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Original poster

UK from France for Christmas

21 replies

Wallywobbles · 05/12/2021 09:08

Does anyone think it's going to be possible? Or should I readjust our expectations again?

We are meant to be coming over from 18-22 Dec.
Only going to one house.
All double or triple vaccinated.
Travelling in car on Eurotunnel.

OP posts:
kalidasa · 05/12/2021 09:15

No idea tbh but I am hoping to as well. Due to bring children 17-1 with my husband joining us 23-27. Going to be so complicated with all the tests etc but desperately want to if possible as I haven't seen my mum since my Dad's funeral in July, just before we moved, and the children are so looking forward to seeing their friends. I think right now it still looks possible but if they bring in proper quarantine or any of us test positive in the next week we'll have to rethink I suppose. We're doing Eurostar.

notimagain · 05/12/2021 09:16

Possible, yes, but not easy.

You’ve got a house to go to in the UK and hopefully if anybody fails the post arrival test your hosts will accommodate you until you can get back to France.

Good Luck

foxyfemke · 05/12/2021 15:20

Doable, but be prepared to spend lots of money on tests. You'll need teste pre-departure, day 2 tests, and depending on France's rules, test before you head back.

I'm in the process of booking all our tests and as we arrive on the 24th, the tests are even more expensive than usual.

jamaisjedors · 05/12/2021 15:27

I am stressing about this too. Not been back since 2019 and really want to be there for Christmas.

It was already looking tough (and expensive) and now the extra pre departure test for three of us. So 3 tests in all.

Plus i can't work out how we can get back after Christmas as to respect the 48hr rule, we'd have to test on Xmas eve but then nowhere can guarantee results for boxing day (understandably).

Even if we didn't leave till the 27th it would still be impossible to get tests back in time as far as i can see Sad

thegcatsmother · 05/12/2021 15:43

My db is coming over from Belgium, and he thinks it is all doable. Driving from Mons to Calais, and doing Eurotunnel.

percythewitch · 05/12/2021 17:23

Don't forget that the current rules require you to isolate until you have received a negative result for your day 2 tests.

Having said this, you can take your day 2 test any time from when you arrive in the UK and there are plenty of companies offering PCR tests with a fast turnaround (although obviously you would pay a premium for doing this!).

@jamaisjedors to come back to France (I think that's what you are asking - apologies if not) you can use antigen/lateral flow test. The free NHS ones are not acceptable, but you can order one to be delivered to a UK address and you verify the result by sending a picture and you get the result verified electronically pretty quickly.

Just one word of caution on the French side - there seems to be some confusion about how far in advance you need to do your test to go to the UK, and I have seen several posts on a travel group today about passengers being turned away for not having a test within 24 hours of travel. If you are vaccinated, then the rules say that 48 hours in advance is acceptable, but this is extremely ambiguous and the airlines/ferries seem to be insisting on 24 hours!

Hopefully these "glitches" will get sorted and clarified in the next few days.

Who knows what the rules will be by Christmas, but I am trying to stay optimistic and not cancel...yet...

notimagain · 05/12/2021 18:49

Just one word of caution on the French side - there seems to be some confusion about how far in advance you need to do your test to go to the UK, and I have seen several posts on a travel group today about passengers being turned away for not having a test within 24 hours of travel. If you are vaccinated, then the rules say that 48 hours in advance is acceptable, but this is extremely ambiguous and the airlines/ferries seem to be insisting on 24 hours!

I’m confused Confused.

I didn’t think the pre-departure test requirement for flights/ferries from France to the UK started until 7th Dec?

percythewitch · 06/12/2021 09:45

@notimagain

I think my brain is beginning to scramble itself!

Didn't mean to cause any confusion - I'll go back and check where I read this (have seen a similar post this morning on the group saying a family were denied boarding because they had done the tests 48 hours instead of 24 before travelling)

percythewitch · 06/12/2021 09:53

@notimagain

my comment was supposed to be about people returning to France from the UK but I clearly wrote it the wrong way round.

I think I need to have a day of not thinking about all this Grin

notimagain · 06/12/2021 09:56

No probs, it’s Monday AM brain fog here as well..

The rules for entering France from the UK which did come in over the W/E certainly are, as you say, a bit convoluted and I can easily imagine there’s scope for confusion amongst check-in staff at the UK end…

percythewitch · 06/12/2021 10:17

Plenty of scope for confusion inside my head too!

I'm going to go and make some soup and think about something else for a bit!

ifonly4 · 06/12/2021 10:50

Really hoping DD will make it home from Germany (at uni there). She seems prepared to suck up the cost of tests. I'm probably worrying too much, but my main concern is if things change while she's over here and Germany require anyone returning to hotel quarantine - cost wise can't even be considered but she has to complete course in Germany (rather than online here) to count as full year of study.

QuentininQuarantino · 06/12/2021 11:12

Us too. Our in laws have transferred us some money to help towards the tests so at least that’s a weight off our mind but There’s always the chance of a positive test between now and then. Trying to stay calm!

None of the arguments for travel restrictions take into account the fact that travelling from rural France to rural England via eurotunnel is not the same risk level as a plane from city to city and it’s so frustrating.

kalidasa · 06/12/2021 11:49

You're right @QuentininQuarantino Eurotunnel and in your own car all the way must be pretty low risk really especially compared to flying but even in comparison to the Eurostar.

workwoes123 · 06/12/2021 12:31

Op

By U.K. do you mean England?

jamaisjedors · 06/12/2021 12:37

@percythewitch - thanks - I've checked and you are right, we can do lateral flow which is perfect and might just have saved our Christmas.

Still expensive with three lots of tests for 3 of us but it seems worth it for now.

Lots of worry about what happens if one of us tests positive, particularly while in the UK...

percythewitch · 06/12/2021 12:47

@jamaisjedors

Glad I managed to get *something" right on this thread Grin

I hope you get to wherever it is you need to be (and back!) without too much palaver.

We have family joining us from another EU country (not France). All of us are driving rather than flying. I can't even begin to think how much all the testing costs will add up to - it seems that even the 5 year old will need a test in the UK.

percythewitch · 06/12/2021 12:48

Glad I managed to get something" right on this thread*

Other than my punctuation obviously Blush

Original poster
Wallywobbles · 07/12/2021 02:59

Yes I did mean England but it's all been canceled. DSis rang last night to point out that as we have to self isolate no one else will be able to come to our big early Christmas lunch on 18th which is the day we arrive. It's crap.

OP posts:
jamaisjedors · 08/12/2021 12:24

Oh no, so disappointing...

jamaisjedors · 16/12/2021 19:59

Anyone else blindsided by the news?

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