Channel travel options

[BusyBuilder]

Which is best, chunnel or ferry ?

We usually travel via Harwich, but visiting south east so channel will be better this time. Only done it on a motorbike.

 

[Figaro]

Tunnel is definitely best if you have dogs.
After that it's a price / convenience trade off.

 

[Charlie57]

Having driven from up north I'd prefer to relax for a while of a ferry, although with a dog the tunnel is probably better. last time went with an early sailing from Newhaven to Dieppe, nice relax on board and ready to drive again refreshed.

 

[Chris Laing]

Tunnel is definitely best if you have dogs.
After that it's a price / convenience trade off.

Not anymore with the P&O dog lounge on board the ferry

 

[PaulC70]

P&O is the cheapest after they got rid of the lefties that wanted a living wage and replaced them with much cheaper staff and passed it to your pocket

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[mikebeaches]

The tunnel is our preferred crossing.

Generally quick and easy

No concerns about rough weather in the Channel

No need to leave the comfort of your van, just relax with a snack and coffee (hot water from a flask)

No worries about being delayed en route to Folkestone - just go on the next train 15 / 20 / 30 minutes later, depending on frequency of service

What's not to like?

 

[VXman]

The tunnel is our preferred crossing.

Generally quick and easy

No concerns about rough weather in the Channel

No need to leave the comfort of your van, just relax with a snack and coffee (hot water from a flask)

No worries about being delayed en route to Folkestone - just go on the next train 15 / 20 / 30 minutes later, depending on frequency of service

What's not to like?

What's not to like?

Cost.
Sitting in a smelly tin box for 30 mins.
Smelly, usually non working toilets.
No opportunity to get some nice fresh sea air,
No opportunity to see the white cliffs disappear out of view.
No chance to have a bite to eat in the restaurant,
No chance to browse the duty free shop and buy some cheap whisky.
No opportunity to generally chill out away from the van and leave refreshed to continue your journey.

 

[tribalbrit]

Tunnel for me every time, so easy. ferry was £100 less this year but still opted for the tunnel. Convenience.

 

[VXman]

P&O is the cheapest after they got rid of the lefties that wanted a living wage and replaced them with much cheaper staff and passed it to your pocket

In my experience Irish Ferries are the cheapest.

 

[maison]

What mikebeaches said!

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[Brains]

Which is best, chunnel or ferry ?

We usually travel via Harwich, but visiting
south east
so channel will be better this time. Only done it on a motorbike.

If you mean south east, then I'd still use Harwich/Hoek of Holland. (Quicker, less miles, MUCH nicer and it's cheaper)
If you mean south WEST, then the channel is the best option.
Personally I'd go for the tunnel, as it's the least hassle.

 

[Camdoon]

Channel used to be a no brainer for us with dogs but their prices increase of late has brought the ferry back into play - once we have scudded off our Tesco channel vouchers.

 

[Bonsaiman]

If you had asked me 5 years ago I’d have said tunnel but now very much a Newhaven-Dieppe ferry man especially with the oldies discount

And totally agree with VXman

 

[mikebeaches]

What's not to like?

Cost.
Sitting in a smelly tin box for 30 mins.
Smelly, usually non working toilets.
No opportunity to get some nice fresh sea air,
No opportunity to see the white cliffs disappear out of view.
No chance to have a bite to eat in the restaurant,
No chance to browse the duty free shop and buy some cheap whisky.
No opportunity to generally chill out away from the van and leave refreshed to continue your journey.

Each to their own...

Sitting in a smelly tin box - No, I sit in my van and have never noted any particular smells in the carriage

Smelly, usually non working toilets - We've got our own loo on board

No opportunity to get some nice fresh sea air - I can get that anytime I want at the coast

No opportunity to see the White cliffs disappear - Seen them loads of times

No chance to have a bite to eat in the restaurant - No I prefer our own food in the van, and put the money saved towards the crossing

No chance to browse the duty free shop - Another opportunity for the ferry company to gouge some more dosh

No chance to chill out away from the van and leave refreshed - Completely refreshed after 30 minutes relaxing in the van and raring to go thanks

As said, everybody is different, but I've been on too many ferries in my lifetime, so when there's a suitable alternative...

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Each to their own...

Sitting in a smelly tin box - No, I sit in my van and have never noted any particular smells in the carriage

Smelly, usually non working toilets - We've got our own loo on board

No opportunity to get some nice fresh sea air - I can get that anytime I want at the coast

No opportunity to see the White cliffs disappear - Seen them loads of times

No chance to have a bite to eat in the restaurant - No I prefer our own food in the van, and put the money saved towards the crossing

No chance to browse the duty free shop - Another opportunity for the ferry company to gouge some more dosh

No chance to chill out away from the van and leave refreshed - Completely refreshed after 30 minutes relaxing in the van and raring to go thanks

As said, everybody is different, but I've been on too many ferries in my lifetime, so when there's a suitable alternative...

And no worries about seeing if the port is gridlocked for 8+ hours or boat cancelled because it’s to rough…
Use the tunnel 3-4 times a year and never had a delay if anything normally put on an early train.

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[AJM2]

Portsmouth St Malo or Le Havre for us. Never had an issue with traffic. Bite to eat and then a good sleep before waking up in France

 

[Mohawk Mo]

Which is best, chunnel or ferry ?

We usually travel via Harwich, but visiting south east so channel will be better this time. Only done it on a motorbike.

