Travelling back from Spain and France. My experience. (1 Viewer)

Feb 16, 2019
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Coming from Switzerland, not Spain. PCR tests are 200CHF here, hence why I'm trying to find a way around it. With the cost of the UK tests at £210 getting home is going to be very expensive for the two of us
Just to clarify, from Switzerland, you will drive into Germany, Luxembourg?, Belgium,France to the ferry/tunnel. On the one test?
 
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Armytwowheels

Armytwowheels

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Just to clarify, from Switzerland, you will drive into Germany, Luxembourg?, Belgium,France to the ferry/tunnel. On the one test?
As long as he does not take more than 72 hours from the test, that is within the rules.
 
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Armytwowheels

Armytwowheels

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Coming from Switzerland, not Spain. PCR tests are 200CHF here, hence why I'm trying to find a way around it. With the cost of the UK tests at £210 getting home is going to be very expensive for the two of us
Yep, I get where you are coming from, but as I see it we did the crime(having the winter of our choice) and now it is time to pay the fine (cost of testing). I know it is annoying that we did not know about these rules before we travelled but that is life at the moment.

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Badknee

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The Brittany ferries showing as full from the end of March are not full but have been cancelled.
Not according to Dawn in the booking office, nothing from Santander till 4th April. Bilbao service ended two weeks ago.
 

Bolti

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Not according to Dawn in the booking office, nothing from Santander till 4th April. Bilbao service ended two weeks ago.
We should have travelled back at the end of March on the Cap finesterre from Bilbao. The sailing was cancelled, Brittany ferries did not contact us but hearing of cancellation on this forum we contacted them and travelled back end of Feb. At the time of our sailing the only boat operating to and from Spain was the Galicia on the Santander Portsmouth route. I was lead to believe this is the only boat/ route until mid May.

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Jul 3, 2019
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Just to clarify, from Switzerland, you will drive into Germany, Luxembourg?, Belgium,France to the ferry/tunnel. On the one test?
nope, we are at the other end so from Lausanne straight into France and up the motorway. I’m looking at potentially going the long way round as I believe we can get into Germany without a test and drive up to Aachen then do the last slog over to Calais. I need to work out the motorway toll fees, fuel mileage cost and see if we can get a cheaper Covid test in Germany.

has anyone had a PCR test there and how did you do it and the cost?

Never driven through Germany so are the motorways toll free? What about Aachen to Calais?
 
Dec 2, 2019
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No tolls in Germany and nothing via Aachen to Calais. I will find out tomorrow the cost of PCR In Germany. We are travelling close to the end of March to UK and will be going through Germany. I can test PCR in Romania for 54 quid each, and then no need of it till French border. I’m not sure I have enough time because night curfews. Hence my intention to test in Germany for the French an UK borders.
 

In a Pickle

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Thanks for this. Is there any chance of an address or phone number or a name for this farmacia. We would use it when we return to the UK in April, hopefully with our Spanish residency in place!
Hi, just seen your post. I’ll get the information later today and post it here for you.

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nope, we are at the other end so from Lausanne straight into France and up the motorway. I’m looking at potentially going the long way round as I believe we can get into Germany without a test and drive up to Aachen then do the last slog over to Calais. I need to work out the motorway toll fees, fuel mileage cost and see if we can get a cheaper Covid test in Germany.

has anyone had a PCR test there and how did you do it and the cost?

Never driven through Germany so are the motorways toll free? What about Aachen to Calais?
It takes a bit longer but its a lot cheaper, no tolls at all and cheap diesel in Luxembourg. How much hassle would it be is the question, apart from Switzerland the border posts just arent there anymore so where do they check?
 

Zepp

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We drove from Spain we got our tests done in Spain it took about 30 hours to get the test results

We were checked at the border and they did say It had to be a pcr test we were also checked at a toll booth by French Police and made to show our test results again

We had the tests done again in France it only took about 4 hours to get the results
 
Aug 18, 2014
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but if that is the case then you should be allowed you use your prepaid £210 package day 8 test ? But no you cannot.
You can't use the day8 test because you still have to take iit otherwise you are fined. Just money making to me. If you had a negative test tòget Spain to France, another To get France to UK, another onday2, pay yet again for day 5 early exit test, why would you need yet another on day 8?
Additionally if I take the first two tests to enter the uk + I have been forced to pay for day 2&8 tests yet leave the uk the same day I arrive their is not only no refunds for the day2&8 tests but legally you have committed 2 criminal offences by not taking the tests as they have put in place no measures for persons entering the uk for 10 days or less.

