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Original poster

Anyone else now going to France?

800 replies

Ridingthecrestofawave · 19/07/2020 20:36

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

OP posts:
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Fink · 14/08/2020 09:41

@Thunderpunt

Battle face came in at £218 for a family of four for 16 nights, France and one other country
£82 for us, 14 nights for 2 people. Just France.
Aragog · 14/08/2020 09:46

Oh sorry, there will always be those who think flouting the rules are fine for them and X place is safer in France than Y place in UK.

But it's not flouting the rules to go away. And it possibly is safer, on an individual basis, in some places abroad as it is in some places in England.

I've been to France this summer. We got back two weeks ago. I felt really safe over there. Masks were being worn everywhere (more places than we had at the tine and more than we have now Infact), compliance was high, hand sanitisers everywhere, social distancing in place, etc. We were there a fortnight and dd for three weeks. We went no where near a beach let alone a packed one like in Brighton!

It was within the rules to go - no flouting of rules took place in order to go.

And it's within the rules to go now, you just have to quarantine when home.

bakingbernie · 14/08/2020 09:48

Battleface does not cover for pre-existing conditions. Also have to be 59 or younger.😐

Fink · 14/08/2020 10:02

@bakingbernie

Battleface does not cover for pre-existing conditions. Also have to be 59 or younger.😐
The other one I found with a Google search (I think it was Alpha) is up to 70 years old. I don't know of any insurance that would cover for a preexisting condition. There might be some out there but it would be a huge premium.
loveisagirlnameddaisy · 14/08/2020 10:03

Judging by the number of British cars here at Dover, many are still going ahead with their plans.

bakingbernie · 14/08/2020 10:08

Thanks Fiink
The other one I found with a Google search (I think it was Alpha) is up to 70 years old. I don't know of any insurance that would cover for a preexisting condition. There might be some out there but it would be a huge premium.
I did have a policy in place, covering existing conditions. However, not covered if travelling against FCO advice.

fartyface · 14/08/2020 10:12

Thunder punt - in that situation I would stop and pay at pump in France. What can you do?

We are pushed to get from folkestone to home without stopping for fuel, so we will have to. Kids can wee in thr caravan etc but we will have to "break quarentine" to get home

Limbolady · 14/08/2020 10:35

@loveisagirlnameddaisy

Judging by the number of British cars here at Dover, many are still going ahead with their plans.
Interesting. We’re supposed to be travelling on Sunday. 😬
Limbolady · 14/08/2020 10:41

Alpha have told us that they can’t provide health insurance when fco advice is against non essential travel. They recommended another company called High Risk Voyager.

zippyswife · 14/08/2020 11:04

Well I’ve just received an email from eurocamp that our holiday is cancelled. We are 2 hours away. We arrived in France early yesterday before restrictions came in. I have no idea what is going to happen. I haven’t told the kids... Sad

Bezzi · 14/08/2020 11:10

@zippyswife OMG that's so bad!!

What area of France are you in? Maybe someone knows of or could find an alternative?

There must be loads of campsites who've just had last minute cancellations. Maybe your own campsite would still accept you just without going through eurocamp

zippyswife · 14/08/2020 11:12

@Bezzi the whole thing is mental. We’re in Dordogne. I wish I hadn’t checked my email. It’s insane. I’d only just text them to tell them my check in time as I’d received a text last night. You would have thought that given we arrived before restrictions that we would be ok to stay but who knows.

PeaceAndHarmoneeee · 14/08/2020 11:15

What reason have they given for cancelling? You arrived in France after the announcement?!

I would get on the phone to them ASAP and let them know you are already in France and 2 hours from the site having arrived pre- announcement.

And kick up a massive fuss if they insist the reservation is still cancelled.

Greenbeanie88 · 14/08/2020 11:31

@zippyswife this is gutting!

We have now confirmed that our travel insurance is valid for driving in france still. We have medical insurance as we booked pre-covid. So it's the 'risk' and quarantine that we are now holding us back. Lots of discussions happening here.

Lots of people are cancelling so you may be able to find something else?!

clara10 · 14/08/2020 11:33

@zippyswife I almost can’t believe that. Try www.soleilplage.fr/en we’ve stayed here 3x booking directly with them. Can’t recommend enough.

stringbean · 14/08/2020 11:36

We turned round at the Eurotunnel last night and came home, having realised all our travel/health insurance was invalid at that point due to clauses that they would not provide cover if we travelled against FCO advice. The FCO advice changed immediately upon the announcement at 10pm. Rang up Direct Line to cancel our car insurance this morning, and they contradicted the advice they gave me a few days ago: was told they would honour our green card but would be unlikely to issue any new ones. Feel so conflicted - no-one knows what advice to give, so we have no idea what to believe - I don't think this would have made any difference anyway now, but we had literally minutes at the terminal to make a quick decision at about midnight - we heard the news on the radio as we were driving there.

Our friends made it to France 24 hrs ahead of us, so can continue their holiday - we are staying at a campsite in the Aude. They have arrived and it's VERY quiet. Still wondering if we should book a ferry, find some insurance that will cover us and still go. Just don't know what to do. I've worked through lockdown and this has kept me going - I'm so tired now and just can't think straight. To have it all snatched away within a couple of hours has been absolutely gutting.

