Travel to France
Although France has removed entry restrictions for travellers from the UK and there is no restriction on the distance that can be travelled we are not out of the woods yet. This is thanks to the lethargy of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
The Gov.uk website still has posted that the FCO advises British Nationals against all but essential international travel. According to my LV annual travel insurance policy, expires September 2020, under General Exclusions it says that I am not covered for any claim that is caused by or is in any way related to any of the following, which includes “You not following any suggestions or recommendations made by any government or other other official authority (including the FCO).” My Vehicle & breakdown insurance does not appear to have a similar exclusion.
Before any bookings are made, check carefully.
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The following is from an English language newspaper published in France.
“If you are travelling from the UK by ferry, air, train or car transport to mainland France, you are invited by the French government to go into voluntary quarantine. There will be no checks or fines if you don't.
The voluntary quarantine applies to all nationalities, including French citizens and is a reciprocity measure as the UK has imposed obligatory quarantine on all people arriving in the UK, including from France.
This includes Britons returning from a holiday or a visit to a second home in France. The UK is to review its policy on June 28.
France is expected to continue inviting voluntary quarantine as long as the UK continues to impose a quarantine of travellers from France.
People arriving by plane from Spain into France are also invited to take voluntary quarantine as Spain is imposing a quarantine on air travellers from France to Spain. Other travel means from Spain are not affected.
The 14-day quarantine is voluntary but becomes obligatory if you show symptoms of Covid-19 during health checks at an airport or if you are going to France’s overseas territories.
What does voluntary quarantine mean?
The government says everyone should use their “sense of responsibility.”There will not be any checks or fines contrary to the UK obligatory quarantine which obliges anyone coming to the UK to pre-fill a form to give details on the place of isolation and contact details, and where checks and fines can be issued by the police.
The voluntary quarantine in France can be at the place of your choice; your home, a specific accommodation or at a hotel which has been requisitioned by the government for people in isolation. This option will be offered to you on arrival if you wish to self-isolate.
A government helpline worker told Connexion: “The voluntary quarantine does not mean that people cannot go out for 14 days. They should just avoid outings as much as possible, and respect social distancing and safety guidelines.”
You will be able to go for a walk or food shopping but you should not meet with other people. It is not recommended to isolate with other people such as friends or family unless they were in the same household as you before arrival.
The worker also said people can decide for themselves whether to do this and should not feel obliged.“
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This was published in an English language newspaper produced in France.
”
If you are travelling from the UK by ferry, air, train or car transport to mainland France, you are invited by the French government to go into voluntary quarantine. There will be no checks or fines if you don't.
The voluntary quarantine applies to all nationalities, including French citizens and is a reciprocity measure as the UK has imposed obligatory quarantine on all people arriving in the UK, including from France.
This includes Britons returning from a holiday or a visit to a second home in France. The UK is to review its policy on June 28.
France is expected to continue inviting voluntary quarantine as long as the UK continues to impose a quarantine of travellers from France.
People arriving by plane from Spain into France are also invited to take voluntary quarantine as Spain is imposing a quarantine on air travellers from France to Spain. Other travel means from Spain are not affected.
The 14-day quarantine is voluntary but becomes obligatory if you show symptoms of Covid-19 during health checks at an airport or if you are going to France’s overseas territories.
What does voluntary quarantine mean?
The government says everyone should use their “sense of responsibility.”There will not be any checks or fines contrary to the UK obligatory quarantine which obliges anyone coming to the UK to pre-fill a form to give details on the place of isolation and contact details, and where checks and fines can be issued by the police.
The voluntary quarantine in France can be at the place of your choice; your home, a specific accommodation or at a hotel which has been requisitioned by the government for people in isolation. This option will be offered to you on arrival if you wish to self-isolate.
A government helpline worker told Connexion: “The voluntary quarantine does not mean that people cannot go out for 14 days. They should just avoid outings as much as possible, and respect social distancing and safety guidelines.”
You will be able to go for a walk or food shopping but you should not meet with other people. It is not recommended to isolate with other people such as friends or family unless they were in the same household as you before arrival.
The worker also said people can decide for themselves whether to do this and should not feel obliged.”
