Driving to/through France from UK right now

[Centrente]

My passport was stamped by French passport control in Folkestone at Eurotunnel. The car image on the stamp looks like a Renault 25.
No other stamps.
No hotels have asked for vaccine or test paperwork so far. Entering Switzerland later this week.
I am travelling with my 15 year old daughter who is not vaccinated, FYI.

[Rtig]

CDB1983 said:

Wynn Duffy said:

Well I promised I would report back.

We traveled on an early Le Shuttle on Tuesday (22.06.21) Folkestone to Calais. There is a new form you fill in before departure, it is a Eurotunnel one, stating everyone's vaccine status and PCR test status etc, bit like a honesty system. At the French border check, we had to show our PCR tests, both were on my phone and no problem with that, he did not ask about our vaccine, although I had paper copies with us. A Quick stamp of Passports and we were though. No customs check or any other paperwork checked.

Found no problems driving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland no one took any notice of a British 5 series touring with a roof box on. No issues at any service stations, taking CDB1983's advice (thanks again) on the Polish Border Guards, I put enough juice in to get us home to Poznan.
We had no problems driving over, it was fine.

Great news! So you’re staying in Pozna?? We used to live there it’s a great city

If you get bored you’re very welcome to drop round for a bbq We are about 60 miles from Pozna? near Bydgoszcz.

I think the media have a lot to answer for making out travel is really difficult. My dad arrived last week by plane and nothing was checked upon arrival to Poland.

Enjoy your stay. Apart from the masks everything is reasonably normal now.

If you need any help with anything feel free to drop me a pm. I have quite a lot of English speaking friends in Pozna?.

Bydgoszcz is a lovely city! I have a service contract with Drobex in Kujawski so stay regularly in Bydgoszcz

[anonymous-user]

Rtig said:

Bydgoszcz is a lovely city! I have a service contract with Drobex in Kujawski so stay regularly in Bydgoszcz

Drop round for a beer or 10 next time you are in the area

Drobex is about 10 mins down the road

[Gio G]

Just reading through these threads and hope the situation improves soon with respect to quarantines and France moving off the amber list. A friend of mine is inviting the family to stay at a chalet in Morzine and want to drive over with a few overnights along the way. Will be early August.. Seems like a allot of hassle right now..

G

[MattS5]

Gio G said:

Just reading through these threads and hope the situation improves soon with respect to quarantines and France moving off the amber list. A friend of mine is inviting the family to stay at a chalet in Morzine and want to drive over with a few overnights along the way. Will be early August.. Seems like a allot of hassle right now..

G

any recomendations you can offer for staying along the way would be warmly welcomed.

I'm heading down to near La Plagne 2nd week of Aug, I did it last year, but did the journey in one hit from Calais, and it was 600 miles and around 9 hrs on the autoroutes.

I'm thinking I might go for a more relaxed option this time, keep off the toll roads and take an extra day or 2 enjoying the journey a little more

Edited by MattS5 on Tuesday 6th July 18:49

[Gio G]

MattS5 said:

Gio G said:

Just reading through these threads and hope the situation improves soon with respect to quarantines and France moving off the amber list. A friend of mine is inviting the family to stay at a chalet in Morzine and want to drive over with a few overnights along the way. Will be early August.. Seems like a allot of hassle right now..

G

any recomendations you can offer for staying along the way would be warmly welcomed.

I'm heading down to near La Plagne 2nd week of Aug, I did it last year, but did the journey in one hit from Calais, and it was 6 hours and around 9 hrs on the autoroutes.

I'm thinking I might go for a more relaxed option this time, keep off the toll roads and take an extra day or 2 enjoying the journey a little more

Maybe I should have asked the same thing also looking for ideas... I was thinking of maybe stopping off at Reims on the way.

G

[Rtig]

CDB1983 said:

Drop round for a beer or 10 next time you are in the area

Drobex is about 10 mins down the road

Sounds like a plan! Normally over every couple of months so will drop you a message

[Benjy911]

ColourRestorer said:

Centrente said:

My passport was stamped by French passport control in Folkestone at Eurotunnel. The car image on the stamp looks like a Renault 25.
No other stamps.
No hotels have asked for vaccine or test paperwork so far. Entering Switzerland later this week.
I am travelling with my 15 year old daughter who is not vaccinated, FYI.

You presumably uploaded your health statement and test results to the Eurotunnel server in advance?

Did the French passport control at Folkestone scrutinise your NHS app or vaccination certificate? I'm trying to establish how alert they are at checking to see whether Brits have been vaccinated with the Indian made variant of the Covid vaccine, or whether they just give it a cursory glance.

Have you managed to find anything on this? It looks like EMA approval still hasn't gone through and we are meant to be going over at the end of next week.

[psi310398]

Benjy911 said:

Have you managed to find anything on this? It looks like EMA approval still hasn't gone through and we are meant to be going over at the end of next week.

I’m going through this evening so I can update on basic alertness but as I have the wholesome UK stuff in my arms it might not be definitive.

