• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Health

UK family slammed after ‘dodging EU Covid rules’ for ‘unnecessary’ ski trip

“Because skirting round European restrictions and looking for loopholes to enable entirely unnecessary travel in the middle of a pandemic is totally the right thing to do," one person has said.

Andra Maciuca by Andra Maciuca
2021-12-30 13:39
in Health, News, Travel News
SKI

Photo: PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

A white middle-class British family has been slammed for “skirting round European restrictions” to enjoy “entirely unnecessary travel”.

In an article published by The Telegraph, Emma Cripwell boasted about outsmarting tightening European rules in order to have a family ski trip for Christmas. 

Cripwell said her family swapped the ferry from Dover to Calais with one from Harwich to the Hook of Holland because of new Covid rules imposed by France.

Bashing France, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland

She said: “We’d never been to Harwich before – let alone the Hook of Holland – so our odyssey to reach the slopes was becoming more exciting by the moment, despite the obvious stress. 

“The next blow arrived, courtesy of The Netherlands and Germany both going into lockdown – or something close to it. We had visions of being turned away at one of the borders, so we were forced to rethink (again). Our next option? A flight from Bristol to Geneva.”

After bashing the French government a little bit more by labelling president Emmanuel Macron’s rules as a “killer blow to our original plans”, Cripwell presented the next steps in the journey – a taxi and a bus from Switzerland to Courmayeur in Italy.

But, seemingly against Geneva’s reputation as the global hub for diplomacy, the British mother proceeded to slam the Swiss for not “living up” to their renowned efficiency because of a one-hour wait at passport control.

RelatedPosts

Labour membership down 91,000 under Starmer

‘Much-loved’ elderly man stabbed to death in mobility scooter

Red tape latest: Cyclists may need number plates under new UK law

Inflation hits double figures and reaches new 40-year high

Then, she said their cab arrived at the bus station ‘a minute too late’, and that despite her daughter running after the bus, banging on the door and desperately shouting with the rest of the family “It’s Christmas”, the driver left without them.

Managed to dodge French authorities and rules

Eventually, the family managed to take a train from Geneva to Saint Gervais les Bains in France and a “kind Frenchman” working in the car recovery business offered to take them to the Les Douanes border with Italy.

“[It] meant we ended up in a beaten-up taxi van with dodgy brakes, the meter switched off for most of the journey,” the mother said, adding the family was not sure the border force saw them as passengers in the back of the car.  

She continued: “We are not sure whether they would have let us transit through France on the original bus we had booked. 

“Having heard reports of inspections, there were concerns the French police would have come on board at the border.

“According to government advice pages we were only allowed to be in France for 24 hours (without 48 hours of quarantine) if we’d remained in an ‘international zone’.”

‘Battered’ Italian people ‘badly need’ British cash

After arriving in Courmayeur, the woman praised the “welcoming” Italians, saying they were “grateful” to the family for “not giving up” on their journey.

She insisted the “battered” mountain communities “badly need” British people’s custom.

She added: “It seems that we Britons too easily give up on travel plans when a hurdle is put in our way – we were among a small minority who’d made it to the slopes. 

“For those still deliberating, I say do all you can to make it happen. Where there is a will, there is a way to ski this winter. And it’s worth it.”

But some readers did not seem convinced about the travel pledge – and angry reactions did not delay in appearing. 

Reactions

Primary school teacher David Roe said: “Because skirting round European restrictions and looking for loopholes to enable entirely unnecessary travel in the middle of a pandemic is totally the right thing to do.”

Kenneth Armstrong, European law professor at the University of Cambridge, added: “Next week we find out how a family avoids paying council tax and still gets its bins emptied!”

And Twitter user Jonny Macleod had a dig at the Telegraph’s editorial choice: “Thank goodness for this piece of vital journalism. Families across the land breath a collective sigh of relief.”

Because skirting round European restrictions and looking for loopholes to enable entirely unnecessary travel in the middle of a pandemic is totally the right thing to do. https://t.co/J3Ia9qairM

— David Roe (@DavidRoe92) December 29, 2021

Next week we find out how a family avoids paying Council tax and still gets its bins emptied! https://t.co/lxT3wEGDQU

— K A Armstrong (@ProfKAArmstrong) December 29, 2021

Thank goodness for this piece of vital journalism. Families across the land breath a collective sigh of relief. https://t.co/MFhOARA1Et

— Jonny Macleod (@JonnyMacleod2) December 29, 2021

Related: Reactions: British immigrants in the EU told they can’t drive through France

Tags: COVID-19 CoronavirusFranceItaly

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Fury as Liverpool Council ‘reluctantly’ agrees taxpayer-funded pay hike for govt commissioners

Man in court charged with murder of heavily pregnant woman

Fire service to become first to hire on-call staff that don’t fight fires

Sadiq Khan puts Cressida Dick ‘on notice’ 

Looking… Forward

Health Minister becomes first MP to test positive for Covid-19

Johnson stands firm on NHS surcharge for overseas health & care staff

Andrew loses another patronage as palace fear his new legal demands could bury monarchy

Pregnant woman had pillowcase put over head and was repeatedly punched

TIFF 2018 – First Look Review: Angel

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.