Anyone else now going to France?

[Ridingthecrestofawave]

Just wanting a quick poll on what people's thoughts are about going to France with current lockdown relaxations? - Euro tunnel, caravan 2 x hotel stop offs en route with 2 DC's .....All facilities on sites open apparently but gel, masks etc needed. Wondering will it be empty? Hard work and weird to follow rules? What would you do? x

We are due to go next Sat. If France becomes an essential travel only zone, will you still go on holiday? We'd have to cut holiday really short as my kids go back on 3rd. First day at Secondary and they don't want to miss it.

We are in France now in the yarn et Garonne region. An north of Toulouse. Middle of no where. In the markets, cafes and restaurants staff wear masks. If not eating or drinking all the people are wearing masks.
In the local markets mask wearing is compulsory.
Tables are set apart in the cafes and restaurants.

Everyone is being good and the region is listed as green on the French government website.

The sun is shining. The MiL's pool and garden are glorious. I'm glad we came. It's been great to have a change in scene and to enjoy swimming in the sunshine and have a few meals out.

Will be irritating if France is taken off the UK air corridor list but we have planned the trip so the kids have 2 weeks clear before school starts when we get back. Will still be a pain if we have to quarantine but it is what it is.

I'm meant to be going in first week of September. Brittany. Ferry and train to eurocamp. My family and parents keep trying to put me off. Not sure what to do tbh.

Thanks @zippyswife!

@MindfulBear

Not often that the Tarn et Garonne gets a mention.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

@zippyswife - waiting to board train at Folkstone, so near yet so far

Let's just not mention about DH being an utter arse this morning (he always is when we are going on hols and becomes a terse dictator)

@ClaraLane

Thank you for all the useful links on this thread, I really appreciate it. In laws are currently in Finistere despite my best efforts and coming back next week. Fine by me except grandbaby #2 is arriving this Friday and apparently my suggestion that they stay away for 2 weeks is ludicrous...

Clara - hoping everything went ok with baby #2 yesterday?!

I hope your DH has your back re your thick as mince inlaws! They chose to go away at this time, let them be as mardy as they like. Keeping your family safe is your choice! Don't feel bad or cave in. At best I'd let them look at the kids through the window IF it won't upset #1!

🌷

I decided not to go for my usual 2 weeks In France this year - it was a sad decision, but for me, not a difficult one. I've virtually shielded since mid March & I am still barely going out, so going to France....nope. I want to be shoulder to shoukd with the crowds at the various markets, I want To squish with the crowds at the various local town events...So for me, it was an easy no. However, a family to a gite, in the car...I'd be worrying along with you all & hoping to get away!! (If i wasn't virtually shielding too)

As for the 'not knowing & just wanting to know either way'. I was like that even as a child, I'd almost prefer to be told 'no' rather than not know. I used to say to my Dad 'just tell me definitely - yes or no! And he used to say....🧐it's a definite....maybe 🤣

I must have driven him mad 🤣🤣

I miss him so much 😢

@smogsville So glad you got to go, I'm so jealous now and doubting my decision to cancel!! Your croissant story made me laugh, that's exactly the kind of thing that would have happened with my dc 😂
@TheWayOfTheWorld you're nearly there!!

Hope you all have an amazing holiday, and it stays calm and relaxing, have a big cold glass of white by the pool for me!!

@TheWayOfTheWorld I can relate to dictator holiday dad mode. My husband isn't nearly as bad as my own dad.

[quote smogsville]@TheWayOfTheWorld I can relate to dictator holiday dad mode. My husband isn't nearly as bad as my own dad. [/quote]
Honestly he gets so horrible and snappy and I can't do anything right. I think it is a symptom of his depression which he was diagnosed with last year so I am trying to be more forgiving.

I was up at 5am trying to load the bikes onto the bike rack (not as easy as it sounds )

@TheWayOfTheWorld I hope he and you both get to relax soon. I would never think bike rack would be easy - I made DH do ours last night. Well done for doing it by yourself.

@TheWayOfTheWorld my Dh is the same!

We’re now looking at bringing our departure forward so that we can get in before restrictions are imposed so that our insurance is still valid or purchasing insurance which covers of the country is taken off the list of countries you can travel to. Has anyone bought this insurance or know how/where best to get it?

It’s really cheered me to see you’ve made it over before any new restrictions!

I'm still undecided, we are due to travel in a little over two weeks - we can cancel for a full refund for another week. But the opportunity to book a UK break is slipping away - everything booking up fast - and and the best UK weather is week after next (rather than two weeks time when we have booked off) so feeling the pressure to make a decision soon. Massive first world problem I know!!

Just seen this on Twitter.
"Useful perspective on levels of infection in France: ‘France recorded an average of 1.98 new cases a day per 100,000 people over the past week, compared with 1.23 in Britain. Belgium had a comparable rate of 3.14 and Spain had 7.46. Top of the list was Luxembourg with 10.43’".

@missclimpson thank you that is useful.

@zippyswife yes I know what you mean I do have a rather childish 'beaten the restrictions' feeling.

@smogsville we’ve just decided to pay the insurance to get covered if it’s removed from the list. So looks like our holiday is back on too.

We got back from Provence earlier this week and are now on a UK based weekend away. I have to say, the atmosphere in France is a lot better and people are far more compliant with the rules there. It all seems way more stressful here in the UK. Where we are, everything is open as normal albeit with masks and social distancing but people just get on with it and don't make a fuss. So much more pleasant than people deliberately ignoring one way systems like they are here.

@missclimpson

Just seen this on Twitter. "Useful perspective on levels of infection in France: ‘France recorded an average of 1.98 new cases a day per 100,000 people over the past week, compared with 1.23 in Britain. Belgium had a comparable rate of 3.14 and Spain had 7.46. Top of the list was Luxembourg with 10.43’".

That is good news. I just hope that those making the decision are working with these figures.

In the thread somebody points out that Luxembourg has tested 10% of the population, which is bound to affect the results.
I know people keep saying France is on holiday and not testing, but I follow our regional health organisation for my bit of France and keep seeing invitations to mass local testing.

Anyone going to Brittany and driving from Calais, it might be worth seeing if you can avoid the Pont de Normandie that links Le Havre and Honfleur (A29). It's half closed hence horrendous traffic. Like queuing for the Dartford Tunnel.

Is that just today smogsville? It is a very busy day for holiday traffic.

Just seen roadworks March to November. Will warn the family who are coming next week. It is quite hard to avoid though.

We're in France for the summer (have a home here). Interestingly we're in an area which is not particularly touristy normally, but it's very busy this summer, lots of motorhomes, restaurants are reservation only, and all local accommodation is full and turning people away. I'm wondering if it's because it's a sparsely populated area, and people are trying to keep away from the crowds.

Also house sales have shot up, you get a lot of house and wonderful scenery for your money here and it appears that people are re-evaluating what will be important to them, post covid.

I feel safer here than in the UK. Everyone complies with the mask requirements (I haven't seen a single adult not wearing one where required) hand gel is outside, or at the entrance to, every shop, restaurant, activity etc. All shop staff are wearing masks, and are very well protected by screens around them with minimal access for handing over money and cards.

Most people are eating outside restaurants and you are paying at your table to avoid going inside. If you do have to move around within a restaurant eg to go to the loo, it's expected that you will wear your mask. Many under 11s are wearing masks despite it not being mandatory, including very young children.

It's all very calm and organised. It's been said that any lockdowns will be local only, rather than national. If you're coming to a low risk area, and are able to chance having to quarantine on return, I'd say go for it! Mind you it's very hot at the moment, so be prepared!