Coronavirus Update: Travel Ban extends to entire country
Mar 8, 2020, 10:51 am
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,066
Our Sicily cycling trip in April, and a couple of days in Rome, do not look very likely at this point. We're not especially worried about the virus, but we are concerned that we could be stuck in Italy for weeks on end.
Mar 9, 2020, 8:27 am
#63
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: France
Programs: too many
Posts: 686
Sardinia last weekend was lovely: 2 full rows on Ryanair for the 4 of us, an alfa Romeo Stelvio for €50 all in for the weekend, we were the only clients in the hotel, no crowded restaurants (apart from one beach bar in Proetto)...
Mar 9, 2020, 3:36 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 160
Mar 9, 2020, 6:47 pm
#66
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Now that a beloved country goes through the most difficult times since the second world war, we shall pray for our Italian friends reassuring them that we will be back as soon as appropriate to stand up again together.
May this huge ordeal help the most creative and fantastic people in the world to put also a zest of discipline and civism in their lives. We are all Europeans!
May this huge ordeal help the most creative and fantastic people in the world to put also a zest of discipline and civism in their lives. We are all Europeans!
Mar 10, 2020, 2:12 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Definitely not, everybody (including Italians) is allowed to go home. Also movements for work, medical treatment and essential reasons are allowed. Airports and train stations are open. Goods can circulate. There are no red zones, the whole country is protected zone, but you can leave it.
Mar 10, 2020, 1:32 pm
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,435
Not to belittle other folks concerns and circumstances, I could see getting stuck in Italy as an opportunity. 
What I'm wondering is whether once the virus becomes no longer novel and people go back to traveling just like they done for years during flu season, do you think there'll be a "hangover" and generally overcrowded destinations like Venice will have at least a while where tourism will be at what would be considered sustainable levels?
I'm seriously thinking of booking some travel to popular destinations in autumn hoping that a lot of people will still be too scared to go to Italy.
What I'm wondering is whether once the virus becomes no longer novel and people go back to traveling just like they done for years during flu season, do you think there'll be a "hangover" and generally overcrowded destinations like Venice will have at least a while where tourism will be at what would be considered sustainable levels?
I'm seriously thinking of booking some travel to popular destinations in autumn hoping that a lot of people will still be too scared to go to Italy.
Mar 10, 2020, 2:04 pm
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 47
Cancelled Tickets to Italy
United just added Rome (and other cities) to their cancel list. I called United and cancelled my flights. They told me I have 1 year from the initial ticketed date to complete travel or request a refund. I had Z fare tickets. I am not going to fly by 31 July of this year so I requested a refund. I’ll update you with the status of the refund.
Last edited by adventures_await; Mar 10, 2020 at 4:50 pm
Mar 10, 2020, 2:07 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,846
Not to belittle other folks concerns and circumstances, I could see getting stuck in Italy as an opportunity.
What I'm wondering is whether once the virus becomes no longer novel and people go back to traveling just like they done for years during flu season, do you think there'll be a "hangover" and generally overcrowded destinations like Venice will have at least a while where tourism will be at what would be considered sustainable levels?
I'm seriously thinking of booking some travel to popular destinations in autumn hoping that a lot of people will still be too scared to go to Italy.
What I'm wondering is whether once the virus becomes no longer novel and people go back to traveling just like they done for years during flu season, do you think there'll be a "hangover" and generally overcrowded destinations like Venice will have at least a while where tourism will be at what would be considered sustainable levels?
I'm seriously thinking of booking some travel to popular destinations in autumn hoping that a lot of people will still be too scared to go to Italy.
Mar 10, 2020, 2:15 pm
#75
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,922
I changed my trip this week for a trip in late May (a friend's birthday plus my normal business stuff) but I am hesitant to book anything else given the uncertainty. All my friends (that I have been in touch with) seem ok, but there are some hospital horror stories (e.g., Bergamo) and I would not want to risk getting sick there at this time.