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

[Deleted account 240901001]

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?

T's and C's for Le Shuttle...



Failure to complete both the outward and return journeys in respect of a return booking will invalidate your booking and in the event that you complete only one journey in respect of a return booking, you will be liable to pay the difference between the price that you paid for your return booking and the single fare applicable at the time that your journey was made. Eurotunnel reserves the right to obtain from you payment in full for all sums so arising.
All travel must be completed within 1 calendar year of the date of booking.



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[Littledumptruck]

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

Trouble is that nice sit down is usually surrounded with dozens of screaming kids. We take a ferry when we do our main summer holiday as we cheat a little and trailer the bike as my misses can't sit on the bike for long enough to get to the south or the alps. Trailer prices on the tunnel are extorsion...

Ferry

I don't "DO" tunnels where someone else is driving

I like this answer.....why? what can it hit? all I can think is an illegal immigrant, and I don't think they'll do much more than make a tiny thud on such a large mass!! And as the line is an endless loop, if it can't stop chances are you'll just keep going back and forth until they sort the problem.

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?

A friend of mine has twice failed to return on his booking. Once he fell too ill to ride himself back, so took a pillion ride back and we collected his bike next to mine on our trailer. Next holiday the daft bugger tipped off and we basically had to do exactly the same. Told him the next trip I organise i'm only getting him a one way ticket Basically I reckon they are way to busy to worry about checking you have used all of your ticket. You might want to book the second one in the wifes name though, and leave the reg no off.


Looks like we may be doing the south west of france next summer. Might consider one of the overnight ferry's to spain. But I can't get my head around the times. IIRC the plymouth one leaves very early in the morning which means that you need to travel down the day before and stop in a B+B overnight. You then spend 2 days and a night on board and arrive in spain late at night, so again you need to stop in a B+B before moving on the next (3rd) day. For the same total cost surely you can use the tunnel or a dover/calais ferry and ride down over 3days stopping in cheap F1's or etaps, whch is surely what we go there to do isn't it....Ride that is?? And what do you do for the 2 days onboard? 2 hours does my head in

 

[Magnet]

Looks like we may be doing the south west of france next summer. Might consider one of the overnight ferry's to spain. But I can't get my head around the times. IIRC the plymouth one leaves very early in the morning which means that you need to travel down the day before and stop in a B+B overnight. You then spend 2 days and a night on board and arrive in spain late at night, so again you need to stop in a B+B before moving on the next (3rd) day.

Did Plymouth to Santander in July - left Plymouth at 3pm Sunday and docked at Santander at 12pm Monday 21 hours in total. Works out well as you spend a good part of the time asleep, eating or drinking

 

[stormbringer]

I use both,day trips such as watching the last stage of the Tour de France this year I used the tunnel as its quicker ,for longer stays or trips I use the ferry.

 

[stolzy]

Did Plymouth to Santander in July - left Plymouth at 3pm Sunday and docked at Santander at 12pm Monday 21 hours in total. Works out well as you spend a good part of the time asleep, eating or drinking

Ferry or tunnel?

 

[stever1]

Wifey and i recently went across via Dover Dunkerke. Arrived at Dover at 08.00hrs sat for 2 hrs till the next boat,crossing took 2hrs+ so that was 4hrs total.
If we went through the tunnel we would have been a long way down through France by that time.
The up side of that was the fare for 2 people and car was only £9 return (fare was £19 minus £10 discount for being in the CSMA)

 

[Bury_Dave]

Tunnel. I'm a 2 hour ride from Ashford / Dover and can't be arsed with the faff of the ferry when on a bike.

In the car and with the family it's more relaxing to take the ferry in summer.

In winter it's tunnel all the way having many times been stuck out at sea due to heaving seas.

Dave

 

[sullivt]

Tunnel,
Am just over an hour from the tunnel so time wise its the tunnel every time. Want to ride not spend my time cruising the channel. However each to their own I do understand why boat can be attractive but not for me.

