We hope that you and your family are looking forward to your upcoming stay at the Moulin 🙂 In preparation for your arrival, please find detailed below further information on our COVID protocol here at the Mill and also you can download our Welcome Brochure with further useful details, including directions.

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First things first, we just want to reassure you that both Rowan and myself are fully vaccinated.  We are also staying up to date with all the latest requirements and guidance in France to ensure that we are compliant and that our place is as safe as possible to welcome you. In accordance with this, we have had to make a few changes and wanted to provide you with details in advance of your stay so you can be fully prepared for your trip:

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Your Gite

• All our gites will of course be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly between guests and the recommended cleaning products and procedures adhered to at all times.

• Recommended cleaning products will also be in your gite for your use during your stay as well as antibacterial hand gel. Special guidance on hygiene and cleaning will be provided including requirements for your departure.

• Vacuum cleaners and mops have been removed from the gites as these can apparently harbour and disperse viral particles. Brooms and dustpan and brushes will be provided as an alternative.

• To reduce the number of surfaces and items that could carry the virus and therefore need cleaning, we will be removing all books, games etc. from the gites. 

• We also won't be providing the usual welcome booklet or tourist information brochures but please find attached our electronic guide which includes arrival details, information about your gite and the location. And of course we will be onsite to show you around on arrival and answer any questions you may have.

• Regrettably we also won't be able to provide our usual welcome hampers this year because of strict food preparation guidance.

• We will ensure that we adhere to the latest social distancing guidelines at all times and ask that all guests do the same with us and other guests who are not part of your group.

• Lastly, because of the increased cleaning required in each gite, we are pushing the arrival time for all guests to 5PM. Unfortunately, we cannot allow any earlier arrivals and waiting at the pool as we have in previous years. If you would like a recommendation for activities or somewhere nice for lunch on your arrival day then do just let me know and we would be more than happy to help. We also will need to be really strict on departure days and ask that you have vacated your gite by 10AM at the latest and again, no extensions to this will be possible unfortunately. We hope this doesn't cause too much inconvenience.
   

Barn and Pool

• The barn will be open as a common/games area but we ask you to respect social distancing with other guests. The games will be setup and available for use (darts and table tennis) but we do ask that you ensure these are cleaned after your use and disinfectant will be provided for this as well as hand sanitiser.

• The pool will also be open and regularly cleaned and maintained as per the strict guidelines provided. Social distancing will also need to be in place at the pool and as such we will be setting up allocated areas for each gite which will then be your set loungers for the duration of your stay.  

• No pool games or equipment will be available this year but you are welcome to bring your own, we just ask that you take these back to your gite at the end of each day and wipe down with the provided cleaning products after each use. You will also need to take these with you when you leave at the end of your stay.

• There is a foot bath outside the pool area which you are encouraged to use before entering and hand sanitiser will also be available.

• The toilet facilities at the pool will be closed for the summer so you will need to just use the facilities in your gite.

 

Out and About

Most things have reopened again here in France including shops, restaurants, leisure activities etc but with the usual regulations in place. You will be required to wear a mask in all shops and establishments and these are required to be surgical level masks. These are available to buy in all supermarkets, pharmacies etc.

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From 1 August a 'Pass Sanitaire' will be required to access most tourist activities and locations, including restaurants, bars and some large shops. This can be on your phone (through the TousAntiCovid app) or your paper vaccine certificate or test results. Specifically all adults will need to be able to prove one of the following:

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• That you are fully vaccinated with one of the EU approved vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson) according to the following schedule:

  • Two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines.

  • Four weeks after receiving the first (and only) dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

  • Two weeks after the first dose of a vaccination for anyone who has already had Covid-19

• Have a negative PCR or antigen test result within the last 48 hours.

• Or proof that you have recovered from COVID-19, attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result, at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old.

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You can find more information about general COVID restrictions in France at the following link: https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

 

PCR Testing

If you are travelling from a country that requires you to have a PCR test for your return then you can book these through the app or website Doctolib. There is a drive-through lab in nearby Cognac where you can book the tests required for travel. Here is the link for more details but if you need any help then please just let us know:

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https://www.doctolib.fr/centre-depistage-covid/cognac/laboratoire-cerballiance-charente-cognac#presentation

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We hope that all makes sense and is useful. We are so sorry if it all sounds a bit serious and taking the fun out of your holiday 🙁 Trust us, we hate having to lay out so many rules and guidance but as I'm sure you all understand these are all steps to ensure the Mill is as safe and clean as possible and we are only allowed to be open if we comply with these requirements. There are obviously gaps in all of these procedures but the main emphasis is to reduce the risk of infection as much as possible so we appreciate your support in this.

 

If you have any questions or concerns at all then please just let us know. We look forward to seeing you very soon and giving you a fantastic holiday 🙂