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Canada not EU, but we've just had final accommodation pull out booking and AirTransat aren't flying until 31st June (we were going on 25th), plus Canadian press is suggestion even if/ when they start up in July there will be 2-week, one address, no going out quarantine for all arrivals.
It makes sense to form a travel "bubble" with countries with similar levels of new cases. So for UK that would be ****stan Bangladesh Iran Saudi Arabia.
EU? No chance 🙁
Quite frankly, with the exception of maybe USA who are in turmoil with COVID-19 handling and more recently the George Floyd protests, I'm expecting most countries including the EU to either ban UK tourists or put them under strict quarantine entry.
Heck, the way things are going, I'm not confident my sister or I can legally head from England to see our mum over the border in Wales this summer.
Would be surprised if any international travel is allowed while our infection rate is where it is.
why on earth would other countries risk importing more cases from basket case countries who can't control covid infections
Supposed to have been arriving in Canada today:(
Just started looking at ferries to Ireland in September/ October, hopefully that will be doable.
Edit: wrong thread
I can see the bloody annoying situation whereby the [s]rest of the EU[/s] is happily effectively open
*All of the EU
I half expect a de facto border with controls between scotland and england. The "local area only" being the excuse and the reason being that england goes back into full pandemic
I had that very thought yesterday TJ.
That won't happen.
Has anyone seen these quarantine rules yet? I'm trying to find out how they work. In particular if I'm quarantined on arrival for 14 days, could I leave the country after say, 5 days?
Says here I could, but it's hardly official...
if I’m quarantined on arrival for 14 days, could I leave the country after say, 5 days?
I havent seen the detail of the law yet (dont think anyone has...), but I dont see how you could leave part way through your quarantine, based on the fact that everything that has been talked about says you need to go to your residence (or wherever you are staying) and not leave there for 14 days, no going out in public, no having people to visit etc.
My money is on the quarantine being not required for certain countries, and I reckon most eu countries will be on the 'not required' to quarantine list.
Who is going to carry liability for cancelled holidays in future?
I'd imagine it will be automatically excluded from insurance from now on.
With there being a fair possibility the holiday could be cancelled, who carries that risk?
why on earth would other countries risk importing more cases from basket case countries who can’t control covid infections
Like the UK government allowed for months? 🙄
Who is going to carry liability for cancelled holidays in future?
I’d imagine it will be automatically excluded from insurance from now on.
It already is excluded from some insurance policies , or at least its excluded from my insurance. AFter the FCO announced in March (on or around march 11th) that you shouldnt travel abroad, my insurance company sent out comms saying that any trips that were booked after that date would not be covered for issues relating to cv19. They're still insuring trips booked before that date.
With there being a fair possibility the holiday could be cancelled, who carries that risk?
It will depends who cancels it. If you cancel (ie choose not to go) then thats the same as usual. If the company you booked with cancels, then it wil be down to ABTA rules (if they're a member), or the companies policies/consumer law if they're not. and then if you booked on your credit card you may have some ability to claim the cost back from the credit card company. BUt regardless of what the rules/law etc say, actually getting to firm to comply and give you a refund could prove tricky, as ryanair are demonstrating right now.
Ultimately you need to proceed carefully because its your money you're risking.
We got stiffed by yellow jersey who excluded such things when we booked in January. Seems we could have paid for an extra insurance module to cover it but they probably don't exist or will be prohibitively expensive from now on.
Has anyone seen these quarantine rules yet? I’m trying to find out how they work. In particular if I’m quarantined on arrival for 14 days, could I leave the country after say, 5 days?
Says here I could, but it’s hardly official…
With so many things going on I could easily be wrong, but reading between the lines of Boris' bluster and France's position up to now, it's almost as if we're having a bit of a trade argument with them. France being the most visited country in the world of tourism, the UK being it's largest 'customer' and France our biggest 'supplier'.
The French government first wanted a 14 day quarantine for all visitors to France once it lifted it's current rules. This got bashed about because it would obviously kill tourism for them. Tourism in France is worth €200bn a year and creates around 1.1m jobs. They're still debating whether to waive it for EU countries (of which we would be included until the end of the transfer period) or just the Schengen area (which we are not part of) or whether to only apply it to travellers who arrive by plane.
