Calais (1 Viewer)

GeoffH

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Jun 26, 2012
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Leaving for france. Live in Manchester area.
Which is best way to Calais with 23ft RV? "Never fancied tunnel but open to all.
Tks
 

Southampton

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Dec 16, 2011
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Tunnel every time for me, but many also prefer the ferry. Horses for courses. No problem with size on tunnel at 23ft mine is 28ft and it is easy.
 
Dec 6, 2011
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Tunnel for me every time its so easy and quick, but not the cheapest route. excellent if your taking a pet.:thumb:

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slobadoberbob

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I take a real RV through the tunnel

I take my American RV with a trailer attached - 45' long.. no trouble in the tunnel.. fast and easy.

Bob
 

dellwood33

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Apr 25, 2009
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As above - tunnel every time. Quick & easy, as well as having all of the home comforts of your van for the short journey.
I must admit that I have never been seasick when using the tunnel, no matter how rough the sea was :thumb:

Quick to disembark & you are straight out onto the French roads & away :Smile:
 

Paulh

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Used the tunnel many times commercially and would do with the RV but, as we"re on LPG, I was told it was a no no..:cry: So if you don"t run on LPG you"re fine.

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Chris

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May 5, 2010
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Leaving for france. Live in Manchester area.
Which is best way to Calais with 23ft RV? "Never fancied tunnel but open to all.
Tks

I would say tunnel.

You also need to plot the petrol stations between Manchester and Folkstone driving that thirsty RV::bigsmile:
 

magicsurfbus

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Oct 11, 2010
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Personally I prefer the ferry, as it's a more interesting journey than sitting in a deep hole in the ground, but I like taking snaps from the boat, so if time is of the essence it has to be the tunnel.

Regarding the journey South East from the Manchester direction, I'd recommend M6, Brum Toll Road, M40, then anti-clockwise round the M25 to avoid the Dartford Crossing. The extra mileage is negligible and it's generally less busy and less congested once you're past Heathrow.
 

Heyupluv

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Leaving for france. Live in Manchester area.
Which is best way to Calais with 23ft RV? "Never fancied tunnel but open to all.
Tks

Tunnel every time for us..we are over 24'62....
And Smudger ...he goes on the tunnel with his Winnie american RV with James trailer....40' winnie + 20' James trailer..+ 60'...what did you say your length was...23' RV not even half the size ....a mere baby to smudgers monster:winky::thumb:

On the tunnel.. once on train 35 mins and you are over..... pulling off close to Cite Europe near Calais...as long as your engine does not run on LPG:thumb:

Mel:ROFLMAO:

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Last edited:

Chris

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Personally I prefer the ferry, as it's a more interesting journey than sitting in a deep hole in the ground, but I like taking snaps from the boat, so if time is of the essence it has to be the tunnel.

Regarding the journey South East from the Manchester direction, I'd recommend M6, Brum Toll Road, M40, then anti-clockwise round the M25 to avoid the Dartford Crossing. The extra mileage is negligible and it's generally less busy and less congested once you're past Heathrow.

We differ on this one. I would go M6(not toll), M1, M25 clockwise, M20:thumb:

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Apr 13, 2012
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We differ on this one. I would go M6(not toll), M1, M25 clockwise, M20:thumb:

I would agree, although I hate the M1, and clockwise round the M25 includes the QE bridge. I would also sugest a stop-over at a site nr Dover after driving for such a distance. Always use the ferry but might try tunnel as wife is disabled - then again it is nice to get out of the van and get some fresh air.
Unless you are in a hurry avoid the toll roads in France, their main roads are a pleasure to drive on.
Enjoy your trip
Vic
 

magicsurfbus

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We've tried M6 - M1 - M25 clockwise, M6 - A14 - M11 - M25 clockwise, and M6 toll - M40 - M25 anticlockwise numerous times, and the latter route has always been the smoothest, least congested, quickest and most relaxing. We rarely if ever escape congestion on the M25 between Watford and Dartford in both directions, hence the recommendation. However, we all have our own preferences, and mine are based on Summer and Easter trips. Off season it may well be different.
 
