Anyone know the situation in France with masks, restaurants etc?

[DiddlySquatty]

We’ve booked a last minute trip to France - eurotunnel then a static mobile home on a campsite.
We know the campsite well although usually go with our own tent.
With the static we’ll have our own bathroom etc.

Campsite is operating at only 25% capacity and has a few other measures in place. Things like the restaurant are not open.

Just wondering if anyone knows off the top of their head what the general COVID-19 situation is in France?
We’ll take face masks as I’m assuming we might need them in shops? (Although we’re taking food so probably will only have to go once).

Does anyone know if restaurants are open?

Are we going to feel welcome as tourists?
Wondering also about the local zoo.

Would love to know if anyone knows what attitudes and rules are ‘on the ground’.

It’s the Vendee region.

Bumping as also curious.

I’m in France.

Shops require masks to be worn and quite a few have limited the number allowed in - the boulangerie only allows 3 customers in at a time, so keep an eye out for signs at the door. In supermarkets people aren’t taking their own bags/containers for fruit and veg but using the bags supplied by the supermarket (still take your own bags for packing shopping at checkout though)

Parks, playgrounds etc open but some attractions not.

Was at the lake yesterday and it was heaving - lots of picnics and socialising going on - no kissing Hello and goodbye though! Everyone swimming and on boats etc.

Took me a while to get used to the 1m rule not 2m, but most folk seem to be ignoring it.

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Oh - yes, restaurants and cafes open, albeit some here with reduced hours. Attitudes to tourists seem relaxed where I am.

Not sure about that particular region but in the East of France where we live, masks are not compulsory but are recommended in shops and individual shops may require masks, may limit numbers and may require the use of hand gel. Masks are compulsory on public transport. There may be one way systems and restrictions of numbers on beaches and in places like zoos, some venues have advance tickets only, no tickets available on the day. Restaurants require masks to go in and while walking around (like to the toilets) but you can remove them while being seated. We have found that in tourist areas, some restaurants are closed but open for take away food which are based on their usual offering.

A friend posted a photo of him and his wife in France yesterday. They were sitting outside a cafe having a nice relaxed beer. People walking around didn't seem to be wearing masks, with the exception of their waiter who had pulled his down so it only covered his mouth...

I’m also in France (Dordogne). As @StuckInPollyannaMode says, masks are obligatory in shops, restaurants etc (remove for eating obviously!), also anywhere where people are in “proximity”. Our local outdoor swimming pool opened yesterday.

Hope you have a great holiday!

Just on our way back from a week in a cottage in Brittany. Everything was open, but you have to book eg. we went to oceanopolis aquarium in Brest, bought tickets online that morning with timed entry (there were loads of slots available). Restaurants all open in towns, some smaller ones in rural villages still closed or restricted hours so we just called ahead and booked, and bought food at the shops to eat at home. We mostly walked the coastal path and went to the beach anyway!

Almost everyone over the age of 10 wearing masks when on ferries, in shops or on the street in a busy area, they are required when you walk into or around a restaurant but you take them off when you sit down at the table. Hand sanitizer everywhere and everyone using it. Small shops like boulangeries were one in one out, socially distanced queues outside with masks on. It was noticeable that almost everyone around us was French (and not kissing to say hello), we didn't hear any other tourists, British or otherwise, all week.

It was absolutely wonderful to travel again! I feel completely refreshed and optimistic about the future

You might want to be aware the mask wearing rules in France change again tomorrow and it will become mandatory to wear a mask in any enclosed public space..

www.thelocal.fr/20200713/latest-are-masks-about-to-become-compulsory-in-france

www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/masques-grand-public

That’s so good to hear!

Thanks everyone, really useful.

As for being welcome, I have found that being able to speak French and not dressing (badly) as an English person helps.

www.parismatch.com/Actu/Insolite/Coronavirus-le-smiling-mask-un-masque-qui-affiche-le-bas-du-visage-1688827

Is the supermarket situation the same as in the U.K. ie queuing? Do you have to book in advance for restaurants?

Supermarkets are probably counting the number of people in and out but for some time now we have not had any queues. This might be different if there are more people in the area you are visiting.

And I would suggest booking ahead if you are going to a special restaurant as they may have fewer tables than usual.

We're at a camp near Bordeaux- some mask wearing but no social distancing. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming - it is easy to forget there is a pandemic.
We went to the local Carrefour yesterday- everyone had a mask and hand sanitizer at the entrance but that's about it.
We were worried before we got here that the holiday would be spoiled but we're having a great time. When it gets busier it may be more difficult.

I think it depends a lot on where you are - DB has just got back from a week. He and SIL were the only people they saw wearing masks the whole time (including at very crowded markets and supermarkets). I will be interested to see if the rules are enforced from tomorrow. We're heading there tomorrow (our family have a home there) and I'm sure that very few people will take any notice based on normal behaviour.

As of Monday masks will be obligatory 135€ fine.

Restaurant all open.

Thanks, we are thinking of heading to somewhere near to Dijon/Besancon.

We are in France right now.

We arrived in Reims about an hour ago, having arrived in Paris yesterday. Dd has been in France since Monday - first in Pau and then Paris. We will be in France for a fortnight.

The rules on masks is getting a bit stricter from tomorrow where you then will have to wear them in all enclosed indoor places such as shops, museums, etc.

You need masks in trains and public transport, plus taxis - though most have a Perspex shielding too now.

When walking about into a restaurant you have to wear a mask, or heading inside to the toilet too. But don't have to wear them sat at the table.

You don't need to wear them when outside walking around either.

Social distancing is 1m. Means cafe and restaurants tables seem much closer together than at home. But we never felt on top of one another at all.

Hotels etc feel spotlessly clean.

There are hand sanitizers everywhere. There are even automatic ones in the streets and attached to bus stops, as well as in restaurants, shops, train stations, etc

Dd said there was little social distancing in Pau - only time they needed masks really was shops, going up to order at a bar and in public transport.

Re being welcome - we have felt very welcome. We can only speak a very small amount of french. I can have a go and can read more than I can say these days. We are clearly English though. But everyone has been very welcoming, and appear very pleased to be having tourists visiting.