Our proposed quarantine has been reported as being a tit for tact response to theirs, I think the reason why we don't know much about it, is because we never planned to have one.
Assuming it's practical and safe for any tourism this summer the French and UK governments will want to strike a trade deal of sorts. If by when the Holiday season really kicks off in Mid-July both countries are largely out of lock-down and into 'new normal' there seems little reason not to (flying is a whole other thing, but most travel between France and the UK is car based).
This will set the stage for travel rules with other countries. I think flying is going to be really tricky though.
not leave there for 14 days, no going out in public,
yep, that is going to make it impossible to actually do anything I'm there for.
Tempted to make a run for it this weekend before they implement it (assuming no U turn)
Our proposed quarantine has been reported as being a tit for tact response to theirs
Chronologically it happened the other way around, the UK acted first, that's how I remember it and that's how it's reported:
The British quarantine was seen as a reaction to Barnier's publication on the state of Brexit negotiations which was scathing. The report managed a few positive paragraphs and then got down to the question of unfair competetion and raised a digit.
It doesn't really matter if UK accepts tourists with no quarantine - once they have completed their Holiday in Covodia they will have to do 14 days quarantine when they go home to their own country! Why would anybody want to do that?
Anyone booked with Easyjet should try and check their flights as they've started to change the schedules. It looks like Luton to Geneva is going to be on the cull list and there will only be one flight a day from Gatwick to Geneva
If you just use the google booking for your destination it'll show any changes
Due to go to whiteroom in July I was still open to going even with quarantine as only an extra 4 days off work due to my shift pattern.
It appears my flights don't exist now manchester to geneva / Geneva to Liverpool
Had and email from easyjet saying my travel plans were on the hacked list but no word about all the Extra canceled flights
@mehr noticed yesterday that the Luton flights seemed to have disappeared. We're supposed to be flying out on the 11th July for a week. We're both of the mindset, as are the friends we're going with, that we don't really want to go anyway now. Hopefully the guiding company will deffer till next year and the flights get refunded.
Was also hoping to get to whiteroom early July. Although flights appear on the easyJet site everyone is sold out. I'm resigned to not going.
Was also hoping to get to whiteroom early July. Although flights appear on the easyJet site everyone is sold out. I’m resigned to not going.
Judging by pricing on available flights 'sold out' is a euphemism for 'we've cancelled that flight'
Flights to Geneva from Gatwick are all in the £20-£30 range, interspersed with lots of 'sold outs' - if they were genuinely sold out then prices for the available seats would have a 0 tacked on the end.
Judging by pricing on available flights ‘sold out’ is a euphemism for ‘we’ve cancelled that flight
That's exactly what it is, if you use Google flight search it looks like easyJet are down to one direct flight per day from Manchester and Gatwick
I cannot imagine being able to enjoy a holiday abroad this year. A holiday is supposed to be for getting away from all of the everyday shite.
I'll be supporting the UK travel industry this year, when I'm allowed.
We'd booked a mid-July trip to French Alps back in November. Fully accept that's not happening at all now. Cancelled ferry 2 weeks ago and lost our £75 deposit rather than pay the full balance and have it tied up in vouchers etc.
However, currently got £500 tied up with a French campsite who won't refund, citing "In accordance with Regulation 2020-315 of March 25, 2020 from the French government, you will receive a refund in the form of a voucher in the amount of the amounts already paid. The voucher is valid for booking a future stay in 2020 or 2021. You can use this for a period of 18 months for a stay"
Anyone else had this regulation quoted to them?
Vouchers no good to us as not expecting to be able to travel to mainland Europe next year due to work. Also, the campsite's changed hands twice in the past 10 years, so quite plausible it could change ownership again before next summer nullifying any vouchers.
Now in a stalemate with the campsite and not sure what else I can do to recover the £500...
(Original Ts&Cs cancellation policy at time we booked in Nov 2019 allowed cancellation with full refund minus admin fee up to 30 days before arrival)
@ally The regulation you're being quoted is a new law that was passed by the French government right at the start of the covid-19 crisis in order to prevent a total melt-down of the tourist industry. The campsite are totally within their rights, according to this law, to deny you a refund and issue a voucher for a future trip, valid for up to 18 months. What they may not be entirely forthcoming about is that, if you wait out the 18 months, they are obliged to issue a refund at that point.
