Travelling to the Alps this winter? Read the last rules for UK travellers

Updated 05/10/2023: UK tour operator confirms all countries will be fully open with no entry restrictions. Top UK ski specialist SNO holidays has confirmed today that none of the major alpine skiing nations will require proof of vaccination, nor proof of recovery, from Covid this winter. “Older or vulnerable skiers might still want to take advantage of the free booster jab for the over 65’s as ski resorts will remain global meeting points and airports and aeroplanes may improve Covid transmission rates, but higher transmission rates will not translate into travel restrictions going forward,” said CEO Richard Sinclair.

Are you thinking in travelling to the Alps this winter? You need to read the last rules for UK travellers.

Please note that things change daily, so check on the Gov.UK website to be sure you are acting well!

Driving to the mountains- Photo Jeffrey Wegrzyn- Unsplash. Travelling to the Alps this winter? Read the last rules for UK travellers

There were major changes last week for UK travellers going to the Alps.

1) Now all travellers coming back to the UK will need a pre-departure test (before boarding to come back to the UK) that can be either an antigen or a PCR test up to 48 hours prior to departure. Without those tests, you cannot board.

2) Disregarding your vaccination status, all passengers coming to the UK, need to put on their Personal Locator Form, a code for the wrongly called Day 2 test. You can only use the UK providers for this test- check the Which website that gives you lots of codes for finding cheaper rates. It is wrongly called Day 2, as you can do the test, as soon as you arrive in the UK. You have to do quarantine until you get the result of the test. This is a bit chaotic, as many companies, were already delayed with their tests – now it will be worst – more if travelling for Christmas!

3) If going to France, now all people 12 and up- disregarding vaccination status- need a test- either a lateral flow or PCR test. This is for people 12 and over. Kids up to 11 years old do not need to do the test. For those vaccinated, tests can be taken up to 48 hours prior to departure. For the unvaccinated, up to 24 hours prior to leaving. So, if you are a family of 2 adults and at least one kid 12 to 15 that is not doubly vaccinated, do the test in the 24 hours prior to leaving! These kids that are not fully vaccinated can still go out without doing a quarantine, if the adults they are travelling with are fully vaccinated.

4) Those going to Italy, disregarding vaccination status will need a lateral flow or PCR test to enter done on the 48 hours previous to enter.

For France and Italy, you need to fill up forms before arriving too. The same goes for coming back to the UK.

5) For going to Switzerland, you need to take a PCR before arriving in Switzerland and then an antigen or PCR between days 4 and 7 of your stay.

6) Note that if going to Spain, those kids that are between 12 to 15 that are not fully vaccinated cannot enter! Unless your kid is living in Spain as a resident, or have a European passport! Check details in this post.

7)In Italy you need to have a third party liability when purchasing lift tickets. You can get that at the lift ticket window, when purchasing your ski lifts.

The Basic Green Pass is for those that have recovered from Covid, fully vaccinated, or taking a PCR every three days or Antigen test every two.

The Super Green Pass is only for recovered or fully vaccinated.

You need to have the Basic Green Pass- if the area is white, or yellow. Right now only Bolzano and Friuli Venezia Giullia are yellow. There are other that might be, depending on infection rates and capacity at ICUs. If the province/area becomes amber, only the Super Green Pass will work. That means, those that are not fully vaccinated, cannot get a test to get on the ski lifts. Let’s hope that areas do not go into the amber zone.

If areas go into the red zone, then lifts would not work! Cross fingers to avoid that!

France will be asking the Green Pass for the lifts and is allowing the PCR or Antigen tests to show as proof to get on them.

I have just bought 5 PCR and 12 antigen tests for going on Christmas. I cannot use the same antigen test for France and Italy due to the timings. Pretty mental, right? And crossing fingers that our cases of Omicron do not grow exponentially ad people freak out of having us visiting their country… Let’s hope for that!

Start planning your next trip!

You can search for your own accommodation in the snow for your next ski holiday through our Accommodation Search tab. Or if looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check Il Coure della Valdigne review here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using, you can always write me a private message if interested to info@the-ski-guru.com

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

You can book directly through Airbnb through Bookiply on this link

Or check Booking.com on this link.

If you want to take your family skiing and you don’t know where to start, read here. And search for your ski transfers from all airports to the Mountains here. And for those that are like me, that are lazy to cook, you can get your food, even gourmet mountain food delivered to your home with Huski.

If renting equipment (skis or snowboards) check our agreement with Skiset– you can get up to 50% off ski or snowboard rental rates. I have been using them for years every year when I go to America and Europe and they are great!

Shop for the Alpine Look with The-Ski-Guru HOME

Already selling some alpine design items for your house. #bringthemountainshome with The-Ski-Guru HOME and put a smile in your face. These are hand-paintings done by me, applied to cushion covers, coasters and mugs.

Cushions, paintings and homewares from The-Ski-Guru HOME. To see the shop go here.

*Featured Image: Ozzy at home after a long trip from London to Morgex in the Italian Alps. Getting an European Passport for your Pet to travel to Europe? Not for everyone!*

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