To ask if you are still going on your France holiday this summer?

[LuckyLouby]

Just that really. We have a family holiday booked to go to France this August and were very much looking forward to it. However, given the situation, we are unsure of whether to go or not. We have booked with Brittany Ferries and they have given us the option of taking a credit note for the deposit we have already paid and using it to rebook at a later date. Alternatively, we can go ahead with the holiday.

The holiday home itself is in rural France but the worry is over taking the crowded ferry to get to France.

Has anyone else booked a similar holiday for this year? What are you planning on doing? We're so confused about what to do our hearts say go but our heads say don't take the risk and take the credit note.

We are due to go and are resigned to not going. But we're going from Northern Ireland, taking the ferry from Ireland to France, and we are Irish passport holders. So our nightmare scenario in terms of being eligible to get a refund would be if the UK and Ireland lifted travel restrictions at different times, because who would we fall under when it comes to proving that we can't travel? If Ireland allowed travel, but the UK didn't, we theoretically couldn't leave home in order to cross the border to catch the ferry. But the ferry company would presumably say that we are free to travel since the ferry doesn't go near the UK, so not their problem. But if the UK lifted travel restrictions and Ireland didn't, then we might get a refund on our accommodation, but not on the ferry...

But anyway, not much we can do about it. Will be annoying if we lose money, but all we can do is try to forget about it.

@LilacTree1 They definitely are checking on the French side. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are running, but they warn you to check if you are allowed entry as you can book a ticket and still be refused entry to France. You have to have your paperwork to get into the country, same as you did to move outside your house within the country until today. The agreement between the UK and France is merely that there is no quarantine period for people travelling between the two countries, not that all and sundry are allowed to travel. To get into France, if you are not a French citizen, you currently have to prove one of:
a) you are returning to your main home (NOT a holiday home)
b) you are a healthcare professional working with COVID 19 patients
c) you are a lorry driver, pilot, or similar delivery person
d) you are a diplomat or NGO worker based in France

And yes, they absolutely are checking to make sure you've got the documentation to prove it. They may not check every single vehicle, but they are checking enough to be turning away large numbers.

We have a holiday in a campsite in France which was already booked when the lockdown started, it's for the end of June. Even if we were allowed to travel, we wouldn't go, but this looks unlikely anyway. Not too much is likely to change in about a month-6 weeks.The campsite is still closed, and if it still closed next month (or not allowing tourists from UK) we will claim a refund (or get a credit note to re-book at some point next year). I think this summer we'll just stay at home.

My MIL lives in France. Initially we were due over there next month, now we are hoping to be able to get out there by the back end of the year hopefully.

We've already decided to cancel our holiday to Cornwall in August. Can't imagine much in the way of restaurants will be open and with social distancing everything will be so much more difficult and will rule out lots of the things we normally do.

If there is a limited time in which to take the credit note or pay full balance etc, get the credit note now. Otherwise you risk being unable to get a refund and not actually being able to go due to govt restrictions on either side.

I'm supposed to be going on a pilgrimage with my church to Lourdes in August. The tour company have said it'll all go ahead etc but I cannot see how.

If there is a limited time in which to take the credit note or pay full balance etc, get the credit note now.

If you are only going to lose a small deposit, personally I'd lose it rather than pay the balance. The company may not exist this time next year.

I think if Brittany Ferries start running again for the summer season people will possibly be confined to cabins so I don't think there would be too much risk of picking covid up on the ferry. This is my hunch I don't have inside knowledge. I would be more concerned about driving through France and staying in en route hotels on the way to the final destination. If your holiday is self catering and not too far from the port I might be tempted to wait and see if the corona situation improves. We booked our August holiday last year and it also involves a Brittany Ferries crossing. Have not cancelled yet for a number of reasons.

A friend flew to France last week from London. French immigration were at the airport in the UK and turned away about a third of the passengers for not having a valid reason to travel - she has a house, husband and business in France (although is not French) and was allowed. We're tentatively thinking we'll be okay to go to our family house in France in August even if we have to drive.