Few people on this thread hoping to make it out to us this summer so I'm not going to get into too many specifics as we've obviously got a lot of skin in the game (other than that we'd love to see anyone who can get here!) so I'll just add, for everyone in the travel industry, this is a seriously tough time. A lot of people are staring down the barrel through no fault of their own, with their homes and livelihoods potentially at risk. If you are able to reclaim money through travel insurance, even rather than shifting dates, please do so. Please try to avoid the nuclear option of recovering funds through credit card supplier too, as they will take the funds directly back from the recipient without warning or discussion - it is NOT the same as claiming on insurance! Talk to people and try to work with holiday providers as flexibly as possible, recover funds through insurance if you can, that's what it's for. Nobody wants to piss you off or screw you over, but plenty of people are facing really tough choices. Even just putting your trip off until next year is a double-whammy for the industry - they don't get your money this year, then lose out on the chance to sell another trip next year.
Not referring to any specifics of our own trips here at all, actually feeling pretty lucky that we're getting decent government support and that our guests have been super-supportive, just trying to wave a general flag for the travel industry at this time!
If you are booked with us this summer, you should have heard from us more than once already, but just drop us an email or pick up the phone if you need more info or want to know the latest!
I finally given up on it.
Air BnB have agreed we can switch our Morzine accom to the same dates in 2021, we're taking a bit of a punt on Passportes being the same "last weekend in June" it always is. Easyjet have given us vouchers for flights.
We're supposed to be in a Eurocamp near Paris at the end of July, they're offering a free transfer to 2021 of the value of whatever you've paid them. We've decided to spend a bit more for next year on a longer hols over 2 places in France so that suits me just fine.
@stevomcd yeah, we were even wondering how late the season might go and slide later in the year and Scotland is still level 4 and travel outwith area for "fun" doesn't kick in until level2 so looks as though we're stymied. I sent an email not long ago cheers.
French quarantine is voluntary, your problem is coming home.
Good luck @stevomcd, that's brutal.
@ally I was quoted that, trying to get a refund on a hotel booking. We use the hotel a few times a year though, so the voucher will get used
I finally given up on it.
I think thats going to be me as well, getting to Gatwick isn't a fun experience. Plus it'll add a large chunk onto the holiday costs
I think thats going to be me as well, getting to Gatwick isn’t a fun experience. Plus it’ll add a large chunk onto the holiday costs
We were planning to drive which avoided a lot of problem (at least it seemed so) it was my Wife that finally made the decision and she's way more into Holidays than me. Yes we could *probably* get there, and *probably* get back using the Tunnel, but what if we get there and you can't go in the pool, you can't sit in the bars, you can't sit in the restaurants etc? We would have spent a few grand and hours stuck in the car to spend a week in a plastic 'Chalet' that's way smaller and less comfortable than our house.
It's just not in my nature to give up and quit at the first (or fifteenth) hurdle, but at some point it just seems like a lot of work to do something that's going to be a bit of a chore the whole time.
I'm going to book a weekend in Bluestone in Sept, it's only an hour or two in the car and if it's not worth going, it's not so much money I'll cry about it.
We are due in France back end of August I've paid a few hundred quid and dont need to pay rest til back end of July, I'm hoping we manage to go by then, but if it looks doubtful I'm just not paying the remainder due and losing the deposit. I'm not particularly worried about Corona as I'm currently recovering from it as is the mrs as I caught it at work, selfish maybe but I still social distance and stick to to rules I'm just not worried about catching it any more
what if we get there and you can’t go in the pool, you can’t sit in the bars, you can’t sit in the restaurants etc?
None of those things are an issue. They're all open again already. As are the chairlifts.
Please try to avoid the nuclear option of recovering funds through credit card supplier too, as they will take the funds directly back from the recipient without warning or discussion – it is NOT the same as claiming on insurance!
How ever my(post office) insurance will ask if you have paid by cc and have requested you do a charge back first before processing the remainder of the claim not settled by charge back. The consumer rightly or wrongly rarely has a choice in the matter.
As it happened air BnB changed their rules to reflect the goings on of the time.
