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Original poster

Anyone risking heading to France in the near future?

136 replies

MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:17

Just that really.... we are booked to sail this Sunday.

Before anyone vilifies me for even considering going away during a pandemic, we are visiting my inlaws who live in a very low risk region of France. We havent seem them since Christmas, they are both late 70s and my husband feels we should go over and check up on them / spend a week with them. We've had the ferry booked since January, but I guess can shift it (to when, I don't know!) / suck it up and take the monetary hit.

What is everyone elses thoughts re: France being added to the list? I've read way too much in the media / am feeling too emotional about it to make a decent judgement today....

OP posts:
Delatron · 07/08/2020 10:22

Could you quarantine when you get back?

I went to Menorca a few weeks ago. The morning we flew out all fine. There was some noise about an increase in cases in certain areas of mainland Spain but I thought the government would faff and be slow to react. Plus cases were low where we were (still are). By that evening it had all changed and that was a Saturday. I was quite shocked by the speed of the decision as they spent weeks and weeks bringing in the original quarantine.

Anyway, just be prepared that things can change at a moment’s notice and that can add a lot of stress to the trip.

Lemons1571 · 07/08/2020 10:25

I think you need special insurance to be out there if FCO advice changes to “no non essential travel”? Worth looking in to.

mrshoho · 07/08/2020 10:27

I'm sure the trip itself would be ok but the uncertainty of France going on the list without notice is probably quite high. Can you all quarantine for 14 days on your return? If yes then it's not such a problem. It's a horrible situation.

Anna713 · 07/08/2020 10:28

I am hoping to go in 10 days time. It's to our own place in a very quiet area. We don't intend going out, other than for walks, when we are there. We are prepared to quarantine when we return but I am not sure if we will go. I am worried that they might cancel the ferries whilst we are there. I am watching the news all the time and need to make a decision soon. Sorry not much help to you!

SansaSnark · 07/08/2020 10:30

According to the Guardian live, Rishi Sunak has said that France "may" be the next country to be added to the quarantine list. I think it's hard to say what will happen, and the rise in cases in France doesn't look as sharp as in Spain or Belgium.

However, clearly it's on the government's radar, so I would assume there's a relatively high risk of needing to quarentine when you get back. If this would be really difficult/impossible then I think you will need to postpone, just in case.

Are you just going for a week, or will it be slightly longer?

LucyLeak · 07/08/2020 10:31

Unless we're told we cannot go to France, we have to go or lose ££££'s as holiday insurance will only pay out if FCO change their criteria.

SansaSnark · 07/08/2020 10:31

It's not ideal, but if your husband is worried about his parents, could he go alone?

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:34

Thanks all - yes we could all quarantine on return, I just really can't bear the thought of it. We have lots planned those 2 weeks after we get back and I know i'd find it really hard to stay within the plot of our home for 14 days solid when everyone else is out and about. I would obviously do it, I just know i'd be dreadfully unhappy.

My husband never did the initial lockdown as he went to work every single day (we own our own business) but says he's ok to work from home for 2 weeks when we return if need be. I honestly think he'll find that really hard (plus our 17 employees!) but he is desperate to see his parents.

If we don't go, and France isnt added to the list, i'll feel an arse for stopping us all from going. If we do go, and France is added to the list, i'll be effing miserable in a 14 day quarantine on return. Urghh! I wish the gvmt would just announce something today and take the decision out of our hands!

OP posts:
wintertravel1980 · 07/08/2020 10:35

Unfortunately, I think the chances of France being added to the quarantine list are about 50/50.

We went to the south of France last week. It was a holiday, we stayed in a hotel, went out for meals each day and had a great time. It felt pretty much normal. Yes, we had to wear masks indoors but I do not see it as a big deal.

My only worry was about getting quarantined on arrival but when we left, cases across UK and France were not too far off and the risk was low. We booked at the last minute.

Right now French cases have spiked up. The chances of actually getting COVID are still really low but there is certainly a risk that the government may overreact and introduce restrictions.

TokyoSushi · 07/08/2020 10:35

I think if you're going soon, and for a fairly short period of time then it might be ok, but France is definitely on the Government radar and it looks like the quarantine could be coming up soon.

For Belgium, they seem to have given a little bit of notice, could you come back very quickly if they do the same for France? I expect they'll be keen to avoid the massive backlash that they had with announcing the Spain quarantine at such short notice. France would be another 'big one' so they might try giving people a short window to get out.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:38

sansa yes he could go with just our eldest son for a couple of days, leaving me at home with our other 2 kids. We have discussed that.

