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Travel to a chalet in Méribel from the UK

If you have booked your week to stay in a catered chalet in Méribel with The Chalet Company, you may now be wondering about everything from the regulations surrounding travel to Méribel from the UK... your time in Méribel... and returning to the UK at the end of your stay in one of our lovely ski chalets. skiing in meribel This article was last updated 18/03/22. We aim to keep this information as up-to-date as possible. However, please be sure to check for yourself the latest information on UK and French government websites, and that of your travel provider(s). Advice from the UK government can be found here: FCDO Advice – France We also recommend that you visit the website of your airline or, if you are driving, the Eurotunnel or ferry company website, which will also contain useful information for entering France. If you are travelling through another country on your way to France e.g., Switzerland, please check the specific entry requirements for that country too: FCDO Advice – Switzerland

Travelling from the UK, to a catered chalet in France

If you are a fully-vaccinated adult or if you have a Recovery Pass*
  • You do not need an ‘essential reason’ to travel to France
  • You do not need to self-isolate when you arrive in France
However, despite being fully vaccinated, there are two documents you will need to have:
  1. A ‘déclaration sur l’honneur’: a form agreeing that you do not have any COVID symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID, in the two weeks before you travel to France. Please note, the UK is considered an amber country by France.
  2. Proof that you have been fully vaccinated: France recognises the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. In France, fully vaccinated is dictated as: 4 weeks after the single and only dose of Johnson & Johnson, or 1 week after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca. If you received your vaccination through the NHS, you should download your NHS COVID pass as proof.
*A Recovery Pass is proof of recovery from COVID, generated through the NHS app. You will need to have had a positive PCR test more than 11 day and less than 180 days before you travel. The Pass will include a QR code.

Unvaccinated adults travelling to France

If you are an adult that is not fully vaccinated, or don’t meet France’s criteria for being fully vaccinated (see above) by the time you want to travel to France, you will need:
  1. An essential reason to travel to France. View the French Government’s website for details on suitable reasons.
  2. A completed International Travel Certificate.
  3. A negative test result (PCR or antigen) taken within 48 hours of departure. This can be a PCR or Antigen test (Lateral Flow), but you should not use NHS tests for this and you cannot use self-administered tests. (If you are transiting through Switzerland and use an Antigen test, take it within 24 hours of departure as this is the rule for Switzerland.)

Children travelling to France

  • All children will also need to complete the above ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) and provide proof of vaccination.
  • Children under the age of 12 are exempt from COVID travel restrictions between the UK and France.
  • For children between the ages of 12 years 2 months and 18, unless they have been double vaccinated, the French authorities will treat them as not fully vaccinated.
  • All under 18s, who are not fully vaccinated, must also present a negative test result (PCR or antigen) taken within 48 hours of departure. This can be a PCR or Antigen test, but you should not use NHS tests for this and you can not use a self-administered test.
  • Assuming they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, the child does not need to provide an essential reason for travel nor self-isolate on arrival.

Travelling to France via Switzerland

  • In addition to the documents and rules outlined above, to gain entry to France, all travellers transiting through Switzerland to reach France must have proof of their accommodation in France and of their onwards transfer to reach it.
  • Only unvaccinated travellers entering Switzerland to transit to another destination (e.g. France) are required to show a negative Lateral Flow or PCR test less than 24 hours before boarding a plane to Switzerland. (Children under the age of 16 are exempt).

COVID requirements while in France

  • As of the 14th March, the Pass Vaccinal (displaying your NHS COVID Pass QR code) is no longer required in public spaces. The only place you may (hopefully not!) need it would be a hospital or medical centre.
  • Face coverings will need to be worn on all public transport, this includes gondolas. Ideally, these must be Approved Masks (Surgical or Class 1 Medical).
  • You must respect social distancing rules and try to stay 1m away from others, in queues and public areas.

COVID testing in Méribel

  • There will be two testing centres in Méribel where you can get PCR or antigen tests. They are located at the Olympic Park and in Mottaret at the Tourist Office.
  • These will be open 7 days a week, 9am-1pm and 4pm-7pm. A PCR test is €44, with results in 24hrs, and an Antigen test is €25 with results in 15 mins. Online booking is advised here https://ski-resort.meribel.net/covid-19-information/

Before you return to the UK from a ski holiday France

As of the 18th March, the UK has lifted their entry requirements for your return to the country. You won't need to do any testing, isolating, or a passenger locator form. Please get in touch if you have any questions about travel rules and requirements (we'll try!), also, if there is a week you have in mind for your ski holiday in Méribel and you can't see anything available on our website.
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