Our week in Croatia became a week at home with some local walking. Still waiting on the refund for flights.
We've been discussing future family travel options and have decided that 2020 will be basically "written off"
We might consider a UK mini break later in the year if conditions allow but we'd rather sit tight for now.
What we have decided on is not flying in 2020/2021. The kids are old enough now and hopefully we'll both be able to take a chunk of leave (2+ weeks) around July/August, so we can do a mini European tour by train which I think we'll all really enjoy...
Please try to avoid the nuclear option of recovering funds through credit card supplier too, as they will take the funds directly back from the recipient without warning or discussion – it is NOT the same as claiming on insurance!
How ever my(post office) insurance will ask if you have paid by cc and have requested you do a charge back first before processing the remainder of the claim not settled by charge back. The consumer rightly or wrongly rarely has a choice in the matter.
That's interesting, because Visa are saying the opposite- you must exhaust all other avenues first.
Steve's comment above I'm not sure about- for a credit card reversal under Section 75, no provision of services/goods, the merchant has to be informed, and has time to dispute before it can be actioned. A chargeback is a different type of transaction, usually only applied to debit card payments/bank transfers.
Anyone booked with Easyjet should try and check their flights as they’ve started to change the schedules.
Bugger due to fly Bristol to Geneva in a months time for Morzine and have just moved the flights to May 2021 which means when the flight schedule is released I'll have to move them again, if only I held my nerve as the flights are currently listed as "sold out" even though I just transferred 4 people off them!
I had same French lawn quoted from Huttopia for some campsite bookings. It does say if not used in 18 months then refund. We will probably rebook for next summer anyway. We have a couple of weeks in August booked at Rosemarie and Glenmore so fingers crossed we can get the Motorhome up there.
Everyone is running for cover and trying to shift the loss somewhere else.
If your holiday provider is open for business as usual and you have to cancel because either your home country won't allow you to travel or your flight gets cancelled then it should be an open-and-shut case to claim on travel insurance (assuming you both took out insurance and booked the trip before March). They will, of course, squirm and try to make it difficult for you to make a claim.
If your holiday provider cannot open because of local lock-down regulations, this is a different matter. In France, the new rules mentioned above would mean you would be offered the option to switch your trip to next year.
French tourism businesses are all either already allowed to open as normal or will be very soon (more restrictions will be lifted on 15th June) so it is ultimately the UK customer who is cancelling, not the provider, so please have sympathy!
Again, this is not intended to reflect our in-house policy, I'm just trying to give a general travel industry viewpoint. We don't take credit card payments for summer holidays (ironically, that's one thing we've been getting around to setting up during lockdown) so I don't know the full in's and out's, but from what other people have told me, it's a take the money back first, ask questions later approach.
Well we’re still hanging on hopeful of getting to Morzine in late August as planned. Currently only paid £700 ish of the air bnb costs with the balance due in July. Will see where we are then but increasingly hopeful.
I think the UK quarantine is likely to have been relaxed or scrapped before then and as we’re both registered HCPs we seem to be exempt anyway? Not sure where the kids stand though?
We’d be driving down using the tunnel so wouldn’t leave our car except for service stops and then going into a private chalet. If the the foreign office remove the guidance not to travel (Negating any insurance I would guess?) I can’t see the issue.
Well we’re still hanging on hopeful of getting to Morzine in late August as planned. Currently only paid £700 ish of the air bnb costs with the balance due in July. Will see where we are then but increasingly hopeful.
I think the UK quarantine is likely to have been relaxed or scrapped before then and as we’re both registered HCPs we seem to be exempt anyway? Not sure where the kids stand though?
We’d be driving down using the tunnel so wouldn’t leave our car except for service stops and then going into a private chalet. If the the foreign office remove the guidance not to travel (Negating any insurance I would guess?) I can’t see the issue.
I think you'll be fine, we only cancelled Morzine because they shifted Passportes and the lifts wouldn't be open when we were due to arrive.
I'm not sure on the rules about going on holiday with people outside of your home (if that's a factor for you) - in theory, and it's only a theory we could be fully into 'new Normal' by August, hell if the vaccine proves to be viable and / or the virus mutates to be non-lethal like it seems to be doing in China / Italy, we might be back to the normal, normal.
