Returning to Blighty

Status
Not open for further replies.

Alice1

Free Member

Messages
29
Just looking at the return to UK for those currently abroad (I.e. in the EU) with their motorhomes when the 90 day limit is reached and we have to return or get a visa.
Has anyone tried to book a ferry from say Spain or France back to UK? How easy was it? Did you need much additional paperwork in addition to the Covid test?
Any thoughts on UK Covid quarantine? Supposing you have the moho, pets, trailer and towed car, etc?
Is a hotel at £1750/10 days applicable?
if so where do you think you'll end up spending the quarantine period? Haven’t seen Mr Hancock addressing this one as yet!
 
What ever you do make sure you get it right first time there's some hefty fines or even clink if you don't :)
 
For those of us who have stayed at home in GB since last year, the rules are clear.

For us, it's illegal to travel, and we recognised the concerns you now face. Last Autumn, I spent much time helping friends return to GB safe and well in their camper.

When did you drive out to Iberia?
 
So many questions..
Look on gov.UK site for current rules returning to UK via sea from France or Spain.
Changes to paperwork needed is also on that site.
Quarantine will depend on the country situation at the time of return. If coming from France or Spain then quarantine can be at home ( currently) , if you have been in a country on the "red list" ( see gov.uk) in last ten days, then quarantine in a hotel is currently mandatory from 15/2. Dont know about animals but, I guess, they would have to go in room with you? It has to be booked before arrival in uk.
Don't know about ferries...only way is to try phoning them to find out?
 
Last edited:
Alice1 said:
Just looking at the return to UK for those currently abroad (I.e. in the EU) with their motorhomes when the 90 day limit is reached and we have to return or get a visa.
Has anyone tried to book a ferry from say Spain or France back to UK? How easy was it? Did you need much additional paperwork in addition to the Covid test?
Any thoughts on UK Covid quarantine? Supposing you have the moho, pets, trailer and towed car, etc?
Is a hotel at £1750/10 days applicable?
if so where do you think you'll end up spending the quarantine period? Haven’t seen Mr Hancock addressing this one as yet!
Click to expand...
All your questions appear to be hypothetical and not at this time concerning you? so why worry, any answers you get on here are likely to be guess ology anyway?
 
Thinks, you may need a Crystal ball...
Basically I think wait and see, then deal with it as it applies at the time is the only sensibubble course of action.
If you decide to book fairies in advance try to ensure tickets are transferable or refundable in the event of cancellation

KiteVan mans (latest episode on Youtube) efforts to get back from Morocco to Spain proved very very long winded and expensive.
 
We are currently in southern Spain and have a ferry booked from Bilbao on 26th March. Booking it was no problem - just the same as normal - but to board it we will have to get a PCR test and fill out a Passenger Locator Form stating where we will be self-isolating in the UK and then get two more tests done during our period of self isolating. That is until they change the rules again............................................... :)

PS we did pay the extra when booking the ferry to get a fully transferable ticket in case of cancellation.
 
John H said:
We are currently in southern Spain and have a ferry booked from Bilbao on 26th March. Booking it was no problem - just the same as normal - but to board it we will have to get a PCR test and fill out a Passenger Locator Form stating where we will be self-isolating in the UK and then get two more tests done during our period of self isolating. That is until they change the rules again............................................... :)

PS we did pay the extra when booking the ferry to get a fully transferable ticket in case of cancellation.
Click to expand...
Now that is precise information thankyou.
 
Penny13 said:
I believe if you full time a campsite address is ok
Click to expand...
I'd be grateful if you could provide a link to that but are there any campsites open? I contacted the CAMC about what representations they had made to represent their members' interests and they were less than helpful, saying that they had no intention of opening their sites.
 
You can have an Antigen test to get in to the UK you do not have to have a PCR test. Check the .gov website it gives a clear explanation of what is needed. However a PCR is needed to enter France at this time
 
John H said:
I'd be grateful if you could provide a link to that but are there any campsites open? I contacted the CAMC about what representations they had made to represent their members' interests and they were less than helpful, saying that they had no intention of opening their sites.
Click to expand...
We are on a campsite now being full timers displaced from our campsite wardens job as we are moving to a new job in April.
We phoned them up and told them our situation answer was yes.
I do know of people who returned from Europe and stayed on a campsite to quarantine where I have no idea.
I also asked the CAMC about staying on a site the chat assistant was lovely very understanding of our situation, never herd another thing from them.
They where also very quick to throw us of when this all started :(
 
The Happychappy said:
You can have an Antigen test to get in to the UK you do not have to have a PCR test. Check the .gov website it gives a clear explanation of what is needed. However a PCR is needed to enter France at this time
Click to expand...
True but whatever test you have it has to meet rigid minimum standards which are not easily understood by a mind like mine! The government website also says that it is up to you to make sure those standards are met. I would happily take an antigen test but I know that they are generally regarded as not as accurate as the PCR test, so don't want to arrive to be told that it wasn't good enough and be met with a huge fine.
 
Penny13 said:
We are on a campsite now being full timers displaced from our campsite wardens job as we are moving to a new job in April.
We phoned them up and told them our situation answer was yes.
I do know of people who returned from Europe and stayed on a campsite to quarantine where I have no idea.
I also asked the CAMC about staying on a site the chat assistant was lovely very understanding of our situation, never herd another thing from them.
They where also very quick to throw us of when this all started :(
Click to expand...
Thanks - would you mind telling me which campsite you are on so that we at least know of one that might take us? (PS you can PM me if you prefer).
 
