Channel Tunnel Vs Ferries - your views

[Sidney]

As Harry Hill would say...

I like ferries and I like the Channel Tunnel.

But what's best?

There's only one way to find out...FIGHT!

 

[scousebird]

Tunnel every time (especially with Tesco vouchers)

 

[stcyr]

Whichever's cheapest at the time!

 

[johnp10]

Ferry.
You cant get a full English with a nice sea view in the tunnel.

 

[Sidney]

Ferries win

You get a chance to rest for an hour or more.

You get an hour or more to get used the the idea of actually going abroad.

Train wins

I've never heard that awful scrape of motorhome on tarmac as you get on the train.

Dogs travel on sofas laps or bed.

You can lay on the bed and read a magazine.

You can use your own facilities i.e. no queuing for a cup of tea.

Its quick.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sidney]

Ferry.
You cant get a full English with a nice sea view in the tunnel.

Yes the views can be nice on the ferry - no so much in rough seas or on early or late ferries.

 

[Munchie]

Tunnel for us sooo easy and fast and no weather worries. :thumb:

 

[Sidney]

Tunnel every time (especially with Tesco vouchers)

I am going to have to get a Clubcard - just as long as I can opt out of getting lots of junk mail.

 

[Sidney]

Whichever's cheapest at the time!

Is the tunnel ever cheaper?

 

[scousebird]

Don't get any junk mail and can opt to get all vouchers online

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MrJinks]

Ferries win

You get a chance to rest for an hour or more.

You get an hour or more to get used the the idea of actually going abroad.

Train wins

I've never heard that awful scrape of motorhome on tarmac as you get on the train.

Dogs travel on sofas laps or bed.

You can lay on the bed and read a magazine.

You can use your own facilities i.e. no queuing for a cup of tea.

Its quick.

Agree with all that plus another pro for the tunnel, if somebody is a bad sailor you don't need to worry about crossing conditions.

 

[Concord Pilot]

In a car its the train every time for sheer speed. But although the RV is diesel powered it has LPG for the heating etc so is it correct that I cant use the train with the RV ?? So in that case it has to be the boat. Rob

 

[Sidney]

I think some stress about ease of access when joining the train.

Ever since finding myself on a country lane going down a steep gradient with big granite rocks either side less than an inch away form the van. I've never had a problem with tight spaces:Blush:

 

[Sidney]

In a car its the train every time for sheer speed. But although the RV is diesel powered it has LPG for the heating etc so is it correct that I cant use the train with the RV ?? So in that case it has to be the boat. Rob

LPG tanks/bottles have to be under a certain size see here

 

[stcyr]

Is the tunnel ever cheaper?

Nope!

We usually go LD, Newhaven-Dieppe ... and 20% off for being old geyser...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[joner8888]

Living down in the SW it takes a extra 3 hours to drive to dover for Eurotunnel then extra time to drive south again in France-

so- it has to be a ferry every time for us from Portsmouth/Plymouth :thumb:

I must try the Eurotunnel once though ,for the experience.

 

[stcyr]

In a car its the train every time for sheer speed. But although the RV is diesel powered it has LPG for the heating etc so is it correct that I cant use the train with the RV ?? So in that case it has to be the boat. Rob

No, they check the bottles are shut off before boarding...

 

[Sidney]

Nope!

We usually go LD, Newhaven-Dieppe ... and 20% off for being old geyser...

I do like this crossing - but the times could be improved if they ran two boats

 

[eddie]

They have both gt advantages. On a lovely sunny day sitting on deck steaming across the English Channel with a cold beer can be hard to beat. The same as turning up at Midnight and driving straight on to the train and sitting with a mug of coffee and a sandwich in your own van whilst you put your Sterling and change in the safe and refill your wallet/purse with Euros

The frequency of the Tunnel can be good some times when running late, knowing that if we miss one, another one will be along in a minute

Also whilst the Tunnel some times is delayed the ferries are far more to be effected by poor weather.

I think on balance if I lived in the East I would probably always favour the Tunnel but as I live in the West I tend to use to use the Ferries

Eddie

 

[Snowbird]

Cant afford to shop at Tesco,so no clubcard. Cant afford the extortionate prices they charge at the tunnel without Tesco vouchers. So its DFDS every time, Dover-Dunkirk if travelling north and Dover-Calais when travelling south.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Dudess]

TUNNEL EVERY TIME - especially as we are always travelling with the dogs. It's quick, we can stay with them and the doggy facilities before boarding at Eurotunnel are great. Also I get very sea sick - not sure about the dogs but wouldn't want to risk it.

