So is 14 days quarantine on entering France definitely dropped now we have stopped applying it to people entering from France since 10th July? I was assuming the French would have to officially confirm, but the gov.uk advice seems to suggests it was reciprocal so that as soon as we dropped it theirs was automatically dropped too?
I was assuming the French would have to officially confirm, but the gov.uk advice seems to suggests it was reciprocal so that as soon as we dropped it theirs was automatically dropped too?
It was always voluntary for Brits to quarantine when arriving France up until the 10th,now its been dropped Entirely
We will be biking, climbing, via ferrataing,......
The most dangerous part of the journey will be driving through England.
Hmmm. I think not.
Back at our static in North Wales. Absolutely shattered as the garden was a mess. The site had said they were cutting the grass, nope they only did the ones near the entrance.
I'm working from the caravan tomorrow before returning home, then coming back Wednesday night for 4 nights. Bringing the bikes this time.
Not even going to risk booking anything overseas.
We are currently in Provence having taken the campervan through the chunnel (they ask you to stay in your vehicles on the train but the terminal toilets are open).
We stopped at a Hotel B&B in Saint Quentin on the way as we arrived very late. Booked in online and got emailed the door code so didn't speak to or go within 10 metres of anyone while we were there.
No issues in the services or shops but lots of places asking you to wear a mask unless you are seated, which isn't a problem. The weather here is excellent so eating outside isn't a hardship either. We are looking forward to a safe and fun holiday, with lots of cycling and being outdoors.
Does anyone know how to do a "show me the most recent review of a hotel in the Balearic Islands" search on Tripadvisor? I want to keep an eye out for people coming back and their real world experiences, without endlessly trolling through a long list of hotels.
Just got back from a long weekend in Belgium.
No problems at all in travel, hotel or cafes.
It is compulsory to wear a mask when in a shop or enclosed public place.
Street cafes have no masks outside. The one we frequent in De Panne said masks compulsory when going inside to use the toilet, though it wasnt policed very well.
All the shops we went in were keen on mask use,I'd forgotten mine this morning, just about to go into the corner Spar shop, and got stared daggers from the cashier, when I realised I didnt have it.
A bar in Poperinge yesterday didnt seem too bothered about their use, just like another bar on Saturday, where we sat inside. Some interpreting of the Law sightly differently I think.
And, Belgian road cycling. Just do it.
We did a 45km sportive, around Zwalm, cobble country. What a great event , 7 euro, got a cake and a waffle at the start, perfect signposting (unlike some of the ones I've done in the UK), a perfect choice of roads, including some classic road race sections, the map was marked with bars around the course, there was a lady at the end, when we were parking the bikes, she asked what drinks we'd like, and they were at the table as we sat down.
Couldnt have been better.
I have two weeks leave booked for mid Sept that I can't change, original plan was Le Mans first and then on to ride, but Le Mans is no go for us now ( Didn't have tickets booked before Covid). I really wanted to go to Soelden and then on to Dolomiti paganella as it's not too far from Soelden and maybe to Livigno too.
I'm currently thinking Paganella, Livigno and I've been in touch with MTB Beds about a few days in Finale Ligure. But I am having doubts about going anywhere.
The quickest way to drive to the Dolomites is through Austria.It's possible to transit Austria with need for a medical certificate but I am worried about being turned away at the border, even if I have accomodation booked in Italy and can show I'm just transiting. If I'm on the Autobahn (A7) does anyone know if I'll be stopped upon entering Austria? I speak almost zero German.
In Europe you shouldn’t face any big medical bills as long as you have your ehic card and you don’t accidentally go to a private hospital. Think ehic covers 80% of the hospital bill in france
That sounds to me like you could still end up with 20% of a very big medical bill!
Google suggests an average day in French ICU is about 1500eur and the average COVID patient who needs ICU is there for 16 days... so even with EHIC you could be looking at a 5k bill, not including any family members having to isolate before returning home, or staying to help you when released, and no repatriation etc. It’s unlikely you get COVID on holiday, it’s more unlikely you get symptoms before you return. It’s even more unlikely still you end up in a French ITU but if you do I’d say you are facing a big bill (by uk standards), if you aren’t insured.
The Austrian and German borders can be a funny one, tbh. Into Austria from Germany, I've never seen that policed. Into Austria from Czech there'll be a few Austrian polis a few metres down the road. Austria from Slovenia feels like a proper hard border at the best of times, polis with guns, most folk get waved through but the odd car gets pulled to the side. Into Germany from Austria can be an absolute nightmare as well, especially at that corner by Salzburg. Been pulled over there before and the polis were not particularly friendly.
