Eurotunnel these days
Discussion
We use it all the time - last weekend being the last time. It's as easy as it's ever been - if you upload everything to the app you will have no problems. the app will show with green ticks alongside the documents when they are approved.
We are finding getting through is quicker than normal - people who are travelling at the moment generally have everything in order. It's not so cheap though, since they stopped the 10x journey tickets but is starting to get cheaper.
We are finding getting through is quicker than normal - people who are travelling at the moment generally have everything in order. It's not so cheap though, since they stopped the 10x journey tickets but is starting to get cheaper.
Went out via Eurotunnel in December just before Macron started playing silly bu99ers with the borders. There was a 4 hour delay as every bit of documentation was checked and checked again. This was despite everything having been uploaded to the Eurotunnel website in advance.
Coming back last Friday evening i was expecting the worst. Couldn't have been more different. Again everything was uploaded in advance. arriving in Calais at 5.30pm there were no queues. No one. It was empty. Only passports were checked and that was it. Straight onto a waiting train and away. The place was deserted and in total there could not have been more than a dozen cars on our train. This wasn't using Flexiplus either - the booking was for 7.50pm.
If only it was always like that but in reality you never can tell what it's going to be like.
Coming back last Friday evening i was expecting the worst. Couldn't have been more different. Again everything was uploaded in advance. arriving in Calais at 5.30pm there were no queues. No one. It was empty. Only passports were checked and that was it. Straight onto a waiting train and away. The place was deserted and in total there could not have been more than a dozen cars on our train. This wasn't using Flexiplus either - the booking was for 7.50pm.
If only it was always like that but in reality you never can tell what it's going to be like.
tgr said:
Thank you all.
Unpredictability is a bit of a bummer. At least you can take a view on the price.
Are UK customs checking cars on the way back?
Used it a few times over the past 12 months, and loads pre Covid. The most predictable thing is the unpredictability, but we found that even pre Covid. Half the time it’s a breeze straight on.Unpredictability is a bit of a bummer. At least you can take a view on the price.
Are UK customs checking cars on the way back?
But trains getting stuck, systems going down, customs on strike etc etc are always a possibility.
We swapped to Eurotunnel rather than flying because at least you can divert off to a ferry if the system goes down.
I got back last night - went out friday (kids inset day), came back yesterday due to work, so only a very small trip to disneyland Paris (we live 25 mins from terminal).
Anyway, Friday going out we were on a train around 6:30 am, very little open at terminal - if you don't like croissants, or a sausage or egg sandwich, be prepared to go hungry (no issue for me I eat all them things, so grabbed one of them and a coffee).
Passport was fine, but we were early.
Way back - different kettle of fish, got to terminal last night at 7:30pm, damn traffic around paris, (Sunday 13th Feb - train was for 8:20pm), only one french passport terminal open, must of been about 30 cars in front of us, and the french customs were checking in every boot with a torch, allegedly train times were 8:20 then 9:20 (got print out of timetable), we got through french passport control at 8:21 with still brits passport control to go, so 8:20 train gone.
But there was one at 8:50 (despite website saying everything running smoothey, boards at the terminal said there was delays. So we were on a 8:50 train.
No checks for any covid stuff, but all uploaded on app, kids were asked if we were there parents etc.
With eurotunnel like others, sometimes I have sailed through no issues at all, other times its a nightmare.
Anyway, Friday going out we were on a train around 6:30 am, very little open at terminal - if you don't like croissants, or a sausage or egg sandwich, be prepared to go hungry (no issue for me I eat all them things, so grabbed one of them and a coffee).
Passport was fine, but we were early.
Way back - different kettle of fish, got to terminal last night at 7:30pm, damn traffic around paris, (Sunday 13th Feb - train was for 8:20pm), only one french passport terminal open, must of been about 30 cars in front of us, and the french customs were checking in every boot with a torch, allegedly train times were 8:20 then 9:20 (got print out of timetable), we got through french passport control at 8:21 with still brits passport control to go, so 8:20 train gone.
