toots sweet

Has anybody got any idea if anything is being done for those here who have a car but need to get back to the UK ,and currently the only way back is via air.(and the unreasonable hotel quarantine).I have written to the embassy about this over 2 weeks ago( and predictably) yet again haven't had a reply. There doesn't seem to be alight at the end of the tunnel, and not impressed with the embassy at all. Even an acknowledgement would be nice.

borisface

There's not a light at the end of the tunnel as you can't go via that route either. I suspect nothing will be done until Portugal comes off the red list and an explanation of how that will happen has not been provided. This is despite the fact that over 60% of Portuguese cases are the Johnson (Kent) variant and Portugal now has a lower incidence of cases and deaths per capita than the UK. As you suggest there is a route back to the UK via air, if you are in an exempt category. It's your choice, understandable though that is, if you don't wish to take it.
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​​The embassy will be as much in the dark as everyone else until such time as the policy changes.

Bomber Harris

What's stopping you driving back? Borders are open to allow citizens to return to their home country.

toots sweet

You have to quarantine in the UK.......there are no hotels at the ferry ports/tunnel...only airport hotels.

Bomber Harris

Quarantine yes , but there are measures in place for people arriving by means other than aircraft.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transpor...ns-of-covid-19

appman999

If you have been in a red list country within the 10 days before your arrival in the UK, you’re required to quarantine in a quarantine hotel which are only at selected airports. So no driving back.

However if you drive back (returning to your country of residence is allowed in both Spain and Portugal subject to various paperwork and covid tests) and can take 10 days doing it (the ferry will count as one) you can enter the UK through sea/tunnel routes.

Hotel and food costs will be cheaper than quarantine hotels and you can get out and about (at least a bit)

dmu

The Spanish borders might be open, but bear in mind that there's a 18H00-06h00 curfew nationwide in France and the only acceptable reason on the compulsory Attestation for the OP being out-of-doors after that time, is travel "for compelling family reasons". A Portuguese/UK-registered car would attract the Gendarmerie like a beacon and the OP would have to be able to justify. Add to that the fact that the whole of the département where Calais is located, and the Boulogne agglomeration and the town of Dunkerque, are at present in lockdown at weekends.
The OP should check whether ferries from the Normandy/Brittany ports are now operating (no news since the borders with the UK were closed) and, before transiting through France, should keep an eye on the France forum (the thread "Transiting through France" is kept up to date), or even post there.

scot47

Embassies are not run for the benefit of plebs like us. Do not expect a reply - or any help at all.

guesswork

You can fly out of Seville or Gibraltar. You have to do quarantine but in your own home if you have one

appman999

This thread is about driving back to the UK from Portugal but if flying back you’re required to quarantine in a quarantine hotel which are only at selected airports (not your home) if you have been in Portugal in the previous 10 days.

toots sweet

Yes, but as I said if you have arrived by car that's not an option. No way would/could we leave it here.
We are not in a rush to leave, but in the near future we do need to get back to the UK and that is by driving only.

I see today on the the PT news that the powers that be are hoping to talk with those in the UK about PT being taken off the red list. There was a 15k petition shown. A tidy amount.

Drivers have been totally ignored. It would be interesting to know how many there are in cars and motorhomes waiting to return to the UK.

appman999

I don't think anyone needs to wait to return to UK, as I said as long as you are willing to stay in Spain for 10 days (and of course take covid tests)

As mentioned above France is more difficult so ferry from Santander is best bet. (Bilbao service suspended until mid May)

Has anyone crossed border recently into Spain and experienced what paperwork is required. We did it last year and you got a sort of temporary pass.

Bomber Harris

All borders are open (and always have been) to allow citizens to travel back to their home country and transit through other countries in order to do so.
The UK is not turning UK citizens away from re-entering the UK.
You arrive with the correct paperwork and will be directed where to quarantine and for how long.
The only possible difficulty would be the reduced ferry/chunnel services due to a drop in demand but they are still running.

appman999

I'm afraid you cannot enter the UK via either sea ports or the tunnel if you have been in Portugal (or any other red list country) in the preceding 10 days.

The only entry points for such travellers is by air through selected airports as stated on this page.

dmu

"Home country" - is the OP officially a resident of the UK and wanting to return "home" after a holiday, or of Portugal and "needing" to go to the UK?
If they don't fancy the longer crossing from Santander, and can get from the Spanish border onto a ferry in a Brittany/Normandy port between 6h00 and 18h00, they won't have to justify why they're travelling.
But there still remains the issue of quarantine upon arrival in the UK....