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Italy’s Reopening: What Travelers Can Expect
Everyone loves Italy, but what will it really be like now that it’s reopening to travelers? We gathered Italy trip-planning specialists who live and work there for a live Q&A on May 12, 2021. The event was part of our series of live travel talks. (You can watch previous talks here, and find out about upcoming talks by signing up here. For full details about Italy’s opening plans and “Covid-tested” quarantine-free flights, see “The Countries That Are Open to U.S. Travelers and What You’ll Find There“).
The big takeaways: Travelers can still do the things they love, they can cook outdoors, they can visit wineries and olive groves, they can go to Capri and the islands, they can rent a villa, they can explore the historical sights and museums, they will likely even be able to see the opera. But all five of our guests emphasized that the minute U.S. travelers are allowed in, the most charming hotels and in-demand experiences for summer will fill up fast, given the capacity restrictions in place for safety. So if you’re thinking of going, stop thinking and start planning.
You can reach out to any of the travel specialists featured in our talk by using Wendy’s WOW List of road-tested trip planners around the world. If you contact them this way, they’ll know you’re a VIP sent by Wendy, you’ll get all the benefits that come with that, and you can start your way to earning a WOW Moment from Wendy (a complimentary, exclusive, insider travel experience).
Here’s how you can reach them. If you’re not sure who will be the right planner for your trip, write to us at Ask Wendy. As journalists, it’s our job to review and road-test trip designers—that’s how we curate The WOW List, and it’s how we make recommendations to you.
WOW List–recommended Italy specialists
Andrea Grisdale — Italy
Read reviews of Andrea, and contact her through The WOW List
Jennifer Virgilio – Italy and France
Read reviews of Jennifer, and contact her through The WOW List
Maria Landers + Brian Dore – Italy and Switzerland
Read reviews of Maria and Brian, and contact them through The WOW List
Marcello Baglioni – Sicily
Read reviews of Marcello, and contact him through The WOW List
Your Italy questions, answered
- Will tourist sites require a vaccine? 4:54
- How do travelers get the required covid test before they come back to the US? 5:57
- Are the country’s trains running normally? 6:45 (also 55:25)
- Andrea’s summer pick 8:32
- How is the situation on Capri? 8:48
- What is it like in Rome? Are sights, restaurants, and museums open? 9:47
- Jennifer’s summer pick 15:53
- How have Umbria and Tuscany been affected? 17:54
- What is the outlook for cultural events, such as festivals and concerts? 21:29
- Are culinary experiences and cooking trips still possible? 23:42
- Villa vacation rentals: where do you recommend, is everything already booked? 27:07
- What are the pros and cons of renting a villa in Tuscany at this moment? 28:45
- Is it possible to stay in a castle in Italy? 30:50
- The benefits of renting a villa in the wintertime for the holidays 32:39
- What it the best time this year to visit Sicily? 34:23
- What would it be like to take a boat and visit the Aeolian Islands now? 37:55
- Are the restrictions the same on Sicily as they are on the mainland? 54:28
- The dates for Italy’s expected opening 40:15 (for the latest updates, check The Countries That Are Open to U.S. Travelers and What You’ll Find There)
- What will be accepted as proof of vaccination? 41:49
- What are the mask rules in Italy? 43:41
- What do you know about traveling from other EU countries to Italy? 44:40
- Can you explain the “Covid-free flight” to Italy? 46:10
- How is the vaccination program going in Italy? 50:19
- Would you recommend Puglia, Sicily, or the Lakes region as less crowded (but equally or more interesting in terms of food and culture) than Florence, Rome, or Naples? 51:10
- Are the restrictions in Italy the same as they are on the mainland? 54:28
- Is it realistic to expect the authentic Italian experience in 2021? 56:26
- New hotels and renovations 1:02:01
- What happens if someone gets sick on a trip, will tourists have difficulties receiving medical care if necessary? 1:05:57
- Recommendations for Italian winter holiday trips 1:08:03
Learn about our upcoming live Q&A travel talks
We will be doing more travel talks on specific destinations as they open and other timely topics, and our newsletter is where you’ll hear about them, so be sure to sign up. We send it 1-2/week and it’s always personally written by Wendy, Brook, or Billie — no spam. You can find our already published Zoom recordings here.
Be a safer, smarter traveler: Sign up for Wendy’s weekly newsletter to stay in the know. And read real travelers’ reviews of Wendy’s WOW List and use it to plan your next trip.
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The Countries That Are Open to U.S. Travelers and How to Get In
This is your one-stop resource for all the important details about which countries are opening to U.S. travelers and what their entry requirements are.
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We were watching and listening to the discussion about Italy and we enjoyed it a lot ( especially Ms. Solomon comment “ don’t travel there but be there” ). Since then we travel to Paris and we are now at our place in Tuscany ( no we are not Italian, but we are fortunate to have a place here) . I must say that the media is a major contributor to the hesitation of people to travel. Your contribution to present a true situation is helping a lot. Please , please , please keep doing it.