Anyone booking a holiday to France in July?

[twiglet123]

Not got anything booked yet but looking at France for mid-July. Would to on the Eurotunnel.

Am I mad to consider this? BoJo hasn’t give the go ahead for foreign holidays yet so I’m working on the assumption that restrictions will be lifted on or around 4th July.

Shall I go for it or save the money? We don’t have an annual travel insurance policy so would have to buy that before we go. I’m worried if we don’t book now we will miss out (always go to the same place). What to do?!?!?!?

We are! Have thought all along that we would be able to go so we still have our flights and hotel booking (apart from flights cancelled) although we have decided to drive in case we are let down by more cancelled flights.

Are you getting the Eurotunnel? Would like to but is such a long drive to the bit we usually go to and other option Ryanair who I'm not too keen on atm.

Yes defo would go on Eurotunnel. Looks like restrictions are lifted today from 6th July. Seriously tempted now!

What are you worried about missing out on exactly??
We are not going anywhere abroad this year and value our lives more than a holiday. And we certainly won't be playing sardines on a beach in this country either. Each to their own .

We’re going to book a holiday to Spain, we will get tested before we go and when we get back. I don’t know why it’s not mandatory for everyone to be tested before and after they travel, that is the only way they will stop it spreading.

It seems obvious the OP means miss out booking the place they usually stay at

DD has just been invited on holiday with a friend's family in late July in France. I'm a bit anxious about whether they'll be an upsurge once everyone starts flying, and the risks of picking something up on a flight. But think I will let her go. I think I would in yours position as you're driving so less risk, assuming the place your going is reasonably self contained.

The place we book every summer is unavailable, blocked out the entire summer and has been blocked out since lockdown. The owners aren't letting it this year. And everywhere else we've looked is basically an overpriced hole. So we've decided against travelling this summer. Kind of a bummer but not the end of the world.

We are also considering a holiday to France this summer.

Genuinely interested for those who are so against holidays, will you not go on any days out etc in this country. I don’t understand why people think a holiday is riskier than say a day out here in the U.K.?

They just want to be sanctimonious and dramatic - everyone needs to do as they wish some people just want to be negative and control others.

Our friends booked the Channel tunnel last night to go to France in July.
They will be staying at a gite with a private pool and self cater most of their meals so seems to me the risk of them catching and spreading it is not high.

Meanwhile we've booked a week in the UK and my niece has just booked tickets to Alton Towers for the younger members of the party. Not sure how one socially distances on a roller coaster, particularly when most people there will be under 30 and naturally less cautious, but there we go. Think we've all had it anyway, and if we do end up in lockdown again in Autumn might as well let poor teen DS have some enjoyment in life < awaits flaming >.

Be careful about what you think the travel insurance covers though OP. Pretty sure anything booked whilst FCO advice is not to travel would not be claimable. But it would cover non covid medical and other normal insurance matters.

We're going to France in August. It was all booked before lockdown - two different private villas with pool and travelling on Eurotunnel.

We've been waiting to see if we can go but it's looking likely now. Trailfinders are doing insurance that covers Covid. I don't see a huge risk in it. We won't be on crowded beaches, can eat in if necessary. Hand sanitiser after petrol/toilet stops.

Looking forward to it!

I would also agree that we all need to be careful about travel insurance. I found a reasonable policy that covers for Covid 19 for health reasons, including cancellation if you are required to self isolate or have to extend your holiday, but it specifically says you will not be covered if either the holiday or the insurance policy is purchased whilst foreign office advice warns against all but essential travel. To be on the safe side I’m not booking until the advice officially changes!

We usually go to France but staying in U.K. Can't stand the stress of "what if?"

On the insurance -

While the Foreign Office advice states UK residents should not travel abroad, it is very unlikely that any travel insurance will be valid.
When that changes, there will be different cover depending on your policy.
While most will cover treatment for illness and injury while overseas, not all will do so for coronavirus-related illness.
A number of policies are now being sold that will cover people for emergency treatment or repatriation for Covid-19 contracted while in a resort, but not cases that arose by getting it beforehand in the UK.

from <a class="break-all" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51615412?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus&link_location=live-reporting-story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51615412?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus&link_location=live-reporting-story

So what would happen in practice if a UK holiday maker needed treatment for covid while away, would they be covered by the E111?

Its' worth keeping an eye on how things evolve over the next few days..it's a fast changing game:

www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/26/britons-to-be-allowed-to-holiday-abroad-from-july-via-air-bridges

"The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has agreed that the blanket advice on non-essential international travel, imposed on 17 March, will be lifted for relevant countries from 6 July but it will be kept under review."

So what would happen in practice if a UK holiday maker needed treatment for covid while away, would they be covered by the E111?

From what I have heard from those who had essential reasons for travel between Europe and the Uk throughout all this, and more recently from somebody who has come to France for leisure purposes EHIC validity has not been effected by the FCO advice.

I'm just wondering whether I'm on the same planet as everyone else.

We are facing a huge recession with mass unemployment, no one knows if their job is safe. But people are willing to blow their savings on a holiday? I know people will say that we need to spend to keep the economy going. But the recession is going to happen, and the French hotel owner is not going to pay your mortgage or feed your family.

We have massive government debt. We could be looking at hyper inflation with raised interest rates in the near future.

Not to mention we are in the calm of a pandemic storm. Look at the states, and you will see what can happen very quickly. You want to be in a foreign country when this happens?

It's almost like all these people have gold fish memories. Wasn't it only three months ago?

the French hotel owner is not going to pay your mortgage or feed your family.

True, but by taking a holiday with them you might help them to pay theirs.

Conversely, people living in France (other European countries are available) who choose to come to the UK for a holiday/to visit family will be spending money in the UK and might play a small part in keeping a small business afloat.

My son is getting married in France in September so if the plane is flying I (and the rest of my family) are going to be on it!

We booked the Eurotunnel back in December to drive down to the south of France in late August. We're still planning on going. At one point I didn't think it would be possible, but its looking more likely by the day.

My parents drove down (they own the property) last week. No issues. They said its a different world down there. They went for a drink, people came in shook hands, did the kissing on the cheek things with each other.

I'm looking forward to it. Obviously won't go if there are any further lockdowns, but that's not looking likely right now, but I suppose you never know.

I'm just wondering whether I'm on the same planet as everyone else
Me too.

What are you worried about missing out on exactly??
We are not going anywhere abroad this year and value our lives more than a holiday. And we certainly won't be playing sardines on a beach in this country either. Each to their own .

This. I also seem to be in a different planet. I'm all for boosting the economy, but FFS

No. I'm going in August
Booked somewhere which is allowing you to cancel up to 1 week before and receive a full refund of anything paid. Paid £270 for flights for the family. Stand to lose that if I don't go.

Given under 50s are more likely to die in a car crash than from covid and I'm still driving my car around why wouldn't I go on holiday?