Page 6 | Are you still skiiing in France before Christmas?

ncski · 2021-12-06T09:41:33+00:00

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....

OhCobblers · 13/12/2021 15:35

@NotDonna

Taken from Gov.Uk
Testing requirements
Travellers must be able to produce a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) on boarding a plane to Switzerland and on entry. You must have this test in your country of departure. Children under the age of 16 are exempt from testing.

So all adults need a PCR within 72 hours of departure to arrive in Switzerland and transit to France. U16 do not but they will need negative antigen/PCR for entry to France done within 24 hours maximum of departure.

We are in the same boat and all having PCR tests the day before we fly!

NotDonna · 13/12/2021 16:09

Thanks, I misread it as ‘transit’ but it means airside transits, which we are not. Will be coming land side to get a taxi to France.
I’ve now booked an at home LFT for youngest to do 24hrs prior and the rest of us 48hr PCRs. I think that now covers us for both Switzerland and France.
Now to work out what’s happening regarding daily/48/72hr testing in France for 12 year old.

Meribelgirl · 13/12/2021 18:19

Hey all,

This thread is great and there's heaps of useful advice on here about transiting through Geneva to France. We're two fully vaxed adults and a single vaxed 15 yr-old. I understand that adults need PCR tests to fly into Geneva from the UK, but I'm struggling to find clear info on whether another PCR is required on the return journey or whether the antigen test we'd take to get back into the UK is sufficient? We'd be taking a bus back from Meribel to Geneva airport and flying back to UK the same day. Any advice appreciated.

MurielSpriggs · 13/12/2021 23:26

@Meribelgirl

Hey all,

This thread is great and there's heaps of useful advice on here about transiting through Geneva to France. We're two fully vaxed adults and a single vaxed 15 yr-old. I understand that adults need PCR tests to fly into Geneva from the UK, but I'm struggling to find clear info on whether another PCR is required on the return journey or whether the antigen test we'd take to get back into the UK is sufficient? We'd be taking a bus back from Meribel to Geneva airport and flying back to UK the same day. Any advice appreciated.

This link from @TheExtraGuineaPig is very useful: www.morzinesourcemagazine.com/covid-19-and-travel-to-morzine-les-gets-or-avoriaz-this-winter/

It says:
We’ve received many questions regarding whether a test is required to enter Switzerland when you’re travelling home to the UK. It’s fair to say that the official guidance on this point differs, but having undertaken hours of research and spoken with airport officials and the Swiss government, we’re confident that you do not have to perform any tests to return to Geneva Airport because you’re travelling into Switzerland from a ‘border region’ (Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets sit within the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region in case you’re not aware).

You will however, be required to fulfil the UK government’s requirements to produce a negative anti-gen test to return to the UK, taken 48 hours or less before your arrival at the airport. These tests can be booked in each resort, see the notes below.

We definitely recommend doing the passenger locator form mentioned above however, and keeping details of your onward travel handy.

MurielSpriggs · 13/12/2021 23:27

@Meribelgirl

Hey all,

This thread is great and there's heaps of useful advice on here about transiting through Geneva to France. We're two fully vaxed adults and a single vaxed 15 yr-old. I understand that adults need PCR tests to fly into Geneva from the UK, but I'm struggling to find clear info on whether another PCR is required on the return journey or whether the antigen test we'd take to get back into the UK is sufficient? We'd be taking a bus back from Meribel to Geneva airport and flying back to UK the same day. Any advice appreciated.

This link from @TheExtraGuineaPig is very useful: www.morzinesourcemagazine.com/covid-19-and-travel-to-morzine-les-gets-or-avoriaz-this-winter/

It says:
We’ve received many questions regarding whether a test is required to enter Switzerland when you’re travelling home to the UK. It’s fair to say that the official guidance on this point differs, but having undertaken hours of research and spoken with airport officials and the Swiss government, we’re confident that you do not have to perform any tests to return to Geneva Airport because you’re travelling into Switzerland from a ‘border region’ (Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets sit within the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region in case you’re not aware).

You will however, be required to fulfil the UK government’s requirements to produce a negative anti-gen test to return to the UK, taken 48 hours or less before your arrival at the airport. These tests can be booked in each resort, see the notes below.

We definitely recommend doing the passenger locator form mentioned above however, and keeping details of your onward travel handy.

