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Latest travel rules for Italy?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
You can submit the Italian plf early and also subsequently update it. Each submit generates a neaps QRcode so you just need to provide the most recent wherever it’s requested.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
twiceforluck2 wrote:
Chuckles3 wrote:
rizzotherock wrote:
When should I submit my plf for Italy?, not going until the 15th jan but was wondering when is the best time to do it.


We’re off on the 23rd & I’ve already done ours all but submitting it. It saves it all for you until you’re ready to press the button so you can get a jump start on your admin when you like.

Unlike the UK one - this can’t be done early apart from setting up the account in advance as it’s a major faff. At least then you don’t have to redo passport info etc when doing it before your return.


Are you sure you can't do it early? I have done it ahead and generated a QR code, seems to be ok. Struggled to find guidance of when to submit the PLF for Italy, it was clearer for other countries.


I just haven’t pressed submit yet just in case we don’t go but absolutely I think you can do it anytime. I’ve just reread the info page & it doesn’t mention any time limits/constraints at all.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
forwardrupert wrote:
Garfield wrote:
Realise as I fly into Austria I need a PCR test on way there


Luckily it appears that if you’re transiting straight out of Austria you don’t need the PCR, so the LFT required for Italy will suffice.

See section 7 of Austria’s entry requirements here https://www.bmk.gv.at/en/service/entry-requirements.html

Quote:
7. general exemptions, regardless of where these people come from, apply to (no PCR-/LAMP-/TMA-test for SARS-CoV-2 necessary, no quarantine, no registration):
a. to maintain goods and passenger traffic (crews), if the destination country
is not Austria, the exit must be ensured,
b. exclusively for compelling reasons of animal care or for agricultural and
forestry measures in individual cases,
c. in the context of the implementation of a professional transfer trip / a
professional transfer flight,
d. in the imperative interest of the Republic of Austria,
e. transit passengers or the transit through Austria without a stopover, which
is also the case with only essential interruptions, if departure is guaranteed,

f. the crew of a repatriation trip / a repatriation flight including the
accompanying organs of the public security service,


So you just need some kind of guarantee you’ll be leaving Austria, which I’m assuming a booking in Italy would act as.

This also fits with Crystal’s advice - see their useful PDF here: https://www.crystalski.co.uk/resources/content/wp-content/uploads/Travel-local-COVID-19-requirements-311221-at-1629.pdf

Saying that, I’ll be travelling with Crystal to Italy this month via Austria, so am presuming the TUI staff checking documents will be aware of this. A different airline may only see you flying to Austria and decide you need the PCR, so may be worth getting it anyway if you can.
.


With the way the goal posts keep moving I am keeping an eye on things but budgeting for a PCR at present. Trying not to end up like the folk that got caught out when the tests changed from 72 to 48 hours. I've not bothered starting packing yet as things seem very liquid.
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The big thing right now for Italy is to buy some FFP2 masks.

I have not seen actual checks myself, in Cervinia, but you never know.

Some of the ski resort websites suggest they are mandatory on all lifts also but that would be surprising for chairlifts (which are open-cover now, by regulation).

Inside gondolas I was wearing FFP3 but a) it was rarely needed since they were mostly empty, and b) the FFP3 mask needs the helmet to be removed to get the straps in place.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Il_Capitano wrote:
ed123 wrote:
@Il_Capitano, if you were so sure why not just do the test like normal people with a backbone?


Having taken an NHS test that was negative, there was a 0.03% chance I had covid. Given this, any subsequent test that came up as positive was far more likely to be a false positive than a true positive.

Therefore, I would be self-isolating not because I had covid, but because the test was faulty.

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1411


and so why not use the official test- or is that only because if the official test was positive you could then do a cheeky test with 'just the liquid'? There is no other reason and you need to have a little think about the sort of person you are as opposed to how you see yourself.
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I have skim read last couple of pages and trying to understand something.

If we are all double vaccinated for 12 and 15 year old and boosted for adults…. Do we need to do any additional regular testing for the super green pass? I got the original impression “No” but there is a lot of talk of testing in this thread?

I am starting to look at Italy as a fall back from if France doesn’t re-open border to us (and if rest of my party pull out on us somewhat leaving us in the lurch!)

ETA: our flights are into Geneva and I am trying to understand if we need a test to enter the country as well? I know we currently need test to return to UK
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Morning all,

All being well, I am travelling to Courmayeur for the first time a week today(9th Jan) after having to cancel VT for the same dates. There’s a ton of chat on this group which has been useful so far. I just wanted to views on specific testing providers that people have used.