We’ve got a holiday booked for the end of
August in France. Our campsite has said they’re waiting for Macron to announce they can open again and then it will be business as usual.

Even if we’re legally allowed to go, I don’t think I’ll want to.

@Knoxinbox Gosh! Yes! How ridiculous of me to have booked a holiday a year ago. Obviously I should've checked my crystal ball.

I despair!

We’ve been discussing this at home. Due to go self catering at the end of July. Hefty balance due end of May and the contract I signed says no refunds if we cancel. I will ring the broker nearer the time as I’d happily defer but doubt we’ll be going this year. We were due to fly but could Eurotunnel and drive.

We were supposed to be going out via the Eurotunnel into France and back on the night ferry from the Netherlands. So I guess it's a definite no that way round. Our French Airbnb doesn't need the balance paying till 1st July so will hold off cancelling till then and hopefully we'll get credit notes for the transport and try again next summer.

I don’t think I’d be comfortable about going even if the lockdown has eased. You might get there okay, but what happens if the virus starts escalating again and return travel is cancelled whilst you’re still there? And I think there’s still going to be some hostility to tourists from the French for the next few months. I’m wanting the UK to ban tourists coming here for the next 3 months at least.

I was wondering what to do about our holiday. I still haven’t decided.

I must be being a bit thick lately but how can anyone go on holiday when lockdown isn't over for at least a month. It's not an essential journey and why would you risk it when the virus is everywhere?

Supposed to be going on Sunday. First pigging child free holiday in 20 years, first ever solo holiday . All I wanted to do was read a tonne of books and go to French supermarkets. Pfft.

I WILL go in 18 months or so when we have vaccines and the world opens up again. Still wish it was Sunday though.

We're booked in Jersey at the end of July. easyjet flights paid in full, Airbnb balance due mid-July. No idea how things will be by then - still 11 weeks away...meanwhile we just wait & see

DH had a solo holiday booked in April & has been refunded in full (well, Jet2 money is imminent he's told). Suspect by July we're more likely to get vouchers than cash. (We did have annual insurance, now expired, but discovered too late it never covered either pandemics or FCO advice not to travel - still wondering who to get it from next time...)

ExCwmbranDweller oh god, now you have set me off dreaming about French supermarkets and patisseries and restaurants. Fields of sunflowers. Empty roads. . Sorry about your holiday.

*What the what??!

Who are all these people with holiday plans???! Haven’t you read or watched the news??

Holidays? Street parties? Travelling all over to beauty spots?

I just dispair*

Strangely enough, most people made plans before early March when France and the UK realised this was going to be a problem. I'd booked my flights last October for three weeks ago. Luckily got a full refund, and hadn't actually got around to booking my hotel by March...

Away from home before the leaves fall? It might be down to the virus. If it damps right down as summer kicks in there's a slim chance for August. I doubt it though. I'm going to shift a break a full year on and that's with fingers crossed.

We have cancelled our holiday, and also our trip to Spain for my mother's 70th in August. Matt Hancock has today said that there won't be any foreign holidays this year - even if France and the UK have put a reciprocal no quarantine deal in place.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52632976

We have just rebooked for summer 2021 and hope to goodness we can go then!!

We're booked on Brittany Ferries late July but I've not seen any emails. Also although we're off to France we're sailing to Bilbao so what would happen if France did open their borders? Ugh - just thinking about it depresses me and makes me need wine just to get over it!

The non quarantine thing for people going to and from France isn't aimed at holidays. "While travellers coming from the UK, the European Union and the Schengen zone will not need to enter quarantine immediately upon arrival in France, they will need to provide documents proving their need to enter the country.

Examples of supporting evidence listed on the embassy's website include proof that your main residence is in France, proof that you work in healthcare, or that you are a cross-border worker."

The other thing to look at is your travel insurance. Will you be covered if you get Covid whilst in France?