We are definitely still planning on our trip to Greece 9 August. 8 days sailing in the Ionian with just my family on a boat, so in control of our social distancing. The plane is a slight worry, but face masks all round and a 2+2 row to ourselves.
We have holiday insurance from before Covid and the holiday was booked last year, so with the FCO travel advisory now lifted we are covered. My wife is a bit concerned about the Greek healthcare system post austerity though.
Just landed in Gran Can.
Easy Midlands Airport was the quietest I’ve ever seen it. Vast majority of people observing the mask rule. Flight was at about 75% occupancy but most seemed to be wearing those new-fangled masks that are 100% effective when worn over the chin. ****ers.
Cabin crew kept requesting for masks to be worn over the intercom but this was ignored and I didn’t see them approach anyone directly.
**** that.
Thought I’d follow up on my post a couple of pages ago. We’re here in Spain and it it was all quite painless. Manc airport was very quiet, most people very disciplined about wearing masks. The bar was even open, and you could drop the mask once sat down. There were a couple of mask refuseniks on the flight but the vast majority kept to the rules.
In Spain they’re obviously taking this more seriously than we are. You need to fill in the form with flight and contact details in advance or at the airport when you arrive, and they have infrared screening machines and nurses on hand to check for anyone with symptoms. The vast majority of people are wearing masks when out and about. Like the airport once you’re sat down in a bar or the beach you can dispense with it. So all pretty much as normal, just get used to wearing a mask.
So, ferry booked (at about 2.5x pre-c19 prices...but that's the price to pay)
Barring something major happening it looks like the Euro roadtrip is a go-er (fingers crossed)
We’re having to wear masks in the restaurant and bar to get served. The AI hotels must be loving it; 30 minute queue to get a drink and a 2 drink per person queuing maximum.
Into Germany from Austria can be an absolute nightmare as well,
Drove from Munich to Trento last Friday going via the Inn valley and over the Brenner.
Heading south wasn't a problem. No Austrian nor Italian controls. However, in the way into AT from DE we saw German police had set up a road block.
Given my previous experiences with the German fuzz we decided on crossing back into Germany via a quiet mountain road rather than the autobahn.
EMA website said all restaurants were closed but the Gin bar was open and serving food (and Gin) at 5am.
back from a week in Castellon, the masks, omg the masks.
While there, mask use was recommended, but the generalitat upped that over the weekend to obligatory. But as i saw it.... 98% of people outside their homes have masks, about 50% have it only covering their chin/forgot their nose/hanging from one ear.... masks are then momentarily removed to smoke, speak, breathe? so there is quite high hand to face contact, in my uneducated view, any societal benefits of wearing masks are being balanced by "incorrect use of PPE" - but then its not PPE, is it......
Beaches open with a few guidelines, which are enforced. Bars, somewhat like the UK, are open but each has its own interpretation of the guidelines.... best advice i can offer is to wait to be seated. supermarkets were enforced hand sanitiser on entry, plus disposable gloves as well as masks
a high percentage of tourism there is spanish and Orpesa itself was only slightly quieter than would be expected (quite likely as accommodation would have been booked out pre-CV19 for the festival - and the internationals chose to cancel?)
Spain checked our paperwork and took our temperature on arrival.... UK didnt check any thing (there is a matching passenger health locator form on gov.uk)
UK Airport was nice and quiet, Castellon always is.
worst half hour was in the back of a taxi to the airport, the rear fully sealed off with thick polythene/perspex.... shame the aircon only works for the driver!
I will be back later in the year, pending second wave lock downs
Back from Morzine.
Its lovely, fewest braking bumps ever due to the late start.
Masks on in shops (observed by everyone), and if you want to go to the loo in a restaurant or bar (observed by most), and on the enclosed lifts (enforced on entry, but you can take them off once you get on - I only kept mine on when I was sharing with a stranger).
Weren't allowed in the hot tub, but other than that all as normal.
Drove due to flights being cancelled, took food so we only needed to stop at the more remote toilet aires. On eurotunnel you must remain in your car, which is so much more pleasant than normal when you usually have to get out of the way of everyone who marches their 5 hyperactive kids down the length of the train for an exciting toilet trip.
Heads up if you're traveling in France.
From today onwards there's a fixed fine of 135€ for anyone not wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces. 
the enclosed lifts (enforced on entry, but you can take them off once you get on – I only kept mine on when I was sharing with a stranger)
Please remember that wearing a mask is about keeping surfaces free of stuff that comes out of your nose and mouth, not so much about being in the same space at the same time to pass the virus on. Small enclosed spaces, that others will be getting in soon after you, are a good place to use masks to avoid passing the virus on.
