Coronavirus (COVID-19)

On 4th July, the UK government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office removed its guidance advising against non-essential travel to Italy – including Sardinia and Sicily – and to France – including Corsica. Consequently, UK residents are now free to travel to those destinations. Simultaneously, the Department for Transport announced forthcoming changes to the quarantine for travellers entering the UK from a number of foreign countries. Accordingly, with effect from 10th July, anyone entering the UK from either Italy or France will no longer require to be quarantined.

For travellers from the UK arriving in Sardinia, Sicily or Corsica, there is no obligation to quarantine, and on Corsica the reciprocal ‘voluntary’ quarantine provision will be lifted coincident with the removal of the UK quarantine requirement on 10th July

We are nevertheless aware that there are still concerns from our clients about the safety of travel to these destinations and what to expect when they arrive. In order to provide comfort to our clients, we have recently undertaken personal visits to Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica in order to be able to experience the atmosphere at the hotels and in general and to see for ourselves the practices being adopted by the hotels to comply with the COVID-19 health and safety regulations. Whilst there indisputably many fewer tourists on Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica, from our personal experience, we do not feel that this has detracted significantly from the ambiance in general. The vast majority of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and other facilities are open and there are very few instances where those services ordinarily expected to be available are not. Moreover, in the hotels and restaurants, whilst distancing requirements are in place, there is an increased staff : client ratio, meaning that invariably the quality of service is even better than normal. In most instances, masks need only be worn in internal parts of hotels and restaurants and, even then, can be removed whilst seated. Staff are legally obliged to wear masks but, otherwise, it is difficult to sense any great difference to the ‘normal’ dining experience.  Some shops require masks to be worn by customers, but this is a question of choice of the shopkeepers and as time passes these requirements are slowly being lifted, too. 

Many of our hotel partners have published a COVID-19 protocol which can be viewed on the respective page on our website and we invite clients – both current and potential - to please contact us if they have any questions, no matter how minor, relating to their forthcoming or planned holidays such that we can, hopefully, enable decisions to be made based on a fully informed judgement.

Accordingly, we encourage our existing clients to pay the balance of their holiday cost as normal as we are confident that they will be able to enjoy their holiday as planned, particularly if their flights are still scheduled to operate and their accommodation has not given any indication that it will not be fully open and receiving guests on their holiday dates. 

Below are the links to the UK FCO website guidance to travel and to the ABTA guidance on travel to countries affected by the travel advice issued by the UK FCO and we would be happy to respond to any questions or concerns that you may have at customerservices@hnholidays.co.uk

• UK Foreign and Commonwealth office >
• ABTA >

TRAVEL TO SARDINIA 

Please ensure that you have completed the on-line registration form required to enter Sardinia at least 48 Hours before you arrive. If you have not completed and submitted this within 48 hours prior to your arrival, you will be refused entry. (the form is NOT available in printed form aboard planes or ships).

In addition, within the 48 Hours prior to your arrival in Sardinia you will also be required to complete a “declaration of health” following the link that you will receive after registration or by using the App Sardegna Sicura.

You will need the names & address of your accommodations in Sardinia to complete the form, the address can be found in the contacts section of your TravelPal App, each passenger 16 years or over will have to fill in a separate form. Children under 16 can be added to one of the adult forms.

Please note: If you are travelling under a British Passport ensure that you have unticked the Italian nationality tick box under the “Name” section. Should you need any help completing these forms please contact us.

Click here to complete the form> Or download the App “Sardegna SiCura” on Play Store or Apple Store

TRAVEL TO SICILY 

Please ensure that you have completed the on-line registration form required to enter Sicily at least 48 Hours before you arrive.

You will need the names & address of your accommodations in Sicily to complete the form, the address can be found in the contacts section of your TravelPal App.

Please Note: Nasopharyngeal swab is the nose and throat test for covid-19 and the Serology test is the Antibody Test.

In addition, within the 48 Hours prior to your arrival in Sicily you will also be required to complete a “declaration of health” following the link that you will receive after registration or by using the App Sicilia Sicura.

Should you need any help completing these forms please contact us.

Click here to complete the form>  Or download the App “Sicilia SiCura” on Play Store or Apple Store

TRAVEL TO CORSICA

There are currently no specific requirements to make any declarations prior to arrival on Corsica. However, a number of airports on the island have introduced temperature screening for arriving passengers and any passengers registering a higher than normal temperature may be subject to additional tests.

 

Please also be aware that your temperature may be taken and you may also be required to complete a further declaration of health at check-in at your UK departure airport. You will be also required to wear an approved face-covering from the moment of entry into the UK airport building to the moment of exit of your destination airport, including throughout the duration of your flight. Please bear in mind the average effective life of a mask is around 4 hours so please ensure you have an adequate supply for both your outward and return journeys.

RETURNING TO THE UK

Prior to returning to the UK, you will be required to provide contact details of where you can be traced during the 14 days following your re-entry. The details are to be provided on-line, within 48 hours prior to your scheduled arrival time in the UK and MUST be completed prior to your arrival back in the UK. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in difficulties in re-entering the UK and the possibility of a fine.

Further details can be found on the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk
 

The above information is believed to be correct at the time of issue 11:15 30/07/2020