FED-UP holidaymakers have skulked back from France today after the last-minute amber list quarantine rule change.
Double-jabbed Brits will still have to isolate on return from France, sparking holiday chaos – both for people rushing to get back, and people forced to cancel their trips.
Disgruntled passengers arrived at London’s St Pancras station today following the last-minute announcement that France won’t be a part of the ‘normal’ amber list rules.
Travellers disembarked the Eurostar from Paris today – with 10 days of isolation ahead of them.
Many Brits already in France had decided to extend their stay after it was announced that from July 19 double-jabbed people don’t have to isolate on return from amber list countries.
But in a shrieking U-turn, travellers in France will now not be allowed to reap the benefits of having two doses of the vaccine.
While still on the amber list, double-jabbed holidaymakers coming from France will still have to isolate for 10 days on return to the UK.
Ministers said they were forced to act quickly late on Friday after concern over the spread of the Beta coronavirus variant in France.
Hundreds of thousands set to go abroad will either have to abandon plans or stay at home for ten days when they return, and has left hopes of rebuilding the battered tourism industry in turmoil.
It has also caused chaos for travellers already in France.
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Ministers are making up rules on the hoof and causing chaos.
“They have never had a proper strategy in place — once again the travel industry and the British people are paying the price.”
One Brit on holiday in Veynes, France, told the Sun Online that they were trying to get back to the UK because they are “scared” of more changes, such as the country being moved to the red list, and hotel quarantine imposed.
Tracey Taylor said: “Trying to come back now because scared to death of more changes.
“The message about the efficacy of our vaccines is now very mixed.
“Still, after our pointless quarantine, we can go clubbing and attend sports events without capacity crowds and be mask- free.”
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Richard Clark, who is a senior lecturer at the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, said that he’ll now lose his £2,400 holiday to the South of France because companies won’t refund if France isn’t formally placed on the red list.
He told the Sun Online: “I’m very annoyed. I have a £2400 holiday to the South of France with my wife and 2 children.
“I booked it the day the quarantine rules changed. Now, I lose every penny because Euro camp will only refund or move my holiday if the foreign office state ‘no travel’ or France is moved to the red list.
“This move, treating France like a red list country but keeping amber, is only designed to benefit holiday businesses and scam the public out of their money. Either France is red or amber.
“It can’t be amber but masquerading as red.”
Another Brit said that he is “appalled” by the change, having already extended his stay in light of the double-jabbed rules which came into place last week.
Pascal Carlotti told the Sun Online: “I am actually in France and returning to the UK on the 24th of July.
“I was initially coming back on the 16th but extended in order to avoid quarantine on return.
“I am so appalled at the decision to keep people returning from France quarantining.”
And this morning, hundreds of holidaymaker Brits have landed in the UK back from Ibiza and Majorca before they are added to the UK’s amber list.
Many others are facing a mad dash today before the changes for those returning to England, Scotland and Wales from the Spanish islands come into place at 4am.
Holidaymakers are desperate to get home because any non, or partially-vaccinated British travellers will have to quarantine for 10 days after returning from the islands.
Brits were this morning seen landing in various airports across the UK as Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca were all struck off the green list.
Palma de Mallorca airport was packed yesterday as Brits scrambled for a flight home.
It comes after passengers were seen on Friday queuing at a Covid testing clinic in San Antonio to get PCR checks.
The Government has infuriated travellers, and been accused of “double standards” on international travel after the U-turn.