Why, just why is the UK refusing to do this?
51st State complex. BloJo wants to align with the dyingest country on the planet.
Been in Paris for the last 10 days. Life seems to be much more "normal" than UK, lot of mask wearing and gel dispensers everywhere inluding in shops and on the street. Mask wearing is near 100% in shops and a lot outside, with the usual mask-on-chin thing in many cases. Masks are for sale everywhere, from boxes of 50 surgical masks to funky African print ones made in small sewing shops.
For all the mocking Boris got for "stay alert", did any of my fellow visitors to france find the "this summer, we must keep good reflexes*" slogans to be of equally wishy washy useless vagueness?
Or is it only fun to mock Tories?
*my crap literal translation, but I can't really find a less silly alternate wording
Réflexes in this case translates as habits.
It's not a throwaway slogan thought up just for this occasion. "Les bons réflexes" is often used when advising on correct behaviour, for instance every summer when the masses hit the autoroutes "les bons réflexes" are often listed or announced on Radio Traffic; stopping every two hours, staying hydrated, etc.
Spain not looking good for this that rushed out once the restrictions were lifted.
Scotland managed a whole 4 days before reverting to quarantine on return.
The chances of any of them actually bothering to quarantine?
Tui cancelling flights also, plus cases in Germany on the rise. I can see Spanish Hols being restricted once again very soon.
Glad we defaulted to a cottage in Norfolk now...
5 weeks intil we’re due in Ibiza, not looking likely I’m afraid.
I could feasibly quarantine and work from home (I’d not be happy, but I could), but Mrs Lunge can’t do that so I suspect staying away.
Lots of folk on the telly trying to justify why they shouldn't have to quarantine with some.quote wishy washy pish so I expect your probably right Dan.
The chances of any of them actually bothering to quarantine?
I hope your wrong and most people will be responsible, as they have been with lockdown. Sadly, the lack of resources to effectively enforce our lockdown lite makes me think this can't be policed properly either.
I’m in the Canaries right now and will be observing the quarantine on my return later today even though you lot currently in the UK are much closer to the affected areas than I currently am.
Our respective workplaces aren’t happy about it and I have no idea if I’ll be paid. I don’t think I can assemble heavy plant in my garage...
We were supposed to be in Spain right now. We cancelled for this scenario being on the cards, and also other reasons. Glad we did.
Our respective workplaces aren’t happy about it
To be fair you did put yourself in harms way. It’s like doing something stupid on a bike and being unable to work for a fortnight. They wouldn’t be happy about that either.
Not sure how you think that’s being fair. If the gov travel advice is correct now it was also correct when we flew. As the non essential travel ban was lifted the flight went ahead so our options were to follow the advice and go or stay home and wave goodbye to £2500. There still is no non essential travel ban for the Canaries even now so getting quarantined on return is a little galling.
Fluid situations change shock.
It was pretty forseeable for anyone looking objectively at it. While not certain it was a high risk
I don’t want to pile on, but surely it hasn’t escaped your attention that the govt hasn’t got a ****ing clue what’s going on or how to handle the situation, since day 1? Official travel advice is useful for knowing whether or not your insurance will pay out, nothing more!If the gov travel advice is correct now it was also correct when we flew.
Still doesn’t explain why it’s ok to go to the Islands but not to come back. It’s contradictory at the very least.
That's not what it says though . It says go but when you get back take mandatory precautions to ensure you are not an import spreader
I don’t want to pile on, but surely it hasn’t escaped your attention that the govt hasn’t got a **** clue what’s going on or how to handle the situation, since day 1? Official travel advice is useful for knowing whether or not your insurance will pay out, nothing more!
This
Still doesn’t explain why it’s ok to go to the Islands but not to come back. It’s contradictory at the very least.
Because its up to the Islands as the whether they want to let us in, and currently they do. The rules for coming into England from Spain are today, different.
wave goodbye to £2500.
How much will 2 weeks lost work cost you? You took that risk in balance. However, your company may yet be OK with it a sick leave or something, nobody knows until you call them tomorrow so all is not lost yet.
We were supposed to be in Spain right now. We cancelled for this scenario being on the cards... Glad we did.
+1. Not just for the Holiday scenario but I bet sitting in an airport right now is a pretty horrendous experience, which for me and the way my head works would have ruined the preceding 10 days anyway.
Spain decides who it takes, not us. UKGov decides who it takes back with mitigation of an isolation period, not Spain.
It was always the gamble people took, going away.
