Teens to France?

[Northernlass99]

So with the change to quarantine announced we have been asked by our travel company if we want to go ahead with our trip to a gite in France, which we had previously cancelled.

Yes we do! But the issue is we are taking five teens who won't be vaccinated. Under 11s are exempt from any vaccination requirements but it is not clear about teens on entry/arrival in France.

I am finding conflicting information. Can anyone help?

frogbibby I think so, on the government travel advice website it says:

.....those travelling aged 11 years old or over, will need evidence of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure, or a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours of departure.

I am on a brilliant Facebook page called travel between UK and France, and it is worth joining this if you are serious about travelling. They seem to think antigen is OK.

You can’t use antigen for the day 2 test on return. It needs to be PCR.

We are travelling at the end of the month and have decided to go without the DDs (17 and 19) as they aren't vaccinated at all; DD2 or have only had one dose; DD1. We have booked tests through Randox who have been very efficient so far. Useful info about the cost of PCR over in France to return. Thank you for that.

DH is French and thinks France may be making an announcement today which may be tightening the rules. Hoping it won't happen but we are waiting before booking anything.

@Silkiecats I'm in France, supposed to be flying to the UK on Saturday. I'm waiting for tonight's announcement before booking any tests.
The UK has 10x more covid cases than France.

PCR tests are free in France if you go to a laboratoire medicale. There will usually be one in the commune you are staying in.

The cheaper antigen test is acceptable on eurotunnel and into France, currently, but it is not allowed in some countries, so check.

As pp has said, things are changing all the time, so keep refreshing the travel restrictions/requirements.

PCR tests are free in France if you go to a laboratoire medicale.

Charges were introduced for non residents in the last week or so - can’t remember the rates but they aren’t astronomic.

Like others I’ve heard the rumours about restrictions being introduced for those arriving from the UK..

Reference my pp..

Found the source/capped rates on French gov website:

“PCR and Antigen tests are free for French residents who are covered by French social security.
From 7 July, PCR tests will cost €49.00 and antigen tests will cost €29.00 for those not covered by French social security.”

I joined the recommended Fb group re travelling to/from France and they've said Macron announcement expected tonight at 8pm.

@OrangeBlossom28

I joined the recommended Fb group re travelling to/from France and they've said Macron announcement expected tonight at 8pm.

Yep we’re sat here waiting for it to start.

Still picking the bones out of the official leaks - mostly rumours about the paperwork you’ll need to get into restaurants etc, measures to encourage people to get vaccinated and actually make vaccination mandatory for some lines of work (some health workers)…

Should start getting definitive answers any minute now but you often don’t get the real fine detail until a day or two after any of these speeches.

www.france24.com/en/europe/20210712-follow-live-france-s-macron-addresses-the-nation-as-covid-19-delta-variant-surges

Health pass (vaccine or neg test) required for anyone over 12 to attend cafe, restaurant, planes, trains etc , some measures from 21 July, some from August.

Its events over 50 from 21 July, rest is from start of August.

If we are comparing notes did I hear mention a few minutes back of increased restrictions on arrivals from higher risk countries - but he gave no more detail than that.

Still no further forward with knowing whether we have to isolate in France or not.

@OrangeBlossom28

Still no further forward with knowing whether we have to isolate in France or not.

If this works as it normally does you only get the fine detail behind the President’s speech once the various decrets start to be issued/debated and that will probably happen in the next day or two.

I’m going to have to see if I can either find the speech in text or a replay to pick out his comment about arrivals from high risk countries that I thought I heard.

The big take for tourists is probably the “health pass” requirement..and from a domestic politics POV it is going to be v interesting to see the response to his announcement that vaccination will be mandatory for many HCPs by 15th September.

We are in slightly unusual position of planning to go to France in August with a 17 year old who will turn 18 when we're there. They won't need a vaccination to get into the country, but not sure about getting back? We are taking Eurotunnel and staying in our own caravan, so not requiring flights/hotels etc. If anyone can offer any advice in this regard please, I would be grateful!

It’s pretty crap if you have an 18 or 19 year old…

I don't think they will need a vaccination to leave but they may not be able to go into restaurants, shopping malls, bars, and public transport when there unless they have a PCR each time which will be chargeable. Not sure if trains will include Eurotunnel though I guess they would have PCR before anyway so would just be one more before leaving if it applies. But need to wait and check they aren't further restrictions when full details come out.

Agree, it has been rubbish for this age group. Ds missed all his A levels last year and has not had the first year university experience he was expecting: now he can't come on holiday with us because, at 19, he has only had one vaccination. I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but still feel quite about it.

Just a thought @stringbean - I had my 2nd Pfizer at 3.5 weeks last week. I turned up at a walk in vaccination centre following a tip off from the Reddit Get Jabbed pages. Could DS make it work in time for your holiday? Entry is dependent on him being 14 days clear of his second jab. Alternatively 1 vaccine and a positive (confirmed) within the last 6 months? If time is on your side he could easily make it work. He may well need to travel to get his second early.

For the 17-18 year old, I have read that you can't be refused re-entry to your own country. But I suppose they might have to quarantine on return if not vaccinated.

We are not bothered about going out too much, we have our own gite. But it would be nice to go to a restaurant for lunch. I wonder if our NHS app and print out would be sufficient?

According to media sources (TV) the health pass requirement for 12-17 year olds will now come into effect end of August (i.e. some back pedaling has gone on)…..

That's interesting @Notimagain - will see if I can find anything more about that: guess there will be a bit more info in the coming days.

@northernlass99 - yes, the 17/18 yr old will need to quarantine on return, but we're back in enough time that it won't impact starting uni. I had read that they won't be refused entry, so that's reassuring.

What happens if you test positive prior to your return though? Do you have to stay and isolate in France?

I’ve cancelled our trip with teenagers- I’d got my head around the testing thing and the cost but then thought about the next step from that which was the possibility of one of us testing positive from one of the 3 tests each and the nightmare that would cause- either trip cancelled the day before losing all the money, being stuck abroad having to isolate and the costs of that, or having to isolate after returning. Testing positive at the moment is quite possible with the massive surge in cases. It’s not just paying and testing it’s dealing with the aftermath.