I'm not worried about going per se - very quiet area of France with low cases / i'm not worried about the ferry journey or anything. I just literally feel tears welling up at the thought of being under pretty much house arrest for 2 weeks once home (not that it has come to that yet!). We are not even allowed to walk our dog if we quarantine - it is like extreme lockdown!

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Toddlerteaplease · 07/08/2020 10:38

My friend is suppose to be going tomorrow. He's fine with quarantine afterwards if necessary. It's the travel insurance that may be an issue.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:40

tokyo yes I wonder if they might give more warning this time..... we could do a mad dash to the channel tunnel, but then wouldnt everyone else? I'm not sure it'd guarantee us a return trip back in time to avoid quarantine.

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Sunbird24 · 07/08/2020 10:41

I’ve got a work colleague due to come over in 4 weeks to spend 2 months in our office. I’m kind of hoping either he does have to quarantine or can’t come over at all, as I’m the only French speaker so all the admin and entertaining always gets dumped on me!

Apologies to anyone hoping to either go there for a nice break!

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:42

I hadnt even thought about travel insurance if i'm honest - we are staying with my inlaws, my husband speaks fluent french (which always seems to get us out of most scrapes!) but granted if one of us fell ill over there, it would be very difficult if insurance was invalid.

I'm meant to be washing / packing / getting excited, and all i'm doing is stressing!

My husband admitted that if it was just a villa holiday with no parents involved, he'd just cancel it. Its the parent factor that is causing the indecision

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NotPennysBoat · 07/08/2020 10:42

We're also planning to travel to France in the next few days, and I've been watching closely. If the FCO change advice while you are already in France, you will still be covered by insurance, and if it follows what they did in Spain, you will not have to return early.
The 14 day quarantine is a possibility though, if that worries you. Part of me thinks that because of the announcement yesterday about Belgium plus others, we have maybe another few days or even a week's grace (otherwise they would have included France in the announcement yesterday).

Nixen · 07/08/2020 10:43

We are due to go on Monday, until Friday. Can WFH so quarantining not a massive issue but a bit shit with a small child! Selfishly hoping it doesn't get implemented til next weekend when we are home but I think the chances of that are very slim!

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:47

Yes I wondered if a decision will be made next week now as Belgium & Andorra etc made last night but not France.... but then who knows!

France doesnt seem to update its daily positive case count over the weekend, so I guess see what today's looks like and decide from there, or wait until Monday. I can't see it drastically dropping in the next week - it seems to be on the up at the moment, as is ours - hence why I think Gvmt will do something suddenly / quickly

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ineedaholidaynow · 07/08/2020 10:47

I think if you are there or on the ferry and the guidance changes your insurance will be ok, the issue is if you have not yet started your journey (and I assume the drive to the ferry port doesn't count as you could turn round) then you will need to upgrade your insurance.

mrshoho · 07/08/2020 10:49

@MajorClanger123

I hadnt even thought about travel insurance if i'm honest - we are staying with my inlaws, my husband speaks fluent french (which always seems to get us out of most scrapes!) but granted if one of us fell ill over there, it would be very difficult if insurance was invalid.

I'm meant to be washing / packing / getting excited, and all i'm doing is stressing!

My husband admitted that if it was just a villa holiday with no parents involved, he'd just cancel it. Its the parent factor that is causing the indecision

If you've got the EU medical cards you would be treated for medical issues regardless of insurance. It's the repatriation potential problems that insurance is necessary for. As you're staying with in laws you haven't got the threat of having no accommodation etc.
Racoonworld · 07/08/2020 10:49

It looks likely that France will be added to the list next week, so your choices will be go and the 14 day quarantine, or cancel. Which would you rather do? If your DH goes by himself will you still need to do the quarantine with him?

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:49

ineedaholidaynow ah ok thank you - we just have travel insurance via our bank and never really check it much Blush

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Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:52

racoon no i checked that last night - the rest of the family don't need to quarantine if only DH goes, so thats not a worry (Phew!).

I feel selfish for not wanting to go purely over quarantine issues, when my DH doesnt seem to mind.....but he's never done it before! He's worked every single day since lockdown began. I'm just not sure I could cope with it Sad

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dameofdilemma · 07/08/2020 10:53

We're due to fly tomorrow.
But we booked and paid for this holiday long before lock down started.
If at any point we had the prospect of cancelling with a refund, we would have cancelled. There was no prospect of that even when the FCO guidance was non essential travel only.

This government has made it all too easy for airlines, travel insurance companies etc to only give vague offers of vouchers or to move dates (and we wouldn't even get that if we cancelled now), as though we can look into the future and know when the pandemic will ease.

This isn't a case of people insisting on going on holiday. It's people being expected to throw thousands of pounds at big businesses and accept nothing in return.

We've been hung out to dry.

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