Well, we arrived here yesterday. Some of you may be feeling brave enough to come over. From today, you have to show you've been vaccinated to enter a campsite which has facilities like a swimming pool, a restaurant or something else I've unhelpfully forgotten.
You're supposed to wear a mask in the sanitaires, but no-one seems to be doing that. That said, it's pretty well open to the outside.....
We ate in the restaurant last night - only outside tables used, masks all over the place.....but as we're vaccinated, it felt fine. I'll let you know what venturing out to visit places is like tomorrow.

We get the ferry to Ouistreham next week and are only in France for nine days.
I think it is the crossing I am most nervous about, we will probably spend the whole time in the cabin.

The test requirements are a bit easier ironically after I paid £130 to cover the pre departure PCR and then the two PCR tests when we get back home. From what I have read I no longer need the pre departure test nor the day two test on return, just the day eight test.

I have found a list of pharmacies that are offering (I hope) the lateral flow test that I need to leave France.
Does anyone know what the cost is likely to be for that test.

I will put an update here on my return letting you know how it went, assuming I am not stuck in France or have been consigned to a quarantine hotel!

I have read that most French pharmacies are offering tests for a reasonable 50 euros. Would be very interested in how it a goes.

Cheers

Capn C

I thought you didn't need any tests to leave France.

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming...nce/#sommaire_3

oh I get it now, it's the UK requirement :)

Steve

We knew we would be staying at Neufchatel en Bray on on our return so I had contacted the Tourist Information a few days beforehand asking if anywhere in the area did tests. It turns out the local health centre did. The day after we arrived at N-e-B we walked along to the TI at 10am & asked if they could book us up for a test, they booked us up at 3pm & we had the results texted to us by 7pm that evening.

This was a PCR test & cost €49, I should think they are cheaper for lateral flow tests at pharmacies.

Having said that, if I had known it at the time it is much cheaper & convenient to purchase the lateral flow tests in the UK & take them over with you to use when needed.

https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel/

It does seem a mockery & open to abuse, but it is used by many & is ticking all the boxes.

Clive 795, I am teaching a chief mechanic for Brittany Ferries at the moment and he tells me that the cabins are very well cleaned between passengers. All passengers must have a cabin, and the air in the cabins isn't recycled, but fresh air is pumped through. Take a picnic and you'll be fine.

Since Brexit we are not allowed to take any meat or dairy out of the country, so it'll have to be a vegan picnic

I wonder whether such checks are still made. At the time those stories made the news, ie a day or so after we actually left, I did wonder whether it was just a bit of ‘sabre rattling’ by the French. I’d be interested to know if anyone has any real world experience more recently...

Doonhammer - you can’t use your own lateral flow test, you have to show the kit used, who used it and the result in a formal document from a pharmacy or doctor.
Islay- it’s good about the cabins but to be honest my concern is the other travellers squeezing past in corridors and stairwells.
We never take food to France but it will be interesting to see if they search for food, as well as counting how many days we have been in the EU before we hit the 90 day limit!

Clive795, if using the Antigen Test Kits from the link I posted you simply have to take a picture of the of the test you have taken & upload it with your passport details & they will email you your results.

Cabbie37, my fridge wasn't looked at & I wasn't asked about it's contents. There may have been a frozen bolognaise & quiche in it.

Hi Islay

Is Camping de L'lle d'Or still as pretty as it used to be?

We took a minibus full of boisterous teenagers there in the early 80s and they had a brilliant time. Not sure that everybody near our tents appreciated the youngster's exuberance..................................happy days. I remember how cold the river was for swimming.

mikeT

Mike, it' s a zoo! LOL It's the height of the season, so it's not surprising. It's very pretty in the part we're in, but the campervan part is an armpit. We're near the fence next to the park. It is lovely and quiet at night.

Clive, I imagine that everyone inside the ferry will be wearing masks. It's very strict in France, all enclosed spaces, you wear one or you leave - that could be drastic on a ferry

If you've been vaccinated, you have to get on with life, no?