Hi all, didn't seem relevant to post it in one of the country specific sections but apologies if it should have been. I posted a while back in the Benelux section as we were originally heading to Rotterdam on the ferry until the Dutch Border Security categorically told us we couldn't enter. Annoyingly they changed the rules at the last minute and the day after our booked ferry we could have travelled, but hey ho. We were heading to Austria which was still a definite no anyway. We changed our plans rather than cancel the whole thing and decided to do the Alps again but try and get a bit of Germany in as well if we could, then back across France to stay with my brother in law for a week in Brittany.
Considering all of the hoo-ha and people cancelling left right and centre were nearly decided not to go but I'm glad we did. I did all the required paperwork for France, Switzerland and Germany and to be honest some of the information on the various websites was a little vague and confusing but we set off down to Folkestone on Sat 7th.
Folkestone Eurotunnel was heaving, I assume due to the extra checks, but eventually we go through after missing our original crossing. British Border just checked the passports, guy at the French side asked for vaccination proof, both me and my wife showed him our double QR codes on our phones, but the writing was so small he couldn't possibly have read the names so I expected he would ask us to zoom in but he didn't, just stamped our passports and sent us on our way, didn't ask for the Declaration that the French government website instructs you to print and take.
Got to Basel and just like last year got waived straight through into Switzerland. Following day we headed for the German border which was shut so we rode straight through into Germany, came back into Switzerland later that day over a river with no border post.
Spent another couple of days in Switzerland and then headed into France to Chamonix and again the border was unmanned so we drove straight through. I assume because of Schengen/free movement this is why but it does make me wonder why we fretted so much about where we could go etc.
Anyway, for our return leg we went to the local hospital in Brittany and had our PCR tests done, didn't charge us. Results came back the following morning. Brittany Ferries at St Malo asked to see everything including Passenger Locator etc but it was smooth and efficient. Ship was only 1/5 capacity as apparently alot of people have cancelled due to the extra cost of testing on return etc which is a shame, we were the only bike onboard and managed to get off first. Border Security at Portsmouth scanned our passports and said as long as everything was in order we would be on our way, which we were.
We docked at 18:20 and by 18:40 we were already fuelled up and out of Pompey on the motorway.
Just thought I'd share my experience in case people were a little wary of travelling etc. I did get a tug from the Swiss Police and it was at that moment I realised I'd been so preoccupied with the COVID malarky that I forgot to pack the V5 for the bike, which he asked for. Gave me a little lecture and sent me on my way, he was a really nice guy to be fair.
Considering all of the hoo-ha and people cancelling left right and centre were nearly decided not to go but I'm glad we did. I did all the required paperwork for France, Switzerland and Germany and to be honest some of the information on the various websites was a little vague and confusing but we set off down to Folkestone on Sat 7th.
Folkestone Eurotunnel was heaving, I assume due to the extra checks, but eventually we go through after missing our original crossing. British Border just checked the passports, guy at the French side asked for vaccination proof, both me and my wife showed him our double QR codes on our phones, but the writing was so small he couldn't possibly have read the names so I expected he would ask us to zoom in but he didn't, just stamped our passports and sent us on our way, didn't ask for the Declaration that the French government website instructs you to print and take.
Got to Basel and just like last year got waived straight through into Switzerland. Following day we headed for the German border which was shut so we rode straight through into Germany, came back into Switzerland later that day over a river with no border post.
Spent another couple of days in Switzerland and then headed into France to Chamonix and again the border was unmanned so we drove straight through. I assume because of Schengen/free movement this is why but it does make me wonder why we fretted so much about where we could go etc.
Anyway, for our return leg we went to the local hospital in Brittany and had our PCR tests done, didn't charge us. Results came back the following morning. Brittany Ferries at St Malo asked to see everything including Passenger Locator etc but it was smooth and efficient. Ship was only 1/5 capacity as apparently alot of people have cancelled due to the extra cost of testing on return etc which is a shame, we were the only bike onboard and managed to get off first. Border Security at Portsmouth scanned our passports and said as long as everything was in order we would be on our way, which we were.
We docked at 18:20 and by 18:40 we were already fuelled up and out of Pompey on the motorway.
Just thought I'd share my experience in case people were a little wary of travelling etc. I did get a tug from the Swiss Police and it was at that moment I realised I'd been so preoccupied with the COVID malarky that I forgot to pack the V5 for the bike, which he asked for. Gave me a little lecture and sent me on my way, he was a really nice guy to be fair.