Tunnel for me - I hate boats. My Sister and I took Mum on a Mother's Day cruise once to Bilbao across the Bay of Biscay. BIG mistake! You will see dolphins they said, yeah right, all my Sister and I saw was the bottom of a bucket or the rim of a toilet. It was the trip from hell. We flew home and left Mum on the boat to return alone - she said she had a fantastic time once we had gone! I would have walked back rather than get on that bloody boat again! Tunnel for me

 

[EuroTrotters]

Tunnel for me - I hate boats. My Sister and I took Mum on a Mother's Day cruise once to Bilbao across the Bay of Biscay. BIG mistake! You will see dolphins they said, yeah right, all my Sister and I saw was the bottom of a bucket or the rim of a toilet. It was the trip from hell. We flew home and left Mum on the boat to return alone - she said she had a fantastic time once we had gone! I would have walked back rather than get on that bloody boat again! Tunnel for me

I’ve crossed Biscay more time than I can remember over the last 40 years. I can count on one hand how many times the crossing has been severe.

 

[BikerGraham]

I’ve crossed Biscay more time than I can remember over the last 40 years. I can count on one hand how many times the crossing has been severe.

Crossed 4 times in recent years and had 2 very bad crossings

Guess just bloody unlucky.
Tunnel and drive through France next time.

 

[Landy Andy]

Chunnel. They are so flexible about times. Can’t remember any time that I’ve got the crossing I’ve booked. Turn up, get on train, straight onto motorway and away on holiday. Time is far more important than cost.

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[Ridgeway]

Just been trying to book, tunnel (preferred) and then look at ferries. Prices are higher than expected…. Can’t find anything less than €450 return and that’s on the boat, €530 on the tunnel (8.5m and 2 dogs). This is becoming expensive…

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Just been trying to book, tunnel (preferred) and then look at ferries. Prices are higher than expected…. Can’t find anything less than €450 return and that’s on the boat, €530 on the tunnel (8.5m and 2 dogs). This is becoming expensive…

That seems about right from UK to France and back.
Last 3 times 8.7m plus the 2 pups around £440.00

 

[Gaston aires]

All depends on where you live, and where you want to go.
No favourites just practicalities. We don’t have a hoond to consider either.
Phil

 

[InvictaMoto]

I live 5 miles from the Tunnel and 14 from Dover. I travel on the Tunnel ifs the price is right. I have a moho and take a dog. It can be the quickest way to get across as long as there are no holdups and delays. I have also used it since the week after it opened with a car and a bike. I only book if I have enough Tesco Clubcard points to turn into £'s. With the 3 to1 becoming 2 to 1 it's less attractive.

I use the ferry usually with the bike as a return crossing for a weekend can still be had for around £35.

Last year we went on the tunnel in June/July and again this year except earlier to keep the cost down a little. The increase in a year was over £75.

In November we went on P&O with a Moho and the Pet Lounge. What you save on the Eurotunnel £22 each way per dog is eaten away as we paid £5 each way for Reggie and £5 each way for us to use the lounge. But the moho was nearly £100 less return than the Tunnel.

Both have their merits. It really can come down to money. That £100 saving was a full tank of diesel and about 600 miles of motoring.

 

[busby]

Tunnel every time if crossing to Calais, so easy and honestly for me it's a very similar price to ferries..BUSBY.

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[cyberyacht]

Live fifteen minutes from Portsmouth ferry. Done that, Dover and, this year, Newhaven. Never done the Tunnel. There seems a fair premium for a seamless transit.

 

[scotzsue]

What's not to like?

Cost.
Sitting in a smelly tin box for 30 mins.
Smelly, usually non working toilets.
No opportunity to get some nice fresh sea air,
No opportunity to see the white cliffs disappear out of view.
No chance to have a bite to eat in the restaurant,
No chance to browse the duty free shop and buy some cheap whisky.
No opportunity to generally chill out away from the van and leave refreshed to continue your journey.

My van doesn't smell
My toilet works and doesn't smell
no fresh air when queuing to get off the ferry
who cares about the white cliffs, they always look the same
My own restaurant has food I enjoy at a reasonable cost
Have never seen whisky cheaper than you can get it in a supermarket and the rest on sale is smelly rubbish
nothing like chilling out in your own vehicle and no 2 hour queue to get out ontomthe road and on your way.
all said with lots of and

 

[Viennese]

Trying the tunnel for the firdt time in October. Was impressed that you can change the dates with no problem up to 18 monthd later. I changed twice and paid only £5 extra

 

[DDJC]

Tunnel every time. Easy to drive on/off.

Especially if we are heading east, southeast or south

Tried the Newhaven Dieppe ferry last year. Never again. Cabin was not cleaned with litter hidden under pillows. The tannoy goes off regularly throughout the night as they warn you of something or other, usually that their shop is open or closed. And from your arrival at Newhaven takes at least five hours, probably six. You could drive it from Coquelles and be pitched, several hours before someone on the ferry.

Did Portsmouth - Ouistreham a couple of years back. OK, but prefer the tunnel.

Can't remember the last time I did Dover Calais. Not in a rush to re-kindle any memories either.

 

[VXman]

And no worries about seeing if the port is gridlocked for 8+ hours or boat cancelled because it’s to rough…
Use the tunnel 3-4 times a year and never had a delay if anything normally put on an early train.

Never once been grid locked or had any bad weather. Just don't travel on the 1st day of the school holidays!

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