Friday 11/19/2021

UPDATED: 03/04/22

Breaking news: Looks like vaccine pass will not be necessary after March 15th!!! See this article: Covid Vaccine Pass Rules lifted I will leave the rest of the info just for reference.

As a wrap up to a great three week trip, I’d like to offer the benefit of what I found out about traveling to and within France. Obviously, with the Covid pandemic still going on, things can and will change, so be sure to verify any information provided. Here is a great site for monitoring all of the parameters of the pandemic in France on a daily basis, click on the map to get information specific to a particular department. https://covidtracker.fr. Every airline has a Covid requirements site, be sure to check with you airline as to what is required. Remember that often gate personnel are not up on the latest requirements and will invent rules that don’t actually exist. Here is an example of Delta Airlines resource: https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-planning-center/know-before-you-go/travel-requirements-guide

1. Getting to France: If you are traveling from the USA, I would strongly advise that you get a non-stop to Paris. Avoid changing planes in European airports if at all possible. Many countries have their own entry and transit rules, and particularly avoid London as UK is no longer part of the EU. Here’s a good website for finding out what kinds of tests and requirements you need to meet, including for connections: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions. At the moment, to go to France from the USA, you need proof that you’ve been vaccinated with an approved vaccine. Testing requirement for vaccinated travelers has just been ended 2/12/22. (This could change!). France entry requirements. Be aware that if you are not fully vaccinated different rules apply and I have not spent much time researching this because it is pretty clear that France does not want you to enter if you are not vaccinated.

You will also need to fill out an attestation, and a European PLF form, https://app.euplf.eu/#/ which will be provided to you by the airline (although mine were never actually collected by anyone). Be sure to check your specific airline site for their procedures. EVERY airline has a Covid requirement page, check this rather than continuing to ask the same questions on Facebook. Note: Arrival or departure from CDG should be avoided on Sundays, as it is usually very understaffed. Here is a custom Concierge service for Paris Airports if you want help navigating arrival or departure, I have not tried this so do your own homework: https://myconciergerieorlycdg.fr/en

2. Once in France, to function effectively, you will need a Pass Sanitaire. I was able to get mine by submitting my documents online, this has since changed, and you now need to go to a select pharmacy in France and pay 36 euros for them to enter your vaccine info into the computer and provide you with the pass. As of February 2022, you will need to not only be vaccinated but have a booster to get the pass. Check the rules at the official website below. The pass consisted of a QR code, and you can load it into the Tous Anti Covid app, but I found that a screen shot, saved to my favorites or as wallpaper was easier to access. (No, an American generated QR code will not work.). Here‘s the link to info on which pharmacies can convert your vaccine card to a French Pass Sanitaire: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/coronavirus-statements/article/applying-for-a-covid-certificate-if-you-were-vaccinated-abroad-procedure-for. Here’s one more: https://www.sante.fr/how-to-obtain-a-french-health-pass. Here’s a link for Pharmacies at CDG that should be able to do it for you on arrival: CDG Pharmacies. You will find that your pass will be checked multiple times per day and particularly anytime you go into a museum, bar, restaurant or Cafe. You will be expected to wear a mask on the Metro, on buses, Trains, planes, and in museums. Restaurants and Cafes, not so much. If being around unmasked people is worrisome to you, this is not the time for you to go to France. If you got a pass earlier, you will need to get a new one to reflect that you’ve received a booster, go to a pharmacy and they will help you.

