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Original poster

Are you still skiiing in France before Christmas?

161 replies

ncski · 06/12/2021 09:41

More specifically, as a family with double vaccinated adults and at least one single-vaccinated teen that's going to need to test every day, are you still going for it?

We're due to depart at the weekend. Whole family recently recovered, not that we can evidence that for the teen in Europe. I think I've got my head around all the testing, but it's the (tiny?) prospect of one of us testing positive whilst we're over there, having to quarantine, vast extra expense, missing Christmas back home etc, that's giving me the vapours.

Please tell me you're gung ho, it'll all be fine, and you'll have a great time....

OP posts:
friskybivalves · 09/12/2021 09:35

Does anyone currently skiing know whether UK teens who are having to test everyday are being allowed to have a weekly lift pass, or are having to buy a daily one in case they do not turn in a negative test? Thanking anyone kindly in advance for Intel! We are heading for les Arcs by the way...

abricotine · 09/12/2021 12:18

A PCR is required by 16+ flying from the UK to Geneva (Switzerland). It will also suffice for vaccinated adults as their entry into France so long as within 48h.

An un-/partially vax 12-15 year old would need to do an antigen within 24h before departure. Get a lab-certified home test (c19, chronomics etc) for that.

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK-28918

"Transit
Travellers entering Switzerland to transit on to another destination (e.g. France, Germany or Italy) are required to show a negative PCR test before boarding a plane to Switzerland and on entry to Switzerland. "
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements

Freezingmyarseoff · 09/12/2021 14:24

So glad I found this thread, lots of great info thanks. We have until Sunday to decide and still get full refund. We’re driving & self catering but apparently I’m CEV and was offered a third vaccine back in September so I’m undecided if it’s really a sensible idea to go.

I haven’t booked any tests yet, in resort testing over Christmas sounds a bit stressful for teen.

But the snow…..

Smashedavacado · 09/12/2021 22:40

Not sure of this is helpful for those needing daily tests in resort but my son has ordered online lateral flows from c19 (£22 each) for his return journey.
You send a photo of the result & ID to receive a certificate.
I know these are UK government approved but not sure about French in resort or whether they need to be on person.

TheElderleyBrothers · 09/12/2021 23:06

@Freezingmyarseoff

So glad I found this thread, lots of great info thanks. We have until Sunday to decide and still get full refund. We’re driving & self catering but apparently I’m CEV and was offered a third vaccine back in September so I’m undecided if it’s really a sensible idea to go.

I haven’t booked any tests yet, in resort testing over Christmas sounds a bit stressful for teen.

But the snow…..

It is your risk to take, I'm weighing it up and thinking positively about travelling but we have no CEV. If this new variant does take off we can kiss goodbye to moving things to half term (if you have kids) so I'm going while we can. But we will do what we can to keep us and others safe. No crowded inside bars/restaurants and disco dancing in ski boots are some years behind me. We will be on the train and self drive. And of course we will be mask wearing in all places.
TheElderleyBrothers · 09/12/2021 23:07

And of course the snow! Not been like this for years at Christmas

friskybivalves · 09/12/2021 23:54

@TheElderleyBrothers

And of course the snow! Not been like this for years at Christmas
God yes the snow. We aren't being offered refunds (grrrrr). Just option to defer a year but bloody hell I know it will be green fields. And we only have a few days to decide. Its the thought not only of testing queues but endless people faffing about trying to get their pass sanitaire up on their phones with cold hands and the lines lengthening behind fhem. And prospect of one teen testing positive which means holiday over for them - and us all bejng stuck out there and unable to fly back.

Choices choices dilemmas dilemmas.

Squizzley · 09/12/2021 23:58

Just cancelled for two adults and two dc. Not sure how accurate my info is but I have been tipped off that England is going in to full lockdown after Christmas. This is from a civil servant at No 10.

I am finding it too stressful.

MurielSpriggs · 10/12/2021 00:02

Thanks for the information here, very useful.

Schulte · 10/12/2021 08:06

Even if that is true about lockdown, and I doubt it at the moment, you would still be able to return to the UK. Surely?

Lockdownbear · 10/12/2021 08:13

Yes they can't stop UK citizens returning. Might enforce quarantine on return. But they can't stop people returning.

mincepiesallround · 10/12/2021 09:52

I can’t recall if anyone on this thread is already out there, but I would be really interested to know what the situation is in the cafes, bars, telepheriques etc in terms of crowding. Our family is very happy to minimise risk by just doing picnic lunches but I know the extended family won’t.

