We are taking the Eurotunnel for the first time on Tuesday- what a time to pick our inaugural trip!
Having seen the news about the travel disruption, which may be slightly better in a few days anyway, I'm just seeking any words of wisdom about alternative routes, if the M20 is shut. We are coming from Derbyshire and towing a trailer. Despite what my husband thinks, I am fairly adept at map reading alternative routes and he is confident taking them.
The advice is today, that we have to take a diversion from junction 8-11. But that appears to be more useful for those travelling to Dover for ferries, and we don't want to end up in that queue of traffic as well, if possible.
So what's the best route for the Eurotunnel?
- the A20 from J8, through Ashford to J11
- M20 and divert to M2 at J7
- Catching the M2 and diverting down at junction 6
- Catching the M2/A2 and coming down the B2068
Anything else (apart from switching to Brittany Ferries!)
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If you live in Kent you don't go East of M20 J8, beyond that point is a mess of Brexit traffic controls and Operation Brock restrictions.
All this can be avoided by using the Newhaven Dieppe Ferry.
If you have to go to Folkestone or Dover take food and drinking water for the humans and consider taking oil and water for the car. Chocolate is going to melt.
If you remember the 30km military traffic jam in Ukraine then you're about to join something similar but without antitank missiles.
I'm impressed with your list of alternative routes to the M20, the only problem is that everyone local knows them and they jam up within minutes of the M20 seizing up.
I would turn off the B2068 about 2/3 of the way down from Canterbury and take the road through Lyminge amd Etchinghill. That brings you out about 50 yds east of the slip-road from the A20 into the Eurotunnel site and avoids the M20 completely.
Quote: Originally posted by badger54 on 24/7/2022
I would turn off the B2068 about 2/3 of the way down from Canterbury and take the road through Lyminge amd Etchinghill. That brings you out about 50 yds east of the slip-road from the A20 into the Eurotunnel site and avoids the M20 completely.
Same for us at 'normal' times, but this weekend was exceptional with a combination of Operation Brock, breakdowns in the tunnel, staff not being able to get to their post, a fatal accident on the Eurotunnel sliproad, and the heaviest traffic of the year. A nightmare combination. Hopefully this will have eased off by Tuesday. If it hasn't just be prepared with a comfort stop before getting to the M20, plenty of food, water, and distractions such as books and games, or even a pillow for a quick nod for the driver if the queue isn't moving at all. Be philosophical - nothing you can change, so just go with the flow and try not to get stressed.
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We came back from France on Wednesday, no problems at all. We stayed at Black Horse Farm CMC site. Friday we went to Sainsburys in Folkestone, no problem to get there.Then we could not get back as it was gridlocked.
We had to go almost to Hythe along the coast then cut back using narrow country lanes! Only about 7 miles but took ages!
We came home yesterday, knowing the M20 was awful,went up the A260 to the A2. It was closed due to a major accident.
The radio said the M20 was open London bound, so turned round. Wrong tunnel shut again so back up to the A2 which by then had one lane open.
Surprisingly once clear of the accident the M2, M25 ,M1 and M6 were no worse than usual.
Still had 5 weeks in France on quiet ACSI sites with great weather.
After being a college lecturer and having to take school holidays no way will we go over in school holidays!
It may be a silly question but why do loads of people rush off on the first weekend of school,holidays? They have 6 weeks.
Van will be cleaned and returned to store until end of school holidays.
I do feel sorry for those stuck in the chaos, especially truckers.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
''It may be a silly question but why do loads of people rush off on the first weekend of school,holidays? They have 6 weeks.''
Silly question. The children have 6 weeks but parents may only have 2, and may be restricted as to which 2 weeks they can take. School holidays were at a premium when I was a retail manager. And we know that some holiday bookings are Sat to Sat so if you delay your journey, not only do you miss a day's holiday, but you've paid a premium price for it.
I know some people are restricted to when they go.
When I was in the RAF I would do my best not to go away in school holidays as those with kids wanted to go.
Trouble is any backlog will choke up Dover as there is limited space, same at Eurotunnel. I was born not far from Dover so know the area.
Hopefully it will ease soon.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Another bit of advice for those who 'rush off'. School holidays may be at a Premium, but leave it until the last two weeks in August, when less people want to go. Ferries and tunnel will be quieter, sites will be starting to quieten down, and you may be able to take advantage of ACSI card discounts (this year sites available from 17th August onwards, with more choice each day after that).
We always holidayed for the last two weeks of August, setting off on Friday straight after work finished, had a late night ferry, and a nearby overnight stop, then off down France. Usually when we came back there was an end of August Bank Holiday Monday to 'add on' to the holiday, giving us time to travel back on Sunday/Monday. Straight into bed on arriving home, and organised mum had already got uniforms/PE kit/Pack lunch ingredients so the next day's starting school again was easy.
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 24/7/2022
Memo for next year. Smaller ports like Newhaven and Poole might be a better bet than Dover for cross channel at peak weekends
That’s why we booked Portsmouth Santander earlier in the year. Anyone know how things are at Portsmouth, we’re booked on in just under 2 weeks….
We usually go early June to mid July, then return end of August to September as ACSI is available and sites quieten down again.
Being retired it's no problem.
We are not sure whether to go back, having just returned, especially as tunnel,and ferry prices are higher.
We may rent a mobile home or similar and take our Mini so saving on ferry costs and fuel. Not much room for wine in it!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thank you, I will look at the B road option if things haven't improved.
I know this first weekend is often mad, and I feel sorry for those who cannot avoid it. I work in education and we have kids so we are restricted to the 6 weeks, and we normally go later, but eldest needs to be back on the 18th for her A levels and a niece has booked her wedding for the BH! We are thankful that we booked for the Tues, but that was due to trying to get the cheapest price more than anything!
We will go prepared with food and water, good advice about the toilet stop beforehand and I agree, once you have to wait, c'est la vie. I've told the kids to stock up on I-Spy ideas!
We are going for the last two weeks, as we always do due to husbands reporting timetable. I hope, by then, things will have calmed down… but I’m not holding my breath. At least with the van on the back, we can nip in if we need to use the loo!
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 24/7/2022
Another bit of advice for those who 'rush off'. School holidays may be at a Premium, but leave it until the last two weeks in August, when less people want to go. Ferries and tunnel will be quieter, sites will be starting to quieten down, and you may be able to take advantage of ACSI card discounts (this year sites available from 17th August onwards, with more choice each day after that).
We always holidayed for the last two weeks of August, setting off on Friday straight after work finished, had a late night ferry, and a nearby overnight stop, then off down France. Usually when we came back there was an end of August Bank Holiday Monday to 'add on' to the holiday, giving us time to travel back on Sunday/Monday. Straight into bed on arriving home, and organised mum had already got uniforms/PE kit/Pack lunch ingredients so the next day's starting school again was easy.
Exactly what we did, praying that they hadn't grown out of shoes etc in the interim!
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 24/7/2022
It may be a silly question but why do loads of people rush off on the first weekend of school,holidays? They have 6 weeks.
Many factories close for 2 weeks in the summer so only opportunity for employees to get away. We are retired, but we still avoid the holiday chaos queues especially on Bank holiday weekends. If we are going away on a Bank holiday we will leave on the Wednesday or Thursday and only return the day after the bank holiday.
Many Scottish school holidays are end June to mid August. However, if the parents only have 2 weeks holiday, using 4 days of that to get to the channel & back makes little sense. Sailing from Hull (or whichever port it is, I think one ferry has stopped sailing) works better.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Getting to the Eurotunnel-wisdom needed
via mobile 24/7/2022 at 10:07am
