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Skiing in France in Feb half term?

377 replies

winterrabbit · 02/01/2022 23:14

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!

OP posts:
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doorornottodoor · 22/01/2022 15:07

I’ve booked all our going out lateral flows so I’ll be a bit annoyed if they do away with them! We’re flying into Geneva so may still need them for Switzerland. They were only £15 each but there’s 6 of us! It’s all so last minute, I hate being like that. I want to be able to go all the forms in advance not in a big rush at the end whilst I’m packing. Grumble grumble (first world problem) Grin

abricotine · 22/01/2022 16:04

Hmm afraid the Swiss cancelled the requirement a few days ago, they were first to ditch the testing for vaccinated visitors (and never required it for under 16 anyway)

abricotine · 22/01/2022 16:04

@doorornottodoor you should be able to get a refund under distance selling if within 2 weeks

doorornottodoor · 22/01/2022 16:22

Arghh annoying. When I looked a few days ago Swiss were still needing it. No time to keep checking all this stuff!

doorornottodoor · 22/01/2022 16:28

@abricotine just read this on the uk Gov site. I’m confused about what you’re referring to. It looks like transitting Switzerland for France still requires a test?

Skiing in France in Feb half term?
Allthelols · 23/01/2022 00:34

Hi all am just researching for feb half term ski in french alps and this has all been really helpful. Not overwhelming.
A bit unsure about DD who is 14 and has Covid play one vac. Can get second vac on 3rd Feb at the very earliest which would only just be two weeks prior to arrival.
How do I get this to qualify her as vaccinated if she doesnt have the NHS pass thing we can download for the french pass?
And if for whatever reason we could get a vacc done two weeks before travel is she not able to go at all or are we stuck with the daily in resort testing?

chalkyc2 · 23/01/2022 09:08

I think if you get vacc 3rd Feb you might just be ok. DS had his on 15 Jan and I applied for the letter with the QR code which arrived on the 21st.

Otherwise it sounds like a complete pain but possible with the daily testing

abricotine · 23/01/2022 20:42

[quote doorornottodoor]@abricotine just read this on the uk Gov site. I’m confused about what you’re referring to. It looks like transitting Switzerland for France still requires a test?[/quote]
That isn’t correct, perhaps it’s out of date. The Swiss don’t require a test now, but the French still do. But your post above referred only to “still needing them for Switzerland” which is what I picked up on. Nobody will check the test at the French border but technically still needs to be done.

doorornottodoor · 23/01/2022 21:46

Thanks @abricotine it must be a nightmare having to constantly change the wording! In two minds about cancelling my lateral flow order. We leave in 3 weeks ….into Geneva then onto France. I wonder if France will scrap testing too….

poorbuthappy · 24/01/2022 13:12

@Muchtoomuchtodo did you get anyway with your AM?

My friend has a booking for Feb half term and has the same problem with her 13 year old. Covid in Oct meant a late 1st jab early Jan. Not enough time to 2nd jab and she's stressing a bit now.

poorbuthappy · 24/01/2022 13:12

anywhere.
Doh!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 24/01/2022 13:45

@poorbuthappy I had this very noncommittal response:

‘The latest information we’ve had is that the Welsh Government are working on it with the UK Government to bring in the digital passes for under 16s but that this is still ongoing.

I will let you know if we get any further information but at the moment under 16s will need to access the paper version’

I did read on a FB group that the UK government should have digital passes available for 12+’s from 3rd February but I’ve not seen it confirmed anywhere and do know if it’s just for England.

We’re going to Spain at half term (all being well!). Our 2 dc are double vaccinated and there’s no pre departure testing needed!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 24/01/2022 13:46

*Don’t know if it’s just for England

freckles20 · 24/01/2022 16:11

Hi all, we have made it to France with our single vaccinated 14 year old. We flew to Geneva and drove to resort. Daily testing for 14 year old.

I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me on this thread.

If anyone has any questions that I might be able to help with do ask away....

Flammkuchen · 24/01/2022 16:17

Glad I found this thread. I have a 16 year old who has had covid (Oct) and a single jab. Does this mean that she qualifies for the Pass Vaccinale? If not, would she be able to do the daily test? She has both QR codes on the NHS app

It's confusing and hard to find information on whether recovered still counts, and what the rules for 16 year olds are.

She got covid just before she was due to get her school jab, and will need to wait till end March for the second jab.

Chickpea22 · 24/01/2022 16:28

Hi freckles20. I’m so pleased you have arrived and hope that you have good snow. How have you found the access to the daily testing? Does it take long? Thank you

freckles20 · 24/01/2022 17:25

@Chickpea22 thank you. The weather and snow have been super Smile.

So daily testing. We prebooked test appointments before we came. We didn't have to pay at time of booking so it seemed sensible to get them booked in.

We found out how and where to book using the website for our resort. We are staying in a small resort which didn't offer tests on Saturday after midday so for our first day booked in another nearby resort- (Courcheval) and drove there.

The test on the Saturday in Courcheval was pretty shambolic. It as a pop up place and they said we would get results in 30 minutes by email and text. Two hours later and we had no result.

So we drove back. Spoke to receptionist who mumbled and sighed and tutted and rolled her eyes at me and low and behold I received a negative test result by text immediately.