@steveomcd - that sounds a horrible situation to be in. Guessing by your comments you're accomodation/guiding somewhere mainland Europe? Best of luck to you.
It was Bourg St Maurice we were booked for - I believe Les Arcs is opening up 5th July. We might've been premature to cancel ferry though but based decision on what we believe will be the situation with travel restrictions at the time.
I had same French lawn quoted from Huttopia for some campsite bookings.
@NZCol, Huttopia for us too. BsM site location's perfect for family vs biking needs. We'd love to rebook for next summer but at the moment work is making that a near-impossibility.
If your holiday provider is open for business as usual and you have to cancel because either your home country won’t allow you to travel or your flight gets cancelled then it should be an open-and-shut case to claim on travel insurance (assuming you both took out insurance and booked the trip before March).
@ally The regulation you’re being quoted is a new law that was passed by the French government right at the start of the covid-19 crisis in order to prevent a total melt-down of the tourist industry.
Yep, I'd guessed that much already. No problem with that. CC will be last resort for us if travel insurance won't entertain it. Not keen on vouchers in case campsite doesn't survive as I'm sure it's changed name/ownership twice in quick succession. Definitely once although struggling to remember the name(s) pre-Huttopia / swimming pool / fancy toilets.
Ally, we're in Bourg Saint Maurice!
Campsite only changed once I think, to Huttopia, and they're a pretty solid company. Les Arcs is planning to open on 4th July, lifts are already running in Les Gets and Val d'Isere / Tignes are open again for glacier skiing.
@stevomcd, thanks for the info. Who/whereabouts is your chalet? Although we planned to bring the caravan this time, wouldn't rule out a return to a chalet especially if holidaying with another family or two. Hired a chalet in Vallandry in the past. Also stayed at Les Lanchettes with tent but won't get the caravan up that road from valley floor.
Argh the original name of the BsM campsite's going to bug me now. I'm still sure it changed name in quick succession twice, or maybe it was our map that had it called something else to what it's actual name was in the past.
Hopefully the quarantine will get ditched fast. It is economic suicide It was brought in by politicians without scientific advice. In fact the scientists seem to be against it. According to the Spectator
the scientists (who suspect they’ll be framed in the inevitable Covid inquiry) are fighting back now. It has emerged that ministers did not, in fact. consult the Sage committee about the quarantine policy. It appears that, had it done so, leading scientists would have advised against it. Speaking in a personal capacity, Professor Mark Woolhouse – a member of the SPI-M group which does modelling for the Sage committee – told the Times that it makes ‘no sense’ to bring in the quarantine now: ‘It’s a very odd time to bring it in… when quarantining people coming in from overseas is a really good idea is when there is a high probability they have the infection.’ In Wednesday's press conference, chief science officer Patrick Vallance chose his words carefully but in the process hinted that the policy was a political decision.
As an aside I'm attempting to drive to UK from N.Spain tomorrow. Before quarantine kicks in on Monday. Expecting to get turned back at the French border as I don't have an official 'compelling' family reason to travel, but the border's only 20 mins away so worth a shot.
According to my local paper Spain isn't opening its borders until 22/6 or even 1/7, Bob. You've got to get past the Spanish feds before you can try getting into France, just like so long ago I've almost forgotten the delights of getting through one interogation only to start over again 50m down the road.
Just saw this on facebook r.e. Spain
Sorry, we have just removed the post reporting that borders will be opened this 22nd of June. It is difficult to work with these Ministers when they actually contradict each other. 😔
TODAY
The Minister of tourism Sra. Reyes Maroto has stated a few minutes ago;
"Spain will open its borders with France and Portugal from the 22nd of June, lifting all the travel restrictions with these countries".
and the Government has replied to her; Not, the borders will open the 1st of July.
LAST WEEK
The Minister of Transport stated; "people will able to get around into provinces on the same phase", a few hours later, his colleague Sr. Illa, Minister of Health said that this won´t be possible.
There is no consensus even when the Ministers belong to the same political party. 🤦♀️🤦♂️
Reckon you've got no chance if traveling from the UK 🙁
Fully expect to get turned back at Behobia tbh but seeing as things will get very complicated (read: expensive) if I can't get over, it's worth a crack. It'll cost nowt, other than a flexi ferry ticket from Calais that I'll cancel if I don't get through.
