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‘It’s a nightmare’: How Italy’s extended quarantine for UK travellers has affected readers

Following the Italian government's last-minute decision to roll on its quarantine requirement for UK arrivals, many readers have contacted The Local to share how the news has impacted their lives and travel plans.

Published: 30 July 2021 16:19 CEST
Updated: 30 July 2021 18:21 CEST
'It's a nightmare': How Italy's extended quarantine for UK travellers has affected readers
(Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Italy’s announcement that it would extend a five-day quarantine for travellers coming from the UK has had major repercussions on people’s plans this summer.

With just one day until it was due to expire, Italy’s Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced via Facebook on Thursday evening that he’d signed an ordinance to prolong the rule until August 30th.

EXPLAINED: How travel between the UK and Italy has changed

It means that people have had to cancel their holiday plans, postpone seeing loved ones yet again, or lose business, as any hopes of dropping the restriction in Italy’s peak tourist month were dashed.

As I read Speranza’s post, I finally had to admit defeat and accept that those closest to me won’t make my wedding, after pushing it back twice already.

We said that we couldn’t go through this again – we’ve planned and replanned a wedding three times and we’re so far beyond exhausted, we’ve lost all joy for the event.

It was only going to be an intimate gathering anyway, but to not even have your few best friends there to send you off into married life is heartbreaking.

(Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

After two years of not seeing them, I was desperate for that emotional support.

To reach this point, just four weeks from the wedding day, and fall at the final hurdle is too much of a blow to delay it again. For me, there’s no dilemma – just grief for the day we will now never have.

It seems the move has affected many others too, who told The Local they were left angry and upset.

Gemma Tromans from Birmingham told us of her despair at the news, as her wedding date is also set for the end of August. This, too, is her third date and this time, she was sure that her big day on Lake Garda would go ahead.

She described the situation as “a nightmare” and “never-ending”, as she is now looking at a potential fourth date to say ‘I do’.

“I feel very annoyed and deflated – the whole situation has just become so exhausting for me and my partner. The stress leading up to this and every other time has been awful for us both,” said Gemma.

READ ALSO: Ask an expert: ‘How can I still have my dream Italian wedding under Covid restrictions?’

She told us she originally had 45 people coming to the event, but each time they were forced to postpone due to restrictions they lost guests, and now have 30 people on the list.

The latest move has left Gemma nervous that the number will decrease again, and she admitted she was “dreading” telling her family and friends they’re looking at delaying it once more.

Not only does she and her partner have the headache of rescheduling, there are cost implications too.

Due to the venue requiring a minimum number of guests, as numbers dwindle, they have to increasingly fork out more to compensate.

She also pointed out that airlines are unlikely to offer refunds, as flights may not be cancelled – it’s on the the traveller to quarantine and travel is still allowed, it’s just much more inconvenient.

REVEALED: How strictly is Italy enforcing rules on Covid testing and quarantine for UK arrivals?

The terms and conditions will vary from airline to airline, but even though Ryanair allows two flight changes free of charge, Gemma pointed out that you lose the money you paid for baggage allowance each time.

Gemma and I aren’t alone in having our wedding day in Italy ruined for the umpteenth time.

Many other readers have also written to say they will now have to postpone theirs or even cancel altogether, opting to get wed in the UK after all.

Countless other holiday plans have been upended too.

READ ALSO: UK to allow fully vaccinated travellers from Europe to skip quarantine (but not tests)

Travel industry expert Paul Charles tweeted that the decision to extend quarantine is “Italy’s loss”, as many British holidaymakers opt for other destinations.

While some travellers have already decided to book elsewhere, others told The Local their holiday plans are “ruined” following the news, and are worried about how they’ll get their money back now that they can’t make it to Italy.

Mark Taylor said his break in August was booked for six days, making it unfeasible now that five of those would have to be spent in isolation – and with children.

Some haven’t had to make a call, as travel operators have taken the decision to cancel holidays to Italy.

Steve Morrow told us TUI cancelled his holiday to Sicily for the end of September, which they’d already postponed from last year due to restrictions.

He described the company’s decision as “hasty” and said he’s still waiting for a full refund from the first postponed holiday.

TUI announced that it was cancelling holidays, including flight-only and accommodation-only bookings, to Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria due to depart on or before October 31st. Other holidays to Italian lakes and mountains destinations have also been cancelled by the provider.

Many others expressed their dismay at the last-minute nature of the decision, with several people describing it as “shambolic”.

Sarah, who lives in the UK, tells us she’s been to Italy 30 times and that getting back here is the only thing that’s kept her going through lockdown.

She said: “It feels like the end of the world having that taken away.”

It’s not just British visitors affected. Emma Raymond is based in Bologna and hasn’t been back to the UK in two years. She said last night’s decision has meant she’s had to cancel her trip back to the UK, as she couldn’t afford the quarantine on returning to Italy.

Seema, who also lives in Italy, said she would miss out on a long-awaited visit from loved ones in the UK.

Others based in Italy said their businesses here have suffered, like this accommodation owner in Tuscany.

Some travellers are making the trip regardless.

People with property in Italy have told us that they’ll still travel as they need to make repairs and do maintenance work on their second home.

EXPLAINED: How should travellers from the UK quarantine in Italy?

Meanwhile others said they would wait for another opportunity – but not until after the summer.

