Posted on Friday, 10 June 2016

With England, Wales and Northern Ireland all having qualified for Euro 2016, hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to travel to France to enjoy the football action. To help you prepare for your trip, here are 16 things you should know before you leave UK shores.

1. The Foreign Office strongly advises fans to take out comprehensive travel insurance before they go. A good policy should provide financial protection against the costs of injury, illness, curtailment, cancellation, theft, money loss and much more.
2. Check the latest travel advice from the FCO and news agencies.
3. Of the estimated 500,000 UK fans heading across the Channel over the coming days, nearly two thirds intend to travel without a ticket. Only those who purchased a ticket through an official source will be allowed in the stadium, with staff ordered to check that each fan's photographic ID matches the name on the ticket.
4. Make two copies of your passport and keep one with you at all times. Keep your passport in a safe place.
5. Book accommodation before you arrive. Demand across France will be extremely high over the next four weeks.
6. Within limits, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can save you from paying some or all of any medical costs you might face in France. Apply for your EHIC here: https://www.gov.uk/european-health-insurance-card
7. On Marseille beach swimming has been banned between the hours of 1900 and 0500
8. Different rules apply to driving in France – make sure you're aware of these before you go. You must have a headlight beam converter fitted and a breathalyzer in your car at all times.
9. France has a drink driving limit of 0.5 mg per ml, compared to 0.8 mg per ml in the UK.
10. Petrol shortages are likely, so ensure you fill up well before you run out.
11. British police have been sent to France to assist their French counterparts and act as cultural interpreters.
12. Fans exhibiting drunk behaviour will not be allowed in the stadium.
13. The Foreign Office has warned that there is a “high threat from terrorism” in France, following the gun attacks in Paris last year, which left 130 dead.
14. Be ready for heightened security and numerous checks.
15. Arrive at stadiums, fan zones and transport hubs as early as you can – but you should still expect long queues.
16. In the event of an emergency, dial 112. For British Embassy consular assistance, (e.g. for passport loss) dial +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00.

Get Insured for Your Trip to France

The Foreign Office strongly advices fans to take out insurance before they leave the UK.

Martin Redmond of the Foreign Office said: “It's great that so many fans are already thinking about how they will prepare for their trip to France.

"We want everyone to enjoy the competition, whether it's in the stadiums, fan zones or local bars.

“But wherever they plan to be, it's important that supporters do the right pre-tournament preparations, like taking out comprehensive travel insurance, getting a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and ensuring your passport is valid.”

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