 

[Dean]

What's you favorite method of getting across the Channel?

I'm a fan of the tunnel myself, quicker easier to get to etc..
And so far hardly ever had any problems, apart from the last time when the dam thing broke down in the tunnel.
(1 1/2 hours to get through)

well when its all working well and theres no burning of sheep or breakdowns or strikes.

like others say depends on your destination.

like for like to calais train is quicker across and board and unload, if your pushed for time might get a cheaper ferry deal .

Ferry for food and duty free sea air, looking at the white cliffs less of a rush maybe more chilled


going further afield as pointed out to me recently over night couple of beers get your head down on the ferry awake fresh as a daisy Ferry wins no contest ariving early with the whole day in front of you with a saving of fuel to boot

 

[Ogmios]

Help!
Read this entire thread and still none the wiser!
Here's the thing;
We've to go to a FEMA meeting in Paris (instead of feckin Brussels for a change ) at the start of May.

~ We got limited time and limited budget
~ Having to come from Holyhead, it'll be very late in the day by the time we get to ANYwhere on the south coast of U.K. (but it can be ANYwhere on the south coast )
~ it'd be nice if we can make this a bit of a holiday so...

What do youz reckon is the best route, most practical and best value for
~ B+B on Thursday April 31st
~ morning crossing on Friday May 1st (ferry or tunnel?)

Return;
~ Monday May 4th, cross channel sometime in the afternoon - get some miles done and then a nights B+B (prebooked to save the stress of finding one) .
~ Tuesday May 5th - hit the road aiming for late afternoon/early evening ferry from Holyhead to Dublin.

any help much appreciated.
~~~
Og
We may have the offer of a bed in a mates house near Folkestone / Ashford ... er, it's somewhere near them ferries

 

[Wapping]

My suggestions:

Cheap flight to Paris and cheap flight back to Oirland, missing out the UK completely.

Cheap flight to London, Eurotunnel to Paris and back. Cheap flight back to Oirland..... or go straight back to Dublin, from Paris.... or some variation on this route.

Aeroplanes are cheap (and quick) and the train is quick, too.

The other alternative is the overnight ferry from Portsmouth (on the south coast at least) to Caen. Then the run the next morning from Caen to Paris. This only works if your times match. It seems bonkers to go Dublin, ferry, Holyhead, Folkstone, train, Calais, motorway, Paris, motorway, train, Folkstone, Holyhead, ferry, Dublin.

 

[Ogmios]

.... It seems bonkers to go Dublin, ferry, Holyhead, Folkstone, train, Calais, motorway, Paris, motorway, train, Folkstone, Holyhead, ferry, Dublin.

Yep. cant argue with your logic. That's why we always go to Brux by plane . (no - not biplane )
But!
over the years we've gone to so many of these Riders Rights meetings and the only one i've ever been to on me Bike was Edinburgh a few years ago.
All the Scandinavians, French, Dutch, Germans, U.K. reps etc turn up on Bikes and i get so jealous!
We just want a bit of 'play' in amongst the 'work' - hence this (ludicrous) idea.
Thanks for the reply.
~~
Desperate in Dublin.

 

[Invicta Moto]

What do youz reckon is the best route, most practical and best value for
~ B+B on Thursday April 31st (?)
~ morning crossing on Friday May 1st (ferry or tunnel?)

I'd go straight over and stay in the F1 or some other cheapo hotel in Calais or on the way to Paris. If you don't get a mates floor to sleep in the Chunnel/Ferry area.

I'd also use the A16 rather than the A26/A1. It's not a lot different in distance but is usually deserted.

I'd use the tunnel to get over quickly and go to the hotel.

 

[Wapping]

All the Scandinavians, French, Dutch, Germans, U.K. reps etc turn up on Bikes and i get so jealous!
We just want a bit of 'play' in amongst the 'work' - hence this (ludicrous) idea.
Thanks for the reply.
~~
Desperate in Dublin.

'cept they (Les Continentals) don't live on an island.... next stop America

I would definitely rule out the idea of a ferry from Dover or the ferry back, you just lose time and you ain't flush with hours.

Is there a ferry from Ireland that can drop you on the Normandy peninsular?

If you are hellbent on the Holyhead plan, I would definitely look at the overnight ferries into Caen from Portsmouth. You might as well move in a floating B&B as sit on your butts in Folkestone.

 

[Ogmios]

Help!
Read this entire thread and still none the wiser!
Here's the thing;
We've to go to a FEMA meeting in Paris (instead of feckin Brussels for a change ) at the start of May.

~ We got limited time and limited budget
~ Having to come from Holyhead, it'll be very late in the day by the time we get to ANYwhere on the south coast of U.K. (but it can be ANYwhere on the south coast )
~ it'd be nice if we can make this a bit of a holiday so...

What do youz reckon is the best route, most practical and best value for
~ B+B on Thursday MAY 31st
~ morning crossing on Friday JUNE 1st (ferry or tunnel?)

Return;
~ Monday JUNE 4th, cross channel sometime in the afternoon - get some miles done and then a nights B+B (prebooked to save the stress of finding one) .
~ Tuesday JUNE 5th - hit the road aiming for late afternoon/early evening ferry from Holyhead to Dublin.

any help much appreciated.
~~~
Og
We may have the offer of a bed in a mates house near Folkestone / Ashford ... er, it's somewhere near them ferries