A useful thread this...
With regard to self-isolation
  • It appears that is OK on some campsites (which ones ?0
thus fresh water etc is catered for
  • Food You would need delivery
  • diesel and LPG you can fill up en route but what if you need to travel for more LPG..For me this is esssential travle allowed under covid restrictions but not when in isolation ?
  • how do you organise the further tests..presumably you have to drive ?. thus in conflict with isolation
From our point of reference
Normally we
  • Fly to LHR
  • Overnite locally
  • return to lHR for
  • Coach to Gloucester
  • taxi to storage location to collect vehicle
  • Supermarket for provisions
  • diesel & LPG needed
  • finally to a campsite where we woul happily self isolate

It seems to me we would be in breach of isolation with most of this

So as of today IMPOSSIBLE !
NOT whingeing just looking ahead
it has been stated today that things will start getting back to normal around Easter...
Poppycock or more honestly Bullsh1t

we have no wish to return to Uk and risk the lhealth of others or ourselves !

June may be more of a possiility but NOBODY KNOWS and I am sure we are all mightily fed-up with unfounded predictions !
Intended as a statement of fact rather than a political jibe !
 
Last edited:
It seems that the hotels for quarantine are located near to several airports and require escorted transport to them. There are no direct flights from “red” countries so travelling to another country for a flight to UK would be necessary.
As there is no provision for arrival from “red” countries at sea ports it would seem that it will not be possible to bring a van from a “red” country to the UK, except perhaps by having a 10 day stay at a non red country en route.
Any country could very quickly become red. Perhaps with all these variables it’s best not to be overseas particularly with a van at this time.
 
Alice1 said:
Just looking at the return to UK for those currently abroad (I.e. in the EU) with their motorhomes when the 90 day limit is reached and we have to return or get a visa.
Has anyone tried to book a ferry from say Spain or France back to UK? How easy was it? Did you need much additional paperwork in addition to the Covid test?
Any thoughts on UK Covid quarantine? Supposing you have the moho, pets, trailer and towed car, etc?
Is a hotel at £1750/10 days applicable?
if so where do you think you'll end up spending the quarantine period? Haven’t seen Mr Hancock addressing this one as yet!
Click to expand...
We returned to the UK from Spain last Thursday....
1) Booked ferry from Santander for Wed 10th
2) Booked PCR test for Mon 8th in Santander via medmesafe website (119 euros per person)
3) Drove from Southern Spain to Santander on Sat 6th
4) Parked up in a gated site just outside Santander
5) Had the PCR test on the Monday, results (negative) by email on the Tuesday
6) Boarded the Ferry on Wednesday.
7) Filled in locator form on the ferry
8) Arrived in UK on the Thursday and drove to campsite that we were booked into.
9) Now in Quarantine for 10 days.

Now understand that from next week anyone in quarantine will have to provide two tests during the 10 day quarantine period.
If the government adds Spain to the red list I think things will be even more tighter than they were when we left. But we will see.
Was not willing to hang about in case they slapped the mandatory hotel thingy on everyone travelling.
 
Last edited:
2cv said:
It seems that the hotels for quarantine are located near to several airports and require escorted transport to them. There are no direct flights from “red” countries so travelling to another country for a flight to UK would be necessary.
As there is no provision for arrival from “red” countries at sea ports it would seem that it will not be possible to bring a van from a “red” country to the UK, except perhaps by having a 10 day stay at a non red country en route.
Any country could very quickly become red. Perhaps with all these variables it’s best not to be overseas particularly with a van at this time.
Click to expand...
Yes, designated ports of arrival from "red list" countries are:
(a)Heathrow Airport;
(b)Gatwick Airport;
(c)London City Airport;
(d)Birmingham Airport;
(e)Farnborough Airport;
(f)any military airfield or port.
This will pose a problem for most people attempting to return by sea (with or without a vehicle) who have been in a "red list" country within the previous ten days. Any such person arriving through a non-designated port will be subject to a fixed penalty notice and will still have to quarantine in a hotel (and will presumably have to leave any vehicle at the port of arrival). Presumably any pets would not be permitted to stay in the quarantine hotel but would be sent to some form of holding facility at the owner's expense.
 
TJBi said:
Yes, designated ports of arrival from "red list" countries are:
(a)Heathrow Airport;
(b)Gatwick Airport;
(c)London City Airport;
(d)Birmingham Airport;
(e)Farnborough Airport;
(f)any military airfield or port.
This will pose a problem for most people attempting to return by sea (with or without a vehicle) who have been in a "red list" country within the previous ten days. Any such person arriving through a non-designated port will be subject to a fixed penalty notice and will still have to quarantine in a hotel (and will presumably have to leave any vehicle at the port of arrival). Presumably any pets would not be permitted to stay in the quarantine hotel but would be sent to some form of holding facility at the owner's expense.
Click to expand...
I have e-mailed my MP pointing out the impossibility of the situation for returning motorhomers currently in Portugal. If I get a reply, I will post it.
 
At least there is a sinificantly lower price for the 2nd person of a couple in quarantine.
it is all very "Nasty" but I agree it is needed !
We will bide our time and we count ourselves very fortunate thet we can stay put and just wait .
not overjoyed that moho will likely be in storage for another full year BUT no complaints
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top