I've seen a lot more french plated cars around so there's a bit of movement now.
Sorry to jump in. @bob_summers my phone updated and lost all my contacts. The other crossings were open at the weekend. Ibardin was open and we saw cars and bikes crossing. Not guaranteed but just so you know.
Good luck @stevomcd. Crappy situation for everyone, the Glasgow boys will survive 😉
Thanks for the heads up Doug. I was going to try Ficoba first, then Biriatou if no luck. Might as well try Ibardin as well before calling it a day.
Any news on when you will start guiding again?
Yes. The Huttopia at BSM used to be called the Versoyen. They sold it to Huttopia who have poured quite a bit of cash in - pool, etc. They are quite a big operation at multiple sites. They email me regularly...
It’s definitely worth a try. We are open from 1st July. We have a few bookings and some cool projects with brands which we wouldn’t normally have had time for as they don’t pay the bills. Things pick up a lot after August so we will be ok.
Good luck with the trip, give me a shout when you’re back if you fancy a beer. Number is same as always, it’s just all my contacts are gone.
Aye got your number @doug_basqueMTB.com , I'll send you mine. Will def be up for that beer!
Yes. The Huttopia at BSM used to be called the Versoyen.
@TroutWrestler, well remembered that's the one. Stayed there 2009, 2013 and 2017 interspersed with a year in Les Lanchettes plus a couple of chalet stays... I should really visit elsewhere but it works so well for us with young kids, plus I know my way around the off piste stuff. Tried PdS area a couple of times but much prefer Les Arcs.
Think we've little choice but to accept vouchers and plan for 2021.
Wife is being made redundant at the end of June, so she's driving down to Bourg St Maurice on 24th July to spend a month there (2 weeks on her own and then 2 weeks with me).
My plan was to go on 8th August for 2 weeks. Probably flying from Scotland and then driving back.
Since I'm working from home - and I haven't been told it has to be my own home... - I'll probably drive down with her. Work for 2 weeks, while wife bikes; then have my 2 week holiday.
Assuming the Chunnel is operational, I'm pretty confident/hopeful it's going to happen.
We can be pretty much self sufficient and hygeinic driving down (gloves, face masks, sanitiser) for any stops on route.
I'm hoping the Chunnel is operating, I've got a ticket for tomorrow 😂
I was sure I'd get turned back at the French border but they checked my passport and waved me through. Didn't check the travel declarations. Bit of rush hour traffic on the Bordeaux rocade, other than that it's mainly lorries on the road. Pulled in for the night, kipping in the van, then hopefully get on the Chunnel tomorrow, be a bugger to get that far and have to turn round...
We’ve, in theory, going to a wedding in Ibiza in very early September.
We can book flights and accommodation, the former with vague cancellation policies, the latter with free cancellations up to 14 days before departure.
I’m relaxed about the whole flying thing but less relaxed about losing the cost of the flights.
Hmm.
hmm Christmas skiing?
I'm still very hopeful we'll get to France in July in our motorhome. I'm keeping an eye out for the French opening their borders and as our numbers are continuing in a good direction it's much more likely they'll include us as well as their eu neighbours.
We were due to fly out to Geneva on 4th July with Easyjet.
We've canceled the holiday anyway and have no intention of getting on a plane just yet.
We have just had an email from Easyjet saying the flight should go as normal but they are "giving us the oportunity to cancell" and receive a voucher valid for 12 months and a £10 bonus.
I take it this is their way of trying to get us to take a voucher instead of waiting for them to cancel and get a propper refund?
Interestingly if you look at the flights to and from the same destination for that weekend they're saying they're all full.
We checked a couple of weeks ago and there wee only 23 people booked on.
I take it this is their way of stopping anyone booking a flight they know will be canceled?
Anyone got any thought on this please?
Duinrell in Holland have given us vouchers for 2021 instead of a refund, quite happy tbh, we'll be back nect year.
We’ve binned mid August to Morzine. Accommodation is bumped to next year which is amazing.
It’s not looking likely that we’ll even be let out of Wales at the moment...
