Driving through France to Austria

[Vinevine]

We’ve book a skiing trip at the end of this month at St Johann and coz France is reopened, we’re thinking to drive to there. But I can’t find any informations about how many days we need to stay in France to avoid the PCR test to enter Austria. Just wonder any possible way to drive to there.

HI @Vinevine, we're just giving this thread a bump in case anyone's around to answer your query.

I have read that Austria have just ended the PCR requirement for vaccinated travellers - not an Austrian expert but maybe do a bit of fresh research or someone on the Austria threads will know. Switzerland did the same, Announcements made yesterday.

@abricotine

I have read that Austria have just ended the PCR requirement for vaccinated travellers - not an Austrian expert but maybe do a bit of fresh research or someone on the Austria threads will know. Switzerland did the same, Announcements made yesterday.

That’s great, checked it and they have cancel the test. Need to plan the trip now. : )

Have they?! Where did you see this, as it's great news.

Assune you mean drive through Belgium and Germany and not France? It's a long drive, although worth it to avoid a plane in current circumstances. I'm not sure of all entry rules for France, Belgium and Germany but I don't think the borders are checked that strictly.

Actually suppose you could go via reims and enter Germany by Straßbourg and head south. More miles I guess and maybe a couple of hundred € in tolls. You need winter tires on your car (not just all year weather ones) and chains just in case.

We drove from Calais up into Belgium, via Brussels, edge of Luxembourg, and then into Germany around Aachen. No tolls involved luckily. We have done France to Strasbourg via Paris from Brittany and it’s way more expensive and takes longer (but was where we lived so stuck with it). Avoid going via Switzerland as it costs a fortune to get the vignette for a short trip across, and the roads are a nightmare.

@Doubleraspberry

Have they?! Where did you see this, as it's great news.

Here it is www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information

We drove to Austria or Switzerland to ski before pandemic; use Google it can choose toll or not toll. Normally stay a night at Stuttgart or Strasbourg area then continue the journey to the destination.

I drove to Venice in 3 days (2 overnights) which is further, you can do it with one overnight

@NoKnit

Assune you mean drive through Belgium and Germany and not France? It's a long drive, although worth it to avoid a plane in current circumstances. I'm not sure of all entry rules for France, Belgium and Germany but I don't think the borders are checked that strictly.

According to many regular travellers the paperwork check done by the French officials prior to boarding Ferries Uk> France is being carried out in a fairly thorough manner ATM and there’s also a small risk of being pulled aside for a random but v thorough check of paperwork, vehicle and contents.

Not so sure about the land borders you mention but TBH if pulled over, perhaps at random, I would expect a fairly comprehensive check.

We drove through France and Germany to Austria last autumn. As you say, thorough check at French border on entry, but no border controls after that. The hotel then checked our vaccination certificate.

Sorry should have clarified I mean borders Belgium - Germany - Austria, Schengen area. Driving through of course requirements have to be met although not sure how much they are checked. Also be aware Germany has UK on high risk area list so travellers have to quarantine of not vaccinated or recovered. So children not vaccinated fully wouldn't be able to stay in a hotel there to break up the journey. Just driving through might be different though.

We’re only in Germany for a handful of hours so unless we have a car emergency it’ll be fine. We drive overnight so it’s just a morning on the autobahn!

I think that is fine even if you did have a breakdown. But kids and the quarantine is an extremely sensitive topic amongst parents, in particular expats. It's all a bit silly and I hope soon it is abolished