3. To return to the USA, you will need to get a covid test. In this case an Antigen, or rapid test, is acceptable. EDIT 12/4/21: You will now need a covid test 1 day before departure, Antigen test acceptable. The verbiage is specifically “1 day” NOT “24hrs,” to give a little more flexibility, see the FAQs on this link: CDC Us Entry Requirements (updated ). Many pharmacies provide this service, but I suggest you book an appointment ahead of time at a pharmacy convenient to where you are staying. This is easily done on the website below, just search for “Depistage Covid” and choose a location near you, for instance in Paris all zip codes end with the arrondisment, eg. The 6th is 75006, the 3rd would be 75003. Here’s the website, it’s easy to change or cancel your appointment https://www.doctolib.fr. It took about 10 minutes for my test and then another 15 or so for the appropriate paperwork to be generated. If you need a test on Sunday, every area has at least one Pharmacy open, called a “Pharmacie de Garde.” Here’s how to locate one, but make an appointment on Doctolib if you can. Pharmacie de Garde Locator Cost, 20 euros. You could also bring an approved test with you, remember it has to be observed, here are some options: Binax now Ag card test. Ellume travel test info and here’s another: City Health and one more: Qured. Here’s a good article about testing positive on departure, with other useful info: What to do if you test positive abroad.

4. Cell phone service: I’m constantly explaining to people that you’ll need cell phone service while you are in France. The absolute best solution is to take your most recent cell phone that you kept when you upgraded and turn that into a travel phone. This phone, since you just upgraded, has all of your passwords, email, facebook etc. by putting a French SIM card in it you, get a French phone number and you can use it as a hotspot to power your other phone and other devices. Make sure the SIM you get allows Tethering. This is why I always recommend the Orange Holiday SIM, now sometime called Orange Holiday Europe. (Available at CDG in Relay stores, or buy on Amazon ahead of time or you can go to an Orange store, but be prepared to wait). If, like me you go to France often, be sure to register it and you can keep it, with each fresh refill giving you 6 month of line validity, no need to be in France to top up. Use the https://top-up.orange.com website and check for specials, also read the FAQs. (My last top up 33 euros for 70GB/30 days). Some American carriers have free roaming, but it is generally slow, a local SIM is always better. Here is a page I put up with specific tips and tricks for using the Orange Holiday SIM Orange Holiday SIM tips and tricks. Unfortunately, most carriers are now charging $10/day which becomes prohibitively expensive on a long trip. If you need data only, for example, for your iPad, there are many cheap sims available. I bought a LycaMobile Sim at a random store (20 euros) and it worked great in my iPad mini, but did not allow for tethering as the Orange Holiday does. Here’s an eSim possibility that I have not tried yet: Bouygues eSim And, here’s another eSim possibility: https://www.airalo.com. I’m trying the Airalo in my iPad mini for the first time and the scanning is a total disaster. If you get one, go straight to the manual installation, a partial scan disables it and it won’t work. I really can’t emphasize enough how important having cell phone coverage is now to traveling in Europe. Train tickets, are bought on an app in your phone, you can recharge your Navigo card with the Bonjour RATP app, museum reservations, dinner reservations etc. all require a working cell phone and having a French number is best. You’ll want to get familiar with google maps and, if you are not familiar with how the Transit function works, you’ll want to get up to speed on that. https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144339. I’d also recommend that you carry a spare battery, as using GPS can run your battery down faster than expected. I keep a power pack from Anker in the pocket of my jacket. https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Upgraded-Candy-Bar-High-Speed-Technology

5. Travel Insurance: Yes, you need it!!! I generally worry more about major medical than about trip cancellation issues. So, here’s the quick run down: For evacuation, consider https://medjetassist.com and here’s one that offers Covid evacuation benefits. Covac Global. The reason they are a good choice is that they will evacuate you to where you want to go. Most evacuation policies will only pay to “the nearest adequate medical facility.” For actual trip medical coverage, there are a few approaches. If you travel a lot, the economics of an annual policy work out well. Have a look at: https://www.sevencorners.com. Otherwise, an easy choice is https://www.worldnomads.com. I also like to look at https://www.squaremouth.com which is a site to comparison shop policies. Note that many policies include Covid coverage, make sure yours does! (I just bought, 12/21, a 30 day policy with $500k medical for $158 using Squaremouth) Pay attention to what is excluded, eg. If you like to go para-gliding, make sure you’re covered! While your credit card will offer some coverages, I would not rely on them. Once again, be more concerned about covering catastrophic events and less about baggage and missed flights, You wouldn’t be taking the trip if you couldn’t afford it. Here’s my page on travel insurance for Pilgrims, but should be helpful: https://caminotips.wordpress.com/welcome-to-camino-tips/travel-insurance/

