Skiing in France in Feb half term?

[winterrabbit]

We have a provisional booking in Feb half term for me, DH, and 3 kids aged 13, 11 and 3. DH and I are double vaxxed and will have had booster by the time we go. Our 13 year old is not yet vaxxed due to potential health risks so trying to work out if he will be able to get a covid pass if he tests every day in the region. Not sure if they still allow this or if they will insist on the super covid pass like Italy. Does anyone know? There's also the issue of the travel ban on UK citizens. Is this expected to be lifted? All looking a bit too difficult really!

@Pineappleunder - I know travel restrictions are separate to the Pass Sanitaire, but the announcement of the detail as I understand it is (a) on travel but also (b) the rules about the switch over from the pass sanitaire to the pass vaccinal - and I was hoping that (b) might lessen the testing regime. Maybe thats unrealistic.

[quote Africa2go]@Pineappleunder - I know travel restrictions are separate to the Pass Sanitaire, but the announcement of the detail as I understand it is (a) on travel but also (b) the rules about the switch over from the pass sanitaire to the pass vaccinal - and I was hoping that (b) might lessen the testing regime. Maybe thats unrealistic.[/quote]
The announcement so far has simply been and only been on the decision to relax entry for Brits.

As Pineappleunder says the pass sanitaire>vaccinal transition is still under debate in the upper house, almost clause by clause,

Hopefully there will be good news for many but there are as yet no guarantees as to what restrictions may be in place domestically this time next week.

[quote Pineappleunder]Perhaps aged 18 and over is a better way of expressing it. I don't hugely understand the French political process but basically the original bill for the pass vaccinal is most likely to be amended to not include those under 18, at least for some activities.
This would mean age 12-17 don't need to be have pass vaccinal. But would still be able to use the pass sanitaire- for which testing every 24 hours is required.
It's worth noting though that there is still some uncertainty as to whether teenagers will need to be vaccinated for access to restaurants/ bars. It is pretty certain it won't be needed for extra curricular activities/ sports/ cultural activities- which I would say covers skiing pretty well.

I think the senate (equivalent of house of Lords?) are debating it further today and the changes are expected to come into force around the 17th.

Sorry that's not a very succinct post!
www.google.com/amp/s/www.lci.fr/amp/politique/pass-vaccinal-sur-quels-points-du-projet-de-loi-deputes-et-senateurs-devront-ils-s-entendre-en-commission-mixte-paritaire-2207072.html[/quote]
Thank you that's very helpful. I'm really grateful to you for taking the time to post.

I can see then that even if my single vaccinated 14yo is allowed to enter France we still need to await separate decisions wrt the pass vaccinare / sanitere- which may or may not happen next week.

@notimagain The reports are saying the bill to change to the pass vaccinal has been voted on and approved by the French government - but they've not published the detail yet. Its that detail that I'm waiting for - separate to the detail about the travel restrictions for children.

This is a good summary of current understanding -

www.morzinesourcemagazine.com/covid-19-and-your-holiday-in-morzine-les-gets-or-avoriaz-this-winter/

Yes, there are 2 articles from that company, one on travel restrictions and one about the pass / testing regime and both say they're awaiting confirmation following further clarification from the French government.

Sigh.
Borders are open, but there is still no guidance about single vaccinated or unvaccinated 12-15 year olds.

We don't know what to do, or who to contact for advice.

I've checked official French sites, yougov, Facebook, Twitter, snowheads. There is plenty of opinion either way, and some quoting of previous out of date rules- but genuinely nothing concrete.

Any ideas?

When do you go freckles? We are the same but there is some hope I might be able to get DS12 vaccinated in time. We're locked into a Feb half term booking so just keeping fingers crossed all will come clear before then.

I'm really hoping that he won't have to test every day that would pretty much ruin the trip.

I'm guessing they'll have to clarify at some point..

Ok I have news!! I would be really grateful if anyone on this thread could take a look and tell me what you think.

Bear with me.

If you go to the link below, then scroll down to the coloured map.

Just below the map is along great box which allows you to select 5 options (for counties in red, Amber etc) from left to right. On the very far right (and almost hidden from view) is a box to click on titled 'Travel to / from the United Kingdom'.

Once in this box, select the 'travel to Metropolitan France option' . Then the 4th paragraph reads "The measures applied to vaccinated adults extend under the same conditions to accompanying minors, whether or not they are vaccinated."

So I'm feeling quite confident that accompanied minors can travel under the same rules as their vaccinated parents. Although I'm not sure exactly what the French would call a minor? Some people on the snowheads forums are saying it is anyone under 12 .

I'd love some opinions on this!!

@chalkyc2 we go in 5 days!!

