Current rules on travel to France

[WildFlowerGarden]

Hi there,

I am really confused - can someone please explain whether it is ok to travel to France for a holiday this summer? Everything I read says something different. On one page of the govt website it says there are now no restrictions on travel to France but in another part it says people must self isolate on arrival - how would that work for holiday makers? It doesn't make sense to me.

We will be staying in our own apartment and will of course be careful about maintaining social distance....

France imposes quarantine on other countries when they impose quarantine on them so when ours is scrapped (today) France scraps it so no need to quarantine unless we reintroduce it.

There is no quarantine from England at the moment. My neighbours have gone today.

Thank you so much - that is a relief!

The Foreign Office website still says people arriving in France from the UK need to self isolate there for 14 days. I was really hoping this would have been dropped by now. I have read it’s a ‘voluntary’ quarantine. Anyone who lives in France able to explain how voluntary it is? No holidaymaker is really going to volunteer to quarantine are they? What does it mean? Thanks.

In France now, no sign of cv19 measures other than restaurant staff wearing masks.

@Smellysaurus what are the supermarkets like? We going in a few weeks and the thought of queuing to get into one like you need to here just makes my heart sink

I'm interested in these questions too.

I hadnt even thought of supermarket queues!

I just want to swim in a campsite pool, or the sea, pref the former.

@veritymcpickle @fartyface

I can't speak for all of France, but down here in the South West there have never been queues at any of the supermarkets (and no shortages of anything either). 1m distancing tapes clearly marked at the checkouts. Most supermarkets have plastic screens at the checkout and the staff are wearing masks.

Masks are mandatory in some shops and you need a mask if you are moving around inside a bar or restaurant (although that isn't being strictly enforced from what we have seen).

Outdoor markets are operating as usual.

Quarantine for UK travellers to France was entirely voluntary, i.e. non-existent! We were in Paris last weekend and at no point was quarantine even mentioned. We just followed the mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines in place there. So yes, you can go to France, OP!

I will add that I don’t expect trying to get sense, clarity or consistency from Gov.uk web pages...best to read a variety of travel journalists who try their best to present the actual situation to readers!

Thanks @doyounothavegoogle. I've bought masks for us all in preparation (DH and the DCs haven't been inside anywhere since lockdown started so haven't needed one till now!)

There is no shortage of masks available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Most shops have hand gel available when you go in, and the majority of the supermarkets have cleaning spray and paper towels next to the trollies so that you can clean the handles.

Enjoy your trip. OH has gone off to the UK today - I am much more worried about him being there than here!

@noraclavicle Many thanks!

Supermarkets are like normal, no queues to get in...