We’ve got a group that are spread across England but will all be meeting at Gatwick. Could a few people give me their experiences/views on-

1. Using the testing facilities at Gatwick
2. Which provider they have used to complete a pre flight antigen test where you send a photo of your passport next to the test result and receive the certificate within hours.
3. Is the test described in point 2. Sufficient to complete again to get back into the UK?
4. Any recommendations for day 2 upon returning to UK. Has anyone tested at Gatwick once returning or dropped samples off on their way home,

Thanks in advance
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Pejoli wrote:
Il_Capitano wrote:
ed123 wrote:
@Il_Capitano, if you were so sure why not just do the test like normal people with a backbone?


Having taken an NHS test that was negative, there was a 0.03% chance I had covid. Given this, any subsequent test that came up as positive was far more likely to be a false positive than a true positive.

Therefore, I would be self-isolating not because I had covid, but because the test was faulty.

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1411


Would have taken exactly the same actions, so please don’t take this as a personal criticism, but this being snowHeads and home of the pedant ….

Your assumption isn’t correct on your pre-test probability, is it - being in close proximity of someone who has tested positive for Covid for an extended period of time (I’m assuming) takes that number up from 0.05% to something much higher. To be clear, I’ve no idea what the number is, but would take a stab at 20-40% given the anecdotal experience and spread of omicron. In those scenarios, that takes your post test probability up to 8-18%. Like I say, would not change my course of action if I was in your shoes.

It’s a really nice tool you’ve found though, and a great illustration of visualising probabilities using natural frequencies (great book ‘Reckoning with Risk’ by Gird Gigerenzer if anyone is interested in reading more on the subject).


I'm familiar with Gigerenzer's work - my undergraduate thesis was on The Monty Hall Problem, so these kind of cognitive biases are very interesting to me.

However, I think you are overestimating the pre-test probability - at no point had I (as far as I am aware) been in close proximity to someone who had tested positive for covid. For pre test probabilities, there are also a number of additional important assumptions.

1, Everyone in the resort was double or triple vaccinated, and had shown a negative LFT in the previous 7 days. On this basis alone, skiing in Italy was probably far safer than a trip to your local Asda.
2, I had taken a LFT every day for the previous 7 days, result was negative.
3, So had my partner.
4, None of the people with whom we were socialising had either symptoms or tested positive.
5, The vast majority of time was spent outdoors.
6, In enclosed spaces, masks were a legal requirement
7, I have yet to contact covid, despite working in a relatively high-risk environment. Obviously some of this is chance, but it is also because I modify my behaviour to mitigate risk where possible.

I think the baseline "average" BMJ numbers are therefore far higher than my actual risk, but nonetheless I used their numbers to give the conservative estimate on which I based my decisions.
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NickyJ wrote:
I
I am starting to look at Italy as a fall back from if France doesn’t re-open border to us (and if rest of my party pull out on us somewhat leaving us in the lurch!)

ETA: our flights are into Geneva and I am trying to understand if we need a test to enter the country as well? I know we currently need test to return to UK


We've gone down a similar path and have now moved out Frech holiday to an Italian trip, but our flights are still into Geneva. This is my take on what is needed, but I'm still reading up!

- Certified LFT less than 24 hours before entry - usable for both Italy and Switzerland
- Swiss PLF
- Italian PLF
- Certified LFT less than 2 days before return to UK
- Day 2 PCR test booked
- English PLF
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Arrived in Italy this morning. I had printed copies of my Italian PLF, my UK covid passport and my fit to fly certificate and it was a really simple process. We got through Turin airport in about 20mins. Very Happy
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
James1990 wrote:

2. Which provider they have used to complete a pre flight antigen test where you send a photo of your passport next to the test result and receive the certificate within hours.


I used Qured in the summer, and found them really good so will use again for my trip on the 15th. At that point, you had to have someone monitor your test via video but that requirement has gone now. So you simply take the test and load it to the website and they'll return the test certificate within 2 hours (as long as you submit between 8am-midnight). They seem quite precise on timings which I find more reassuring, whereas some are more woolly on when they'll return it.

I think there's quite a few similar (Randox etc) so it's just a case of funding what works for you.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
James1990 wrote:
Morning all,

All being well, I am travelling to Courmayeur for the first time a week today(9th Jan) after having to cancel VT for the same dates. There’s a ton of chat on this group which has been useful so far. I just wanted to views on specific testing providers that people have used.

