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

I wonder what would happen on a campsite if there's a local lockdown? Would we be able to leave?

Given the headlines - will schools even be going back in September??! We're the same as you @zippyswife we go on 14th so thinking that it may not be possible. Heard from our gite owner today though and they are fine and people holidaying there okay because it's remote and lots of land and easy to social distance. It will be gutting if we can't go but we'll do whatever the advice is at the end of the day. Am remembering at the peak what a difference a week could make so I expect this will be similar. We are talking contingency plans tonight in case we can't go as our builders are moving in on the day we leave so we've nowhere to go if we cancel.

I'm due to go to Aube region last week of August (booked it last Nov!), all being well we are planning to go ahead unless there is a local lock down there or here (the French Govt website shows the area as green for every marker, except R rate - very confusing!) . We were going to cancel when we had only paid a deposit but then the campsite confirmed pool, restaurant and kids club open, and as we are in a self catered chalet, the holiday won't be much different to normal other than occassionally wearing a mask and maybe booking a space in the pool (although our campsite hasn't mentioned that as it has a large terrace around the pool)

Was at the dentist in Uzerche, and she told me that in Lubersac where she lives the gendarmes were in all the supermarchés fining people 135€ who weren't wearing masks.

Weird, to start with staff in the boulangerie were masked, but now the customers are, they aren't.

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...

We are off on Friday but leaving home tomorrow afternoon with a stop over in UK as I am so desperate to be on hols.

We could manage quarentine work wise and would deal with it school wise although I do have one due to start reception. If fco change advice plan b is elsewhere on continent, plan c is elsewhere uk.

I intend to sleep in my white box for 2 weeks come what may hopefully not on the drive

@pettyprudence where did you see the map? I’ve been searching and haven’t found a map which shows the colours.

I’m finding it stressful at the minute. Not knowing whether we are going or not. I’d just rather know either way.
It’s interesting that pps have mentioned that it’s political with France and they don’t think the government would impose restrictions. I hadn’t thought of that. I hope that’s the case.

Yes my big concern is a local lockdown and being stuck there...

@LittleRen I hadn’t been so worried about that (I’ll add that to my mental list of worries 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣)

@LittleRen and @zippyswife the possibility of a local lockdown is the only thing that's concerning me. Quarantine manageable but I don't want to go to the trouble of schlepping all the way to the end of the earth (literally!) only to find it's no beaches no seafood no wine and lots of queuing at supermarkets! What larks 2020 hols are turning out to be.

@smogsville how do you think a local lockdown work on a campsite? Would you have to stay in your caravan? Or just be restricted to the site. I would be happy enough to be restricted to the campsite. Being locked down with 3 x ds in a small caravan, however, would kill me!

Where we are (Normandy) very strict cleaning policy for rental accommodation. Masks for enclosed spaces. All activities except night clubs open.

DD1 has been having driving lessons with masks. She did her code today (and failed). Life is 99% normal.

We traveled to the UK last weekend for 20 hours to pick up a car. Flew via easyjet. No cleaning at all between flights - no time.

Came back via the tunnel - working as normal.

@zippyswife I don't know. Agree any kind of confined space with kids is hell. We have a little gite with garden so could survive but we'd chosen this particular place bc it has restaurants and cafes within walking distance so it would be a shame not to be able to use them. Last year we were further south near cognac in middle of nowhere which would have been fine. Oh well just have see what happens I suppose. The thing that's spurring me on is that if there's a chance that this is a practice run for how holidays are going to be, I may as well get used to it as I defo still want my french summer fix every August.

@Wallywobbles commiserations about your daughter's test. Tell her best drivers don't pass first time.

@smogsville That’s true. I will definitely want my french fix too. We’ll have to deal with this uncertainty for the next couple of years I would say. I still want to go away so I better get used to it!

@zippyswife repeat after me du vin du pain du Boursin...

France is on the front page of bbc news today... not looking good, it’s not too far behind Spain now

Also on sky news www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-france-and-spain-record-big-rises-in-cases-as-french-situation-precarious-12043224

@LittleRen thanks for this. My friend is in Spain with her fam (at their own apartment, travelled by car end July before advice changed) at the moment. Nothing's been shut down locally it's just masks. So on that basis I would still go to France, hoping (well, praying really) that the holiday resorts will remain open for the next few weeks. Providing UK advice doesn't change in next 48hrs obvs.

Oh dear its not looking good. Our airbnb is fully refundable until sunday so in a way I hope they make a decision soon. Though my normally risk averse dh still seems keen to go either way.

@User27aw I know what you mean. You'd think it would be fairly obvious that lots of people will be travelling this weekend so best to crack on with any decisions.

Does anyone recall how immediate the advice was implemented for Spain? So was it "from this very moment the FCO advise against travel", or was it "from midnight on xxx date the FCO advise against travel"?
Could we be on our way to the airport and it all get pulled for example? We're due to travel Saturday, but travelling to the airport tomorrow... I'm desperate to go and not worried about quarantine, but I am worried about invalidating insurance or being told we can't go at the very last moment!

I think it was midnight for Spain. Remember hearing people say they tried to get a flight back that landed before midnight as then wouldn't have to quarantine.

@NotPennysBoat I'm working on the basis that as long as advice doesn't change before you board your trusty plane/ train/ ferry, you're covered by insurance. So for us it would be fine for FCO to change its mind on Sat morning as well be in France by 8am their time.

Does anyone know if you have to wear a particular type of mask in France or if any fabric face covering is ok?