90 day rule (1 Viewer)

[The Framer]

We are planning our first post Brexit/pandemic trip to Europe via the tunnel. We wanted to keep our return open but within the 90 days. However I hear that we need evidence of our intended return to the UK (a ticket) before we can get started into France. I cannot find this written down so thoughts and experiences of enforcement would be welcome..

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

We have never been asked for any proof of booking. We generally only book one way anyway so as to be flexible. There are just too many stories from people with no experience. We usually use Newhaven/ Dieppe with our 20% age discount though. I have never heard of proof of return being required on any other routes.
What if you are going straight through France and Spain and on to Marocco for three months. Then back through Spain, France, Italy and on to Croatia then Bosnia, Montenegro etc. etc. makes no sense. The French Boarder is just not interested. Perhaps if you only visit France then overstay they may be interested but I have heard of a number of overstays with no repercussions.
Just head for the tunnel and enjoy your holiday. Out of interest we usually have a full fridge as well with bacon and English sausages included. Never had a problem except on the first trip after B…t when all they were interested in was how much cash I was carrying and why I didn’t carry a “Man Bag”.

 

[philann]

Some insurance companies require a return ticket booked otherwise you are not insured. Often hidden in the small print.

 

[Barti Ddu]

It's not an issue. We have only ever booked an outward ticket, and then book a return while we are away within the 90 days, once our homeward plans are a bit more concrete.

We're over the channel this Thursday, heading to Croatia and not intending to return to UK until end of October or first week of November, but no return ticket booked as yet.

I've heard about this travel insurance issue before, but never seen it in any of our policies.

 

[jongood]

I've heard about this travel insurance issue before, but never seen it in any of our policies.

Me neither.

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[Barti Ddu]

Me neither.

Just looked at our current policy (Post Office) again and no mention of it at all in the general conditions, etc.

Obviously, as you have no return journey booked, then you can't be compensated for curtailment / cancelled return crossing (at least untill the point when you book the return crossing, when you would be covered from then onwards). But for all the sections that really matter to us, medical expenses, repatriation, stolen possessions, etc., having no booked return journey isn't an issue.

 

[Mother Ship]

When rang insurance to inform partner had taken ill & in hospital in France, first question asked was when was return travel. Also question on insurance claim form sent by email that night was date of return travel and proof of booked return travel.

 

[Grianan]

When rang insurance to inform partner had taken ill & in hospital in France, first question asked was when was return travel. Also question on insurance claim form sent by email that night was date of return travel and proof of booked return travel.

Out if interest, does your policy state you must book a return ticket?
Some of the policies mentioned above don’t seem to. It would be worrying if the first you heard of it was when you had to make a claim.

 

[LesW]

We never book a return trip, when needed to make a claim I was asked when we intended to return I said 'next month', and that was OK (Nationwide Flexplus).

 

[Lenny HB]

I've heard about this travel insurance issue before, but never seen it in any of our policies.

It's quite common so worth checking your policy with a magnifying glass.

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[tonka]

I can only back up the above comments about checking your travel policy regarding return crossing.
For years I always book out one way and then another a few days before return to suit our plans.
The above clause was mentioned to us by some other travellers and when i checked our policy ( think it was Staysure at the time) there it was..
Since then I have always asked the question prior to taking cover and also checked the small print..

 

[Speve]

We usually book a return on the tunnel now as we know we only have 90 days but its easy to change the booking online so no problem if we need to return early.

 

[Barti Ddu]

It's quite common so worth checking your policy with a magnifying glass.

These are the T&C's of the Post Office travel insurance policy.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/dam/assets-new/travel/travel-insurance-faq-August-2022/travel-insurance-direct-policy-august-2022-PL6551.pdf

The only reference to having a return ticket booked is solely in relation to curtailment and having to cut your holiday short, where it says -

"Additional Costs to Return Home Early - We will pay necessary additional costs over and above the cost of your original return ticket, of the same class you were due to travel home on. There is no cover if you had not purchased a return fare at the time you cut short your trip, or if your travel provider transfers your original return ticket to a different flight".

Obviously if you haven't booked a return ticket then compensation to cover the non-existant return ticket would be nonsensical. However, as soon as I book my return crossing, e.g. 2 months into a 3 month trip, from that point onwards I'd be covered for curtailment.

 

[Brains]

You don't 'Need' to book a return ticket,
But on the basis that you are going to return at some point in the next 90 days why would not book a return (flexi) ticket. ?

Return tickets are easy enough to correct on line as long as you do it a week or so in advance.

It means that should the worst come to worst you van in booked to go home, even if you are not the one driving it.

As above check the T&C's with your insurance.
If you don't have a return booked, then the insurance company is under n obligation to return the van any closer than the channel port of their choice.

 

[The Framer]

Many thanks everyone. Most helpful. Will book the return when we need it.

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[VXman]

I can only back up the above comments about checking your travel policy regarding return crossing.
For years I always book out one way and then another a few days before return to suit our plans.
The above clause was mentioned to us by some other travellers and when i checked our policy ( think it was Staysure at the time) there it was..
Since then I have always asked the question prior to taking cover and also checked the small print..

Mine seem to suggest it's ok bar the cost of an economy flight....

