Covid tests for travelling to UK overland through France

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 7:48pm

4 replies81 views3 members subscribed

Andy339

Posts: 12

5 helpful points

Location: Jacarilla

Joined: 1 Jan 2021

Hi all,

I have to travel back to UK in January by van and ferry and wonder if anyone can guide me on Covid testing, as any test before leaving Spain would be older than 48 hrs by the time we departed France in a ferry. Choices seem to be either:

a) the 48hrs starts on the day of the journey start in Spain, or

b) we have to find a place in France to test during the journey.

Does anyone have experience and advice please?

Reply
View 4 replies

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 10:04pm

Herefordjack

Super helpful member

Posts: 888

1115 helpful points

Location: Pego

Joined: 18 Dec 2017

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 10:04pm

My partner and I had a week's holiday on the Canal du Midi in the south of France in September and then planned to drive straight up to Caen to get the ferry to Portsmouth for ten days holiday in the UK. We of course needed covid tests within 48hrs of boarding the ferry.

What we did was pre book tests with a clinic in Beziers, close to where our boating holiday ended. It cost us about 45€ each, it took about 20 minutes from beginning to end, and we then set off driving north at about 11.00am. By 6pm the same day, the clinic had emailed us both our negative test results which we were able to use (on our phones) to board the ferry the next day. It's a good road up north from Beziers and toll free for half the way. We stopped overnight at the Ace Hotel, Bourges, just off the motorway, which was good, and the truckers restaurant near it, Le Relais du Bourges, is out of this world.

The clinic is called Laboratoire d'analyses CBL BEZIERS. Find them on Google Maps and it'll link you to their website.

Good luck.

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:58pm

Andy339

Original Poster

Posts: 12

5 helpful points

Location: Jacarilla

Joined: 1 Jan 2021

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:58pm

Herefordjack wrote on Wed Dec 15, 2021 10:04pm:
My partner and I had a week's holiday on the Canal du Midi in the south of France in September and then planned to drive straight up to Caen to get the ferry to Portsmouth for ten days holiday in the UK. We of course needed covid tests within 48hrs of boarding the ferry.
What we did was pre book tests with a clinic in Beziers, close to where our boating holiday ended. It cost us about 45€ each, it took about 20 minutes from beginning to end, and we then set off driving north at about 11.00am. By 6pm the same day, the clinic had emailed us both our negative test...

Read more...

... results which we were able to use (on our phones) to board the ferry the next day. It's a good road up north from Beziers and toll free for half the way. We stopped overnight at the Ace Hotel, Bourges, just off the motorway, which was good, and the truckers restaurant near it, Le Relais du Bourges, is out of this world.
The clinic is called Laboratoire d'analyses CBL BEZIERS. Find them on Google Maps and it'll link you to their website.
Good luck.

Many thanks Herefordjack.

Helpful advice and appreciated.

Reply

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:55am

DUI

Very helpful member

Posts: 384

595 helpful points

Location: Denia

Joined: 6 Nov 2021

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:55am

Just arrived back in UK via Newhaven.Left Spain Monday,had LFT in Mileau (near the big bridge!)Farmcia in the centre €25 each,no appointment results in 1 hour with all codes,certificate etc.Make sure you have your Spanish QR code to get on boat.Was a little difficult with only paper certificates.

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:08pm

Andy339

Original Poster

Posts: 12

5 helpful points

Location: Jacarilla

Joined: 1 Jan 2021

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:08pm

DUI wrote on Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:55am:
Just arrived back in UK via Newhaven.Left Spain Monday,had LFT in Mileau (near the big bridge!)Farmcia in the centre €25 each,no appointment results in 1 hour with all codes,certificate etc.Make sure you have your Spanish QR code to get on boat.Was a little difficult with only paper certificates.

Thank you Dui. Good service you had there! Enjoy your UK visit.