As some may be aware we are going to france tomorrow friday 11th june, and thought it would be a good idea to report on our experiences of actually getting into france, as i am sure there will be other people going and they may benefit from our experiences on our trip, but first just a few points to make clear,
We are aware of the FCO advice regarding foreign travel,
We are aware of travel insurance issues
We are aware of motor insurance issues
We are aware of the entry requirements into France (we think)
We are aware of the food issue into europe,
We are aware that rules may change while we are away,
We are aware that this trip won't be welcomed by everyone.
We are aware of the test and quarantine requirements upon our return to the UK.
This is not a thread about whether anyone should or shouldn't go abroad, just to list our experiences, so that may help others.
If these points are ones that you feel the need to comment on then this probably isn't the thread for you, there are several other threads for that.
Many thanks to Suavecarve.
We have the van packed i think, i am just trying to remember what it is i have forgotten, although i doubt i will. This will be our first "proper" trip in a PVC, as we have had A class vans before so may take some getting used to, i am not convinced that it will be big enough, Globecar Campscout, 6.36 metre for those who don't know, with a host of extras to make life easier, allegedly. It has to be fair swallowed all our "stuff" with room to spare, easily.
We plan to leave our home address in Derbyshire at approximately 12.00 pm, on the 11th, the reason for this time is our lateral flow tests are booked at Boots for 10.30am this was the earliest available, so that will have to do, costs £59.95 each. our plan is then to hot-foot it down to the Eurotunnel, which from our drive is 212 miles, so hopefully will have completed that in 3 1/2 hours, M1, M25, M20.
We have a flexplus ticket booked so we can turn up at any time, normally we would travel late evening and have some rest at the terminal before boarding in the early hours to avoid traffic, which works very well, but this time needs must.
As much as i love travelling in our van, i absolutely hate the drive down to the tunnel, it is god awful, particularly if the traffic is heavy, makes it doubly bad as i know what's awaiting us in france imv, the roads are better, it is generally much quieter traffic wise, Aires a plenty etc.
I will update this thread as soon as i can after passing through border control at the terminal and waiting to board, which generally isn't long.
Once in France (assuming we have done everything right and are allowed in), we will be finding a Intermarche, (my wife Roo, likes this supermarket chain) to stock up on supplies as we won't be taking any food from the UK as we don't want any potential complications at the terminal.
We don't have an itinerary for France, although we will be heading down to the pyrenees to a dark skies area, more of that later.
Will update when we have got our negative test result, and are departing.
Roo and Mark.
We are aware of the FCO advice regarding foreign travel,
We are aware of travel insurance issues
We are aware of motor insurance issues
We are aware of the entry requirements into France (we think)
We are aware of the food issue into europe,
We are aware that rules may change while we are away,
We are aware that this trip won't be welcomed by everyone.
We are aware of the test and quarantine requirements upon our return to the UK.
This is not a thread about whether anyone should or shouldn't go abroad, just to list our experiences, so that may help others.
If these points are ones that you feel the need to comment on then this probably isn't the thread for you, there are several other threads for that.
Many thanks to Suavecarve.
We have the van packed i think, i am just trying to remember what it is i have forgotten, although i doubt i will. This will be our first "proper" trip in a PVC, as we have had A class vans before so may take some getting used to, i am not convinced that it will be big enough, Globecar Campscout, 6.36 metre for those who don't know, with a host of extras to make life easier, allegedly. It has to be fair swallowed all our "stuff" with room to spare, easily.
We plan to leave our home address in Derbyshire at approximately 12.00 pm, on the 11th, the reason for this time is our lateral flow tests are booked at Boots for 10.30am this was the earliest available, so that will have to do, costs £59.95 each. our plan is then to hot-foot it down to the Eurotunnel, which from our drive is 212 miles, so hopefully will have completed that in 3 1/2 hours, M1, M25, M20.
We have a flexplus ticket booked so we can turn up at any time, normally we would travel late evening and have some rest at the terminal before boarding in the early hours to avoid traffic, which works very well, but this time needs must.
As much as i love travelling in our van, i absolutely hate the drive down to the tunnel, it is god awful, particularly if the traffic is heavy, makes it doubly bad as i know what's awaiting us in france imv, the roads are better, it is generally much quieter traffic wise, Aires a plenty etc.
I will update this thread as soon as i can after passing through border control at the terminal and waiting to board, which generally isn't long.
Once in France (assuming we have done everything right and are allowed in), we will be finding a Intermarche, (my wife Roo, likes this supermarket chain) to stock up on supplies as we won't be taking any food from the UK as we don't want any potential complications at the terminal.
We don't have an itinerary for France, although we will be heading down to the pyrenees to a dark skies area, more of that later.
Will update when we have got our negative test result, and are departing.
Roo and Mark.