Apr 29, 2009
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I'd always go on the ferry me..like you say take a few piccys and the like..as for the route down..this will get a few reactions...If your in Manchester don't bother with the M6 toll or otherwise...

Try this way....
M62 Eastbound..this runs straight into the A1 to go South..
A1 South..A14 South which runs into M11 Southbound
M11 South to M25 Anti Clock round and over the Dartford Toll...then M2 Southbound then A2 down to Dover..

That would be my route to the South Coast ports..

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GeoffH

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Jun 26, 2012
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French crossing

Tunnel every time for us..we are over 24'62....
And Smudger ...he goes on the tunnel with his Winnie american RV with James trailer....40' winnie + 20' James trailer..+ 60'...what did you say your length was...23' RV not even half the size ....a mere baby to smudgers monster:winky::thumb:

On the tunnel.. once on train 35 mins and you are over..... pulling off close to Cite Europe near Calais...as long as your engine does not run on LPG:thumb:

Mel:ROFLMAO:

As Mel said tunnel every time, evebn though I love boats,..

Should be ok on size

I would agree, although I hate the M1, and clockwise round the M25 includes the QE bridge. I would also sugest a stop-over at a site nr Dover after driving for such a distance. Always use the ferry but might try tunnel as wife is disabled - then again it is nice to get out of the van and get some fresh air.
Unless you are in a hurry avoid the toll roads in France, their main roads are a pleasure to drive on.
Enjoy your trip
Vic

We've tried M6 - M1 - M25 clockwise, M6 - A14 - M11 - M25 clockwise, and M6 toll - M40 - M25 anticlockwise numerous times, and the latter route has always been the smoothest, least congested, quickest and most relaxing. We rarely if ever escape congestion on the M25 between Watford and Dartford in both directions, hence the recommendation. However, we all have our own preferences, and mine are based on Summer and Easter trips. Off season it may well be different.

I'd always go on the ferry me..like you say take a few piccys and the like..as for the route down..this will get a few reactions...If your in Manchester don't bother with the M6 toll or otherwise...

Try this way....
M62 Eastbound..this runs straight into the A1 to go South..
A1 South..A14 South which runs into M11 Southbound
M11 South to M25 Anti Clock round and over the Dartford Toll...then M2 Southbound then A2 down to Dover..

That would be my route to the South Coast ports..
:thumb:
Was asking prefference to Ferry v Tunnel, but tks for all imfo.
 

wasp

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I agree with Mondo on this one, the route and take the ferry.:thumb::thumb::thumb:
 

Heyupluv

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I'd always go on the ferry me..like you say take a few piccys and the like..as for the route down..this will get a few reactions...If your in Manchester don't bother with the M6 toll or otherwise...

Try this way....
M62 Eastbound..this runs straight into the A1 to go South..
A1 South..A14 South which runs into M11 Southbound
M11 South to M25 Anti Clock round and over the Dartford Toll...then M2 Southbound then A2 down to Dover..

That would be my route to the South Coast ports..


Mondo are you sure you don't mean clockwise ???? to go anti clockwise is a long way round and back to the Dartford toll bridge and then about turn to come back on the M25 and A2???


That would be my route also....straight run, now the Round-abouts on the A1 have gone great road... heading south, A1, A14, M11, M25,clockwise Darford toll bridge
, M25, M20. junction 11a Tunnel and over to France....:thumb:

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scousebird

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Apr 18, 2012
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When we lived in Liverpool, the ferry was a good break when we got to Dover after travelling most of the day we had a meal, stretched the legs & refreshed ourselves. Now we live near Dover so it's tunnel every time as we don't need the break now! ::bigsmile:

If you shop at Tesco you can collect your points to buy tickets for the tunnel therefore making the crossing much cheaper if not free - that helps with the decision as well.
 

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