However, you need a QR code to upload to get the pass sanitere. This should come in the form of a link via text and Email. Our link didn't work- it just kept saying 'error'.

The test centre wouldn't help us. They said the system that produces the QR codes was nothing to do with them. They refused to offer any advice whatsoever, they smirked and shrugged and seemed to be enjoying our despair.

Our chalet manager stepped in and said that the test centre can print the QR code but they refused point blank. In the end we met another English parent who said that the links are a nightmare and that they have had some success using a laptop to open them rather than a phone. We approached the tourist office who let us use a PC and the link worked.

So test 1 was very stressful. The worst bit was that no one would help, and they couldn't care less. It was a company called synlab, who seem to offer nothing at all in the way of telephone support other than recorded messages.

Tests 2&3 have been done in the local medical centre. Booked via DrLib system, quick efficient, and I received a paper print out with the QR code each time. A total breeze by lovely helpful French nurses.

Even though both facilities weren't busy they won't do walk in testing. You need an appointment. So I would suggest that you either book in advance, or make absolutely sure that walk ins are accepted.

The first test centre also felt a bit uncomfortable as there were clearly people in the same enclosed room who were there for PCR tests because they had coronavirus symptoms. Seats were v close together, no social distancing and some people without masks. So in terms of catching Covid it felt pretty risky.

I should also add that although there are signs absolutely everywhere reminding us of the need to show a pass vaccinal / Sanitare we have not been asked once to show one in 2 full days of skiing, or in any bars or restaurants, and I haven't seen anyone being asked for one either.

The chalet companies are insisting that no one will be asked for one- but I do feel that maybe it is in their interest to spread that message!

In fact the only place we have been asked to show anything other than passports was at Luton airport where they asked to see our vaccinations on the NHS app.

Upon arrival in Geneva we just had to show passports, and as far as we could see everyone including us was just driving over the border into France without being asked for anything at all.

I know that doesn't mean it was all a waste of time but we have been surprised that no one asked about pre departure tests, or to see any of the forms we had to fill in etc..

Chickpea22 · 24/01/2022 20:38

Thank you so much for updating, especially when you are on your holiday. I’m sorry the first test was such a nightmare. What time of day are you getting yours done? And how is you DS carrying his pass with him when skiing? On phone?

I’m still trying to figure out how we get our first test done on arrival to France (late) and prior to our stop over hotel stay. The testing site we will be using for day to day testing is walk in only which makes me a bit nervous. I suppose we need to relax about it and if lessons are missed then so be it.

freckles20 · 24/01/2022 23:09

@Chickpea22

Thank you so much for updating, especially when you are on your holiday. I’m sorry the first test was such a nightmare. What time of day are you getting yours done? And how is you DS carrying his pass with him when skiing? On phone?

I’m still trying to figure out how we get our first test done on arrival to France (late) and prior to our stop over hotel stay. The testing site we will be using for day to day testing is walk in only which makes me a bit nervous. I suppose we need to relax about it and if lessons are missed then so be it.

We are testing about 4.30pm, we thought it would give us time to iron out any problems before the next day.....

Maybe you could contact your hotel to chat about it- you will already have a negative PCR / LF done 24 hours before you leave the UK and they may well accept that, or they might tell you not to worry. Or maybe just to avoid communal areas?

If the test site is marked as 'walk in' then hopefully it will be ok. I guess you could have a look on snowheads, or the local Facebook pages to see if anyone has used the site. I have found a local bar here that is frequented by British people, and their Facebook page has been really helpful.

Yes, my son is using the French 'anti Covid' app on his phone. It is the only way that I'm aware of to prove a pass Sanitare. It is very easy to use but does need QR codes. You just upload the code that you get after their test and it expires 24 hours after the time that the test was taken. It seems to work without data or reception somehow. Disadvantage is that you have an issue if you run out of battery.

I do think the whole thing may be scrapped soon. But I appreciate that you need to be prepared just in case.

notimagain · 25/01/2022 13:36

I do think the whole thing may be scrapped soon. But I appreciate that you need to be prepared just in case.

I’d be hopeful that entry requirements UK>France might change for the better..OTOH I think the pass vaccinal (as it now) will almost be certainly be with us for several months yet so if you are visiting France this ski season then yes, you very much need to continue to be prepared.

That opinion is based on comments Mr Castex, the PM, made in a big press conference last week, the political effort it took to get the Passé vaccinal through the legislature, and the fact it only replaced the Pass sanitaire yesterday.

chalkyc2 · 25/01/2022 14:12

I'll keep watching but just seen this from Morzine Source which has been a great place for info so far....

Skiing in France in Feb half term?
Chickpea22 · 25/01/2022 21:09

Thanks for all the advice. We are changing our crossing to an earlier time to get to a testing site in time.

I will keep scouring the forums to see how people are getting on in the resort we are going to.

busybeetoo · 25/01/2022 23:11

Hi how did you get the synab booking system to work as it asks for a Social Security number? Do you have the telephone number for the service you ended up using please?
Many thanks

freckles20 · 26/01/2022 11:08

Hi @busybeetoo, only the French nationals have a social security number. I think I if you pop your UK address in and make sure you've added the country it will remove the SS number request.

busybeetoo · 26/01/2022 13:01

Fab I will try it. Did you have a phone number for Dr lib? That’s so much for your help