France health pass: The rules for tourists and hotels, gîtes and B&Bs

The use of the Covid health pass in France was extended on August 9 to cover the majority of public places, including many hotels, campsites, gîtes, bed and breakfasts and other holiday rentals.

This means that to enter these places, people will need to show either proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid, proof of having tested negative from Covid (within the past 72 hours), or proof of having had Covid within the past six months.

In which holiday rentals is the pass required?

Hotels with catering facilities, guest houses, tourist residences, campsites, bed and breakfasts and gîtes with shared facilities, spaces or activities.

Read more: How tourists can get a Covid vaccine QR code recognised in France

Holiday-goers visiting campsites and holiday parks will only have to present the health pass once, upon entering the area.

In other places, the health pass could be demanded upon arrival or upon entering common or shared spaces.

Where is it not required?

Only places that offer no shared spaces or activities. This could be gîtes, campsites, hotels, guest houses, etc.

Can you cancel a booking based on the fact the place requires a health pass?

It will depend on each place but the most likely answer is no.

The association Gîtes de France has stated that as the bill proposing the health pass has been known about since July, cancelling a booking because a holiday rental requires a health pass is not an acceptable reason to get a refund. It says that general cancellation conditions will apply.

Who will check your health pass?

Managers of the establishments are in charge of organising the checking, and they must keep a record of which of their staff is allowed to check the passes and when they carry out the checks.

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