Last Minute Ferries?

[MikeO]

In true penny-pinching style, I'm looking to get across the Channel in early September for the cheapest price. Has anyone got any experience of turning up without booking, & then negotiating for a one-way price on a ferry that's about to depart?

My travel times/dates are pretty flexible (Ah, retirement...), so it's an idea that appeals if the savings are worthwhile.

Incidentally, the best price I've got (Dover-Calais) for the GS & me is £99 with Norfolk Line (Eurotunnel quoted £206 )

Cheers

Mike

 

[Gecko]

Mike,
Are we talking you alone , bike or car and how long you over here for ? The tunnel has some good deals if you book from this side so maybe I can help you by booking it through the Flemish website and sending you the booking confirmation. We had a low as Euro 64 return with the bikes recently and I was looking about going over to the UK in October with my car and SWMBO and the online quote was Euro 136 return which is a whole lot cheaper than you are getting quoted.
Cheers
Gecko

 

[Steve]

Go for a cheapo day return, and just "forget" to come back.

 

[MikeO]

Gecko,

It's me & Boxertrix, on an Adv & R1100S respectively & we'll be going for 2 weeks. We'll be solo on the way out, but Mike will be picking up his wife for the return journey (she's flying out to Gibraltar to meet us).

Steve,

I seem to remember reading here that they charge your card with the full fare if you try the 'forget to come back' routine, and they'll only sell you the ticket by card.....

Another thought we're considering is putting both bikes into a mate's van, who can get a evening return 'booze crooze' ticket on the tunnel for £37 (or something like that). He'll dump us & the bikes at Calais, load up with his normal load of beer etc & go back - then we'll arrange to meet him in Calais a fortnight later & do the return journey. Seems too simple for there not to be a Eurotunnel rule against it - any ideas??


Mike

 

[mikeoold]

dun the bikes in the van several times BUT
get yourselves walk on passenger tickets otherwise as mentioned earlier the ferry company will invoice you for the full fare
never had any problems with this method went over afew weeks ago with car trailer and Squidbrain for £198.50 2 wk return could have taken 3 bikes and people for same price = £66.50 each

good hunting planning a trip over end of sept if anyone is interested but for 10 days probably.

regards mikeo

 

[darren]

I'm leaving home tonight for the early morning Eurotunel and have paid £68.00 for a single, as we're moving to Greece and I'm taking the bike over to leave it there. I had this dilemma:

Buy a single at £68.00 - All above board etc. No probs.

Buy a day return for about £30.00 or even better, a late afternoon crossing after 3.30pm and returning before 02.00pm next morning for £9.00!!!! - and just 'forget' the return journey. Trouble is they CAN and will charge your card for the unused portion of the trip and at the STANDARD fare! So you could be looking at an additional £100 for FRANCE to UK! I spoke to Eurotunnel about this and asked them directly about the consequences - They are really clamping down on this cheat. Trouble is, if you just turn up and pay cash at the check-in you pay heaps more for the ticket and don't get these deals. As for how far Eurotunnel would pursue you for the balance of the return unused portion, I don't know.

I have written to Eurotunnel about the ridiculous pricing structure as it gets my goat and await a reply.

How can it make a difference if I go to France for 4 days, 5 days or 2 weeks? And, how can it be cheaper to take a late afternoon return for £9.00 than a single at the same times? Cartels, rip-off, conning bast@rds?

On the plus side you can save 10% if you buy a Points Plus card for £15 p.a. Only good though if you use it often enough and I have to say it is the most efficient way to get to France IMO.

 

[Steve]

It looks like people have finally had enough of these rip-off fares. The ferries and tunnel are about to become the subjects of an EU investigation into price-fixing....

Probably only take about 5 years for the results....

 

[wessie]

Why not go to a travel agent that sells ferry tickets? Buy a cheap day return and pay cash.

 

[Rushy]

Mike O

I was qouted £86 return dover- calais ferry with MCN P&O offer in August! GS and 2 people. Should be cheaper in september.

Ian

 

[Invicta Moto]

Why not go to a travel agent that sells ferry tickets? Buy a cheap day return and pay cash.

They still have to have your details.

When you buy the ticket you agree to the conditions printed in tiny writing on it. Then they take you to court. It may seem trivial to you, but to them it's the principle and the message it sends to other people trying to cheat them of their profits.

They have your details so if the bast*rds decides to join Davy Jones in his locker they have a vague idea who and how many were onboard their tug.