France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

gerfmurphy · 03-05-2021 7:51am

I asked about my booking deposit and was told it is availible to use till dec 2022

mr_edge_to_you · 03-05-2021 12:32pm

Whoohoo! Booked BF this morning for next summer. Got it at a great price.

Stayed in Sol A Go Go in 2018 and 2019 but I think the kids might be a bit big for it now. It's a great site for younger kids though.

Plenty of time to find something different.

ShamoBuc · 03-05-2021 12:43pm

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Whoohoo! Booked BF this morning for next summer. Got it at a great price.

Stayed in Sol A Go Go in 2018 and 2019 but I think the kids might be a bit big for it now. It's a great site for younger kids though.

Plenty of time to find something different.

Are your dates similar to recent years, I thought the prices were fairly similar.

mr_edge_to_you · 03-05-2021 1:07pm

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Are your dates similar to recent years, I thought the prices were fairly similar.

Ye, they are. But we have bikes on the tow bar and we've upgraded to the premium cabin on the return trip for the same price. It also includes the premium for flexible bookings.

Deeman83 · 03-05-2021 5:40pm

Got my first vaccine shot today (NI).

We will be going to france in late July after we get the 2nd dose plus a 7 day lag to allow for "Vaccine Passport" application/process.

For those who are undecided and tearing their hair out, you only live once, you only have a certain window of opportunity in your life for family holidays.

Id encourage you to push your holiday back, try and get the vaccine or even research PCR test.

Hopefully we can all get a holiday this summer and people will be safe.

Beanybabog · 03-05-2021 11:15pm

We moved our holiday from June to August. Accommodation is literally three times the price. Ferry is the same. We were pretty stuck as we’ve no passport for one smallie no matter what happens. With the vaccines, the MHQ continuing till June possibly, the EU cert not implemented until late July, and the passport office shut, we just felt it was a non runner. I think we have a shot in august

necstandards · 04-05-2021 8:10am

Beanybabog wrote: »

We moved our holiday from June to August. Accommodation is literally three times the price. Ferry is the same. We were pretty stuck as we’ve no passport for one smallie no matter what happens. With the vaccines, the MHQ continuing h til June possibly, the EU very not implemented until late July, and the passport office shut, we just felt it was a non runner. I think we have a shot in august

Moved ours also from early July to mid Aug, havent check accommodation yet but just bought ourselves some time to see whats going to happen. We'd be returning Aug 27 & prob back to school the following Monday.. lets hope quarantine will be gone by then

. Expect we'll be moving it again.

Ladylouth · 04-05-2021 9:02am

Is anybody considering travelling to France from Belfast via the UK?

Peckham · 04-05-2021 9:39am

Yep, August much more expensive.

We normally go as soon as primary schools close at end of June. However, pre-Covid we decided that our 2020 holiday would be in August.

When booking in normal times (January 2020) the ferry in August was about €200 cheaper than our normal June dates, but accommodation was over €1000 more expensive.

munchkin_utd · 04-05-2021 9:44am

Ladylouth wrote: »

Is anybody considering travelling to France from Belfast via the UK?

if you are looking to avoid hotel quarantine, then unfortunately you are still required to do it if entering by land after having been in a red list country any time in the previous 14 days. You are supposed to appear at a quarantine hotel within 4 hours of having crossed the border from northern ireland and beg to be locked up, and pay them €1900

if looking for a cheaper price, then just do the quicker landbridge through Dublin or Rosslare. At this stage the channel tunnel is barely any more than the ferry (previously there was a massive difference) when bought as a landbridge package over the phone from Irish ferries or Stena, and all in all it should be substantially cheaper than the direct ferry at peak times.

Ladylouth · 04-05-2021 1:54pm

Required by law?

munchkin_utd · 04-05-2021 2:58pm

Ladylouth wrote: »

Required by law?

yep
subsection 2 of the law bringing quarantine into force is:

(2) Subject to subsection (4) and any regulations made under section 38G(1)(g)(ii) and (iii), an applicable traveller shall quarantine at a designated facility and shall remain in quarantine at that facility in accordance with this Act

then cross border travel is not exempt ....