Meribelgirl · 13/12/2021 23:55

@MurielSpriggs, that's super helpful - thanks. Everything I've read appears to indicate the same, but wanted to confirm!!

Notanotherusernamenow · 14/12/2021 04:36

This is v useful. We are getting our PCRs tomorrow ahead of departure. Just got a sinking feeling one of us will be an asymptomatic carrier (dh) because he went to his office Christmas party the other night, despite me begging him not to….

TheExtraGuineaPig · 14/12/2021 07:25

I feel like I've got the testing schedule straight in my head (and I'm starting to feel a glimmer of hope from Javid's comments yesterday that they might make it slightly less difficult to come home)

But

I'm starting to get anxious about what happens if we contract it out there, I know it's less likely than a traditional Christmas week at home because we'll be outside and not at gatherings but of course it's highly possible. Does anyone know what happens in France if your teen does test positive? Is it government recommended accommodation or do you find your own and wait it out?

We have good insurance and taking laptops for work so this not a so much a financial concern.

graywall · 14/12/2021 09:08

If you test positive in France, you stay home and wait it out. So you would need to either stay in your accommodation or find somewhere else.

We are heading down to the Alps on Friday from Paris, fingers all crossed for UK family joining us on Saturday...

Hophop26 · 14/12/2021 18:53

For my sanity… the gov.uk website has been updated today to change the wording for the previous-departure lateral flows to go to France. We had originally booked in-clinic lateral flows to be cautious because of the wording saying no self-administered tests. Is it now clear that the type that providers like randox do, where you test yourself and upload photo of the test and get a certificate back from them are definitely accepted? Has anyone travelled this week to France on them? We have them to come back but if we can also use to go out then I will cancel the more pricey in clinic ones and do the cheaper lateral flows instead

graywall · 14/12/2021 19:47

I travelled back to France last week using one of those tests. There was no problem. I have bought the same tests for my daughter and mother-in-law traveling this weekend. There is a good FB group about travel between UK and France with many people confirming the same thing.

Hophop26 · 14/12/2021 21:21

Thanks @graywall

I am now slightly nervous about France saying today that they are reviewing whether to increase the restrictions on people come in from the UK, indicating that PCRs may be required after arrival, similar to our day 2 pcrs. That would be such a hassle. Apparently they are expecting to decide in the coming days!

NotDonna · 14/12/2021 22:02

I’ve a lot of friends who have cancelled their ski trips as it’s getting beyond complicated.
I’m now reading that flying back to U.K. from Geneva requires a PCR (by the Swiss). Something about if you’ve stayed in the U.K. in last 10 days. Also something about being exempt if stated in ‘borders’ like Morzine. No idea how far these ‘borders’ stretch and which French ski resorts would be exempt. .🤯

Sonex · 14/12/2021 22:39

We cancelled going tommorrow for this reason - couldn't get clarity on whether we needed to test to get back into Geneva airport from France. As well as having a 14y old with one vaccine who was going to have to test every day and I couldn't find bookable slots anywhere near our hotel.

MurielSpriggs · 14/12/2021 22:44

Would be interesting to hear about any real life experiences of people traveling to the UK from France via Geneva airport.

FrownedUpon · 14/12/2021 22:58

We’ve cancelled our skiing trip for this weekend. Just getting too stressful & was so worried about getting ill/stuck out there. Feeling very calm now we’ve cancelled!

NotDonna · 14/12/2021 23:12

This is useful…
www.moremountain.com/blog/latest-news/covid-19-travelling-to-french-ski-resorts-2022/

Smashedavacado · 15/12/2021 15:29

eve my son is also sending back beautiful photos from Alpes D'Huez uni trip. Also worrying news of covid cases amongst another uni group on the resort. We did warn him 😲

pinkhousesarebest · 15/12/2021 18:16

It’s mental here - honestly if you have cancelled you have done the right thing. There’s no peace of mind. My Uni kids are trying to get home on Saturday from Ireland and we are supposed to go skiing ( we are in Lyon) but we’ve cancelled too. Can’t be arsed with it all.

NinnyNewName · 15/12/2021 19:16

Hi Pink. Please can you elaborate?

Thank you.

TheElderleyBrothers · 15/12/2021 21:54

So I contacted a pharmacy regarding our 12 year old with a recent Covid infection and 1 vaccination and I've just had this back. So fingers crossed she will get her pass sanitaire.