Getting back to Europe

[delta juliet]

We’re still hoping for Croatia at the end of June, they’re preparing to welcome tourists if they’ve had both jabs 14 days before entry, or a negative test or have HAD covid in the past 180 days

Which countries will you have to drive through to get to Croatia though ?

 

[Al n Val]

We’re still hoping for Croatia at the end of June, they’re preparing to welcome tourists if they’ve had both jabs 14 days before entry, or a negative test or have HAD covid in the past 180 days

Not had our 2nd jab yet but we both should get them soon hopefully

Europe atm as I understand are ramping up the vaccinations so hopefully we’ll be good to go and we may bump into each other, we’re nearly neighbours as well

 

[Al n Val]

Which countries will you have to drive through to get to Croatia though ?

Kindly posted by another member but this looks quite a good route

 

[busby]

Born optomist me..Ferry booked 18 th May Portsmouth Santander..I get second jab next week,,better half two weeks later..I can always change ferry if things don't work out..BUSBY

 

[Fulham Dave]

Tunnel booked for 28th May. Cannot wait! Fingers are crossed as postponed and re-booked it 4 times since Nov

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[WESTY66]

Which countries will you have to drive through to get to Croatia though ?

Well that’s the boil on the bum, so to speak and the “key” to us actually getting there.
France (non stop)
Belgium (non stop)
Germany (stop)
Austria (stop)
Slovenia (non stop)
Croatia

One can only hope!! I’ve been moving my booking 3 times now over the last 18 months

 

[delta juliet]

Posted by another member but this looks quite a good route

View attachment 482751

That looks great and I have indeed taken pretty much that route as far as Austria myself but in pre-Covid times when driving across the borders was no issue, I wish you luck with meeting all those border crossing Covid requirements. I must admit sunny Croatia sounds very attractive but that journey looks like it could pose quite a few challenges but hopefully you will report back that it was plain sailing

 

[Jenka]

Ive had two lockdowns in Europe but im waiting for it to settle down ,coming home was a nightmare with Bureaucracy from both EU & UK then again if your parked up for the 90 days enjoy .

 

[Minxy]

We keep revising our plans, still looking to go to Scotland early summer if they let us in, then will do a load of tootling round the UK, Ireland looks of the itinerary this year so we're hoping to go to France/Spain for winter but at the rate that the EU is progressing ref vaccinations and the rise in cases, the risk of having to do tests to return, plus the hassle for the dogs, if its not a lot easier/better we might knock that on the head. If so instead we'll look at getting away here instead ... when we worked we often got 2 weeks over Christmas/New Year away in the UK but then stopped when we put all our holiday allowance into EU breaks, so might be a good thing to re-discover winter in the 'at home' again.

 

[Peter and Julie]

Counted 25 motorhomes and quite a few caravans on M6 today! Most heading south from J23 where I joined....

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[Littlewheels]

I dare not risk UK,,it's dangerous going for a walk with all the people about who either think Covid is over or they are just plain stupid..Felt much safer last Sept Oct in France and Spain mainly because there was space to isolate..BUSBY.

Same here only just returned and completed tests and isolation and it’s far safer over there than the UK as long as you keep away from highly populated cities. Spain is much safer in my opinion as the Spanish follow the rules and have stricter restrictions than France. Will return as soon as possible.

 

[bobnick]

Planning nothing for Euroland.
When the powers that be say off you go then, then i'll join the Q on to the chew chew train under the puggle.

 

[jumar]

Born optomist me..Ferry booked 18 th May Portsmouth Santander..I get second jab next week,,better half two weeks later..I can always change ferry if things don't work out..BUSBY

Calling in the over 80's and other age groups too, depending on region, for Jabs in most regions of Spain, regional borders remain closed to us, but may not apply to you, State of Alarm will end on May 9th, that can be re-introduced, the general public are doing well, but are asking the questions how are motorhomers from all over Europe being allowed into Spain, and its own population is being restricted.....we were asking this a year ago, now its being noticed by others.....and finally Busby, will Boris allow you guys passage overseas, I am aware flying tourists will be on the agenda for this summer.....something to chew over....and as you rightly say, you can change your booking..

