Poster: A snowHead
|
I, along with many others, am planning my return to the UK. My preference would be to remain here in Tignes but unfortunately that's not a practical option. My partner is unable to join me. I don't own property here and the £ is tanking against the €.
Back to the matter in hand. I'm just thinking that the Snowheads community can be a useful source of info reference return travel. Talk of Borders closing. A possible announcement this evening about 2 French regions going into some form of lock-down. Anyone encountering any practical issues? Hotels enroute at the moment seem to taking bookings.
Thoughts anyone?
edit, I'm driving back and have a ferry booked from Zeebrugge to Hull.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
We have to drive back once we have finished transfer driving (evacuating Chamonix). Will also be keen to hear of issue, or "it's no problem".
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
@RobinS, I believe that one of the regions being considered for possible lock-down measures is Grand Est which includes Troyes, Reims and a stretch of the a26 hence my concern.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Just moved my tunnel booking to tomorrow did it on line no problems lots of time slots to choose from
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Just got back, changed tunnel booking while driving up from Val D yesterday, very quiet at terminal this morning for the 8:50 shuttle. Booked Ibis hotel at terminal with no problem. Plenty fuel at the services and loads of food still in those as well.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I did consider getting back to UK but my father isn't well and anything would kill him. So I'm sitting it out here. Once all the tourists have left it will be as safe as anywhere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Claude B wrote: |
I did consider getting back to UK but my father isn't well and anything would kill him. So I'm sitting it out here. Once all the tourists have left it will be as safe as anywhere. |
You'll be like the Omega Man
|
|
|
|
|
|
I doubt auto-routes would be affected in any regional lockdown nor would they stop travellers transiting through. The Swiss lock down allows people who are transiting.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
boredsurfin wrote: |
Just moved my tunnel booking to tomorrow did it on line no problems lots of time slots to choose from |
I came back Sunday, booked tunnel Saturday for £107. On the journey to Calais we checked, and all crossings were £175 all week. Nice little earner!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charliegolf wrote: |
boredsurfin wrote: |
Just moved my tunnel booking to tomorrow did it on line no problems lots of time slots to choose from |
I came back Sunday, booked tunnel Saturday for £107. On the journey to Calais we checked, and all crossings were £175 all week. Nice little earner! |
Supply and demand
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Loads of spaces: profiteering.
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Prospect of vastly reduced income for the next 6 months: get whatever you can for this week, before losing money every day and laying off staff.
|
|
|
|
|
Ian.S
Ian.S
Guest
|
Just done Morzine to Zeebrugge. Now on ferry after quick check-in. Autoroutes quiet. Aires are open. Fuel supplies seem ok. You can get takeaway food and drink but no sitting down! Ferry looks quiet too.
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
A mate returned today via Geneva to Heathrow's T5. Airport unsurprisingly almost deserted but m25 also very quiet.
These are very worrying times. I noted that BA's owning company lost a quarter of its value when the markets opened this morning. Who is going to come out the other side of this unscathed?
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I've just changed our Eurotunnel crossing from Sunday to this Wednesday at a ridiculous cost, but it had to be done. Bon chance everyone. We're leaveing here at lunchtime tomorrow. Couldn't go earlier, as the vet had no appointments before 11am. Loads of choices, but not at the price we paid originally.
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@RobinS, will keep you posted.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Eurotunnel didn't charge me to change my booking from Sunday to Monday, ie 6 days earlier, and it was a cheap named time Tesco ticket. She said in the circumstances all change fees had been waived. Maybe ring them up? My booking wouldn't let me change online anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Arrived home about 2 hrs ago, french roads deserted apart from lorries heading to calais and uk cars doing a runner, plenty of fuel and food in service stations, luckily I had paid for a flexiplus ticket for our return which should have been in three wks, M20,M25 still very busy
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@endoman, hmm. not happy, it was an extra £77
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Charliegolf, mmm? I booked yesterday afternoon (Sunday) for a midday tunnel crossing today. It was 110€. Maybe I was lucky.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
fyi: borders to france to close from midday tomorrow for 30 days, ex pats will be allowed to return hom3
|
|
|
|
|
|
@davidof... and people on holiday will be able to leave after the cutoff?
There's no way all foreigners on holiday in France at the moment will be able to fly home before the deadline.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forget the regional lock down. The whole country has been put into home confinement. Only essential travel. If I heard it right then France is closing its borders along with other Schengen countries for 30 days. Only citizens returning to their own countries will be allowed in.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
We had an apocalypse party on our balcony today, tomorrow we head for home. May just do non stop and hope. We are thousands down in pay, company is going bust, it's a shambles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@RobinS, Very sorry to hear that. It was a great service.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@under a new name, No criticism of the company, they have been very fair, just overwhelmed by adverse events, feel Very sorry for them.
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
@RobinS, you were working for a transfer company?
|
|
|
|
|
|
My understanding was that it was the EU that was closing, and most borders within schengen would remain open. I could well be wrong though. Anyone?
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@GeorgeVII, Yep, finished moving people out of Chamonix today, now out of work and company closes.
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@RobinS, have sent you a pm
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
thecramps wrote: |
My understanding was that it was the EU that was closing, and most borders within schengen would remain open. I could well be wrong though. Anyone? |
Both, kind of - some individual countries have closed their own borders as well as the outer order EU borders
RobinS, really sorry to hear that. I hope you're able to work things out!
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
We should be alright, we may even have some work to go back to. Three-quarters of the working population of Chamonix were put out of work overnight, many in a worse situation than us. Our bosses have been pretty much broken by this.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I expect there will be big queues / limited supplies of fuel at pinch points like the Intermarche in Le Fayet.
We’re heading for the Total tucked away in Sallanches:
https://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
This sounds promising for Brits still in France (and those wanting to leave via Switzerland):
Quote: |
The European Union will close its borders for 30 days from tomorrow to external visitors from non-EU countries, Mr Macron said, but travel with Switzerland and the UK will be preserved |
Source: BBC live updates tonight
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Just got back home to yorkshire from Morzine, via the tunnel. Plenty of fuel on and off the motorways. Roads very quiet . From what I can see there is not yet any specific reference to foreigners leaving the country. French nationals will have to apply on line for an authority to travel on the roads via https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus from tomorrow midday. My best guess is that they will be happy for foreigners to leave and not put too many obstacles in their way. So if in a uk car hopefully will be waved through any checks but can not find any written confirmation of this. Also assume will allow travel to geneva airport but no guarantee how long flights will survive and also transfer companies may be thin on the ground. Good luck to all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We now have our official authorisation to travel forms, unfortunately the very short list of valid reasons for going out does not include going home!
We are going to put our UK address on the forms and hope for the best.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big bouchon round Geneva.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@RobinS, maybe call the consulate in Geneva first? I have a niggling feeling that I heard that transport is going to be exceptionally permitted for 48 hours to allow “seasonal workers” to get home. As France does have rather a few of them, scattered around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not much traffic near the big chicken - mind you, there wasn’t much here on the way down either.
|
|
|
|
|
|