Which route do you take to get to the continent ?? (1 Viewer)

Oct 13, 2016
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We've been driving to Germany for about 40 years now, we've tried most of the routes, but prefer Harwich - Hoek Van Holland, but that's been in our Scorpio or our Alphard. We've booked the Hymer B680 this year to go Harwich - Hoek, as we go to a motor bike rally by Osnabruke, and its less miles than the lower route's, Dover etc., but of course the tunnel is better for the Southern part of Europe, of which we are contemplating in the not so distant future.

I was checking last night about the Euro-tunnel, which we have used in our cars, but it would appear that there is a problem with carrying LPG through the tunnel ?, how do you motor homers travel to Europe ? (Oh,by the way I HATE driving through ANTWERP !!)
 
Jan 10, 2013
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Its only a problem if your vehicle RUNS on LPG. If you just have tanks for heating/cooking etc they will ask you to turn them off and may even check that they are turned off, but that's all.
 
Jul 5, 2013
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The LPG ban is only for vehicles powered by LPG. Motorhomes with LPG for cooking and heating are OK. They make you switch off your gas before you board and check that you have.

We find the tunnel by far the easiest and quickest way to cross. No having to go and find somewhere to sit. Just relax in your own motorhome. I normally go an lie on the bed for most of the crossing. And you are straight out onto the Autoroutes when you leave.

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Soaringman

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We have a dog, and always use the tunnel, brilliant!! By the time you've had a sandwich you are there! No running up and down stairs to stand in a queue for a coffee
 
Oct 15, 2012
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Harwich would be easier and quicker for us to reach Europe but prefer the Chunnel as we can use our Tesco points and get a free crossing. :)

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bigalw35
Oct 13, 2016
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Harwich would be easier and quicker for us to reach Europe but prefer the Chunnel as we can use our Tesco points and get a free crossing. :)

We live just a couple of miles from the Dartford tunnel/QE2 bridge, so the mileage from our place to Harwich or Dover is about the same, 69 miles, but dependent on where we intend to go in our car makes up our mind, Northern Europe = Harwich - Southern Europe = Dover etc.

But I was told that you could not go through the tunnel carrying LPG, I did think this was a bit strange as you do see UK campers/motorhomes on the motorway just outside the Calais terminal, and we are, as said earlier, contemplating Europe later in the year, and Harwich is quite expensive, so its Harwich versus mileage.

Many thanks DB for the Tesco info, could be quite handy, IF I can prize them out of wifeys hands ???:D
 

Khizzie

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If going South I would prefer ferry from Portsmouth to le Havre. As Portsmouth is only an hour away for me, if going North I would use the shuttle . Horrible journey from Newbury to the tunnel .only about 120 miles but nearly always takes nearly four hours on a good day and up to six on a bad day unless of course major accident then its a total waste of time. Roy
 

Lenny HB

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Always try and use Newhaven-Dieppe as Newhaven is only 22 miles from home, if not convenient don't mind using Dover as we have relations we can park at in Lydd only about 40min from Dover.
If going towards the west Newhaven saves us about 400 miles on a round trip.

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Mar 16, 2016
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But I was told that you could not go through the tunnel carrying LPG, I did think this was a bit strange as you do see UK campers/motorhomes on the motorway just outside the Calais terminal, and we are, as said earlier, contemplating Europe later in the year, and Harwich is quite expensive, so its Harwich versus mileage.

Taken from the Channel tunnel website..............

Safety carrying fixed LPG tanks for domestic services - We are aware LPG tanks are essential for cooking, refrigeration, heating etc, but request the appliance is switched off before boarding and during the entire crossing. Tanks up to 47kg may be carried, but must be less than 80% full. For your own safety and the safety of others, you will need to demonstrate this before you travel.

https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/vehicles/caravans-campers-vans-and-trailers/

Pete
 

Lenny HB

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For hab gas tanks & bottles the tunnel requirements are no different to any ferry, tanks and bottles must be turned off, always get asked at Newhaven and they sometimes check.
 

Camdoon

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The chunnel is excellent for any motorhomer. No faffing about with a ferry. You should advertise on here for a buddy as if you can do 10 trips per year (5 returns) between you the price for a van is £112 per return trip.
 

suavecarve

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I live about 30 minutes from Portsmouth and straight up the A3.