 

[In a Pickle]

Taken from Murcia Today dated 8/4/2021;

The indications that a fourth wave of coronavirus contagion is starting in Spain continue to mount up, and on Wednesday evening the latest update published by the Ministry of Health reported a further 8,788 new cases, far more than has been the norm over the last few weeks and the highest 24-hour figure since late February, while the 14-day accumulated incidence rate continued its steady rise.

The average nationwide rate now stands at just under 168 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and while this is only four points higher than the previous day it is worth pointing out that shortly before Easter week the indicator had dipped to 128. The situation remains relatively encouraging in some of the 17 regions – in Valencia, Murcia, the Balearics and Galicia the figures are 31, 62, 62 and 67 respectively – but in others the outlook is a far more worrying one.

 

[jongood]

Kindly posted by another member but this looks quite a good route

View attachment 482751

Depends whether you are over 3500kgs. The first bit is Ok but then I would swing right as soon as I hit Germany and go through Switzerland exiting through St Gothard tunnel and then cut across to Trieste and enter Croatia just above Rijeka. Chops a lot of expensive and complicated tolls out.

Although If I felt like a scenic trip there are a few routes I can get through Austria by avoiding motorways and the horrible go box, one of these is over Grossglockner which has a hefty toll but beautiful scenery and no consequences.

Yes we re thinking maybe Croatia again, the big issue with Croatia is no aires/wildcamping though.

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[jongood]

Taken from Murcia Today dated 8/4/2021;

The indications that a fourth wave of coronavirus contagion is starting in Spain continue to mount up, and on Wednesday evening the latest update published by the Ministry of Health reported a further 8,788 new cases, far more than has been the norm over the last few weeks and the highest 24-hour figure since late February, while the 14-day accumulated incidence rate continued its steady rise.

The average nationwide rate now stands at just under 168 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and while this is only four points higher than the previous day it is worth pointing out that shortly before Easter week the indicator had dipped to 128. The situation remains relatively encouraging in some of the 17 regions – in Valencia, Murcia, the Balearics and Galicia the figures are 31, 62, 62 and 67 respectively – but in others the outlook is a far more worrying one.

Is it worth pointing out that 168/100,000 is only 0.19%?

 

[PaddyM]

Same here only just returned and completed tests and isolation and it’s far safer over there than the UK as long as you keep away from highly populated cities. Spain is much safer in my opinion as the Spanish follow the rules and have stricter restrictions than France. Will return as soon as possible.

Feeling “ safer “ is not science , Frances critical care service is at absolute breaking point . Vaccination is the key to beating this disease and the EU are quite simply failing their population . I suspect it’s because they have no history of “ national health “ which is free for all at point of delivery .
Blighty bashing seems to be a pastime on here at times but let me tell you that the EU response to this pandemic and the vaccination programme has been a deadly disgrace .

 

[CaptainPaul]

Ready to rock n roll to anywhere as soon as we're allowed, ferry tickets booked to the mainland for mid June (coming from Ireland) and hope to be on the continent somewhere within a week of that, and if not we'll just tour beautiful Blighty.... its all good

 

[jongood]

I know they can't make rules just for motorhomers, but do feel that what most of us do is pretty covid safe. Getting on a plane is a whole different ballgame but when I think of our last trips, we visited places that are quiet and peaceful, avoided crowds and public transport and ate 'out' outside only and we still managed to put a few thousand into the economies ( actually a lot more than that into Luxembourg where we bought our latest mh).

The biggest risk I took was getting back over to Luxembourg to collect the mh, even this I managed carefully, I could have been even more careful had it not been for the ferry companies ridiculous covid policy.

 

[Hymerbell]

Still cruising around Greece...weather fine....wish you were here

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[Shrimp]

Think we will have to wait and see, depends on what Europe decides!

