So that's it then, France is off! Quarantine from Sunday 4.00am

Foreign office advice for months has been no travel abroad unless necessary and the government clearly stated that things on all COVID related rules that they could be reversed in an instant. If people choose to do something else, that’s their risk.

When I booked my trip the air corridors were in place and it seemed safer to go to our own accommodation in France , which as I mentioned before, is in a remote area. than it would be to go to any of the crowded beaches in the UK. Or anywhere in the UK really. We travel by ferry, with no stops either side of the channel. We take our own provisions and use the local supermarket which is far quieter than the ones at home. I do not think there was much risk involved to me and my husband or to anyone else. We see less people on that type of holiday than we do when we are at home. Each to their own though. We all have to decide what is right for ourselves.

MaizieD that is exactly what we were hoping to do. Normandy has a low rate of infection, we were intending to stay at a cottage in the countryside, use our own car, not eat in restaurants, only visit the village shop so no big supermarket visits. Luckily we hadn’t booked, I had my eye on a number of possible cottages on an online booking site, and we would have booked the ferry when we definitely decided to go. You’re right, if France reciprocates the holiday becomes impossible. The fly in the ointment is insurance, we still have an annual policy bought before the crisis, but nonetheless it becomes worthless once government advice to not travel to that country is given.

I’m sorry, but I feel so sorry for my daughter and her family. She is absolutely gutted and needs a holiday so much. They have both worked long and hard through the pandemic, including working with Covid19 patients. Life has been tough for them. For those of us who are retired and sitting at home, it’s pretty easy to be flippant about the need for a holiday. Some people have worked so hard on behalf of us all, and are physically and mentally exhausted from it all. I don’t disagree with quarantine, in fact it should have been done right at the beginning (don’t even get me started on that) but to put countries into a safe to travel to category, which incidentally France was so long as you didn’t go to the Ile de France area, it seemed little different than the UK. My daughter is now frantically looking for a safer place to go to, maybe Norway. She desperately needs a break, and so does her husband. We who have been sitting at home don’t need a break and many have little understanding why some do. When you’ve already been in contact with Covid19 patients, an isolated holiday villa probably seems pretty safe.

Cancelled our September cottage in France while we could still get a 100% refund but our flight is still booked. We were half (quarter) hoping to still go but definitely not now. Currently planning a holiday in Scotland for next summer but as soon as a vaccine comes along we'll be of ......

I don't understand why people are going on holiday. Is it really necessary? Can't they wait for (hopefully) just one year?

There seems to be a conception amongst some that the infection rate in this country is non existent and it’s only other countries that are getting increased cases. Ours plateau’d ages ago and is now creeping back up. You wait tiall schools go back, it will shoot up even more. As for it being the fault of foreigners that the rate is increasing I think it’s more down to people going to pubs and restaurants, many of which are ignoring social distancing rules etc etc.Oh, and not having a good contact tracing system in place.

I see French holidays as being quite unique in their nature. Most people travelling to other European destinations are on package holidays with tour companies. They could hopefully get a refund. France attracts independent travellers who stay in gîtes and in apartments, but I presume there will be no refunds for them. It makes me think twice about how I book holidays in future.

merlotgran

It hasn't gone away. It's still out there.

Don't book a holiday.

Simples!

Exactly!

We're booked to go to Normandy for a few days next weekend. We can 'do' the quarantine here in the UK when we get back, but if France reciprocates our little break is off.

I've asked GN to change the title, sorry, I was typing in haste last last night.

I still feel it is important to do your own risk assessments. The guidance on some points is crazy, I can sit in a pub for hours, 1 metre from loads of strangers, drinking till I am not bothered about any restrictions (haven't done it, but understand those that do) but if I go to a huge airy church, and sit at least 2 metres from everyone else for only 45 minutes, I have to wear a mask, even though this means taking communion is an interesting experience. So there has to be an element of common sense applied, I worry that we are all losing the skill of assessing risk.

