Have you been considering a trip to Italy now that lockdowns are over? If you’re traveling from the UK, we have all the essential information you need.
Am I permitted to travel to Italy for a holiday?
As of July 4th, Italy is no longer subject to the FCO’s advice against all non-essential international travel. This means that travel from the UK to Italy is allowed, and you do not need to provide a reason for your trip. Additionally, you won’t have to self-isolate upon arrival.
It is advisable to complete a self-declaration form, which can be downloaded from the FCO website. Keep this form on hand, as border police at Italian airports may conduct spot checks and could ask to see it.
You can find the self-declaration form and the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office by clicking here.
Where can we fly to Naples from?
We departed from London Gatwick with easyJet at the beginning of August. At that time, all major London airports, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, London City, and Southend, offered flights to Naples. Alitalia, British Airways, easyJet, KLM, and Ryanair had various routes available from these airports.
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What has changed at the airport?
Overall, not much has changed. We flew from Gatwick’s North Terminal, and all flights are currently operating from there. If you’re looking for more affordable parking, consider booking the Gatwick Short-Stay Parking at the South Terminal and taking the shuttle train to the North Terminal—it’s just a couple of minutes away.
Hand sanitizers are available throughout the airport, and security lanes and bag drop stations have been spaced out to promote social distancing. Several food and beverage outlets remain closed, although Starbucks and Wetherspoons at Gatwick are open.
Face masks are mandatory throughout the airport and on the flight. Make sure to wear a comfortable mask, as you will need it for approximately four hours in total.
What has changed on the flight?
There haven’t been significant changes here either. EasyJet, at least, is not currently offering priority boarding. Instead, when you reach your gate, staff will check your boarding pass and passport and ask you to wait in the seating area before boarding. They typically allow about half of the passengers to board from the seating area first, starting with rows 15-30, followed by rows 1-14, before checking in the remaining passengers.
Once on board, you won’t find magazines or bistro menus available. The in-flight bistro service is operating, but most hot food items and fresh beverages are unavailable. Only contactless payment methods are accepted, as cash is not being accepted. Click here for EasyJet’s current bistro menu.
What should I expect upon arriving in Naples?
As previously mentioned, Italy has been exempt from the FCO’s advice against all non-essential international travel since July 4th. This means you can enter Italy from the UK without needing to justify your trip or isolate after arrival.
It’s still recommended to have a self-declaration form completed and available, as border police may conduct checks. As per our experience in early August, when we arrived in Naples, there were no temperature checks, and no one on our flight was asked for the self-declaration form—even though many passengers, including us, were prepared with printed copies.
Summary
In conclusion, not much has changed regarding traveling to Italy, and certainly not enough to deter us from flying. If you remain cautious and follow the necessary precautions, the experience is quite manageable. And once you arrive, the warm sunshine and temperatures over 30 degrees make it all worthwhile.
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