For the purposes of subsection (2), an applicable traveller shall—
(a) prior to his or her arrival in the State, pre-book a place in a designated facility,

(b) present himself or herself—

(i) where his or her arrival in the State is at a port or an airport, to a relevant person, an approved person or a member of the Garda Síochána, or

(ii) where his or her arrival in the State is not at a port or airport, or is at a port or an airport in which there is no such person or member present, at the designated facility referred to in paragraph (a) as soon as practicable but in any event no later than 4 hours after such arrival,

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/act/1/enacted/en/print.html

Ladylouth · 04-05-2021 3:55pm

Thanks for that. Looks like we need to look at Spain!

munchkin_utd · 04-05-2021 4:25pm

Ladylouth wrote: »

Thanks for that. Looks like we need to look at Spain!

I heard in some articles and whatnot that it has a sunset clause in mid June and from what I can see thats true. The MHQ has a fixed duration of 3months and for once Mr Donnelly cannot extend it with the stroke of a pen, it seems to need a Dail vote, even for renewal.

That aside, the EU have stayed quiet with any objections to the MHQ as it was balanced by extremely severe domestic measures like the 5km limit and shutting everything for waaaaaaaaaaay longer than anywhere else in Europe (in fairness, possibly actually the world) to cope with a very serious situation.

If the 5km limit is lifted in Ireland along with other emergency measures then its hard for Mr Donnelly to justify keeping variant free EU countries on that list for much longer regardless of whether he forces a Dail vote through in June for extending it in general.

MizMix · 04-05-2021 5:03pm

Hotel quarantine will not be there for France by June!

Ladylouth I did but no direct flights- we could go to Paris but much longer drive. On the fence about what to do as I think by June 26 we might get away via Dublin without too much hassle. I am also from Louth but work in the North

Ladylouth · 04-05-2021 9:15pm

Really hard to know what to do. Maybe another few weeks will see things looking up, but am starting to feel like we should be looking at alternatives as back up at this stage. Possibly leaving through NI/UK and returning from Spain!

loyatemu · 05-05-2021 9:33am

Ladylouth wrote: »

Really hard to know what to do. Maybe another few weeks will see things looking up, but am starting to feel like we should be looking at alternatives as back up at this stage. Possibly leaving through NI/UK and returning from Spain!

either the restrictions will still be in place, or not. How you get there and back won't change that.

We've to pay the ferry balance by the second week in June, I'm hopeful things will be clearer by then (whether we can get any accommodation is the other question but we'll sleep on the beach if necessary :pac:)

Ladylouth · 05-05-2021 3:02pm

It's not that straightforward! At the moment, there's a big difference between coming back into Ireland from France or Spain. If restrictions as they are now are still in place, we can avoid the €2k on the way out by going via Belfast, and avoid MHQ by spending two weeks in Spain and returning to home from there. If the €2k fine is still in place, we may have to travel Spain-UK-NI-ROI and then do our two weeks isolation at home. You'd need a special qualification in Restriction Evasion to stay ahead of this!! We have to make a call on Irish Ferries by the end of May and have accommodation we can cancel until mid June, so it looks like I may be cancelling the ferry to keep all our options open until the last minute.

Marcusm · 06-05-2021 9:51am

The2k fine was due to expire on 4 May and has been extended by statutory instrument until 10 May. I can conceive of no reason for only a 6 day extension other than it will cease on that date and we will be “advised” against non-essential travel rather than penalised for it.

MizMix · 06-05-2021 10:01am

Yes and the end of the 2k fine will barely be mentioned so loads will think it's still in play....now it's just when EU countries will be removed from MHQ- I can't see countries like France still being on it too much longer and def not by mid June

Deeman83 · 10-05-2021 6:05pm

Can anyone recommend a good campsite with lots of activities and plenty of English speaking kids in the st jean de Monts region?