6. Money: I’ve written elsewhere about how to handle money when you travel, so link below. I found that Apple Pay is widely accepted and if you have an Apple Watch, set up a credit card on there and you will be able to use it about 90% of the time. Just to summarize, you should have at least 2 credit cards and 2 debit cards and keep them separate so if you are relieved of your wallet, you have a fall back. Be sure to have some euros before you arrive so that you are not using the airport ATM. Here’s my money page: Handling money when you travel

Hopefully, this is useful information for those planning a trip, do remember that much of it could change as the rules and policies change, so do your own due diligence! If you’d like to see some of the place I stayed, links are here. I generally prefer low/mid range hotels and AirBnbs. Hotels/AirBnb choices

7. Don’t leave home without it: I’d like to suggest a few items that I find useful that may not be part of your normal travel gear. This is not meant to be an inclusive list, rather a few things that you might not have thought of. I always have most of these things in my bag, regardless of destination:

Packable Day Pack: This is good for running around and for all kind of uses. My favorite is this 20L from Eddie Bauer Eddie Bauer Packable daypack. For minimal use, I also carry this super small 20L Packable daypack from Sea to Summit. It does not have pockets, but it does pack very small.

Charcoal capsules, these are really the best upset stomach, food poisoning etc. remedy, don’t take at the same time as medication, but will really calm things down fast.

Electrical tape: many places have lots of bright and annoying LED indicator lights that make it difficult to get the room dark enough to sleep. A dab of black electrical tape can solve this problem. Wrap it around a pill bottle.

Small flashlight, I keep one on my nightstand whenever I’m staying somewhere and use it when I get up during the night. It’s easy to forget where things are in a strange place and disaster can ensue.

Rubber slippers/flip flops, these are good for wearing around hotel rooms AirBnbs etc and in the shower.

Small soaps, most AirBnbs in France will not have soap, bring some. Laundry detergent: I like the little pods with powder in them, and bring a few with me in a ziplock. I prefer unscented, and most European laundry detergent is way over perfumed. Also most AirBnbs won’t have any detergent handy, and I got tired of buying it at every stop.

Ziplock bags: these are hard find in France, roll up a few different sizes and stuff them in your bag, they will come in handy.

Chargers: I’m using an Anker charger that has two USB outlets on it combined with a cable that has multiple end adaptors. Since I travel with 2 phones, a Kindle, an iPad mini with keyboard and battery packs, and an Apple Watch, I need to be able to charge a lot of things at once, two of these allow me to charge 4 things at a time. Anker charger

Kindle: If you don’t have a Kindle this is the best thing for traveling, sign up with your local library and you can take out all of the ebooks you want for free, and from anywhere. This is handy when English language books are not available locally.

Battery bank: You don’t need anything huge, but when you are using phones to navigate etc. they tend to use more battery than in regular daily life, I like ANKER batteries, but bring whatever you like. I keep it in the pocket of my jacket, and can hook it to my phone while it is my belt holster.

VPN: if you’re going to be doing any sensitive banking or maybe you just want to watch Netflix, a VPN is very helpful, I like Express VPN.

Sea to Summit Silk travel sack: in Europe many places provide a bottom sheet and a duvet, I like to have a top sheet, so when traveling solo I take this silk sleep sack. Comfortable and light weight. Silk Travel Sack

First aid: Bring the things that you need, but I recommend some antibiotic ointment since this is not available without prescription in France, also bring whatever NSAID, Allergy meds you prefer, and some Hydrocortisone cream.

Energy Bars: Since I’m Gluten Free, finding things to eat, especially for breakfast, in France, can be very challenging. Also at certain times of day it can be very difficult to find anything to eat. I strongly recommend that you find an energy bar that works for you. It should taste reasonably good and have a low glycemic index. There are lots of products out there, my personal choice is a Zing bar, comes in various flavors. I always travel with a large stash of these and keep one in my jacket pocket at all times.

Below find an assortment of photos from this trip, click on them to expand.