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Agree with OP's - It is the 14 day quarantine when returning to the UK that is currently holding things up, it was a reciprocal gesture by the French Government in response to the UK government imposing quarantine.
Reading between the lines - It looks like there will be some sort of announcement at the end of June / Early July, to identify the countries where a "travel corridor" can be agreed, hopefully this will include most if not all of the EU countries.
Whilst nothing is certain - I am pinning my hopes that after early July we will be able to travel, we have a ferry and site booked for 10th August.
If we have to cancel it is no real issue because we have a flexible ferry ticket, and the campsite will offer a credit for some time in the future.
I guess it is just a case of keeping fingers crossed!
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I hope so and I suspect you're right. In fact I suspect that having been seen to "take strong action" (though ill thought out and badly timed) Ms Patel or Mr Shapps will quietly find a way to ditch the quarantine idea.
I've got my eyes on a French river cruise in late September though Mrs M is taking some persuading but the quarantine period would definitely make it a no-no.
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I can’t imagine getting a pitch on any UK site (Club or commercial) this July or August. I am just surprised that so many members get irate about not being able to book when many of them could hop on the ferry/tunnel and easily find a cheaper, half empty, site in France. The travel restrictions will almost certainly be lifted soon.
Let’s face it, the UK is overcrowded and the leisure industry struggles to cope with the extremely narrow window of school holidays and good weather.
So, it’s southern France in September for us, provided I can persuade OH that it’s perfectly safe (unlikely!).
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At the risk of repeating myself as I have cautioned in another thread; you are taking quite a large financial risk if you travel to Europe, or anywhere, when FCO advice is don't. The EHIC gives medical cover equivalent to a national in a particular country; in France that is approx 70% of the cost for non life threatening illnesses. When I lived there I had to have a hernia op and on discharged was presented with a bill for 1300 euros (I think), I was in hosp for 3 nights but as this was a non life threatening op the govt paid 70% of everything. I had to pay 30% of consultant, aneathetist, pre op check, nurses, medication, 'hotel' costs etc. Luckily I had top up insurance to cover this gap in cover. If you have a car accident, the ambulance will come and take you to hosp but if your injuries are non life threatening and you have to stay in for a week or so the bill could be enormous.
If you insist on going whilst FCO advice is don't please be aware of the risk. Hopefully the advice will change before Sep when we plan to go.
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and who would want to stay on a club site full to capacity in July & August, with very limited facilities and stressed wardens doing their very best to keep waring factions at bay. not planning to go anywhere until September but if a "staycation" is the only option so be it, but will choose the destination very carefully, and might just opt for "homecation"
But i see from the popular press that a 4th july celebration with fireworks is looking increasingly unlikely, and that a 15th july date more realistic, Centre Parcs already delayed until 15th July
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I seem to remember JVB mentioning how many times he has holidayed abroad in the past and presumably liked it if he went year after year.
I can well understand how you can reach an age where age and insurance will terminate those trips but the question is JVB if you were 30 years younger would you do it again?
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WE got a message from BF to say they were starting up passenger ferries.
All crossings will now require you to have either a reserved seat or a cabin, passenger numbers will be reduced, masks to be worn when not in your own area (cabin), staff to wear masks, staggered loading to prevent folk bumping into each other on the stairs/lifts.
Couple of other things but nothing major.
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We got that today TG. Didn't see the thing about restricting numbers so will have to read it again.
I did like their comment about the using fresh air rather than recycle. Makes me feel a bit safer. They do ask that you try to spend as much time in your cabin if you have one. After weeks of lockdown I can't see that being a problem. Now thinking about taking up our September booking.
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We decided to give it a miss for the first time in around twenty years of going to the South of France in September. If you are going into a cabin you need to take disinfectant and clean all surfaces, wear gloves and masks in public areas, avoid any queueing in stairwells and generally avoid everyone on board and if there is a spike while away be even more nervous about coming back. We are 65+ not so bad for the young.
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We are booked for a three week caravan holiday in France departing 31/08/2020. We intend to go to France and enjoy our holiday and self isolate when we return. COVID rates in Brittany and Normandy are lower than many areas in the UK. Sensible precautions and careful driving. No travel insurance, travelled many times without. Looking forward to seeing how many other caravans are getting on the ferry.
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as they would not sell without that status symbol 