IsThisNameTaken · 10/12/2021 15:38

@Smashedavacado

Not sure of this is helpful for those needing daily tests in resort but my son has ordered online lateral flows from c19 (£22 each) for his return journey. You send a photo of the result & ID to receive a certificate. I know these are UK government approved but not sure about French in resort or whether they need to be on person.
Unfortunately you can't use these in resort to get your PS - the QR code won't work. You need to have a local test.
Eve · 10/12/2021 15:49

My DS and 200 other Uni students on way to France to ski at moment!

Good luck France!

( all tested before leaving & extra lateral flows to do when there plus for return!)

TheElderleyBrothers · 11/12/2021 16:34

What do we all make of the supposed lack of tests in resort? I was going to use a French test for our return but the reports had me on the website booking a test to take with us this morning. Just hope that arrives in time.

TheExtraGuineaPig · 12/12/2021 09:51

Well I've been (obsessively) following reports on snowheads and Facebook and I'm not sure those newspaper reports had much grounding in truth... the big resorts - I'm following Morzine and Avoriaz - seem to have plans in place to make it viable to ski with teens. Smaller resorts and those with fewer British visitors mig be different I suppose.

Eve · 12/12/2021 10:42

DS has FaceTimed from slopes in Val & it looks glorious - serious snow envy!

Pebblesandwaves · 12/12/2021 13:39

We are going to France next week for Christmas and I am so confused!! We are going on the boat and driving down.

  1. Can we order an antigen to do before we go, where you take yourself and then upload a photo to a website.
  2. When leaving France to get back into the UK, can we do an antigen we have brought with us to take ourselves and upload photo? Or does it have to be an in person test in France??
IsThisNameTaken · 12/12/2021 16:41

@Pebblesandwaves

We are going to France next week for Christmas and I am so confused!! We are going on the boat and driving down.
  1. Can we order an antigen to do before we go, where you take yourself and then upload a photo to a website.
  2. When leaving France to get back into the UK, can we do an antigen we have brought with us to take ourselves and upload photo? Or does it have to be an in person test in France??
Yes to both questions. France recently changed their wording to say that the test has to be certified by a laboratory, not that you can't use self-administered test (like it used to say). Basically, they're just making the point that you can't use NHS ones that you input the result yourself.
TheExtraGuineaPig · 12/12/2021 16:45

I've found this page really useful - and they update it all the time:

www.morzinesourcemagazine.com/covid-19-and-travel-to-morzine-les-gets-or-avoriaz-this-winter/

We are flying to Switzerland so need PCR tests and will have those done in a lab, plus an antigen test for DD. We're going to take C19 antigen tests with us (the ones you email a photo in) for return to the U.K.

OhCobblers · 12/12/2021 17:14

Could some over please clarify the timing of teens testing prior to arriving in France via Geneva?
We know as adults fully vac our PCR can be done within 48 hours of departure and is not required for under 16s.
For France it originally said for the unvaccinated it needed to be within 24 hours prior to departure but having read here they're possibly saying 48 hours too???
Would love some clarification!
Many thanks

Wallywobbles · 12/12/2021 17:46

I think the not double vaccinated teen would need to self isolate for 7 days.

TheExtraGuineaPig · 12/12/2021 17:49

The not vaccinated teen doesn't have to isolate if accompanied by vaccinated adults - that's for adults or unaccompanied teens.

I'm a bit confused about the 24/48 hr question too though), sorry!

IsThisNameTaken · 12/12/2021 18:05

For France the test for unvacc'd has to be done within 24 hours of departure.

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK-28918

NotDonna · 13/12/2021 13:36

My head is going to explode! Please help me get to grips with this.
We are flying to France via Geneva and are:
3 adults fully vaccinated
A 16yr old double vaxxed
A 12yr old single Vax.
For France, the 12yr old needs a LFT 24 hrs prior to departing UK. Because of this I booked us all for LFTs 24 hours prior to flight as test centre a bit if a trek.
I thought if transiting via geneva that French rules applied (ie LFT 24 hrs). But are you guys saying we need to follow Swiss rules (bar isolation) and ALL have a PCR? Is that 48 or 72 hours prior please?