TRAVELER REQUIREMENTS: We require that all of our travelers submit proof of full vaccination to us 10 days before departure, AND present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure for Spain or Italy. These prerequisites meet or exceed the standard required under the new European Union rules that you may have read about.
BUILT-IN SAFETY IN THE ITINERARY: Here the health and safety advantages of our small-group concept come to bear. Specifically, we will be able to travel often within a bubble that is not possible with individual or couples’ travel. Throughout the trip, we will be in private dining rooms if we are eating indoors. We are buying certain small osteria out entirely so that only our group is present. We have specifically sought out extraordinary outdoor experiences with private dining options if the weather requires us to be indoors. All our transport will be done with private transportation reserved just for our group.
All of our core hosts will also be fully vaccinated. Our trip guides are fully vaccinated and will be additionally required to test negative within 48 hours of the commencement of the trip.
It should be noted that our two destinations this fall are very low-COVID regions in low-COVID countries (as of September 2021). In Italy, all restaurant workers must be fully vaccinated starting October 1.
For additional peace of mind, we are implementing an industry-leading refund policy. You may receive a full refund of your trip deposit for any reason up to 10 days before the trip commences.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IF THE NUMBERS CHANGE, AND WE DECIDE NOT TO TRAVEL?
Although we are very confident in our health and safety protocols, we are offering a full refund of your deposit up to 10 days before the trip begins if for any reason you decide not to travel.
HOW DO THE NEW EUROPEAN UNION RULES AFFECT U.S. TRAVELERS?
On new August 30th, 2021 European Council ruling on travel from the U.S. allows member countries to set their own rules for entry of American travelers. The two countries we are visiting in 2021, Spain and Italy, chose to still actively welcome American travelers who are traveling for “non-essential purposes”. Our standards for our travelers—full vaccination WITH a negative PCR test—meets or exceeds entry requirements for both of those countries, as well as any transit countries you may travel through.
WHAT PROOF OR DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED TO SHOW SPAIN AND ITALY UPON ENTRY?
Italy requires that travelers arriving from the U.S. have a negative Covid-19 test, regardless of vaccination status.
All travelers to Spain regardless of age must fill in a health form and upon arrival in Spain present the QR code this generates through the Spain Travel Health portal, or by downloading the “SpTH app” in the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store. The QR code can be obtained from 48 hours before arrival into Spain.
This applies to U.S. citizens traveling to Spain from the United States, including if they transit through a third country.
WHAT IF I RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 THIS SUMMER:
The C.D.C. offers one alternative to a negative test result. People who can prove they have already recovered from a coronavirus infection and can present a past positive test result, received within the last three months, paired with a letter from a health care provider that states they are clear to travel.
HOW WILL WE GET OUR COVID-19 TEST THAT WE NEED TO RETURN HOME?
If you are returning to the U.S. on the day our trip ends, we will arrange COVID-19 testing through a concierge service that will come to our lodging to perform the tests. For entry, the U.S. requires that all travelers, vaccinated or not, provide a negative test (antigen or NAAT) result taken no more than 3 days before the flight’s departure.
WHAT IF, DESPITE THESE PRECAUTIONS, I TEST POSITIVE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE U.S?
We understand that there is a non-zero chance that, despite all our precautions, you may test positive before you return home. In that case, we will arrange a suitable hotel for you to wait out your mandated quarantine.