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Badknee

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We should have travelled back at the end of March on the Cap finesterre from Bilbao. The sailing was cancelled, Brittany ferries did not contact us but hearing of cancellation on this forum we contacted them and travelled back end of Feb. At the time of our sailing the only boat operating to and from Spain was the Galicia on the Santander Portsmouth route. I was lead to believe this is the only boat/ route until mid May.
Oh, we’ve got people on site that we’re informed that the Plymouth boats were stopping and others that the Bilbao route was stopping, they must have missed you off the list 🤔
 

Badknee

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It takes a bit longer but its a lot cheaper, no tolls at all and cheap diesel in Luxembourg. How much hassle would it be is the question, apart from Switzerland the border posts just arent there anymore so where do they check?
In Spain they have reintroduced a border crossing at the somport tunnel and Irun so they can put them where they want quite quickly it seems. 😳
 
Aug 18, 2014
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In Spain they have reintroduced a border crossing at the somport tunnel and Irun so they can put them where they want quite quickly it seems. 😳
Quiet Easy at somport as they have a building right by the tunnel entrance & the barriers are regularly shut for when dangerous loads, ie petrol tankers Etc, are escorted through.also if you ho over the top the french refurbished and reopened the one up there a few years back due to the influx of immigrants.

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Jul 3, 2019
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No tolls in Germany and nothing via Aachen to Calais. I will find out tomorrow the cost of PCR In Germany. We are travelling close to the end of March to UK and will be going through Germany. I can test PCR in Romania for 54 quid each, and then no need of it till French border. I’m not sure I have enough time because night curfews. Hence my intention to test in Germany for the French an UK borders.
Hi, when you find out about the test situation in Germany, where and cost please could you share this as I may go home this way.
Andy
 

In a Pickle

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Thanks for this. Is there any chance of an address or phone number or a name for this farmacia. We would use it when we return to the UK in April, hopefully with our Spanish residency in place!
Farmacia Isla Plana, Calle Mayor 54, 30868 Isla Plana, Cartagena.
Tel 968 152 281
email josisla3@gmail.com

This chemist is on the main road running through Isla Plana in the row of shops on the left hand side if you are approaching it from the Puerto de Mazarron side. They speak several languages including English.

Hope this helps.

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Feb 16, 2019
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If you are traveling from Lausanne, could you then get to Basel?
From there it’s 2 days to the port, or one with two drivers, not sure about the curfews.
Free motorway all the way, and cheap fuel in Luxembourg, on the motorway as well.
Not sure about France. They are French, not that I am against them, but could be a bit difficult!
We stop off in Belgium at Arlon, by the fire station en-route.
Good luck 😉
 
Dec 2, 2019
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Hi, when you find out about the test situation in Germany, where and cost please could you share this as I may go home this way.
Andy
I have spoken to my uncle in Düsseldorf. The price for pcr laboratory test can range from 100 to 250 euros. The antigen is 39-50 euros. He will get back to me today for a more accurate answer. I will be going via Düsseldorf-Venlo.
 

maz

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We had the tests done again in France it only took about 4 hours to get the results
Where did you get your tests done in France please? And were they antigen or PCR?

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Zepp

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Details of Covid test in France.

Aire Neufchâtel en Bray

N 49° 44' 14"
E 1° 25' 46"

App to book tests: Doctolib
App in French only but used google translate app camera to translate to English. Won’t accept U.K. post codes so used a French one.

Laboratory for tests about 2km walk from aire, on 1st floor which is downstairs!

Laboatoire Defrance, pedestrian entrance on Rue Napoleon Roinard,
Neufchâtel en Bray

N49°43′53.69″ E01°27′09.71”

Tests cost 73.59€ each, got results in 5 hours. Payment at the lab by card only.

Lab gives you a web address, username and password to access results on PDF.

You need a PCR Test
 

maz

Jan 26, 2011
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Details of Covid test in France.

Aire Neufchâtel en Bray

N 49° 44' 14"
E 1° 25' 46"

App to book tests: Doctolib
App in French only but used google translate app camera to translate to English. Won’t accept U.K. post codes so used a French one.

Laboratory for tests about 2km walk from aire, on 1st floor which is downstairs!

Laboatoire Defrance, pedestrian entrance on Rue Napoleon Roinard,
Neufchâtel en Bray

N49°43′53.69″ E01°27′09.71”

Tests cost 73.59€ each, got results in 5 hours. Payment at the lab by card only.

Lab gives you a web address, username and password to access results on PDF.

