Jillian + McLeod

There continues to be great progress and evolution to the travel guidelines arriving to and from Italy. Covid-Tested flights were a quick place-holder to the health protocols.

As of July 27, 2021 for all US citizens no quarantine is required for those that:  are vaccinated (and have proof of vaccination, ie your vaccination card)  or a negative Covid test 48 hrs prior to departure to Italy. Additionally, all airports are open to arrive & depart from with these guidelines (no longer set to only Milan or Rome). 

However, each passenger/traveler must complete the EU Passenger Locator Form prior to arriving in Italy. You can complete the form today (you do not need to wait for a specific time before your departure, like at the aiport). Complete the form here and step-by-step instructions here.

As of July 27, 2021 

All passengers returning to the US are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel.

Why does the Order specify 3 days rather than 72 hours? What is considered 3 days? The 3-day period is the 3 days before the flight’s departure. The Order uses a 3-day timeframe instead of 72 hours to provide more flexibility to the traveler. By using a 3-day window, test validity does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test was administered.

For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.

Check out more from the CDC int'l travel here.

Locations to be tested can be found here: private Covid test centers across all regions in Italy.

In addition to these private test centers in the link above, it’s possible to get tested in almost every local pharmacy with a rapid test.

Pro Tip: we strongly advise you do not opt for being tested at the airport as your testing site of choice. Why? Besides the extra time and stress, should a test come back positive, you are immediately quarantined. It is best to be tested at a private test center or at a local pharmacy. That way, in case the result returns a false-positive (not to think worst-case scenario but rapid-tests do have those odds), you have extra time and space to ensure you obtain a negative test.

Please review our COVID Guideline page for mandatory requirements with traveling: to, from, and in Italy. 

Vaccination Card, Negative Covid-Test, EU Passenger Locator Form

Contact: jillianmcleod@italianweddingplanners.com

We have a travel concierge service available for our guests to help you plan and coordinate all of your travel needs. Everything from trip ideas, to best ways of traveling and most suitable hotels all throughout your stay – all you will have to do is book your final request. 

Here are our travel plans should they help inspire or coordinate with all of our guests, like joining us in Florence for a few days before the big day! 

(as of June 1, 2021)

Arrival | Saturday, August 21: NYC – Rome, final destination Florence. We are flying direct into Rome (red-eye) arriving Saturday, August 21. We are crossing our fingers our flight will be deemed as a COVID Free Flight as well (per Italy travel guides).  Then, we will have a car service drive us to Florence as our final destination (we will have a lot of luggage, so a car will be less stressful than the train). 

Florence | Saturday, August 21 – Tuesday, August 24 We will be staying in Florence for the first half of our adventure in Italy, immersing ourselves with all of the goodness Firenze has to offer. From strolling the Boboli Gardens, to sipping an aperitivo in a piazza – we will be ready to take on Tuscany.   

Borgo Stomennano, Monteriggioni | August 24 – August 26 For guests that will be in Florence on Tuesday, August 24 – we will be offering complimentary transportation to Borgo Stomennano (for those staying at the villa or farmhouses) and/or your final destination in Siena, Monteriggioni area. We will reach out in the coming weeks to confirm and coordinate the pick-up location in Florence (of course following all proper health guidelines)! 

Departing as Mr. & Mrs. Sims | August 26, 2021 We will be departing our magical kingdom of Borgo Stomennano to start our official travels as Mr. & Mrs. Sims. We will be heading back to Florence the same way we came (via car service) and then head down to the Almafi Coast! For our guests, we will share transportation options as each guest will have different plans post-wedding nuptials. This will be tied to our coordination and future outreach to our guests of pre-wedding plans to help plan and accommodate where possible our family and friends return or next stop on their trip in Italy. 

[rolling updates as Italy evolves its travel guidelines over coming weeks]

There are 2 major airports in Italy Rome and Florence. 

Flying to Florence is the suggested route, as the venue, Borgo Stomennano, is about an hour from Florence by car or bus (and about two hours by train).  We will be checking in with our guests to see if they are interested in us coordinating group transportation from Florence to Siena. 

Travel from Rome is a bit further however only a 1.5 train from Rome to Florence. Once in Florence, you can then take a bus to Siena.  

We will continue to provide more details on the best ways of traveling in the coming weeks – these are just a few high-level options. 

[To be provided with more detail in the coming weeks]

For those that will be in Florence on Tuesday, August 24 we will be arranging complimentary transportation to Borgo Stomennano (for those staying at the villa or farmhouses) and/or for those staying in the Siena, Monterrigoni area.

For those guests staying outside of Borgo Stomennano, we will arrange and provide transportation to bring guests to and from the venue for both occasions – Tuesday, August 24: Welcome Party and Wednesday, August 25: Ceremony & Celebrations.

Stay tuned for transportation planning in the coming weeks. 

DISTANCES (starting from Borgo Stomennano)

Siena (10 km): 10 min. by car, 20 min. by public transport
Florence (60 km): 49 min. by car or bus, 90 min. by train
Rome (250 km): 2.15 hr by car, 2.45 hr by public transport
Milan (350km): 3.46 hr by car, 4.20 hr by public transport

When booking any of the accommodations below, you may mention the Bonner – Sims Wedding in the comment or note section of your confirmation as all of the places have been notified of our celebrations from August 24 – August 26. 

Borgo San Luigi (8.4 km from venue) Note: entire property is available, 74 rooms

Hotel Monteriggioni (3.1 km from venue) 

Borgo Dé Brandi (2.7 km from venue)

Il Piccolo Castello Hotel (4.3 Km from venue)

Fattoria il Casone (6km from venue)

Nuova Fattoria Lornano Agriturismo (6.5 km from venue)

Castel Pietraio (7.4 km from venue)

Relais La Costa (9 km from venue)

Borgo Gallinaio (3.2 km from venue)

Relais Castel Bigozzi (8.1 km from venue)