last minute eurotunnel

[illmonkey]

Thinking of going across to France/Belguim for some time off and Christmas spirit. We'd look to drive, may as well fill up on (slightly) cheaper beer/wine on the return.

But, Euro tunnel want £115 return! This is to go this weekend. Any good deals out there? Codes etc?

[Bluebarge]

Try a ferry company instead - check out Norfolkline. Eurotunnel work like Easyjet - cheapest fares go first. But, if you book last minute, at a busy time of year, you can't expect many bargains.

[fatboy b]

Bluebarge said:

Eurotunnel work like Easyjet - cheapest fares go first. But, if you book last minute, at a busy time of year, you can't expect many bargains.

Hmmm - not sure I agree. We've booked a couple of months back to go soon - and couldn't get below £120 - traveling at midday both ways. So at £115, that ain't bad if they're meant to go up near the travel date.

[illmonkey]

fatboy b said:

Bluebarge said:

Eurotunnel work like Easyjet - cheapest fares go first. But, if you book last minute, at a busy time of year, you can't expect many bargains.

Hmmm - not sure I agree. We've booked a couple of months back to go soon - and couldn't get below £120 - traveling at midday both ways. So at £115, that ain't bad if they're meant to go up near the travel date.

I lied, its £123 for 10am and 8pm return.

Cheapest ferry is £57, it just adds over an hour, each way, to the journey time.

[fatboy b]

illmonkey said:

fatboy b said:

Bluebarge said:

Eurotunnel work like Easyjet - cheapest fares go first. But, if you book last minute, at a busy time of year, you can't expect many bargains.

Hmmm - not sure I agree. We've booked a couple of months back to go soon - and couldn't get below £120 - traveling at midday both ways. So at £115, that ain't bad if they're meant to go up near the travel date.

I lied, its £123 for 10am and 8pm return.

Cheapest ferry is £57, it just adds over an hour, each way, to the journey time.

+ the extra getting to the port. And it always seems a longer wait to load, and then the loading itself. Probbably more like a couple of hours extra each way in the end. The last couple of times on in the on the tunnel, we've gotten there early, and got an earlier crossing, so literally 1/2 hour from gate to getting on board.

[Bluebarge]

fatboy b said:

Bluebarge said:

Eurotunnel work like Easyjet - cheapest fares go first. But, if you book last minute, at a busy time of year, you can't expect many bargains.

Hmmm - not sure I agree. We've booked a couple of months back to go soon - and couldn't get below £120 - traveling at midday both ways. So at £115, that ain't bad if they're meant to go up near the travel date.

What I meant was, in general, that's how they work, but at busy times (such as near Christmas and any school holidays) they won't show much change in price, because they can usually fill the slots without discounts.

I've had a slightly different experience from yours with the tunnel - some long delays due to train/signalling failures, but it really is a question of pot luck - the one thing you can be certain of is that the tunnel crossing will be less lumpy than the ferry at this time of year.

If the OP is going to Belgium, he will save 20 minutes on the autoroute by going to Dunkerque and can get a reasonable meal on the ferry, but I agree the tunnel will be quicker overall, if that's what's important to him

[apn]

If you can go Thursday.....

http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcPassengers/...