We’ve got a group that are spread across England but will all be meeting at Gatwick. Could a few people give me their experiences/views on-

1. Using the testing facilities at Gatwick
2. Which provider they have used to complete a pre flight antigen test where you send a photo of your passport next to the test result and receive the certificate within hours.
3. Is the test described in point 2. Sufficient to complete again to get back into the UK?
4. Any recommendations for day 2 upon returning to UK. Has anyone tested at Gatwick once returning or dropped samples off on their way home,

Thanks in advance


I can help with no’s 2 & 3 (& a bit of 4).

2. Yes, used C19 travelling back from Greece last Sept. They say to allow up to 12 hrs for results & I think ours came through within 5. Have two left as they changed the rules after buying for a 2nd trip so using these to return from Italy in 3 wks time.

Travelling with Crystal this trip & will be buying the Chromatics test they have on their website as these turn around in 15 mins for our uk departure test as has to be within 24 hrs of arrival.

3. Yes! Just to reiterate though, you cannot use the free NHS ones for these tests.

4. Used Randox drop box twice very successfully. Got our results approx 24 hrs after dropping off.

I’m sure I’ve read on a thread on this site somewhere testing is patchy or non existent at Gatwick & peeps are stopping off at Heathrow to do on their way round??
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@James1990, I’ve used C19testing for unsupervised pre-return LF tests and would recommend them. For my forthcoming trip from Gatwick I have arranged a day 2 PCR from Collinsons (15 minute drive from Gatwick) and also bought LF tests from them. These arrived the next day but you need to get your skates on as they recommend ordering at least a week before they are needed. I would imagine that ExpressTest, also based at Gatwick, would also be good for these. I don’t know what tests you need for Italy. I previously did a drive in pre-departure rapid PCR at Collinsons at Heathrow and this was very efficient.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
tomb wrote:
Arrived in Italy this morning. I had printed copies of my Italian PLF, my UK covid passport and my fit to fly certificate and it was a really simple process. We got through Turin airport in about 20mins. Very Happy


Sounds very reassuring so thanks for the update. Will make sure have both printed & electronic for our trip then.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Handy Turnip, thanks. Is your planned route through France to get to Italy? We had our transfer booked with Alps 2 Alps so was intending to change to Champoluc if we do this, and that is the other concern, I think they have updated to clarify that you can transit…
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@NickyJ, we've hired a car at Geneva and are planning on only traveling through Switzerland to get to Italy. It adds on another 30mins I believe but takes out the complication of adding a third country into the mix (esp when it's France!)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Il_Capitano,

I read your response, scratched my head, and then realised in reading this thread off-and-on over the last couple of days I’d muddled you up with shuv7 and their story of their daughter being positive. Hence my comments about being in close proximity, and the elevated pre-test numbers - I thought you’d been in an apartment with someone who’d subsequently tested +ve.

Many apologies, and thanks for such a measured reply! Agree your assumptions look very reasonable. I’ll put a note on the original post
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Garfield wrote:
Sorry an other question re Italian PLF
We fly into Austria and then bus to Arabba
Do we put the flight info as the main details?
If I tick it as an intermediate flight I cant seem to get to put in the bus transfer details
Anyone else done one recently?

Realise as I fly into Austria I need a PCR test on way there


Got the answer to this
You enter by bus or Taxi
Operator you enter your tour operator Crystal, Inghams etc or taxi company if you booked independently
Enter the country through the Brennero pass "assuming thats the route you are taking"
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@Garfield, hello, we too are flying into Inn then going to Alta badia. We just received a message from inghams explaining how to fill in the Italian plf, I think u covered everything. Please be aware that Austrian regulation for pcr states that it needs to be done 48 hrs before ENTRY into the country. We booked our pcr based on leaving times, not the arrival. Just called the company and rebooked the tests. Don’t want to be turned away Twisted Evil Very Happy
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
The same is true for Italy. When I spoke to Inghams about my pre-Xmas (cancelled) holiday, they said to allow for about three hours from landing at INN to actually crossing the Italian border. Depending on how paranoid you are about the rules you may also want to factor that into your timings. (I haven’t heard of anyone checking at the Italian border though)
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@Pejoli, you scared me, I just contacted Inghams to confirm that the test needs to be done 48 before entry into Austria not Italy. Should I risk it and do the test 24 hrs before leaving? 3 hrs after landing means 4.30 pm and our clinic closes at 3. Don’t know what to do now
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I thought PCR for Austria is not required if transiting to Italy?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
snaffy wrote:
I thought PCR for Austria is not required if transiting to Italy?

Going by the Austrian info site this is probably currently true
Don't relish the prospect of arguing with a airline check-in that is just dealing with your Innsbruck flight.

