easyjet say: "Our aircraft are already fitted with HEPA filters, the same as those used in hospitals, replacing cabin air every three to four minutes. The cabin is thoroughly disinfected daily, which provides surface protection from viruses that lasts for at least 24 hours."
Obviously other airlines exist, and we have no affiliation with Easyjet, but it's a very popular airline for Pisa and they've been very good at providing information.
How can I drive down?
Driving down can be an attractive option and driving through France is perfectly fine.
Is it safe to hire a car?
Many of our previous customers have used Europcar so we looked to them to see how they're dealing with the new situation. You can see the details on this page: https://www.europcar.co.uk/customer-information
The main guidelines are an attention to social distancing during pick up and drop off and a strict cleaning procedure followed by the car being locked, stickered and the keys being cleaned and placed in an envelope.
So hiring a car is a safe option.
How many people may travel together in a car?
At the moment the distancing rules still apply when travelling by car. In practical terms this means that, unless you all live together, no more than 3 people could travel in a normal sedan: the driver alone ahead, and two passengers in the rear seats at opposite sides. Masks must be worn inside the car.
If you normally share living quarters - the obvious example might be parents and 2 children, but any group that live together normally, you can use a car customarily.
But in the case of, for example, 10 friends going on holiday together, you could not hire 2 cars and all pile in - you would need to hire 4.
These rules are being reviewed regularly so we will monitor the situation.
Who can rent a villa?
We recently had an interesting question from a client regarding who can stay in a villa together. Obviously a family that has been in the same household can do so, but what about two families who decide to holiday together? Or a group of friends?
The official guidance states: "Interpersonal distancing does not apply to members of the same family or cohabiting group nor to people staying in the same room nor to people not covered by current interpersonal distancing regulations with this latter being the personal responsibility of those involved."
So it seems that if you rent a large villa as a group it is up to you to make the decision regarding distancing. I would assume that if you have decided to holiday together than you have measured the risks and decided they are acceptable. It may be, for example, that you've all been working from home and self-isolating strictly so feel that you're a low-risk group.
Arriving at Casa Leana
Staying in our self-catering villa is a great choice compared to hotels as most of the regulations revolve around keeping shared spaces sanitised - with no shared spaces the key points to address with a private villa rental are accurate cleaning and sanitising before your arrival and social distancing when welcoming you.
As with car rental procedures, the house will be locked after cleaning (new for 2020, we have purchased an *antiviral disinfectant fogging machine) and the keys sanitised. We will meet you in our local town of Anghiari (Piazza Baldaccio) and guide you to Casa Leana. Once we reach Casa Leana, due to Covid 19, rather than showing you around the property and gardens personally we will provide video instructions prior to your arrival. Two sets of property keys will be sanitised and left outside the property for when you arrive rather than handed to you.
Casa Leana is ready to welcome you to Tuscany with the new rules in place.
Travel Insurance
The picture on Travel Insurance is emerging at the moment. The advice from ABI (The Association of British Insurers) can be roughly condensed as:
1.If you travel against government advice you invalidate your insurance (i.e. you come to Italy when the government is advising against it).
2.If you don't go on holiday out of anxiety but there is no official advice against it this is classed as ‘disinclination to travel’ and your insurance won't cover you.
But if there is an official ban against travel you should be covered and they will re-imburse you.
However, any insurance booked after the recent announcements may well exclude pandemics - always talk to an insurance broker to make sure you're getting the most suitable policy.
General Advice
It's worth remembering that most people recover from the illness (as described by WHO above) and it is far less deadly than SARS. But older patients, and those with respiratory difficulties (our parents and our children with asthma, for example) are at risk.
The World Health Organisation mythbusters page is a good place to start. After which you should remember the precautions you can take, wherever you are:
1. Wash your hands in soap and water often - or use gel sanitiser
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (elbow) when you cough or sneeze
3. Put used tissues in the bin immediately
4. Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Covid 19 Policy
Learn more about what we are doing to be proactive during this Coronavirus health crisis
At Casa Leana, we have a real passion for travel and opening a world of exciting adventures and travel experiences for you, your family and your friends.
Your health, welfare and safety are paramount when you stay at Casa Leana. Noting that coronavirus dominates the news, we wanted to reach out and let you know we have implemented increased cleaning protocols and processes.
We are closely monitoring the guidance of the World Health Organisation, the Robert-Koch-Institute, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Italian Health regarding the spread of the virus. Our focus is to ensure we meet all the future needs of our guests while doing our part to keep you and our community safe.
We want you to know that your health and safety remains our priority during this pandemic.
Our commitment to hygiene and safety
- We inform guests about hygiene regulations at check in
- We regularly update our employees on hygiene measures
- We ask all guests to avoid direct contact with us and keep a safe distance
- Our home is regularly cleaned and disinfected according to tested hygiene regulations. We will be using an *antiviral disinfectant fogging machine on changeover day, the antivirus is effective against a range of pathogenic viruses including Coronavirus and SARS-Cov-2. It uses a non-bleach formula which cleans and disinfects the area which the mist touches, the mist floats in the air long enough to get to areas that were previously difficult to reach. This is the same process that many airlines have started to use to sanitise the aircraft as part of their cleaning programme. Along with this the techniques for cleaning our house after each stay have been further intensified. Special attention is paid to areas with high points of contact, such as keys, door handles, locks and bolts, light switches, desk surfaces, tv remote controls and handles of bathroom fittings
- We will be temporarily removing some "non essential" tactile items to reduce the spread of any viral infection and to streamline our cleaning procedures, this includes: surplus crockery, glasses and some soft furnishings.
- Disinfectant and cleaning products suitable for viruses are provided at Casa Leana
We want to assure you that during this time, private villa holidays remain one of the safest ways to travel, reducing outside exposure with additional guests and ensuring the utmost in cleanliness and hygiene standards.
Should you choose to visit Casa Leana, our villa is exclusively yours for the duration of your stay, offering a private haven for you and your group.
|
Tel: 0039 339 40 40 444
Photography by Rob Moles |
Barliano 116, 52031 Anghiari, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy.
© Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. |