I'm afraid no one can tell you anything concrete as the bill has not passed and the amendements are still being debated. While the assembly want a vaccine pass for all, the senate would like to keep the passe sanitaire for 12-17 year olds. But whatever applies to French children will apply to British children. Keep in mind that 80% of French kids aged 12-17 already qualify for the pass vaccinal as they are fully vaxed/vaxed plus recent covid.

It is likely but not definite that your children 12-17 can ski with a daily test. I don't see any scenario in which a single vaccinated British kid will be allowed ski without daily testing in the next few months and would plan accordingly.

Hopefully the peak will have passed for the Feb holidays, but I can tell you that Haute Savoie is riddled with COVID at the moment, with long queues for testing outside chemists. It is one of the areas in France with the highest levels of COVID at the moment. If you are going in the next few weeks and someone in your party has to test negative every day, wear your masks, stay outside and limit your mixing. I live in the area, will ski this weekend and will not be going inside to eat and avoiding telecabines and lifts that I know are generally crowded.

This link is in French, but you could google translate it, has lots of key questions answered.
www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2022/01/06/passe-vaccinal-quelle-difference-avec-le-passe-sanitaire-qui-est-concerne-nos-reponses-a-vos-questions_6108455_4355770.html

A minor in France is under 18. There are specific exemptions for under 12s around testing but a minor is legally under 18.

www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=what+is+the+definition+of+a+minor+in+france

[quote 650above]I'm afraid no one can tell you anything concrete as the bill has not passed and the amendements are still being debated. While the assembly want a vaccine pass for all, the senate would like to keep the passe sanitaire for 12-17 year olds. But whatever applies to French children will apply to British children. Keep in mind that 80% of French kids aged 12-17 already qualify for the pass vaccinal as they are fully vaxed/vaxed plus recent covid.

It is likely but not definite that your children 12-17 can ski with a daily test. I don't see any scenario in which a single vaccinated British kid will be allowed ski without daily testing in the next few months and would plan accordingly.

Hopefully the peak will have passed for the Feb holidays, but I can tell you that Haute Savoie is riddled with COVID at the moment, with long queues for testing outside chemists. It is one of the areas in France with the highest levels of COVID at the moment. If you are going in the next few weeks and someone in your party has to test negative every day, wear your masks, stay outside and limit your mixing. I live in the area, will ski this weekend and will not be going inside to eat and avoiding telecabines and lifts that I know are generally crowded.

This link is in French, but you could google translate it, has lots of key questions answered.
www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2022/01/06/passe-vaccinal-quelle-difference-avec-le-passe-sanitaire-qui-est-concerne-nos-reponses-a-vos-questions_6108455_4355770.html[/quote]
Thanks for this- my query though was about entry regulations, rather than the pass sanitere / vaccinare. I know that the pass issue is something else to consider, we have booked daily tests and will monitor the situation. I absolutely would expect ropes for visiting young people to be a strict or stricter than those for local people.

At the moment it is unclear whether my single vaccinated 14 year old can actually travel- which is what my last post was referring to.

Ah ok @freckles20, I was a bit confused. I hadn't seen any indication anywhere that unvaccinated children were going to be banned from entry to France if accompanying parents.

The line in the French gov website says: "The measures applied to vaccinated adults extend under the same conditions to accompanying minors, whether or not they are vaccinated". this is the exact wording for all the countries, including Green so I don't think there is any reason to think it would be any different for British children. For border entry children, i.e. under 18s, take on their parents' vaccination status. There is a separate set of rules if they are entering alone.

www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel

There is some discussion going on on the snowheads forum as to what constitutes a minor. Users there are suggesting that over 12s will need to be fully vaccinated to even enter the country. We don’t mind daily testing if it means we can ski but it looks like even getting into France will be problematic.

I have pretty much read all of google. Contacted our chalet company, used snowheads, Facebook and Twitter and I still have no idea of my som can travel.

Totally impossible to know what to do. Chalet company will not refund under any circumstances.

FWIW French Consulate in London have updated the travel info on their website:

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

Thank you @notimagain, I may just be overwhelmed- but I can't see the answer on there either and it all seems very jumbled!

I haven’t a clue either Freckles. We are in exactly the same position as you.

The arrival I linked to yesterday has updated and proposes that yes, single vacc teens can travel.

*article

@chalkyc2

The arrival I linked to yesterday has updated and proposes that yes, single vacc teens can travel.

Hi @chalkyc2 - please could you point me towards that article? I've scrolled back but can only find the one about the pass vacinere / sanitere that you linked to yesterday. Sorry .

I think this one

www.morzinesourcemagazine.com/travel-to-france-from-the-uk/?fbclid=IwAR2r3GpYXlX1QT0a6G4PYz2mObd1Ns4Q1j--mKCw-MyO0UjgAyfgfZ9dCFE

Ive checked france in detail - uk teens need to be double vax to enter or single vax with recovery cert.

Just single vax isnt enough - no option to test or anything