Now, ya see - THIS is why i need help!
~~~
Feckin Eejit Og!

 

[Wapping]

Have you looked at the ferry crossings into Caen, or Cherbourg or St Malo? Just because the dates happen to correspond with D-day and the (moved) UK public holidays, it doesn't necessarily mean everything and everywhere is going to be full already, my life.

In your excitement you haven't given us the times of your landing in Holyhead or the time by when you have to be back there in good time to make the ferry back. It makes it difficult to suggest whether you might be better off finding a cheap B&B in France for the first outward night. The trouble comes (perhaps) in the hour on the clock face you lose crossing between the UK and France. You can blame the obstinate Jocks for that.

If you can make it across the water to France at sensible o'clock, then I know a very reasonable B&B hotel cafe place at Cap Gris Nez, not a million miles off your route. Failing that there a loads (as in lots) of cheap bucketshop hotels and 'Put-me-ups' in Calais. In the UK? The Travelodge at Folkstone or your mate's floor look favourite.

Plane still looks good

 

[Ogmios]

... into Caen, or Cherbourg or St Malo... or Dieppe Dunkirk Le Havre even

I'm doin' me research right now.
...hence the burning smell and the constipated look (i'm concentrating!) on me face.

I will be back!

 

[Poucher]

Hi Folks

Use your TESCO POINTS then it costs nowt

Wrinkleyowlie,

What a star!!

Would never have thought of using Tesco points, but thanks to your post you've just saved me £54!!

Good man!!

 

[Riders Rest]

T's and C's for Le Shuttle...



Failure to complete both the outward and return journeys in respect of a return booking will invalidate your booking and in the event that you complete only one journey in respect of a return booking, you will be liable to pay the difference between the price that you paid for your return booking and the single fare applicable at the time that your journey was made. Eurotunnel reserves the right to obtain from you payment in full for all sums so arising.
All travel must be completed within 1 calendar year of the date of booking.



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I do this all the time and have never been charged... The trick is not to give a veh registration or make at the time of the booking but to put TBA in the box where you would.

 

[Hairnet600]

og fly

but if ya have to the two canterbury travelodges are 19 quid if ya book now......

not one in dover or fstone

or.....

fly to london and eurostar

calais is 3 and half hours from paris ffs

autoroute £££ and zzzzzzzzzzzz