Its for a touring caravan so it needs plenty of pitches. Le Clarys seem to be all mobile homes now.

thanks.

MizMix · 10-05-2021 6:44pm

Deeman83 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a good campsite with lots of activities and plenty of English speaking kids in the st jean de Monts region?

Its for a touring caravan so it needs plenty of pitches. Le Clarys seem to be all mobile homes now.

thanks.

Not that exact area but vendee is only 40 or so minutes drive. We have stayed in le pins parasol- last time there it was full of Irish. Time before mainly Dutch and French. I recommend the newer nature in sens area (newer section and much more spacious). We stay in a chalet but there are a good few very large camping pitches in that section.

Bit the bullet today and pushed our visit out till mid August. The fact the 2k fine was extended again today doesn't fill me with confidence but by August if we can get via Dublin we will go via Belfast if that's an option. Couldn't line up both sites (had also booked a second week in ile de re). So 10 days in pins parasol. Will be delighted if we get back- ile de re in 2022 along with dordogne I think.

westgolf · 10-05-2021 7:29pm

Deeman83 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a good campsite with lots of activities and plenty of English speaking kids in the st jean de Monts region?

Its for a touring caravan so it needs plenty of pitches. Le Clarys seem to be all mobile homes now.

thanks.

Les Gennets, just up the road from clary's plage but not as mental when it gets busy. Don't know the number of touring pitches but found the staff very helpful, were there about three years ago and would go back.

Munsterbhoy · 10-05-2021 8:16pm

Pulled the trigger on flights to Nice for October mid term, really good value considering the time of year and it's Air Lingus. Staying at yelloh Les Tournels in St Tropez. Having cancelled our summer hols for this & last June we just need something to look forward to, weather might be hit n miss but not really bothered.

ellee · 18-05-2021 9:21am

Ok! At least something is going right - kid's renewal passport has arrived! Whew.

Lodged online application 1 March.

the_amazing_raisin · 18-05-2021 3:59pm

Has anyone heard when Irish Ferries will have the 2022 sailing calendar open?

Going by 2021, I'm going to guess it won't be soon

Nekarsulm · 18-05-2021 5:06pm

the_amazing_raisin wrote: »

Has anyone heard when Irish Ferries will have the 2022 sailing calendar open?

Going by 2021, I'm going to guess it won't be soon

Could be end of November, or even January.

SusanC10 · 18-05-2021 5:37pm

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

MorganIRL · 18-05-2021 5:49pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

I'm hoping to go, but out of 4 adults (2 families), I'm the only 1.. Indian varient has put a serious dampener on things.. IF balance due at EOM, due to head 1st two weeks of August.. if IF extend balance due date I think we'll hang on but if they don't we'll probably cancel I try again for next yr.

woodstocklive · 18-05-2021 6:02pm

SusanC10 wrote:

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

Still confident of getting there, maybe around mid-july. With most of theEuropean population having the offer of a vaccine by then I'd be hoping Government relax restrictions against non essential travel within EU.

54and56 · 18-05-2021 7:53pm

woodstocklive wrote: »

Still confident of getting there, maybe around mid-july. With most of theEuropean population having the offer of a vaccine by then I'd be hoping Government relax restrictions against non essential travel within EU.

Same, due out July 9th/10th. Due for our first jabs this week so hopefully we (parents) vaccinated but 16 and 20 year olds won't be so testing and (continued) prudent behaviour if we get to go.

It'll need a few things to fall into place so hoping rather than expecting.

If travel permitted (by both Irish and French Govt's) we'll go, if not we won't.

Main problem I'll have if we don't go this year is that we'll end up rolling 2020's campsite and ferry payments over into 2022 but we've kind of decided as a family that this is (or should be) our last year doing family camping holidays as the kids are getting that bit too old for them and myself and my wife want to start scouting places in France, Spain and Portugal over the next few years to buy a place to hopefully retire to in 4-5 years time all going well which the kids (and in time their partners / kids) can come and use for holidays.