If you’re looking to travel between Italy and the UK, you can find the updated rules for travel to both countries here.

The Local will continue to follow the travel restrictions closely. Please check our homepage or travel news section for the most recent reports on any changes to the rules.

Member comments

  1. Absolutely gutted as we were due to go next month as we do every year. What are the chances of a U-turn?

  2. Our annual trip to Positano cancelled for a second year in a row. This year was husband’s 50th birthday, on top of it. Had a special room booked, magnificent dinner…all dashed. This has simply got to end.

  3. Same as most I guess, our headache has been postponement of wedding due in May last year and now August this. Wedding companies/caterers etc have been really good to postpone but kind of takes away the excitement. Such a tricky one for all. Needs to be some clarity but I fear with non EU status that makes it harder. We can but hope this situation changes soon.

    1. Yet another consequence of Brexit, as you point out. Not one good thing has come out of it for those of us who are resident in Italy.

  4. I full well understand that disappointment of cancelled and postponed travel, but the truth is that Covid does not follow rules and public health far outweighs convenience.

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TRAVEL NEWS

Reader question: What will EES mean for foreigners living in Europe?

The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls is due to come into force later this year, but among many questions that remain is the situation for non-EU nationals who live in the EU or Schengen zone.

Published: 27 April 2024 07:59 CEST
Reader question: What will EES mean for foreigners living in Europe?

Currently scheduled to start in autumn 2024 (unless it’s delayed again, which is not unlikely) the EU’s new Entry & Exit System is basically an enhanced passport check at external EU borders, including a facial scan and fingerprinting.

You can find a full explanation of the new system HERE.

Travellers crossing an external EU or Schengen border for the first time will be required to complete EES ‘pre-registration’ formalities including that facial scan and fingerprinting.

There are, however, several groups exempt from EES and one of them is non-EU nationals who have a residency permit or long-stay visa for an EU country.

So if you’re a foreigner living in the EU or Schengen zone, here’s what you need to know.

Exempt

One of the stated aims of EES is to tighten up enforcement of over-staying – IE, people who stay longer than 90 days in every 180 without a visa, or those who overstay the limits of their visa.

Obviously these limits do not apply to non-EU nationals who are resident in the EU or Schengen zone, which is why this group is exempt from EES checks. They will instead be required to show their passport and residency permit/visa when crossing a border, just as they do now.

In its explanations of how EES will work, the European Commission is clear – exempt groups include non-EU residents of the Bloc.

A Commission spokesman told The Local: “Non-EU citizens residing in the EU are not in the scope of the EES and will not be subject to pre-enrollment of data in the EES via self-service systems. The use of automation remains under the responsibility of the Member States and its availability in border crossing points is not mandatory.

“When crossing the borders, holders of EU residence permits should be able to present to the border authorities their valid travel documents and residence permits.”

How this will work

How this will work on the ground, however, is a lot less clear.

Most ports/airports/terminals have two passport queues – EU and non-EU. It remains unclear whether the non-EU queue will have a separate section for those who are exempt from EES.

It does seem clear that exempt groups will not be able to use the automated passport scanners – since those cannot scan additional documents like residency permits – but should instead use manned passport booths. However it is not clear whether these will be available at all airports/ports/terminals or how non-EU residents of the EU will be directed to those services.

There’s also the issue that individual border guards are not always clear on the processes and rules for non-EU residents of the EU – even under the current system it’s relatively commonly for EU residents to have their passports incorrectly stamped or be given incorrect information about passport stamping by border guards.

Brits in particular will remember the immediate post-Brexit period when the processes as described by the EU and national authorities frequently did not match what was happening on the ground.

The Local will continue to try and get answers on these questions. 

READ ALSO What will EES mean for dual nationals

What if I live in the EU but I don’t have a visa/residency permit?

For most non-EU citizens, having either a visa or a residency permit is obligatory in order to be legally resident.

However, there is one exception: UK citizens who were legally resident in the EU prior to the end of the Brexit transition period and who live in one of the “declaratory” countries where getting a post-Brexit residency card was optional, rather than compulsory. Declaratory countries include Germany and Italy.

Although it is legal for people in this situation to live in those countries without a residency permit, authorities already advise people to get one in order to avoid confusion/hassle/delays at the border. Although EES does not change any rules relating to residency or travel, it seems likely that it will be more hassle to travel without a residency card than it is now.

Our advice? Things are going to be chaotic enough, getting a residency permit seems likely to save you a considerable amount of hassle.

Delays 

Although residents of the EU do not need to complete EES formalities, they will be affected if the new system causes long queues or delays at the border.

Several countries have expressed worries about this, with the UK-France border a particular cause for concern.

READ ALSO Travellers could face ’14 hours queues’ at UK-France border

Where does it apply?

EES is about external EU/Schengen borders, so does not apply if you are travelling within the Schengen zone – eg taking the train from France to Germany or flying from Spain to Sweden.

Ireland and Cyprus, despite being in the EU, are not in the Schengen zone so will not be using EES, they will continue to stamp passports manually.

Norway, Switzerland and Iceland – countries that are in the Schengen zone but not in the EU – will be using EES.

The full list of countries using EES is: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Therefore a journey between any of the countries listed above will not be covered by EES.

However a journey in or out of any of those countries from a country not listed above will be covered by EES.

You can find our full Q&A on EES HERE.

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