If anyone is looking for somewhere to stay in Morzine then Apex Morzine now might have a 2 week vacancy in August in their self catering flat!
We’re hoping to be able to get to FoD and CyB in August now...but no guarantees.
There was a map on one of the channels I was watching earlier which included the UK in the EU area likely to open up for July. It's then up to the UK government whether they want to join in.
My planned holidays in Germany and Spain are back on unless the Covid situation gets worse rather than better. 🙂
Lots of hotels in France (Pyrenees) are not opening this year. We had a trip planned and have been given vouchers from three of them instead of a refund . Trip is/was September...
A little more hopeful of getting to Switzerland this summer. The race I was doing has been postponed to next year, but I have accommodation and tunnel in place. Just watching and waiting until I have to make a decision.
The hotel where I normally break the drive appears to have reopened, just unsure how those sorts of things are going to work going forward.
Are French hotels open? Trying the Accor website and it appears it will take my booking for Saturday night (haven't paid tho') but that doesn't mean it's actually going to be open when I get there...
Driving down to Spain tomorrow, usually sleep in the van but it's rammed full of stuff so was thinking about booking a Formula-1 instead of a crappy night's sleep across the front seats.
Yes, Bob, some are. Make sure they've got safe parking if the vehicle is full of stuff.
Nothing particularly valuable Ed although there is a motorbike in there! Can't see it from outside.
I traveled to France for work last week via the Tunnel and stayed at a Best Western hotel in Les Herbiers.
Had a nice chat with a lady at the Channel tunnel this morning, who have allowed us to cancel the booking in two weeks time and are going to issue a credit note to be used in the next twelve months.
Its what we wanted but didn't expect it as it was a re book from last year when the camper gearbox broke on the way down.
Me and the family are booked to go to Croatia in August. We are booked via Airbnb. 2 adults, one 3 year old, one 13 year old.
We contacted our host to see if we can cancel and refund, which they denied. Which I do understand to a certain extent, as they are a company (Novasol) trying to keep afloat during these tough times.
fair enough we thought, we will see if we can go next year instead. So we tried to change the dates via the website, but none are available at all over the next 24 months.
So back to the host, asking if we can change the dates... once again they are refusing to allow us to do it.
Airbnb are updating their Covid policy on Monday, so hopefully they will extend their cancellation policy to include the dates that we are going and we can cancel and get a full refund.
Other than that, we will then need to make the decision of if we then cancel ourselves and lose the money, or suck it up and just go. Oddly There was an article in the paper a few days ago stating that Croatia is one of the safest places to go at the current time... so maybe we are worrying about nothing?!
Everywhere is pretty safe if everybody wears a mask when appropriate. Getting there is not going to be as safe if you fly as it's close proximity for long periods that's the risk factor.
Whilst in France we're back to normal in the green zones apart from masks in transport and shops, in Spain masks are obligatory anywhere you can't respect the 2m rule which means in most town centres.
Our local swimming pool opens tomorrow, I've booked a couple of sessions for next week. 🙂
I've booked an optimistic flight to Geneva on the 15th August with the plan to ride home. Fingers crossed the quarentine is no longer necessary elaee it's off. But at £80 one way Inc bike I can take the hit if it doesn't come off.
I'm slightly nervous about what might happen if the quarentine kicks back in as I'm riding from Geneva to Calais... By I can cross that bridge (channel) when I get there.
Edukator, if I stop at a petrol station on the peage, is it legal requirement to wear a mask, a moral thing, or no one cares? Same with Hotels? Any idea what the rules for Switzerland are?
And any idea how buffet type breakfasts In hotels are going to work?
It is still a couple of months away just trying to get an idea of what is and is not likely to be possible.
Apart from public transport (legal obligation) it's up to the trader in many situations. Here in the SW it's highly variable - everyone in Decathlon because it's enforced, no-one in cafés, everyone in the guitar shop, a few in the bakery. In restaurants you're supposed to wear a mask till you sit down but few do. In the orange zones (Paris) it's still terrasse opening only. Just carry a mask in your pocket, put it on when you go inside somewhere and see what everyone else is doing.
Many hotel restaurants are still shut even if the hotel is open.
In a couple of months I have no idea what measures will be in place, we get reviews every couple of weeks.