And some people, like my OH, won't use tunnels. He's not very keen on ferries either (horrendous experience when his family moved over here from Ireland), but he will just about cross the Channel by the shorter routes.
Anne
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Prospector on 03/11/2010
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 03/11/2010
I would have thought that an average Eurotunnel crossing is at least £250 return with car and caravan, so under the old (4 for 1 in 'deals) scheme you'd need £62.50 in Tesco vouchers to cover the cost. Under the new (3 instead of 4 for 1 deals) you'd need £83.50.
If you don't spend that much and have to pay more than £60 (for low season) to top up your vouchers then you may be better looking at Norfolk Lines as an alternative. At the NEC Caravan Shows they generally issue a promotional code which can give you a very cheap crossing. This year our crossing for May/June 2011 cost just £58.00 return for car and caravan - the same price would apply in September. High season crossings were just £84.00. The next NEC Show is in February and if you don't make up your mind before then it's worth looking out for offers which are usually posted on here as soon as they appear.
But my crossing using Tesco deals for the tunnel costs me nothing, yours costs you £58! Or am I missing something
No, not at all - but some people may not have enough vouchers for the whole cost, and may have to put in a considerable amount of cash to cover the total cost They may not realise just how cheaply you can get a ferry crossing these days, so I was just pointing that out!
I can't/don't shop at Tesco so unfortunately never would qualify for a free crossing in a hundred years!
Well in that case the deals with NL make sense and you do sterling work letting people know when they are available. Keep up the good work.
Quote: Originally posted by daps on 03/11/2010
For someone who hasn't booked the tunnel yet, nor made any plans, how much is the average spend in vouchers should I get say for Sept/Oct 2011.
Hoping to go next year, first time with the van.
Alan
Alan,
I don't know whether a Lunar 462 is a caravan or a motorhome. Charges for a motorhome are less than for car+caravan.
For a motorhome the cheapest we normally get is £61 each way, and they are very good times too (I think anyway). Usually going out in the afternoon, coming back early to mid-morning. None of the middle of the night crossings. Saying that, you get the best prices booking as early as you can as prices go up the nearer the date of travel.
If it is a caravan, then prices will be more, but I don't know how much, not having a caravan. I suggest you go on the Eurotunnel website and have a play round with different dates and times to see what it comes up with. There's usually some pattern, ie midweek afternoons going out are cheaper than mornings, and vice versa coming back.
------------- Ina
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
When booking Eurotunnel bear in mind you'll be allowed to travel up to two hours earlier at no extra charge, providing, of course, that there's space. So if booking 6pm instead of the more expensive 4pm you might still be able to go at 4pm.
I don't know whether a Lunar 462 is a caravan or a motorhome. Charges for a motorhome are less than for car+caravan.
.
For a motorhome the cheapest we normally get is £61 each way, and they are very good times too (I think anyway). Usually going out in the afternoon, coming back early to mid-morning. None of the middle of the night crossings. Saying that, you get the best prices booking as early as you can as prices go up the nearer the date of travel.
If it is a caravan, then prices will be more, but I don't know how much, not having a caravan. I suggest you go on the Eurotunnel website and have a play round with different dates and times to see what it comes up with. There's usually some pattern, ie midweek afternoons going out are cheaper than mornings, and vice versa coming back.
.
Thanks Ina. Its a caravan, so a little more. Will be doing a bit of research this week-end with the prices.
.
Regards
Alan
Quote: Originally posted by jaymac on 03/11/2010
When booking Eurotunnel bear in mind you'll be allowed to travel up to two hours earlier at no extra charge, providing, of course, that there's space. So if booking 6pm instead of the more expensive 4pm you might still be able to go at 4pm.
.
Will make a note of that... Thanks jay.
.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by jaymac on 03/11/2010
When booking Eurotunnel bear in mind you'll be allowed to travel up to two hours earlier at no extra charge, providing, of course, that there's space. So if booking 6pm instead of the more expensive 4pm you might still be able to go at 4pm.
Only used the tunnel once and we were booked on the 10am departure on the way out - they'd had a broken down train earlier in the day and so we were delayed by 1.5 hours AND the same thing happened on the 4pm return
Basically, I'd be surprised if you could get on the 4pm if not paid on it - it's probably always full (in peak times anyway) and you'll be more likely sharing your 6pm journey with people (like me ) who'd paid more for the 4pm trip.
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Quote: Originally posted by jaymac on 03/11/2010When booking Eurotunnel bear in mind you'll be allowed to travel up to two hours earlier at no extra charge, providing, of course, that there's space. So if booking 6pm instead of the more expensive 4pm you might still be able to go at 4pm.
Only used the tunnel once and we were booked on the 10am departure on the way out - they'd had a broken down train earlier in the day and so we were delayed by 1.5 hours AND the same thing happened on the 4pm return
Basically, I'd be surprised if you could get on the 4pm if not paid on it - it's probably always full (in peak times anyway) and you'll be more likely sharing your 6pm journey with people (like me ) who'd paid more for the 4pm trip.
Not our experience. We normally book mid or late afternoon and have always got on 2 hours earlier, it's a bit difficult to predict how long a journey of nearly 300 miles will take, so we always allow extra for hold-ups etc. We nearly always arrive too early for our booked train, but have always got an earlier one.
A point in case is the last time we travelled: it was a Saturday, 21st of August, and our booked train was at 2.20 pm. This time our plans had changed though and we were able to set off the day before and stayed at Bearsted CC site. We set off from there around 10.30-ish, and arrived at the tunnel around 11.15. Were offered the 12.06 train, which we accepted, drove through the checks etc, sat in the queue for about 30 seconds, the barriers opened and we actually got on the 11.50 train!
Similar has happened when we were booked on the 6.20 pm train in June. Arrived around 3.45 and got on the 4.20 pm.
I think you have been unlucky in that your trains were delayed, we travel twice a year on the train, sometimes 3, and, touchwood, that has never happened to us.
We had something similar this year. Our train was booked for 07.42 departure, we arrived there at 06.00 hoping to get on a earlier train, but they had a train breakdown in the night which caused a back log and then two further breakdowns that morning which made it even worse. Luckily in the end we departed at 07.50 which considering the problems, I thought was quite good. Sometimes it's just being in the right place at the right time.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: tesco clubcard vouchers