Fann Linn · 18-05-2021 7:56pm

woodstocklive wrote: »

Still confident of getting there, maybe around mid-july. With most of theEuropean population having the offer of a vaccine by then I'd be hoping Government relax restrictions against non essential travel within EU.

Same here, but just noticed on Twitter that Gardai pandemic regs have been pushed out to Nov by the govt.

Yep Newstalk running with it now extended to Nov 9.

webpal · 18-05-2021 8:40pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Same here, but just noticed on Twitter that Gardai pandemic regs have been pushed out to Nov by the govt.

Yep Newstalk running with it now extended to Nov 9.

Just a precaution though surely, I think they were to run out in 3 weeks?

Heroditas · 18-05-2021 10:31pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

We were due to go at the end of June but Eurocamps emailed us last week telling us the holiday is cancelled. We'll just roll it over into next year instead of getting our hopes up at the possibility of MAYBE getting away to France at some point this year.
Bit of a bummer but the kids are alright with it at this stage.

Jeffm587 · 19-05-2021 1:04pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

Due out for first two weeks in August, if they lift MHQ and we align with the EU travel pass by July then we should be ok . Ferry balance due 1st of June thinking of cancelling before then and make a new booking for same dates a little closer to the time. But I keep an eye on those dates on the IF website and notice cabins are starting to sell again for those crossings . May be a little bit of holding the nerve required.

ellee · 19-05-2021 4:13pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

I think it is looking less and less likely. I've been eyeing up a camping holiday in Spain or Italy instead.

Why? I think they weathered the political storm to put France on their MHQ list and I feel it quite likely that they might just leave it there.

On the other hand, it will harder and harder to justify an all out ban on non essential travel as more and more people are vaccinated.

Anyone else thinking about alternatives?

ellee · 19-05-2021 4:16pm

webpal wrote: »

Just a precaution though surely, I think they were to run out in 3 weeks?

That's apparently just the overall umbrella legislation allowing them to bring in the regulations and amend them as needed. Not a renewal of the current regulations until November.

yiddo59 · 19-05-2021 9:30pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Who is still hoping to get to France this Summer ?

Fairly confident that we'll make it. Not due to travel til 28th August by which time we'll both be fully vaccinated. Have decided that even if we have to push it back to September or October we'll travel then!

necstandards · 20-05-2021 7:50am

We were due to pay remaining ferry balance two weeks ago, so pushed the sailing to mid August hoping things will be more clear.
However the accommodation will probably be a lot more expensive so at the back of my head we wont be going. My wife is eager to fly instead of the ferry (next year) so we might end up cancelling (loosing €300).

SusanC10 · 20-05-2021 9:37am

We had been due to get the Ferry late June. Only deposit paid. Also deposit paid with Eurocamp (since 2019 for 2020!). One of our Campsites not available so we moved the Accommodation to 2022. Cancelled the Ferry.

Friends in same position. They are now thinking of trying to go in August but haven't booked anything yet. We are all tied to school holidays.

I would love to get to go in August but Husband thinks that we should forget about trying to go abroad in 2021 and focus on 2022. He is also suggesting that we don't go to France but fly to somewhere on the Mediterranean for 2022.

fdevine · 20-05-2021 11:32am

SusanC10 wrote: »

We had been due to get the Ferry late June. Only deposit paid. Also deposit paid with Eurocamp (since 2019 for 2020!). One of our Campsites not available so we moved the Accommodation to 2022. Cancelled the Ferry.

Friends in same position. They are now thinking of trying to go in August but haven't booked anything yet. We are all tied to school holidays.

I would love to get to go in August but Husband thinks that we should forget about trying to go abroad in 2021 and focus on 2022. He is also suggesting that we don't go to France but fly to somewhere on the Mediterranean for 2022.