We should have been flying to Norway on Sunday for a week, but cancelled it in March when lockdown happened and when we needed to pay the balance for the holiday. Very disappointed to do so, obviously, but decided it just wasn’t worth the risk. As one of the posters said, you also have to think of the travelling there/back, possible medical care whilst there etc etc. There would have been the constant feeling of “will this holiday even go ahead” as we got nearer to it. Who wants the uncertainty? Life is uncertain enough. A few days in Norfolk for us in October (not half term week) on the cards for us now. Hope that goes ahead (and that we’re not in another lockdown) or else it will be home sweet home!

You can still go!

You just need to isolate when you get back.

Unless of course France retaliates and makes you isolate when you get there .

But weren’t we all advised not to travel?

France has responded by putting the same quarantine rules in place for people from UK. Infection rates have risen quite sharply here and its probably due to tourism. People from abroad and French people from areas with a high Covid rate holidaying elsewhere.

The French do have strange manners sometimes, but they really need British tourists too.

My daughter came back a week ago from France, so lucky. They were camping in the mountains and felt very safe, but when they stayed overnight in a hotel on their way home they were treated very curtly by the French, as if they were contagious. Yet if they had caught the virus it would have been in France!
So glad we have no plans to go anywhere. It is just not worth it. I know it is galling if people lose money but quarantine is sensible and long overdue.

Head above the parapet here but we don't 'need' holidays abroad right now. We need to stay safe and alive. Holidays are a luxury not an essential and one day we will be able to indulge again, yippee, and I look forward to doing that too, but right now I can't understand why people think they're entitled to go abroad. Sorry, but this really gets my goat.

I might be an old spoilsport but I think if everyone had forgone their holidays abroad this year we would be in a lot better position than we are now
A family relative at the beginning of lockdown, just got back from overseas holiday on last plane out. was convinced they d had the virus as been very ill on holiday with all the symptoms (before testing) Got back to U.K. and went straight out to get the weeks groceries in ....... say no more

I am so glad I have no plans to go anywhere at the moment.

I can't help thinking, had the Government imposed stricter regulations from the outset CV cases in the U.K. would have been far less. Quite why people are moaning about quarantine regulations being stepped up is beyond me! My holiday was cancelled, I put up with it, rather be safe than very sick or risk the chance of passing CV on to others.
The sooner these selfish individuals who think it's ok to go off on a jolly because "they can" is beyond me. It's not the fact that they might be staying in a remote area in another country in their own caravan/tent/motorhome, it's the travelling to and fro, it's the shopping trips for essential supplies, it's the possibility of having an accident and requiring medical attention; all those actions would put people in contact with others!!!!!
Use your brain, practice common sense and STAY AT HOME!

Why the 4 a.m.? Instead of standard midnight cut off? Any VIPs flying in in the early hours ?!
Yes, a very odd time Lucca. I can only assume it's because they said they would give 30 hours' notice, and if you count back I guess this is when the announcement comes into force.

Our family has dubbed this ‘Covid year’ and all plans (a 40th birthday this Christmas, holidays to Spain & Germany to see extended family) have been put on hold. They’ve all decided not to risk it for a biscuit.

Our youngest daughter just said she wasn’t doing abroad this year - said ‘it’s all about the economy’ and that she wasn’t prepared to use her children as guinea pigs so has been enjoying trips out on the nice days instead. She said ‘one year without a holiday abroad - so what?’.

Hopefully next year things might be more relaxing and plans can be made.

If you choose to fly this year you pays yer money and yer takes yer chance! Everyone knows the risks.

I guess GNHQ will change the thread title ?

Why the 4 a.m.? Instead of standard midnight cut off? Any VIPs flying in in the early hours ?!

Our family has dubbed this ‘Covid year’ and all plans (a 40th birthday this Christmas, holidays to Spain & Germany to see extended family) have been put on hold. They’ve all decided not to risk it for a biscuit. Our youngest daughter just said she wasn’t doing abroad this year - yes it’s all about the economy and she wasn’t prepared to use her children as guinea pigs so trips out on nice days instead! She said ‘one year without a holiday who cares?’

Hopefully next year things might be more relaxing and plans can be made.

Quelle surprise, not! The writing was on the wall a while back, I think it was mentioned several times in posts on here. I am disappointed too, but philosophical. The situation is fragile and I guess we have to expect and accept that these announcements will come at anytime. France is in discussion whether to retaliate, if that's the right word.