'If however you have not purchased a return ticket, we reserve the right to
deduct the cost of an economy flight (based on the cost applicable on the
date you come home) from any additional costs we have incurred which
are medically necessary to repatriate you to your home'

 

[TDub49]

We are planning our first post Brexit/pandemic trip to Europe via the tunnel. We wanted to keep our return open but within the 90 days. However I hear that we need evidence of our intended return to the UK (a ticket) before we can get started into France. I cannot find this written down so thoughts and experiences of enforcement would be welcome..

You don't. Enjoy.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Often fly or drive out. Never been asked for a return ticket

 

[Mleabon]

I was told by Dutch customs officials that I needed a return ferry ticket.

 

[Mleabon]

I was told by Dutch customs officials that I needed a return ferry ticket.

Ps there are also limits on what alcohol you can take into the EU. We were over the limit but they let us off. They didn't mention meat and dairy but I didn't have any of that.

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[Billiefarrah]

It's not an issue. We have only ever booked an outward ticket, and then book a return while we are away within the 90 days, once our homeward plans are a bit more concrete.

We're over the channel this Thursday, heading to Croatia and not intending to return to UK until end of October or first week of November, but no return ticket booked as yet.

I've heard about this travel insurance issue before, but never seen it in any of our policies.

I had occasion to use my travel insurance when my husband was ill . They asked me for my outward and return details .

 

[nicholsong]

What do insurance companies in Europe do when when is travelling in a MH by road from and to one's own country? Some of these companies operate internationally.

There can be no return ticket.

 

[Teetime]

We are planning our first post Brexit/pandemic trip to Europe via the tunnel. We wanted to keep our return open but within the 90 days. However I hear that we need evidence of our intended return to the UK (a ticket) before we can get started into France. I cannot find this written down so thoughts and experiences of enforcement would be welcome..

Although I’ve never been asked for a return ticket. There are a few regulations post Brexit and they can ask for proof of onward travel or a return ticket. See below posted from eu schenghen

Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU​

To enter the EU after Brexit, you must have the following documents when you travel:

• Valid passport.
• Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
• Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
• Return or onward travel ticket.

 

[Southpark]

We've had five different trips travelling out from Euro tunnel and Newhaven with no returns booked. We've had no issues but I'm thinking of buying a flexie ticket next time then I can change it just days before returning home. David and Shirley.

 

[Peppadog]

I never book a return. I don’t even know which route I will take so its not possible.
You can book everything in advance if you wish. Campsites etc. but you might as well go on a package holiday instead.

I also sail across the channel. Sometimes direct to France, sometimes to the Channels Isles. No tickets required. Go with the flow. Thats more or less the whole point. Isn’t it?

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[StephandJohn]

Some insurance companies require a return ticket booked otherwise you are not insured. Often hidden in the small print.

Well. I never knew that. Will have to check our insurance now. We usually get a flexible return so can change it if needs be but that's not always been possible as we've thought we might come back from a different port.

 

[StephandJohn]

Although I’ve never been asked for a return ticket. There are a few regulations post Brexit and they can ask for proof of onward travel or a return ticket. See below posted from eu schenghen

Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU​

To enter the EU after Brexit, you must have the following documents when you travel:

• Valid passport.
• Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
• Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
• Return or onward travel ticket.

Oh dear. What a conundrum.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Although I’ve never been asked for a return ticket. There are a few regulations post Brexit and they can ask for proof of onward travel or a return ticket. See below posted from eu schenghen

Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU​

To enter the EU after Brexit, you must have the following documents when you travel:

• Valid passport.
• Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
• Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
• Return or onward travel ticket.

Not sure what website this information was cut and pasted from, but I don't believe it is correct.

Entry into Schengen is covered by "Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)".

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R0399-20190611#tocId11

This actually states that to enter Schengen for up to 90 days in 180 days, as well as having a valid travel document (passport) with at least 3 months still to run after your departure from Schengen, etc., you require evidence of sufficient means for your intended stay plus sufficient means to arrange for return back to your home country or another third-party country. So you have to have money to buy a return ticket, but you do not have to produce an actual return ticket.

Also, I can't see any references to health insurance or GHICs.

A lot of these independent , unofficial travel info websites such as the one linked to earlier in this thread, seem to contain incorrect advice. Best to get it from the actual source where possible.

 

[Teetime]

Not sure what website this information was cut and pasted from, but I don't believe it is correct.

Entry into Schengen is covered by "Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)".

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R0399-20190611#tocId11

This actually states that to enter Schengen for up to 90 days in 180 days, as well as having a valid travel document (passport) with at least 3 months still to run after your departure from Schengen, etc., you require evidence of sufficient means for your intended stay plus sufficient means to arrange for return back to your home country or another third-party country. So you have to have money to buy a return ticket, but you do not have to produce an actual return ticket.

Also, I can't see any references to health insurance or GHICs.

A lot of these independent , unofficial travel info websites such as the one linked to earlier in this thread, seem to contain incorrect advice. Best to get it from the actual source where possible.

Here

Travelling to the EU and Schengen Area from the UK - SchengenVisaInfo

Traveling to Europe? Discover the latest guidelines for UK citizens: visa-free travel, passport validity, health insurance, and more. Ensure a smooth and informed trip to Europe!

www.schengenvisainfo.com