 

[Sidney]

Living down in the SW it takes a extra 3 hours to drive to dover for Eurotunnel then extra time to drive south again in France-

so- it has to be a ferry every time for us from Portsmouth/Plymouth :thumb:

I must try the Eurotunnel once though ,for the experience.

Yes anyone living within easy distance of Plymouth, Torquay and Portsmouth does have a plethora of options available to them.

 

[The Dudess]

As Harry Hill would say...

I like ferries and I like the Channel Tunnel.

Sounds like an Aldi advert.

 

[Roryboys Dad]

We used to use the Ferries and Hovercraft (remember them?) - until the day we left home, 220 miles from Dover, in fine bright weather only to find a force 10 gale blowing in the Channel when we arrived at the Port.


Nothing was leaving or arriving at Dover Port for the foreseeable future and we were stranded dockside.


We were only going to France for a weekend break and the chances of getting over the Channel for the next day or two were negligible.


A quick phone call to Eurotunnel and we were booked on the Train and arrived only a couple of hours after our original debarkation had we been able to go by the Ferry.


Since then we've gone by Eurotunnel at least 4 or 5 times a year with very little problems most of the time.


Since we've taken the dog, five years and counting, the Tunnel has been well worth the extra cost.


Only a 35 minute journey with him staying with us, in the car or the Motorhome, and neither him or us getting stressed about the smooth quiet crossing rather than a longer Ferry crossing that can often be bumpy and noisy on the Car deck.


We often have problems with the length of our journey time down to Folkestone or Dover


Although every one of the 220 miles are on Motorways there have been - due to congestion, roadworks, Dartford crossing, accidents and comfort breaks – variations with a fastest time of 3 and three-quarter hours and a maximum time of 8 hours.


We just don't know how long the journey time will be and Eurotunnel's reasonably flexible regulations allow us to be put on an earlier Train if we arrive at the Terminal early and a later Train if we are delayed for whatever reason.


Missing a booked Ferry by just a few minutes can result in a many hour wait before being allowed on the next Ferry – and that's presuming the Ferries aren't fully booked.


I'm not trying to sell or advertise Eurotunnel but their service suits us and we will continue to use them on a regular basis – warts and all!

 

[Sidney]

We often have problems with the length of our journey time down to Folkestone or Dover


Although every one of the 220 miles are on Motorways there have been - due to congestion, roadworks, Dartford crossing, accidents and comfort breaks – variations with a fastest time of 3 and three-quarter hours and a maximum time of 8 hours.


We just don't know how long the journey time will be

We're a similar distance from the port and several occasions I've found the journey very difficult. The "easy" option is to travel at night but I'm not a badger so prefer to sleep! Being able to get on pretty much any train within a window is a big advantage for us both.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mondo]

I've done the train I find it a bit soulless..The ferry on the other hand is part of your holiday/tour so I would say FERRY all the time you can see The UK and The French coast at the same time..it's all part of the fun..

 

[WynandJean]

I am going to have to get a Clubcard - just as long as I can opt out of getting lots of junk mail.

Trouble is you then have to buy their stuff!!

Wyn

 

[canopus]

Train for us, reasons much as other posters have said, Tesco, dog with us etc. Another plus factor for us, is Cite De Europe, which Weekenders Bob & Val introduced us to. Pitch up there outward and return. Great selection of French food & wines at Carrefour or Auchan a few miles away, and its only two mins from the tunnel terminal :thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

[tomm]

On a cost for cost basis , ferry for us . Keeping an eye open for their every so often deals , get crossings with DFDS Dover- Dunkirk at around the £50 return mark . Example being , our next trip . Unless I"m doing something wrong while searching , then tunnel = £161 for best deal on our travel days . Ferry £49 return ( using a promotion deal ) same days . Far too much of a differential to ignore . Thats a fair few beers , meals or aires fees which can be bought with the difference in costs .

Comfort basis , have never used the tunnel when using MH , so really cant comment . Apart from saying , yes it would be nice to stay in the MH for the crossing . Also the bonus of the weather being irrelevant for crossing .However , its good to get in to one of the lounges on the ferry and relax for a couple of hours after our 2 hour drive to get to the terminal . Then reach France feeling rested and relaxed .

Convenience basis , it has to be the tunnel due to crossing frequency . Ferry wise , we have turned up early and been offered next crossing at no extra cost , so a bit of a bonus there .

 

[stcyr]

Just checked fares for a trip to UK in March ... Newhaven/Dieppe - £63.20 return... that'll do nicely.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}