 

[Slioch]

Thanks all, interesting spread of opinion. I will gently work on Mrs S in the hope that she'll be ready to go as soon as it's allowable.

 

[jongood]

Still cruising around Greece...weather fine....wish you were here

View attachment 482802View attachment 482803View attachment 482804View attachment 482805View attachment 482806

How can you be there enjoying yourself when all of anywhere other than UK is in utter turmoil? Lucky blighter

 

[Littlewheels]

Feeling “ safer “ is not science , Frances critical care service is at absolute breaking point . Vaccination is the key to beating this disease and the EU are quite simply failing their population . I suspect it’s because they have no history of “ national health “ which is free for all at point of delivery .
Blighty bashing seems to be a pastime on here at times but let me tell you that the EU response to this pandemic and the vaccination programme has been a deadly disgrace .

The word science could well be replaced with the guess because that’s what it amounts to in the main,number crunching. This thread is “Getting back to Europe” the reason being that so many on this Forum simply love motorhoming in the EU the Motorhome experience in the EU is indisputably better than the UK.

 

[The general]

Blighty bashing seems to be a pastime on here at times but let me tell you that the EU response to this pandemic and the vaccination programme has been a deadly disgrace .

Not so much now , EU should be embarrassed to say the least on how they are handling the vaccines roll out .

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[Aerialmark]

We will be staying in the uk this year. My wife hasn’t had her first jab yet and we are also limited to having our holiday in July due to my wife’s work. I don’t think it’s worth all the fuss for a 3 week holiday abroad especially with rules changing all the time.So we have booked the Isle of White for 2 weeks. Just hope the weathers nice
Next year is my wife’s 50th and my 60th so we will plan a nice jaunt for a month or so then and may even get to Germany and Austria where we planned to go in 2020 as part of the trip. If it was all down to me I may have risked a trip abroad this August but it’s ok for me to say that when I will have had my second jab by May and my wife hasn’t even had her first it would have also been awkward moving my wife’s holidays. We will wait for next year. Good luck to all of you who do make it I will enjoy reading of your adventures.

 

[jessthedog]

As with all travelling in a Pandemic, flexibilty will be key. There will always be a risk to travel abroad at the moment.
It looks like it will also cost a few quid for tests, even if you have had the Covid jabs.
The traffic light system will indicate what is required for travel to different countries, but for the majority of Motorhomers, France will be the key! If France is amber, people will have to quarantine on return to UK.
We won't know what countries will be on different traffic light systems until May. Those countries could change as they have done for the last 15 months.

The traffic light system will grade foreign destinations as being:

• Green: Passengers will not need to quarantine on return, but must take a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR test on return to the UK
• Amber: Travellers will need to quarantine for 10 days, as well as taking a pre-departure test and two PCR tests
• Red: Passengers will have to pay for a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, as well as a pre-departure test and two PCR tests

 

[fullfat]

Well that’s the boil on the bum, so to speak and the “key” to us actually getting there.
France (non stop)
Belgium (non stop)
Germany (stop)
Austria (stop)
Slovenia (non stop)
Croatia

One can only hope!! I’ve been moving my booking 3 times now over the last 18 months

Hey you forgot Luxembourg for cheap fuel

 

[suavecarve]

Hot news off the press just now

Covid-19: People can start thinking about foreign travel - Shapps

The transport secretary says people are no longer being advised against booking holidays abroad.

www.bbc.co.uk

People in England can start thinking about booking foreign holidays again this summer, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.
But he said the cost of the Covid tests required needed to be driven down, amid criticism from the travel industry.
Mr Shapps has also given more detail on the traffic light system which will see countries graded on their risk.
Passengers will have to take the tests before leaving and on returning - even from low-risk "green" countries.
There will be a watch list for countries that could go from green to amber.

 

[ctc]

Both doses of vaccine ? Isn’t there supposed to be a booster required by the autumn ?!?

You will need a booster when the next planeload of Brazillians arrives.

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