Next week the rules could all be different again


Last edited by After all it is free Go on u know u want to! on Sun 2-01-22 15:46; edited 1 time in total
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Good point
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Harrow lady wrote:
@Pejoli, you scared me, I just contacted Inghams to confirm that the test needs to be done 48 before entry into Austria not Italy. Should I risk it and do the test 24 hrs before leaving? 3 hrs after landing means 4.30 pm and our clinic closes at 3. Don’t know what to do now


My understanding - For a PCR you have 48hours before your plane lands in Austria to take the test, so I would book it on that basis.

*Technically*, as you’re using that PCR to gain entry to Italy as well, it should be done within 48 hours of arriving in Italy (ie allowing enough time to get out of the airport, and get to the Brenner pass). So if you’re ultra-cautious you might want to schedule it within 45 hours before touch down. But as mentioned, I’ve not heard from anyone being checked at the Italian border (and I can’t imagine they’d stop a coach, that sounds like way too much effort and admin for a police officer). I think Inghams main concern is getting you through border control at the airport successfully - hence making you adher to Austrian rules as well, even if not strictly necessary as a transitee. And squeezing the time to get the pcr results back obviously presents its own risks. So I’d definitely go with what Inghams say.

(I’m looking to rebook a holiday at the moment and I’ve decided I’m not going anywhere that requires a PCR - just seems too stressful)
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Apart from getting a 48hr PCR, is there like a passengar locator form needed for entry into Austria/Italy? Or is just for return to UK?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Pejoli, Though I believe I'm right in thinking Italy requires lateral flow not PCR.
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esaw1 wrote:
@Pejoli, Though I believe I'm right in thinking Italy requires lateral flow not PCR.


PCR within 48 Hours, or LFT within 24 hours. Given you need a 48 hour PCR for Austria (with no option for LFT), I assume most people using that travel route will use the same PCR test for both entries.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
esaw1 wrote:
@Pejoli, Though I believe I'm right in thinking Italy requires lateral flow not PCR.


Yes, lateral flow is fine for Italy
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Sarny wrote:
Apart from getting a 48hr PCR, is there like a passengar locator form needed for entry into Austria/Italy? Or is just for return to UK?


For Italy
https://app.euplf.eu/#/
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Thanks @Pejoli, Inghams are closed today but will try again tomorrow. I feel very uneasy about breaking any type of laws/regulations and I followed to the letter what inghams told me to do .
didn’t even think about entering italy and surprised that inghams didn’t mention it at all.
I am totally with u regarding pcr, if we were flying into italy an antigen test would have been enough, saving of 80 for the two of us and not having to worry about getting the results on time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Harrow lady wrote:
@Garfield, hello, we too are flying into Inn then going to Alta badia. We just received a message from inghams explaining how to fill in the Italian plf, I think u covered everything. Please be aware that Austrian regulation for pcr states that it needs to be done 48 hrs before ENTRY into the country. We booked our pcr based on leaving times, not the arrival. Just called the company and rebooked the tests. Don’t want to be turned away Twisted Evil Very Happy


I jut phoned Inghams and they had no clue. Im going to Selva which is nearish you, what point of entry did you put, and did Inghams communicate this directly or via a general email?

Thanks
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
WHat state province is Selva Val Gardena in anyone, it says Bolzano which im afriad isnt an option on the PLF, any help is appreciated thankyou.
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Sarny wrote:
WHat state province is Selva Val Gardena in anyone, it says Bolzano which im afriad isnt an option on the PLF, any help is appreciated thankyou.

Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Province South Tyrol (BZ)
Bolzano is the local city
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@Sarny, try Trentino-Alto Adige.
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Thankyou cant find anywhere that tells me that in all the emails
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'm (hopefully) going skiing to Montgenevre in France on 20th Jan (assuming we're still not banned from France). I'm getting the train from London to Paris then changing, so I'll be following the protocols for France. My question is though, my train, just at the end of it's journey nips into Italy, to Oulx, and I'm getting a private transfer from there back to Montgenevre.

Do I need to anything for arriving in Italy, or given I'll be on Italian soil for 30-60 mins maximum, shall I just ignore it??
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@Sarny, hello, point of entry is Brenner pass,
received a mail from our rep including a list of what we need to prior to departure.
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@Timmycb5, I’ve asked a similar question but for flying into Turin, then transit over to Serre Chevalier, but without a response so far. Maybe we’ve found the unanswerable question….
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@Montan, I'm doing that in Feb too, but I'm guessing for that I'll need to comply with Italian rules as the airline will probably require it.
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