Can I still go to Germany on Wednesday?

[FrontRowSeat]

We are due to go camping in Germany next Wednesday (Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam). Private car so won’t be mixing with others.

I know Germany is on the exemption list but would you risk it?

I think it’s impossible to say. Are you sure that you wouldn’t need to quarantine, I still don’t understatement the rules about ports and ferries. I’d only go if you have health and car insurance that is valid in all countries you will travel through in case of accident or sudden illness and if quarantining on return is possible for you as the situation can change so suddenly. Also think about if your health insurance covers covid related issues in case one of you got ill while there and would your insurance pay if you had to stay on longer because you needed to isolate.

I would think the difficulty is that you are getting the ferry to and from Rotterdam and the Netherlands is on the quarantine list.

I know - I think the rules about ferry travel are very woolly. Not sure if it’s worth the risk. The kids are going to be devastated. It’s all they’ve talked about for months.

Your issue will be Rotterdam, although you’re just transiting through (presumably you won’t be staying in your car the whole crossing though?) you will be ‘travelling home to the UK from the Netherlands’ subject to quarantine regulations.
So much can change too, doesn’t look like Germany will be added to the list but who really knows.

"The kids are going to be devastated. It’s all they’ve talked about for months."

Really?! Surely they know and have been well prepped that there's a chance the trip won't go ahead. If you go then surely the quarantine requirements mean they'll miss the start of school?

And you're not sitting in your car for 11 hours on the ferry so the excuse of "private car" doesn't make you exempt

You'll have to quarantine because of the ferry. If they have school, you'll need to fly or holiday in the UK instead.

I live in Germany, although not the north. I've just travelled to the UK and back, although I flew (necessary travel).

What are you worried about, specifically? Catching covid or having to quarantine on return?

If it's catching it, I would go. The R rate is broadly similar between the 2 countries, and you wouldn't be going to any large gatherings or busy centres of population. So I don't think travelling to and staying in a different country would be much different to doing the same within the UK.

As for quarantine - reports about a significant rise in France's rate of infections started around mid-July. They are only just being taken off the exemption list now, a full month on. We're just not seeing that in Germany. There has been a slight rise, but it's not like in France. (They think it's due mostly to people attending large family gatherings.) And the concerned reports aren't appearing. Based on there not appearing to be either cause or reaction, I really wouldn't be worrying about a quarantine at this stage.

Basically, I think you should go. Take all the same precautions as you would in the UK, but enjoy your holiday. The benefits almost certainly outweigh the risk.

Oooh, I'm really not aware of UK/Netherlands ferry rules though.

(Would still do it if quarantine is possible.)

I’ve read such mixed things about the ferry, some saying it fine and others saying you have to quarantine. I’ve not seen an official answer

I'd go to Germany.

They have handled this very well and I don't think that's likely to change.

But it's true about travelling through non excempt counties. I don't know the rules as haven't had to read them but I'd certainly check.

I would go if quarantining on return will not be an issue and your insurance is valid.

Could one adult do the ferry on the way back with the car and all the kit and quarantine on return, and everyone else fly back without luggage?

Then if they haven’t been the Netherlands so they don’t need to quarantine.

And we've recently been on the ferry to Rotterdam (well Harwich to Hook of Holland). Overnight crossing, so mask on from car to cabin, then stayed in the cabin the whole trip.

Is it really all your dc have talked about for months? How old are they?

If they're young, I really doubt your statement is true, if they're older then why on earth haven't you explained to them the risks involved with booking a holiday abroad during a global pandemic?

No sympathy from me. People are so bloody entitled. Would it really hurt to not go abroad?

That's a good idea to have one person do the ferry and everyone else fly. Flights have been surprisingly cheap to Germany although maybe not at this short notice.

Really good idea about 1 driving and the rest flying. I’m also to call the ferry company to check the rules.

Thanks for all the replies (the helpful and supportive ones anyway )

If cases rise very high then there could also be last minute rule changes about full households quarantining if one has been to a higher risk area, which would interfere with your 1 drive plan.Can you just fly and hire a campervan or car for when you land?

You can still go but will need to quarantine because of the Ferry. I would go if you are able to do the quarantine but obviously not if you can’t.

Having one person drive and the rest fly doesn't work if you all live in the same house. The person coming from Rotterdam by ferry will have to quarantine so that means the whole house. It would make mockery if they had to stay at home but the rest of you could go out and about.

It does seem illogical but I think that is what the rules say, the person coming from that country has to quarantine but not the rest of the house.

Yes, only the person who has been to the non-exempt country has to quarantine, not the rest of the household. I certainly agree that that hardly makes for a foolproof quarantine regime, but that is what the rules say.