I’ve uploaded my stuff onto the Eurotunnel site but my perfectly pukka antigen test certificate is pending a manual check, while my attestation on my honour was cleared immediately, so I’m not sure what the process actually is. I also don’t understand why the NHS inoculation certificate can be preloaded either…

[Sluglord]

Can anyone help with this please?
I'm driving the family through France in 24 hours to Switzerland.
My wife and I are fully vaccinated but my daughter (21) and son (13) are not - so they need a "compelling reason to enter".
The last tick box on the downloadable Word document of compelling reasons checklist has "Travellers in transit for less than 24 hours in an international zone".
Question: is driving across France in 24 hours count as transiting within 24 hours?
Thanks.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Sluglord said:

Can anyone help with this please?
I'm driving the family through France in 24 hours to Switzerland.
My wife and I are fully vaccinated but my daughter (21) and son (13) are not - so they need a "compelling reason to enter".
The last tick box on the downloadable Word document of compelling reasons checklist has "Travellers in transit for less than 24 hours in an international zone".
Question: is driving across France in 24 hours count as transiting within 24 hours?
Thanks.

I'm not 100% on this (and hope for your sake that I'm wrong) but my understanding is that an international zone is basically transit in an airport.

[Pete102]

This, the international zone is generally defined as the arrivals area prior to official passport control.

[tommobot]

After some help aswell.

Mrs tommobot and our 4 year old are Italian, and we booked Eurostar tickets in April on the cheap, with the aim of going in Europe.

We'd aim to drive down through France etc... And stay 3 weeks with family in Italy.

At the moment, this appears to constitute 10 tests in total, which equates to around 1k of tests!...

This really isn't viable, does this sound right?..

And can someone advise on what is needed to return via Eurostar? Were believing at the moment the only option is a kit provided by Eurostar?..

Again, any input appreciated!!

[Steviesam]

tommobot said:

After some help aswell.

Mrs tommobot and our 4 year old are Italian, and we booked Eurostar tickets in April on the cheap, with the aim of going in Europe.

We'd aim to drive down through France etc... And stay 3 weeks with family in Italy.

At the moment, this appears to constitute 10 tests in total, which equates to around 1k of tests!...

This really isn't viable, does this sound right?..

And can someone advise on what is needed to return via Eurostar? Were believing at the moment the only option is a kit provided by Eurostar?..

Again, any input appreciated!!

Well I drove from France into Italy (and back) the other week and there wasnt even anyone on the border. Never even slowed down. I have been to France 3 times since March, and its no different to before. Rock up, show them negative test (and recently vaccination proof from the NHS app), give them your passport and through in 2 mins.

[tommobot]

Steviesam said:

Well I drove from France into Italy (and back) the other week and there wasnt even anyone on the border. Never even slowed down. I have been to France 3 times since March, and its no different to before. Rock up, show them negative test (and recently vaccination proof from the NHS app), give them your passport and through in 2 mins.

What about coming back home? Assume on the tunnel... What fun and games are you having to go through. ... That's the bit that worries us!!

[10126 Torino]

tommobot said:

After some help aswell.

Mrs tommobot and our 4 year old are Italian, and we booked Eurostar tickets in April on the cheap, with the aim of going in Europe.

We'd aim to drive down through France etc... And stay 3 weeks with family in Italy.

At the moment, this appears to constitute 10 tests in total, which equates to around 1k of tests!...

I'm completely not up to speed with all the testing requirements but where do you get 10 tests from ?

[EdJ]

tommobot said:

What about coming back home? Assume on the tunnel... What fun and games are you having to go through. ... That's the bit that worries us!!

I’ve decided to cross that bridge when we get to it. The rules keep changing so who knows.

[Pete102]

Currently sat waiting to board in Calais. Line for ticket booth, show PLF and test.

Waved through French customs.

Line for UK customs going through documentation, took me a little longer as I’m travelling on an exemption, offered to show my work contract, unfortunately for the officer it’s in German.

Questioned as to why I hadn’t booked a day 2/8 test despite a) being exempt and b) leaving the UK on day 2!

My advice, allow a little extra time, they aren’t exactly quick

[tommobot]

10126 Torino said:

I'm completely not up to speed with all the testing requirements but where do you get 10 tests from ?

2 to go Eurostar to leave uk. (i.e 1 for me, 1 for Mrs)
- not 100% sure if still required?

2 to leave quarantine in Italy after 5 days

4 tests to leave quarantine in UK, day 2 and day 8
-is this still required?

2 to return from Italy to UK via Eurostar
Day 2 after return as per new rules

This is actually down to 8..

[rdjohn]

EdJ said:

tommobot said:

What about coming back home? Assume on the tunnel... What fun and games are you having to go through. ... That's the bit that worries us!!

I’ve decided to cross that bridge when we get to it. The rules keep changing so who knows.

At least this has the benefit of the security of being isolated in your own car. Imagine standing 6-hours in a queue at an airport. That has huge contamination potential.