If you plan on starting your Camino de Santiago in France, there are currently 2 routes to choose:
The Camino Frances (Full Route or from St. Jean) or the Le Puy Way (start at Le Puy en Velay).
Just like hotels in Spain and hotels in Portugal, hotels in France have been working really hard to get “COVID-ready” for guests.
Reopening Hotels in France
Yesterday in France (June 22) saw the next phase of reopening as cinemas, exhibitions, and stadiums reopen with social distancing measures in place.
Moving through this next phase is a very positive sign for France.
Hotels in France have been reopening since early June (June 2) after it was announced in May that internal tourism would resume.
We work with a number of hotels in France which are along the Camino de Santiago.
Recently we reached out to them to see how they are preparing their hotels to be COVID-ready and what measures they are taking to ensure the health and safety of their guests.
Measures taken by Hotels in France
The measures taken by the hotel industry in France are outlined here in French.
We have translated the measures into English below for your convenience:
- A Mask is mandatory for those preparing food
- There must be a 1 metre distance between tables
- Hotels are to encourage advance bookings for meals
- Hand sanitizer must be at the entry point to the restaurant
- Clients are to be seated immediately to avoid any queueing
- Single-use menus and use of QR codes for ordering where possible
- Table service where possible
- Payment at the table
- No self-service buffets (if buffets are provided, plates are served by staff)
- Very frequent cleaning and disinfection of work surfaces, work equipment, handles, and buttons, pay zones, handrails
- Each table and chair must be disinfected before a new customer takes the table.
- There must be a rigid barrier or perspex at the reception area
- Masks are mandatory if there is no perspex
- There must be a specific zone for key drop off
- There must be one-way circulation in the reception area
- Bills are to be sent by email or SMS
- No more luggage storage behind the reception
- A 1-meter distance is to be kept between clients
- Contactless payments are encouraged
- Leave the doors open where possible (eg between the kitchen and restaurant) to prevent staff and clients touching door handles
Images supplied by Chez Camillou & Hotel Barriol Saint-Julien-Chapteuil