Eurotunnel journey out from Folkstone, return date uncertain

[julianm]

I know when I`m going, can get an early morning trip out for about £70. Uncertain when I might be able to get back within + or - 3 days, so it seems a flexi ticket would be a great option, but that`s £199 for just the return journey. Have any PHers here just turned up at Calais & come home on the next available service - if so , how much?
Rough guess using crystal ball pricing policy - £199 ?

[CoolC]

The Flexi tickets are massively overpriced for what they are. I'd suggest booking a return date which is most likely and then nearer the time when you know the exact date call them and alter the booking.

[s3fella]

Get a single out on the tunnel, then turn up at the ferry port for a one way boat home. Never more than 50 quid for the trip back.

[Bluebarge]

if you are going in school holiday time, try to avoid making your return trip on a Saturday. Otherwise just rock up at the ferry and tickets are usually £50-60.

[Puggit]

I've just done an online check - rocking up at Dunkirk currently £50, £100 for P+O at Calais...

Can you really rock up at Calais for a £50 fare?

[chazola]

could you not just get to somewhere with internet access the day before you know you're coming back? Price for the ferry even the day before is usually as cheap as several days/weeks in advance when I've checked.

[Amateurish]

Book a return ticket for the latest possible date, then if you need to travel earlier just phone and change - you will only pay the difference in the fare, if the new date is more expensive.

[julianm]

Hello again & thanks for all the tips - I should be able to do the online bookking with some help at the hotel, so should avoid the £200 - I suppose they do need to balance the load on shuttles but it certainly is a stiff price for something they call flexible!

[Mart-1]

On a euro-trip with mates in 2010 I booked us all on single outbound tickets for c. £70 and said we could just turn up and buy similar priced return tickets at Calais. I stayed on in France and they returned separately only to find themselves paying circa £150-£199 for a single ticket back to UK at the gate - recall it was a Saturday/Sunday evening though which may account for it

I then tried booking online a few days ahead of returning and noticed that the online ticket prices were fluctuating every 30-60 mins or so, and had to time my online booking to secure the lowest price. Things may have changed since

Anyone experienced similar?