France’s offer of free PCR tests takes sting out of holiday costs

IRISH families keen to have a sun holiday abroad this summer could save themselves hundreds of euro by availing of free PCR tests in France.

And as part of a massive bid to boost their tourism industry, authorities there have also decided unvaccinated holidaymakers arriving at their borders will just need to produce a negative antigen test result in order to gain entry.

These tests can be nearly half the price of a PCR test – costing €39 to €90 in comparison to a PCR test which can cost from €129 to €149 – so the savings for an average Irish family are considerable.

But the real savings for Irish families is that before returning home they, like every other holidaymaker going to France, are entitled to a free PCR test.

All they have to do is to log onto the website of the town where they are visiting and book a free test 72 hours before departure for home.

The scheme was introduced two weeks ago on June 9 and under it, anyone entering

France who has been fully vaccinated does not need to provide a PCR test result.

Authorities there have decided fully vaccinated means two weeks after receiving the second injection of a vaccine. Meanwhile, children under 11 do not need to provide any Covid test result while youngsters over 11 and unvaccinated adults can provide either a negative PCR test result or a travel certificate produced by a much cheaper antigen test.

However, not all antigen test results will be accepted. So holidaymakers need to make sure that whatever antigen test they opt for, it must be capable of producing a travel certificate.

For a family of five, where maybe only one person is fully vaccinated, the price of Covid tests could add as much as €600-800 to the cost of a twoweek break in the sun.

However, the offer of free PCR tests before returning home and the decision by the French authorities to accept much cheaper antigen test results could make France a real option for many families

this summer.