France this summer?

[smogsville]

...
to wonder why there doesn't seem to be any info about possibility of French driving holidays this summer?

I'm hearing a lot about whether the Spanish etc will have us, airbridge negotiations etc but what about all the Brits who have booked self drive holidays to rented gites etc using Eurotunnel/ ferries?

Or have I missed something. I know that atm it's essential travel only on Eurotunnel, but does anyone think there might be a possibility of still going?

Or am I not being reasonable or unreasonable, but deluded?! If we can't go it's obviously far from end of world, but I'd like to know.

[Drivingdownthe101]

I don’t think anyone knows yet, that’s the problem. There were talks of us having a quarantine free arrangement with France but that didn’t go anywhere. So at the moment any travel to France, if allowed in the first place, would be subject to quarantine rules. That may change, but no one knows.

[smogsville]

@Drivingdownthe101 thanks. It does feel like driving hols aren't being talked about much I suppose. I keep scanning articles for 'france' but nothing doing!

[Drivingdownthe101]

Yes it does seem like the focus has been on flights.
Fingers crossed there will be some more information soon. My in laws are in Spain and our flights to see them in July have been cancelled, but as soon as they get the go ahead they will drive over here to visit.

[SaffyWall]

We've just cancelled our French holiday (was supposed to be going mid-august). We were going to stay in a gite and the owners were very happy to have us there, but the having to quarantine on the way home (it's voluntary in France) would make it almost impossible for us as we need to get back to work. I know that the UK quarantine might be lifted by then but we just needed to make a decision. I haven't contacted Eurotunnel yet as they are only talking to people who are travelling within the next 2 weeks - I suppose we'll get vouchers that we can use next year? When I cancelled the site the owners got another booking the same day from a French family so we're not out of pocket.

[Drivingdownthe101]

When our Spain flights were cancelled we booked a cottage in Devon instead. It’s in the middle of nowhere so if the locals put signs up saying ‘you’re not welcome’ we don’t have to see anyone .

[happystory]

I was wondering about ferries... they are packed in the summer, I don't see how you could social distance even if you had a cabin on a longer crossing. It must be difficult for those who need to go, rather than those who would like to.

[smogsville]

@happystory I know you can go if you need to for work or bc that's where you live and you need to get back - that's what Eurotunnel website says about what French border officers will be checking for. Don't know about ferries.

@SaffyWall Eurotunnel have said if you can't go this summer you can just rebook for next summer so that's ok. Not sure what the position is on refunds if you want one though. Our gite is an Airbnb which seems to be refunding on a rolling basis so we'll wait and see. Looks like govt is under pressure to reconsider the quarantine thing anyway. We both WFH so we could live with it.

@Drivingdownthe101 I don't think I can cope with making any new bookings for this summer even in the UK. If we're allowed we'll decamp to Brighton to see my parents. I hope your Devon locals are at least civil! Fingers crossed these reports of unwelcoming signage are just media hyping things up.