Calais to Dover Car Ferries

[Tankman104c]

Has anyone used the Calais to Dover car ferries recently?

I was planning a trip to the Alps this September but my wife is worried about the situation in Calais with all the migrants there. To make matters worse she saw a report in the Daily Mail Online yesterday showing a British coach stuck in a line of trucks with a mob of migrants breaking into the lorry ahead of the coach! What worried me was that you could also see private cars caught up in the queue! There is no way I want to get caught up in a similar situation in a soft top sports car!

Am I worrying too much or should I just use the tunnel?

[magooagain]

You are worrying to much. Thousands of cars a day pass through those ferry ports.

[DuraAce]

You are worrying too much. Put the roof up and lock the doors.

Truckers need to be concerned, not so much for the private driver.

[sunbeam alpine]

Went in and out this weekend with the top down. didn't see any problems.

[Tankman104c]

Thanks for that info guys. I don't know if I can persuade the wife!!!

[sone]

Been through twice in the last two weeks, there isn't anything to worry about. It's like visiting a motorway service station with a fence around it. No migrants on your side of the fence to consider, that said I didn't see anything on the other side either.

[Darren390]

As already said, nothing at all to worry about. Came through 2 weeks ago with no problems although I did see 2 refugees climbing under a coach.

[fatboy18]

Just come back from Le mans, lots of french Police vans about trying to keep it under control and lots of the bar stewards walking about looking for any opportunity to get a ride

It is bad but as others have said, keep doors and windows shut and keep moving. Just allow extra time for border control.

[sone]

fatboy18 said:

Just come back from Le mans, lots of french Police vans about trying to keep it under control and lots of the bar stewards walking about looking for any opportunity to get a ride

It is bad but as others have said, keep doors and windows shut and keep moving. Just allow extra time for border control.

Really people after lifts?
Iv'e never had anyone approach our party in years of traveling back and forward and as for police yes of course they're about but they have nothing to actually keep under control in the port. Perhaps it depends what time you travel.
I rate it as a none event to be honest, no worse than getting on a train in this country, albeit you're in your car!

[fatboy18]

sone said:

fatboy18 said:

Just come back from Le mans, lots of french Police vans about trying to keep it under control and lots of the bar stewards walking about looking for any opportunity to get a ride

It is bad but as others have said, keep doors and windows shut and keep moving. Just allow extra time for border control.

Really people after lifts?
Iv'e never had anyone approach our party in years of traveling back and forward and as for police yes of course they're about but they have nothing to actually keep under control in the port. Perhaps it depends what time you travel.
I rate it as a none event to be honest, no worse than getting on a train in this country, albeit you're in your car!

No there not after lifts, more after trying to stow away, an unsuspecting Van with a back door unlocked would be a prime example! Have you actually been there lately? ITS BAD and the French Police are (trying) to contain it. The poor french locals are in despair. Its like the traveling community decending on Epsom and surrounding areas when the derby is on. its going to get worse too. No fences on the road down to the ferry port by the old hovercraft terminal, they were sitting and walking along by the armco barriers by the sand dunes the last 1/4 mile in.

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 18th June 11:06

[Sharted]

Why would you not want to use the tunnel?

I use it at least twice a year and never seen a migrant (apart from myself!).

It's fast, you don't need to leave the car at all and very flexible.

[sone]

fatboy18 said:

sone said:

fatboy18 said:

Just come back from Le mans, lots of french Police vans about trying to keep it under control and lots of the bar stewards walking about looking for any opportunity to get a ride

It is bad but as others have said, keep doors and windows shut and keep moving. Just allow extra time for border control.

Really people after lifts?
Iv'e never had anyone approach our party in years of traveling back and forward and as for police yes of course they're about but they have nothing to actually keep under control in the port. Perhaps it depends what time you travel.
I rate it as a none event to be honest, no worse than getting on a train in this country, albeit you're in your car!

No there not after lifts, more after trying to stow away, an unsuspecting Van with a back door unlocked would be a prime example! Have you actually been there lately? ITS BAD and the French Police are (trying) to contain it. The poor french locals are in despair. Its like the traveling community decending on Epsom and surrounding areas when the derby is on. its going to get worse too. No fences on the road down to the ferry port by the old hovercraft terminal, they were sitting and walking along by the armco barriers by the sand dunes the last 1/4 mile in.

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 18th June 11:06

I was there Sunday, and two weeks before that! I saw a few people outside the port but nothing more! I know there are issues over there but I've witnessed nothing inside the port!