Exactly the same situation here. Had Les Ormes booked for last summer and rescheduled for this summer. Now pushed out to 2022 and close to cancelling the ferry. My OH is debating going somewhere with "guaranteed sun" instead but I'm resisting so far

Baybay · 20-05-2021 11:46am

SusanC10 wrote: »

He is also suggesting that we don't go to France but fly to somewhere on the Mediterranean for 2022.

Still France but can thoroughly recommend the Herault! Aer Lingus fly (flew!) to Montpellier.

Deferred our sailing til next year due to vaccine type uncertainty & timings but as we both now have first shots, we are thinking of late August this year.

MizMix · 20-05-2021 1:11pm

We were due to go late June and while I was willing to stick with it, my husband wasn't keen so we changed to mid August. We fly into Nantes. Couldn't get both campsites to line up so we're just doing pins parasol for ten nights. I'll be delighted with that. My husband is full vaccinated and I should have my first shot in the next week or two. Campsite was much more expensive but justified it as we missed out last year and have done very little, no eating out etc.

Next year- we're thinking of doing two trips to France (one for a week and the other 10/12 days) - first around June 24 and again end August (we'll go further south- maybe la brasilia). Prices then are so much better and if flights remain much the same. Kids are still young so we don't mind taking them out of school for a few days

average_runner · 20-05-2021 5:07pm

Our flight to Toulouse with Aer Lingus for the end of June just got cancelled.

France gone now for sure

average_runner · 20-05-2021 5:08pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

We had been due to get the Ferry late June. Only deposit paid. Also deposit paid with Eurocamp (since 2019 for 2020!). One of our Campsites not available so we moved the Accommodation to 2022. Cancelled the Ferry.

Friends in same position. They are now thinking of trying to go in August but haven't booked anything yet. We are all tied to school holidays.

I would love to get to go in August but Husband thinks that we should forget about trying to go abroad in 2021 and focus on 2022. He is also suggesting that we don't go to France but fly to somewhere on the Mediterranean for 2022.

Fly to South of France. We go to la Carabasse with Siblu. Amazing weather. Fly into Toulouse, 2 hour drive on a great road.

MizMix · 20-05-2021 5:20pm

average_runner wrote: »

Our flight to Toulouse with Aer Lingus for the end of June just got cancelled.

France gone now for sure

Is august an option? I think a lot of flights in June and probably July will get cancelled. I'm hopeful for August though

average_runner · 20-05-2021 9:03pm

MizMix wrote: »

Is august an option? I think a lot of flights in June and probably July will get cancelled. I'm hopeful for August though

Campsites are full of more french then and less irish in south of france.

Holiday here for the summer

yiddo59 · 21-05-2021 8:35am

Good news on the horizon particularly for the fully vaccinated https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0520/1222934-vaccine-passport/

The European Parliament and member states have reached agreement in principle on a digital Covid certificate that should open up summer travel across the European Union. The deal should allow people to travel across the EU from the end of June, with the help of a certificate that will indicate if a person has been vaccinated, has a negative Covid test, or has recovered from the virus.

average_runner · 21-05-2021 9:20am

yiddo59 wrote: »

Good news on the horizon particularly for the fully vaccinated https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0520/1222934-vaccine-passport/

The European Parliament and member states have reached agreement in principle on a digital Covid certificate that should open up summer travel across the European Union. The deal should allow people to travel across the EU from the end of June, with the help of a certificate that will indicate if a person has been vaccinated, has a negative Covid test, or has recovered from the virus.

But if the demand is not their for the airlines, they won't fly. As we found out yesterday.

Think loads have decided to holiday at home now and go away in oct or so

yiddo59 · 21-05-2021 6:17pm

average_runner wrote: »

But if the demand is not their for the airlines, they won't fly. As we found out yesterday.

Think loads have decided to holiday at home now and go away in oct or so

Nice to have the choice though!

France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

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