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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:
Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:57

dame I completely agree - its so very frustrating.

OP posts:
middleager · 07/08/2020 10:58

It's the quarantine that would get me.
I was ill in March and that meant 14 days in the house (7 spent in my bedroom away from other members). It was the longest 14 days of my life!

If I were you, I'd seriously consider just your husband going.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:59

middleager yes I feel completely like you do - I really can't bear the thought of it!

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dreamingbohemian · 07/08/2020 11:02

I think as it's visiting family, and who knows when you might be able to again, it's worth the risk of 2 weeks quarantine.

I'm pretty sure that (in practice) you can still walk the dog, go for solitary walks, even if you're isolating?

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 11:08

dreaming yes in reality I would walk the dog - we're rural, I don't often come across anyone doing that anyway. However, the gvmt guidelines say you shouldn't - so if anyone came to check up on us, we can't use the "oh they're just out walking the dog" excuse Shock

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Barbie222 · 07/08/2020 11:08

If FCO advice changes to nothing but essential travel, it could be very expensive to go as your insurance may not be valid.

ineedaholidaynow · 07/08/2020 11:10

I thought you could get a refund from your insurance if FCO guidance changed.

@MajorClanger123 I would check that your insurance covers COVID, although if you are staying with family that may not be such an issue as would not have to pay extra for staying in a hotel if you have to self isolate or quarantine in France.

minnieok · 07/08/2020 11:14

Check the exact quarantine rules, I think you can exercise alone and buy essential food if you haven't got another way to get it. I would go in your circumstances

BanningTheWordNaice · 07/08/2020 11:16

We did go - we drove, took the euro tunnel and stayed somewhere very remotely but we could quarantine for 14 days and took a test when we came back as we were near Nice where cases were rising. I wouldn’t have gone if it would have affected my work if I had to quarantine.

Requinblanc · 07/08/2020 11:18

I would not take the risk unless it was somewhere I could just drive to/use the Channel Tunnel and it would not be a problem with work if I had to quarantine on return.

I had my flights to France cancelled in March and it was an absolute pain. I don't want to take the risk of being stuck there and not able to travel back again.

Isn't there a risk as well that you could bring the virus to your in-laws? they are elderly and many people don't show any symptoms so you might not even realise you are sick. Unless there is an emergency and you absolutely need to support them in some way that can't be done remotely I would not go...

ohthegoats · 07/08/2020 11:20

Not going because same as you, I can't face quarantine right now. Wrong time of year to be stuck at home. Also, would prevent me going back to work in September, which isn't really fair.

Bemorechicken · 07/08/2020 11:21

@MajorClanger123

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!

We cancelled our French holiday because of this. My parents are currently there but reviewing the return daily and they phoned this morning to say they were thinking Monday now. 2,000 new cases yesterday. A second wave and all that it is -on the way.

2 weeks in self isolation is a nightmare thought. We are currently in self isolating as one of the DC has a high temperature and awaiting tests kits. The advice is we all have to stay indoors for 14 days or until we get the tests back. Currently on day 3 and tests not arrived yet.Self -isolation means no exercise out and no dog walks.

My friend who got back from holiday last week and should be "self isolating" is still going on to walk his dogs etc -he shouldn't be. He thinks self isolation means "be careful" it doesn't. It is house arrest bascially.

Cactus99 · 07/08/2020 11:34

In England, you should only exercise within your home or garden and the guidance specifies that you cannot leave your home to walk your dog.

Lifted from the gov website

wintertravel1980 · 07/08/2020 11:35

France had 1,605 cases yesterday. UK was 950. Both countries have got the population of just under 67mm.

My personal guess is that as long as French infection rates do not exceed UK levels by a factor of 2 the government will not impose the quarantine. However the gap of 200%+ will look large optically and may trigger an action.

Delatron · 07/08/2020 11:53

Just to echo quarantine is far stricter than lockdown. No walking the dog, no leaving the house for essential food, no going for a walk, even if you go at 6am and see nobody.

It’s awful and very mentally challenging. It’s awful for our kids too. Obviously we can exercise in the garden but it’s very restrictive.

I’d just send the DH.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 12:10

Thanks all - yes I read out the quarantine guidelines to DH and he didnt realise quite how restrictive they are. They are, essentially, house arrest.

You can only leave your premesis for emergency medical care / if you can't get online food deliveries. It does explicitly state no walking the dog! I'm not sure why quarantine is far more restrictive than our initial lockdown Hmm but it is.

I'll be honest, we didnt abide by all the initial lockdown rules - eg went out for 2 dog walks per day, not the prescribed one. Didnt meet a soul in our rural patch. However its the mental challenge that I just don't think I could deal with right now.... I had more planned during those last 2 weeks of summer holidays than before / since lockdown eased.

I think i've made my mind up that we shouldn't go....i'm not sure if that tallies with how DH feels.

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Delatron · 07/08/2020 12:15

I have no idea why, when we know how this virus spreads that you can’t take your poor dog for a walk at 6am and see nobody. Quarantine really sucks!

LoeliaPonsonby · 07/08/2020 12:19

We are probably going to cancel - don’t want to be stuck in for 14 days in return and also it’s supposed to be a holiday. Getting stuck in French lockdown which has always been more restrictive than U.K. lockdown in a place that’s not ours does not fill me with joy...

dameofdilemma · 07/08/2020 12:19

I thought you could get a refund from your insurance if FCO guidance changed.

In theory where you booked you’re holiday and took out insurance before the FCO rules came into place, you should be able to recover.
However in reality the insurance companies are not paying out.

Yes it’s illegal, much as it’s illegal for BA not to issue refunds for cancelled flights, but they are getting away with it.

By making changes to FCO guidance on the hoof, the Govt has made it harder, nigh on impossible, for individuals to recover losses.

pontypridd · 07/08/2020 12:23

How do they enforce the quarantine?

Delatron · 07/08/2020 12:26

I’m not sure how quarantine is enforced. I think they say somebody from the government (?) can turn up at your house and check that you’re in. We have been in quarantine for 8 days now. I actually want someone to come round and check!

I guess they are relying on about 80% compliance? And that is enough.

pontypridd · 07/08/2020 12:28

Did they take details from you Delatron? Where did you come back from?

eurochick · 07/08/2020 12:31

In your shoes I wouldn't go. If your in-laws are elderly and in a low risk region why on earth would it be a good idea to visit them after travelling through busy ports, stopping at services, etc.

Delatron · 07/08/2020 12:31

Yes we filled in the form and handed it over at customs. We came back from Menorca (it all changed when we were over there). It got lumped in with Spain despite cases being low over there but that was the risk we took I guess. There was no option to specify where we flew back from so we had to tick Spain.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 12:32

pontypridd my friend works for a local lettings agency. She had a phone call from the local police last week asking her to confirm the residents at one of the rental properties. When my friend queried why, they said they were required to check that the residents were abiding by quarantine restrictions as they had recently returned from a listed country. So it appears its local constabulary (if they have time!)

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