[fatboy18]

sone said:

fatboy18 said:

sone said:

fatboy18 said:

Just come back from Le mans, lots of french Police vans about trying to keep it under control and lots of the bar stewards walking about looking for any opportunity to get a ride

It is bad but as others have said, keep doors and windows shut and keep moving. Just allow extra time for border control.

Really people after lifts?
Iv'e never had anyone approach our party in years of traveling back and forward and as for police yes of course they're about but they have nothing to actually keep under control in the port. Perhaps it depends what time you travel.
I rate it as a none event to be honest, no worse than getting on a train in this country, albeit you're in your car!

No there not after lifts, more after trying to stow away, an unsuspecting Van with a back door unlocked would be a prime example! Have you actually been there lately? ITS BAD and the French Police are (trying) to contain it. The poor french locals are in despair. Its like the traveling community decending on Epsom and surrounding areas when the derby is on. its going to get worse too. No fences on the road down to the ferry port by the old hovercraft terminal, they were sitting and walking along by the armco barriers by the sand dunes the last 1/4 mile in.

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 18th June 11:06

I was there Sunday, and two weeks before that! I saw a few people outside the port but nothing more! I know there are issues over there but I've witnessed nothing inside the port!

Its NOT inside the port, its the road down to the Port where cars and vans and lorries are queuing or moving slowly prior to Customs / Border controls.

[anonymous-user]

Sharted said:

Why would you not want to use the tunnel?

I use it at least twice a year and never seen a migrant (apart from myself!).

It's fast, you don't need to leave the car at all and very flexible.

It's been plagued by delays recently, more so for the freight side but even so, listen to the travel news most days and delays measured in hours are common.
I also find the couple of hours on the ferry are a useful break before/after the two hour slog to/from Dover.
With regard to the OP's fears, it's more the commercial traffic that gets targetted. I crossed on Monday (going via Dunkerque....cheaper and less crowded) and only saw six of what I assume were immigrants.....walking along these shoulder of the peage.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 18th June 11:31

[stuart313]

Watch Black Hawk Down to get a feel for the place.

[fatboy18]

stuart313 said:

Watch Black Hawk Down to get a feel for the place.

SUMS IT UP RATHER WELL

[sone]

fatboy18 said:

stuart313 said:

Watch Black Hawk Down to get a feel for the place.

SUMS IT UP RATHER WELL

Well done fellas the ops mrs won't leave the house never mind the country.

Op tell her its perfectly safe, go off peak you'll drive straight through and hardly see a French man never mind an immigrant!

[Roo]

Went over last week for a day trip using the tunnel. There's lots of migrants walking down the A road from Belgium towards Calais.

They've set up a couple of camps on the outskirts of Cite Europe but there's a good police presence trying to move them on.

In ten years of using the tunnel, three or four times a year, we've been delayed once and had one crossing cancelled due to the French being on strike. Apart from that it's always run on time. They had an overnight power problem the day before our last trip which meant they could only use one tunnel. We were delayed for thirty minutes. Hardly the end of the world, and it's still considerably quicker than using the ferry.

[//j17]

1. Stop reading the Daily Fail for a start! That's causing have your issues.
2. Is there a problem with illegals around the tunnel/ports? Yes.
3. Are they threatening or intimidating for the average traveller? No.
4. Are we likely to have a problem with them? Not unless you're driving a lorry, no.

On the whole these people are just trying to get in to the UK, not car-jack people or steal from them in passing. And I'm assuming you might notice if someone snuck in to the book of your car while you were sat in it queueing for the ferry, and if that did happen that you would tell someone official, they would get removed and wouldn't get to the UK.

[northwest monkey]

I'm going Dover - Calais in a few weeks and could do with some advice...

We've got a midday crossing and are coming from East Lancs. Any suggestions on a route to take? Satnav in car reckons M6 - M40 - M25 - M20, satnav on phone reckons M62 - A1 - A14 - M11 - M25 - A2.

I was planning on setting off about 3.30 - 4am ish and would rather get there miles earlier than be worrying about being late!

It's about 300 miles & reckons it's about 5h 30m. I'm not entirely convinced by that...

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to route / time to set off?

I used to travel down to Farnborough on a weekly basis so I know the traffic can be a bloody nightmare at times!

My mrs has also expressed concern about immigrants. I suggested we should take some bread rolls to throw to them.