Sea France ferry info

[Melman Giraffe]

Taking the ferry (Sea France 9.55am Friday) Dover Calais for the first time in years. Can I have some advise on how long to be at the port before the sailing. I would guess to get there an hour before (8.55). Any other advise would be great.

[southendpier]

Getting into Dover with traffic can be a real pain in the mornings. Give yourself time - an hour before should be ok.

Last time I used Sea France we were so delayed that we were the last one on the boat and the ferry door had shut before we'd even got out of the car.

On the way to the ferry I was telling the kids if the ferry started to pull away before we'd got to the ramp we'd need to jump the gap so they should brace themselves for the landing.

They believed me!! (poor things)

[Trophybloo]

Where are you coming from? I would advise taking the M20 route rather than A2 / M2 as it is less prone to hold ups going coast bound in the morning

[V8mate]

I guess it's too late for the OP, but Norfolkline are by far the best all-round cross-Channel operator.

[Melman Giraffe]

Trophybloo said:

Where are you coming from? I would advise taking the M20 route rather than A2 / M2 as it is less prone to hold ups going coast bound in the morning

West London (Ruislip). I'm giving us around 2 hrs to get to Dover. Our trip is being planned like a militry opp, folder with all you need to drive in France, Wife thinks i'm being over the top!!

[V8mate]

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Where are you coming from? I would advise taking the M20 route rather than A2 / M2 as it is less prone to hold ups going coast bound in the morning

West London (Ruislip). I'm giving us around 2 hrs to get to Dover. Our trip is being planned like a militry opp, folder with all you need to drive in France, Wife thinks i'm being over the top!!

Personally, given the time you want to be there, I'd leave more time than that.

I always book ferries before 7am or after 11am. The traffic is too unpredictable during the morning peak.

[Trophybloo]

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

[Melman Giraffe]

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

[Trophybloo]

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

[Melman Giraffe]

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

[V8mate]

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

I can highly recommend the Premier Inn right by the docks. Must be the only hotel in the world where a sea view is only £50-odd a night and it's one of the Lenny-compliant ones.

[Trophybloo]

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

No the A20 and A2 come into Dover from different directions. Coming from Ruislip the M20 / A20 is still the best route. Id forgotten the Prem on the front in Dover - second that emulsion.

[davidjpowell]

V8mate said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

I can highly recommend the Premier Inn right by the docks. Must be the only hotel in the world where a sea view is only £50-odd a night and it's one of the Lenny-compliant ones.

Just hope that your not beneath a family of excited young children up at stupid o'clock for an early sailing. Timber floors. Insane.

[V8mate]

davidjpowell said:

V8mate said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

I can highly recommend the Premier Inn right by the docks. Must be the only hotel in the world where a sea view is only £50-odd a night and it's one of the Lenny-compliant ones.

Just hope that your not beneath a family of excited young children up at stupid o'clock for an early sailing. Timber floors. Insane.

A good night - guaranteed!

[davidjpowell]

V8mate said:

davidjpowell said:

V8mate said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Trophybloo said:

Ruislip to J3 M25 (M20 turn off) can take 2hrs or 50mins it's a lottery. J3 to Dover on the M20 at legal speed (important!!!) is 55mins consistently.

Bugger!!! Now thats got me thinking..Friday morning no school runs so less traffic, however peak holiday season lots heading to the coast or beyond = LOTS OF TRAFFIC

And don't forget our friends, the Caravanners, doing the tour de Londres!!! Travelodge overnight near to Dover?

Good call. Is it a single road into Dover? I think travellodge.com will be my friend!

I can highly recommend the Premier Inn right by the docks. Must be the only hotel in the world where a sea view is only £50-odd a night and it's one of the Lenny-compliant ones.

Just hope that your not beneath a family of excited young children up at stupid o'clock for an early sailing. Timber floors. Insane.

A good night - guaranteed!

They gave me my money back at 5.39 AM without a quible. Would have preferred the good night though!