You need a PCR Test
Thank you. (y)
 
Sep 3, 2014
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Hi all, thought i would post my journey home, the info might help someone else. On Wednesday after a family emergency ,i had to change my Santander to Portsmouth crossing from 24th march to 6th March, so left that afternoon.No problem changing ferry(at no extra cost,lucky!) I booked my antigen test(20e) for 08:30 the next morning(thursday) in Murcia . I used Clinicacardiosalus https://cardiosalus.com/prueba-covid-murcia/
email: info@cardiosalussport.com
0034 968969690
They are close to Ikea at the Thader Shopping centre , so easy access to motorway. They have a large carpark and i had permission to park overnight for my morning appointment. The test took 5mins but i had to wait 45mins for results,still not long but had to get them to reprint as my DOB was omitted so check all the correct details are on the test printout before leaving,they emailed a copy later.
Then had a 9 hour drive to the Lierganes aire just outside Santander,spent thurs and fri night there. On friday i booked my 2 covid tests for the uk and my passenger locator form(PLF) . You have to book and pay for the 2 covid tests first as you require the reference number from this to fill in the PLF. The PLF can only be filled in within 48 hours of arriving in the uk, so had to do this late friday night.
Entry into port was straight forward ,checked you had negative covid test (within 72hrs of departure),2 tests booked in uk and the PLF filled in. A quick look around van without coming in, could have had more booth as they didn,t check lol!!. Ferry crossing was smooth plenty of social distancing in the restaurants and food ok. Quick check of paperwork and look in van at other end and i was on my way to Glasgow,as i had arrived in England before heading to Scotland i could isolate at home and did not have to book a hotel .
Safe travels
Cheers Cris.
Glad you got home ok. We are heading home this week, leaving Area Narejos first thing Wednesday morning and on ferry Santander to Portsmouth on Saturday, I’m sure I won’t relax until we are on the drive at home!

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Pugsy

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Glad you got home ok. We are heading home this week, leaving Area Narejos first thing Wednesday morning and on ferry Santander to Portsmouth on Saturday, I’m sure I won’t relax until we are on the drive at home!
Hola, thanks,just doing my 8 day test now and can escape Thursday,although i then need to decorate and re carpet my parents bedroom so might just stay in the van for another week😅.It is a different journey back this year,thats for sure but passed without any problems,try and chill and enjoy it,we will be back in LA before we know it😎 safe travels.
Cheers Cris.
 
Jul 3, 2019
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For those of you that have long drives home from a U.K. port? What are you all doing and how are you overnighting in the UK, remembering campsites being closed and the no overnight stay advice. We have to drive from Dover to Gwynedd and will need to overnight. I'm not a fan of roadside laybys and we normally find a park4night stop. How are you managing this...paying to use a motorway service station?
 
Dec 2, 2019
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For those of you that have long drives home from a U.K. port? What are you all doing and how are you overnighting in the UK, remembering campsites being closed and the no overnight stay advice. We have to drive from Dover to Gwynedd and will need to overnight. I'm not a fan of roadside laybys and we normally find a park4night stop. How are you managing this...paying to use a motorway service station?
Sorry I can’t help with the overnight in UK. Regarding travelling up to there, what’s your choice? Have you decided on route?
I just checked with Austria and Germany, transit is permitted without test, providing you have proof of a booking and address in UK, means you will carry on not stopping. We carry the tunnel booking and address on driving licence is enough. It is permitted stoping for fuel food drink etc. Test in Germany I found 150 for two in Rattigen, I will be going via Venlo.

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Jul 3, 2019
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Sorry I can’t help with the overnight in UK. Regarding travelling up to there, what’s your choice? Have you decided on route?
I just checked with Austria and Germany, transit is permitted without test, providing you have proof of a booking and address in UK, means you will carry on not stopping. We carry the tunnel booking and address on driving licence is enough. It is permitted stoping for fuel food drink etc. Test in Germany I found 150 for two in Rattigen, I will be going via Venlo.
Hi, not sure at the moment, we are snowed in. The Alps as they often consistently do, are getting their late winter dump of snow, 50cm yesterday and overnight, a similar amount is due today. We were going to go later this week but next week is now looking more likely, it is difficult to determine as there is no way for us to move at the moment and we have to book these tests etc.,,.. We need to be back in the UK by the end of the month and I was trying to time it so I don't get stung by this unneccessay 10day house arrest over the Easter weekend but that may now not have to happen.
 
Jul 3, 2019
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I was under impression that quarantine is still mandatory even after 29th.
yes it is, what I am trying to do is to avoid quarantining over Easter, so I'm working back 10 days from Good Friday. We have no one able to support us, nor the ability to get deliveries or walk a dog. It needs us to put a plan together

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