Ferry or Tunnel? What's your Choice???

[beemerboy9]

Tunnel on the way out because I'm anxious to make progress/pack in the miles.
Always ferry on the way back + £10 upgrade to Club Class. I'm knackered after having driven with one short break from Dusseldorf. I can curl up on the bench seat in club, have a short nap and refresh myself for the last leg of the journey. But I'm getting old!
Yer pays yer money........

 

[Eastriding2002]

Living in the north, Hull to Zeebrugge wins every time. Easy ride there beats fighting my way to Kent. Beer on the boat (with dodgy entertainment) and there's the added bonus of a good breakfast and hitting Belgium at 8.30am, ready for a full day. If I went to the tunnel or Dover I waste day one and then need to find somewhere to stay in northern France.
The only downside is landing on the return crossing in rush hour Hull! It wasn't fun filtering through that lot with no clutch, all the time looking out for Prescott so I didn't miss the chance to flick him the Vs!

I live just outside Hull, and yet will travel to Dover for the ferry. Cost, a good £225 more for the ferry plus £90 for food. I use / lose 2 nights away due to overnight sailing and would rather spend that time riding abroad. As for getting off for 8:30, it was nearer 10 when we got off last year.

 

[John Armstrong]

Living in the north, Hull to Zeebrugge wins every time.

How do they secure bikes on that route, scabby bit of rope, decent purpose bit clamps or DIY?

 

[Paul Rochdale]

I'm off to the superb Groenedijk Motorcycle Loft Hotel in Belgium, the first weekend in April, and have just spent an hour or so trawling through the mental nightmare of trying to get the cheapest Dover-Calais crossing. I tend to always go with P&O and by and large I'm happy with them. The cheapest return price - lunchtime Friday out/lunchtime Sunday back - was £60 for me and the bike. I tried Sea France - never been with them - and got the price down to £45.50 (which includes a £2 Marine Conservation Contribution). I had no discount code but chose the 'Saver' rates.

Now someone will come up with a discount code and a price of 5/-.

 

[Ghostrider]

Have you checked out the new LD lines service Dover to Boulogne ??

I have just booked a month return in June for £30 with P&O without discount codes.

GR

 

[Onwalkabout]

LD Lines - Portsmouth to Le Havre. I use them about once a month and the service has been excellent (and it's my closest ferry to my destination in the UK).

8 hours overnight from Blighty and 7 hours back (I don't know, maybe it's a current thing). Hour and a half to Paris from Le Havre.

The ship used has 'sleeper seats' which are comfortable and a fraction of the cost of a cabin. The ship is relatively new and if you want a cabin they are also very comfortable.

Never use the service via Dover as it means a drive around London

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Sorry GR, are you saying you booked with LD Lines or P&O for that price?

(Later) Oh dear, for similar times, the quote from LD Lines was.................£37.50 return. I'll know next time, mind you the hotel is in the opposite direction so not a lot saved.

 

[Wreford Miles]

The tunnel is only 100miles from me so i don't need a break and I like the fact that in the past i have left StAlbans and 3 hours later found myself passing the Le touquet turn off.

 

[zoltan]

Just tried to price a crossing on Friday 25th April...£55 one way for a bike!!!!!! Anyone know how to get a cheaper (tunnel) fare? eg vouchers or offers? (I can work out the bit about taking the tunnel very early or late, but I live 2 hours away!

Try and book 6 months in advance. Reserve as early as possible (before 0630hrs)and cheapest outgoing fare. On the return leg ,book the latest fare.normally after midnight the price drops dramatically ( turn up early ,there is always room for one bike) the saving can be as much as £120 in the summer .
Avoid going out on Bank Holidays etc , or Bastille Day.

 

[bowser]

If I in a hurry its got to be the tunnel but if I have any choice in the matter then its boat, Harwich hook is my preferred route if going Holland or Germany, and I always used to love the Newhaven / Dieppe crossing for anywhere in France.

 

[Sukram]

ferry = cheaper and and eas....onyack

 

[notpc]

Tunnel, every time

Much less administrative CR4P using the tunnel. Plus the speed. On the other hand, if I had more than two hours to do to get to the tunnel terminal, I'd appreciate the rest on the boat as well!

 

[Big Nick]

Definately tunnel although an hours sit down on a comfy chair is nice on the ferry if you've had a long ride down to the coast

 

[Dansin]

Booking Tunnel Day Returns

We're going over in June for a couple of weeks and usually book a 'normal' outbound and return ticket, which works out at £99 for the times we want to go. If I book 2 day returns, one Folkstone/Calais, one Calais/Folkstone, the cost is £50.

Any problems doing this? Has anyone else done it?

 

[Dansin]

Found the answer....

Here.

 

[Sukram]

next week 56 Euro Calais Dover Calais

 

[glenn2926]

Tunnel?

Going on the tunnel next week for the first time. Are you lot telling me I won't be able to watch the fish as we cross?

 

[thauma]

tunnel is great for quick travel and access. So I use it when we head to France for some training. It's great and convenient. No facilities, but then the journey is very quick - so no real requirement for fancy facilities

Ferry is great when on a tour, as you all get a chance to meet up and have a chinwag. SOrt maps, group up etc

Usually use Sea France Ferries as their method of strapping the bikes down is second to none (custom built stands to hold the bike upright and their guys strap it down) So I wouldn't really consider a standard do it yourself ferry anymore.

Did portsmouth - leHavre once, and couldn't stand all the screaming kids. That was too long for me. I'd rather ride the bike the extra distance to Dover and then back down through France - that's why it's called a bike tour!

Don't think I could stomach the plymouth-spain route. I think I'd just ride the bike down -all part of the adventure.

 

[Rasher]

tunnel is great for quick travel and access.....No facilities, but then the journey is very quick - so no real requirement for fancy facilities

Yep, works for me, your half way down the A26 enroute to Alps / Black Forest / Vosges or wherever long before the ferry would be unloaded.

 

[mozza666]

Looking at doing 3-4 weeks touring Europe in August '11. No specific plans. I'm coming from Scotland so nearest ferry is Newcastle to Amsterdam, Over £350 return, plus I have to specify my return date.

Tunnel costs about £35 each way and I can just book the return whenever I want to a few days before I head home.

Only problem is the 8-9 hour journey from Glasgow to Folkestone. Planning on splitting it and doing a B &B somewhere near Folkestone then bright and breezy the next day for the tunnel. Should save myself a few hundred quid less petrol I suppose.