I am planning on taking my family to Italy for our winter break, Dec. 18-Jan.02. We are hoping to replicate our cancelled 2020 spring break trip. I am seeking opinions as to whether this is a good time to go in the time of covid or should I push off trip for spring break 2022.
Posted by
Irving
3315 posts
Have you enrolled in STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/? Americans traveling abroad need to enroll in this program to learn the latest on health and safety when traveling outside the US. I enrolled for my GR and SE Asia trips that were supposed to happen in 2020 and was kept up to date on the current COVID situation abroad.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2209 posts
I can't speak regarding Covid, but we did visit Tuscany in late December.
We had a wonderful time. We had our B&B all to ourselves and walked straight into the Uffizi. Few if any sites were closed. The weather was fine, we didn't need anything more than a light sweater. We woke up to frost a couple of mornings, but the temperature reached the high '50s/low '60s by early afternoon. There were still Fall colors in the countryside.
The only possible downside is the sun sets early that time of year, which can potentially shorten your day of sightseeing. However, we found Florence and Rome delightful in the evening.
I don't know what the crowds will be like after Covid, but reports are Italy is less crowded now, so Spring shouldn't be too bad compared to the past. December is a festive time. We enjoyed buying roasted chestnuts from a street vendor in Siena. We enjoyed visiting the Christmas market in Greve. We enjoyed hearing a Christmas concert outside the Pantheon in Rome. There's really no bad time (except for summer heat and crowds) to visit Italy.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17572 posts
It isn’t just the possibility of infection you need to be concerned with. Read through the posts here and you will see that people are having trouble with flight schedule changes and cancellations, changing rules and regulations regarding quarantine or isolation, forms to fill out, and more. Many places (museums, restaurants, etc.) are requiring proof of vaccination, and there is uncertainty as to whether this requirement applies to children. One person is asking where to get a covid test near Linate airport (Milan) because her flight out was canceled, and the test she already took will expire. Others are having problems because their flight to Italy takes them through the UK, so they will have to isolate upon arrival.
These days, it isn’t as simple as planning an itinerary, buying air tickets, and booking a hotel.