MrsPnut · 14/08/2020 11:39

Stringbean - we are due to go tomorrow and are thinking the same thing.

Battleface are quoting £114.60 for 11 days cover and High risk voyager were quoting about £130 for the same timeframe.

We'll just have to quarantine when we get home.

stringbean · 14/08/2020 11:41

We were escorted out of the Eurotunnel terminal last night at about midnight: we were told we were about the tenth group in the 2 hours since the announcement who had changed their plans at the last minute and decided not to go. The place was so quiet - never seen it like that: no-one there at all and everything closed - although we've travelled at that time previously, and it's always had plenty of people passing through. Last night was very eerie.

norri · 14/08/2020 11:42

Call eurocamp . I'm currently at a site in Fréjus . Everything is open as usual . I've booked with canvas . I called them last week to ask what's would happen if the fco advice changes but we are already in France . They said if the site is open , we could still offer the accommodation.

stringbean · 14/08/2020 11:47

We've had a quote of about £175 from Battleface. BUT we'd need to buy another outbound ferry or tunnel: we had effectively checked-in for last night's crossing and can't speak to anyone about it currently as the lines are too busy.

This is proving to be such an expensive trip and we haven't got out of the UK yet! Ferry route cancelled - that was £550 and we haven't had it refunded yet. We had a hotel booked overnight based on the ferry arrival destination and had to cancel that - it was non-refundable. We booked Eurotunnel on cancellation of ferry and that was £600 (we tow a trailer, so more than just a car, but the prices had already gone up); we've just lost half of that and didn't even make it on the train. Wonder if we should just cut our losses at this point but am aware that I have a stressful busy job and never really 'switch off' properly when I'm here: on a campsite in France, I get to do that in a way I never do at home. Maybe it would just be cheaper to practice mindfulness or something!

stringbean · 14/08/2020 11:53

And @zippyswife - you'll find another campsite: there will be plenty of space - I'm sure in the Dordogne as well. Have a look at this website for ideas. It used to be Castels, but has combined with another company, but still offers the Castels sites. They are a high standard with lovely facilities - I'm sure you'll find something. Or, as someone else said, contact the site direct to see if they can still accommodate you. Don't give up - you're already there and can still continue your holiday.

Thunderpunt · 14/08/2020 11:59

I spoke to the Self Isolation helpline just now about travelling by car through France to another country. You are fine to not self isolate if you dont get out of your car at all..... so no go on self service pumps. However off of the main motorways in France you can still find petrol stations with pump attendants - if you stay in your car and they fill for you and you shove your cash out of the window - that is fine, laughable really........... Think we will go via Germany anyway - will need a comfort break - its around 300 miles from somewhere like Merzig to Coquelles so do-able on a full tank.

Also spoke to our car insurance The AA and we are covered regardless of FCO advice.

Just need to sort out replacement travel insurance with Battleface

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 14/08/2020 12:32

@stringbean

We turned round at the Eurotunnel last night and came home, having realised all our travel/health insurance was invalid at that point due to clauses that they would not provide cover if we travelled against FCO advice. The FCO advice changed immediately upon the announcement at 10pm. Rang up Direct Line to cancel our car insurance this morning, and they contradicted the advice they gave me a few days ago: was told they would honour our green card but would be unlikely to issue any new ones. Feel so conflicted - no-one knows what advice to give, so we have no idea what to believe - I don't think this would have made any difference anyway now, but we had literally minutes at the terminal to make a quick decision at about midnight - we heard the news on the radio as we were driving there.

Our friends made it to France 24 hrs ahead of us, so can continue their holiday - we are staying at a campsite in the Aude. They have arrived and it's VERY quiet. Still wondering if we should book a ferry, find some insurance that will cover us and still go. Just don't know what to do. I've worked through lockdown and this has kept me going - I'm so tired now and just can't think straight. To have it all snatched away within a couple of hours has been absolutely gutting.

OMG, this is awful. You poor things. If you can get a ferry, I'd do it. We agonised last night about making the trip but based on the fact we were reliably informed by a friend who works in motor insurance that our car insurance would still be valid (couldn't call customer services at 11pm to check) we decided to go ahead.

Ferry was quieter than usual but far from empty and plenty of UK number plates.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 14/08/2020 12:40

[quote zippyswife]@Bezzi the whole thing is mental. We’re in Dordogne. I wish I hadn’t checked my email. It’s insane. I’d only just text them to tell them my check in time as I’d received a text last night. You would have thought that given we arrived before restrictions that we would be ok to stay but who knows.[/quote]
Let us know how you get on, that is just ridiculous.

Perhaps it's a mistake?

123sunshine · 14/08/2020 16:17

I am so disappointed not to be travelling to France tomorrow, we have a beautiful Gite booked up and was so looking forward to a much needed break and quality time with my family. We can't now travel as we are unable to quarantine on our return to the UK due to work commitments, otherwise we would probably have gone and suffered the quarantine restrictions. I don't believe there to be any greater risk to where I was going in rural Loire valley travelling on the eurotunnel, to going about my daily business at work and out and about at home, however the rules are what they are and we can't change them. There's a beautiful gite which we've paid for now going to be sitting empty for the week. Disappointing for us and disappointing for the impact of gite/holiday home owners etc all over France having to deal with the fall out. For us not only the disappointment of a lost holiday opportunity, also loss of money for the payment we've made for the gite.