 Poster: A snowHead
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The following is our experience of Driving via Port of Dover to Aosta Valley - Italy via French Toll motorways
Due to 24 hour Antigen Fit to Fly/Travel Certs, we took the Antigen test around 18h00 Saturday 29th Jan - uploaded Neg results to Official Rapid Tests and got back Email confirmation & link to download PDF Certs within 15Mins as promised.
To maximise the 24 hour travel window we booked the P&O 03h00 ferry from Dover - Calais (we live in Dover so with some sleep planning, not to bad)
Arrived in Port at 02h00 - joined queue of around 10 cars/coaches in front of us waiting to be processed by French Immigration who only had 1 booth open despite there being 3 guys in the booth!.
We cleared French Immigration in Dover at 02h35 - the French officials work at their pace, methodically checking NHS 3 Vax codes/paperwork, passports, EU PLF's, sworn statements, Negative certs etc.
Bottom line - arrive in Port 60-90mins before sailing check-in closure - the French work at their pace and do not care if you miss your ferry, what it must be like around 06h00 onwards is anyone guess.
Anyway we made check-in and got the 03h00 ferry.
Make sure you upload all certs to the P&O covid-19 site before arrival, it will speed up checkin for you and others waiting.
Arrived in Calais 05h30 French time - no issues - exited port to motorway network and headed south.
Arrived Mont Blanc Tunnel - purchased return ticket - no other checks on French side and passed through tunnel.
On arrival at Italian end - All vehicles were pulled over - copies of Passports and V5 Car registration document taken - they did not want anything COVID related as they knew
these details would have been checked by the French..
In Italy (Cervinia & Pila) NHS QR codes required on entry to Base station lifts and some restaurants asked for them - get the Italian Green Pass App and/or get laminated QR codes.
Travelling Home to Uk
Took Antigen kits with us and tested the evening before departure - uploaded and got neg test certs - this may not be required but as we were re-entering France thought it wise.
Completed the UK PLF form (requires the Day 2 code you get from your testing company - I think after Feb 18th this step will no longer be required but check.
Uploaded completed docs to P&O covid-19 portal (delete your outward docs and replace with new ones)
Left Hotel in Valtournenche 08h05 this morning 4th Feb - checked in at Mont Blanc Tunnel - no other checks - passed through tunnel expecting to pulled over once at French side
but nothing - joined motorway network and headed to Calais.
At P&O Calais - they required Passports and the UK PLF docs/ref number - again after Feb 18th (I think) this may not be required.
Went forward to French Immigration who just wanted passports to stamp you out.
Followed signs to a vehicle exam shed - they just required us to open boot for a visual inspection.
Forward again to UK immigration - just passports.
Forward again for another security check of vehicle but waved through and proceeded to lane to wait for ferry.
Arrival in Dover - did not get stopped - passed out without issue.
Lessons learnt. If you can take a ipad/tablet/laptop - take it - trying to retrieve everything from your phone can be tricky.
Print off as much before hand as possible, they didnt seem bothered by the sworn declarations, just wanted NHS QR travel cert and fit to fly/travel cert.
Local snow conditions in Cervinia are good but they need more snow - high winds caused higher pistes to be blown bare closing some lifts to remain closed.
Link over to Zermatt was closed most of the time.
If you have a car, Pila was a very good alternative 45 mins down in Aosta.
French motorway deisel prices around 1.77 - 1.79 euro p/litre
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks @ markpoint22
So did you enter Italy with the same 24hr lft being valid? We’re doing overnight above Dijon before heading to aosta via GSB tunnel and will be over 24 hrs so have to retest if they’re checking.
For return did the French check your additional lft as you entered from Italy ? From what I’ve read Italians wouldn’t need this but brits who have been in uk within last 14 days would? Just wondering if they pick out the uk cars or not ?
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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?
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Yes, we entered Italy with the LFT Travel Certs we submitted whilst in UK at 18h00ish on the evening before departure. We took the silly o'clock 03h00 ferry to give us 12 hours to get into Italy,
which we achieved easily. On the Italian side they did not want any Covid/LFT/QR Codes - they were more interested in the cars registration document and passports, they didnt even want the EU PLF forms we had pre-prepared.
On the way back though MBT there were no checks either side - showed return ticket at booth and went - no checks in France until we got to Calais - see above.
The bottom line is have all paperwork in order for each person, if you have everything then sods law they wont want it, if you dont have it, they will..
We used Official Rapid Tests, who would good but one member didnt get his UK PLF Day test code but we carried spares. As I said above if you're travelling after Feb 11th we will not be required
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-open-for-travel-with-all-restrictions-removed-for-eligible-vaccinated-arrivals
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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As you are over-nighting in Dijon, I would carry spare tests (extra cost I know) just in case and then get a fresh 24 hour travel cert from your non-NHS testing company.
I think the Italians know you would have had to have a valid LFT Negative test cert to enter the EU so unlikely to check but sod laws always applies.
"Are you feeling lucky" applies.
Hope this helps.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Dont forget your cars V5 Reg document for Italy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| MHskier wrote: |
Thanks @ markpoint22
So did you enter Italy with the same 24hr lft being valid? We’re doing overnight above Dijon before heading to aosta via GSB tunnel and will be over 24 hrs so have to retest if they’re checking.
For return did the French check your additional lft as you entered from Italy ? From what I’ve read Italians wouldn’t need this but brits who have been in uk within last 14 days would? Just wondering if they pick out the uk cars or not ? |
Hey, we're planning to do similar to this (although Plan A was to stay in our van in an aire on the way down France) at the end of Feb, so will be interested to hear how you get on regarding EU PLF - did/will you complete two forms?
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Just one EU PLF - covers France and Italy
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