But there was one at 8:50 (despite website saying everything running smoothey, boards at the terminal said there was delays. So we were on a 8:50 train.
No checks for any covid stuff, but all uploaded on app, kids were asked if we were there parents etc.
With eurotunnel like others, sometimes I have sailed through no issues at all, other times its a nightmare.
gtidriver said:
So no covid testing needed to go to or come back from France, I'm out of smoked garlic...I checked just now 24th Feb day trip £250.. ill pass I think..
Was my thought too, my quote came in at 320ish... For. A. Day. Trip. Someone's seriously been on the sauce. IIRC the ferry was under £100 gtidriver said:
So no covid testing needed to go to or come back from France, I'm out of smoked garlic...I checked just now 24th Feb day trip £250.. ill pass I think..
Is this right? No covid checks?I’ve a trip to Gibraltar (flying, obvs) 6th March for a week, and a Hull - Rotterdam ferry end of March
I’m praying that all this PCR crap gets abandoned- I’ve not a clue what’s going on.
I was looking at Eurotunnel for the starting leg of a European road trip in September - first proper stop - Innsbruck. I asked a question on here regarding total transit time, and got the totally reasonable answer of "it varies". My plan was to leave home straight from work (~5pm), get a train around 7:30pm which arrives in France at around 9pm local, then drive for an hour and stay in a hotel. This would mean checking into a hotel at 10pm, and figuring out where / when to fit in dinner.
I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
omniflow said:
I was looking at Eurotunnel for the starting leg of a European road trip in September - first proper stop - Innsbruck. I asked a question on here regarding total transit time, and got the totally reasonable answer of "it varies". My plan was to leave home straight from work (~5pm), get a train around 7:30pm which arrives in France at around 9pm local, then drive for an hour and stay in a hotel. This would mean checking into a hotel at 10pm, and figuring out where / when to fit in dinner.
I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
The Eurotunnel even at peak in July is around £110 one way. A ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is £250. Even driving to the Eurotunnel and then getting a hotel works out cheaper than using the ferry.I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
aturnick54 said:
The Eurotunnel even at peak in July is around £110 one way. A ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is £250. Even driving to the Eurotunnel and then getting a hotel works out cheaper than using the ferry.
Eurotunnel prices I was looking at were £374 one way.Plus - there's the lack of time pressure, hassle, and the fact that you're on the road at 8am.
aturnick54 said:
omniflow said:
I was looking at Eurotunnel for the starting leg of a European road trip in September - first proper stop - Innsbruck. I asked a question on here regarding total transit time, and got the totally reasonable answer of "it varies". My plan was to leave home straight from work (~5pm), get a train around 7:30pm which arrives in France at around 9pm local, then drive for an hour and stay in a hotel. This would mean checking into a hotel at 10pm, and figuring out where / when to fit in dinner.
I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
The Eurotunnel even at peak in July is around £110 one way. A ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is £250. Even driving to the Eurotunnel and then getting a hotel works out cheaper than using the ferry.I then saw another thread on here referencing Harwich to Hook of Holland. An overnight ferry. Harwich is the same driving distance for me as Folkstone. Even with a swanky cabin, it's cheaper than Eurotunnel. Disembark at 8:00am - straight on the road - next stop (apart from fuel, peeing and lunch) Innsbruck. Get to leave home a bit later if I want, will be able to fit in dinner before getting to the port, and even though there will be hanging around waiting to board the ferry it will be totally different from queuing at Eurotunnel as there's only one ferry departure and you're definitely going to be on it. Maybe I'll have a different view after I've done it, but that's definitely my plan for this September.
Rosscow said:
A quick look and Sat 30th July is £112 on the tunnel and £173 on the ferry with a cabin Harwich-Hook of Holland. So not a lot in it.
Surely what works best is dependent on your U.K. location - from Lancashire we now allow ten hours to get to Dover due to traffic/accidents/roadworks. Our old technique of leaving at 3am doesn’t work anymore as huge swathes of the motorway network are closed at night. So despite the fact that it costs a trillion pounds we are left with the Hull - Rotterdam floating flat-roof pub.
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