I generally about 0600 hrs (0500 hrs if its q) as i work 2 days 2 nights 4 days off.

I have given up looking at portsmouth ferries owing to their extortionate cost in my opinion.

Even taking time and diesel into the equation I am better off doing 120 miles to Dover and 120 miles back to Rouen on both journeys than using the ferry to any of the northern ports. I generally get across and back for £110 and am currently sat here in on my self imposed "thinking seat" in the corner facing the wall contemplating my crass stupidity in not getting the Tunnel tickets.
 

sdc77

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Living in east London and with dogs the tunnel is a no brainer for us. We are in the process of moving to Durham but I see no reason to not continue to use the tunnel. We normaly head south anyway m
 

Kingham

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Living in east London and with dogs the tunnel is a no brainer for us. We are in the process of moving to Durham but I see no reason to not continue to use the tunnel. We normaly head south anyway m
I've only used the tunnel a couple of times, preferring to 'overnight' with family in a ferry cabin, but my future solo ventures will all involve my four legged friend coming along, so it will be the tunnel from here on in.
Future trips will also include a few nights stopover at Crystal Palace CC to visit my eldest, who virtually lives opposite the entrance to the site.

It's not too bad a drive from Durham, but I always allow a couple of hours for the unexpected.

Ps.. Which part of Durham are you moving to ?

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Mags52

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This trip we used the DFDS crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam. We took our two little dogs. They can stay in the motorhome and the staff will escort you downstairs any time to give them a trot on the car deck and have a wee. Ours just slept the whole 16 hours and peed a river on arrival in Holland. Three trip downstairs and they just sniffed about on the cardeck and went back to bed. We were pleasantly surprised at how easy and relatively inexpensive it was for us coming down from Scotland.
 

Steve N Tracy

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If going South I would prefer ferry from Portsmouth to le Havre. As Portsmouth is only an hour away for me, if going North I would use the shuttle . Horrible journey from Newbury to the tunnel .only about 120 miles but nearly always takes nearly four hours on a good day and up to six on a bad day unless of course major accident then its a total waste of time. Roy

Same for us a 20 min trip to Portsmouth or a long trek towards Dover by the time you add up the fuel and time with a Club Voyage card from Brittany its not so bad using Portsmouth.
 

Allanm

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We used to live about 20 miles from Dover and always use the tunnel. We get the frequent traveller package every year, it saves us a fortune.
Now we live in France, we still travel back to see family travelling through Kent up to the Midlands.
Tunnel staff do sometimes check you have turned the gas off, last 3 trips, we were checked, but they don't seem too bothered about quantities, our last van had an onboard 100 litre tank.
And don't worry about the 80% fill, all lpg tanks are limited to accept 80% of their true capacity so you don't need to do anything.

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Oct 7, 2013
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Another vote here for the Tunnel with Tesco points.(y)

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Oct 7, 2013
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Really depends on which part of the country you travel from
n. Certainly not the best option if travelling from the west ..
It also depends where you are travelling to!

Our French base is in Eastern France, not too far from the Swiss border. We live in South Wales, so fairly far west but western Channel crossings are relatively expensive and would bring us into the West side of France.

As someone has previously said on this thread road miles are cheaper than ferry miles. So Wales/Folkestone and Calais/South Burgundy is cheaper than Wales/Poole and Cherbourg/South Burgundy, or any Western crossing.

And once again I say, with Tesco vouchers there can be no cost on the tunnel if you have enough. We only ever pay for our dog, Mr Tesco pays for our two return crossings each year.(y):)
 

Khizzie

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It also depends where you are travelling to!

Our French base is in Eastern France, not too far from the Swiss border. We live in South Wales, so fairly far west but western Channel crossings are relatively expensive and would bring us into the West side of France.

As someone has previously said on this thread road miles are cheaper than ferry miles. So Wales/Folkestone and Calais/South Burgundy is cheaper than Wales/Poole and Cherbourg/South Burgundy, or any Western crossing.

And once again I say, with Tesco vouchers there can be no cost on the tunnel if you have enough. We only ever pay for our dog, Mr Tesco pays for our two return crossings each year.(y):)
Don't shop at Tesco . So no advantage to me .Pompey to le Havre.still my cheapest option.

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