Has anyone got any suggestions for a brief overnight stop somewhere near Folkestone in July? Don't really want to set up camp, as we are planning on being in the area around 22:00. We will catching an 07:36 shuttle the following morning to head to to near Royan, hence we could do with a decent stop!
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Someone recently suggested using Tesco car park just off the motorway, I think. Can't remember which junction now! Can someone link to the post please?
If a tent stay in a hotel, as Kenren has said, but if a Motorhome or caravan and arriving at 2200 then change your booking and catch a shuttle straightaway that evening. There are loads of places to park and stay for free on the other side, and you have an early start in the morning.
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As Berriow suggests head straight for France on an evening crossing.
For Royan head for Baie de Somme services - an hour or so en route along A26 and stay for free. then down to Beaumont sur Sarthe municiple for a cheap riverside stop over with great facilities then the final jaunt down to Royan.
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As already suggested, change your booking and go straight to france and head for the Baie de Somme services (approx 1hr 10mins from tunnel). They have a nice quiet area (final bay at the end of the dead end road is for motorhomes/caravans. Drop your steadies and rest, then straight back on the motorway the next morning.
Whilst you have alternatives suggestions above, to answer your original question try the Drum Inn details here which is only minutes away from tunnel entrance.
If you can get there a little earlier then book in for a meal as they serve till 9pm
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Thanks for the suggestions folks, very helpful! Certainly food for thought.
A couple of points I never mentioned in my original query, we are in Caravan, the date in July is the Friday the kids break up, and we are breaking the trip up by going to Puy Du Fou, forgot that bit!
I was planning on heading down the A16/A28 towards Le Mans to get to Puy Du Fou. I had suggested heading across on the Friday night and stopping somewhere in France, but the missus isn't keen.
The other thing that was in the back of my mind was what chaos would there be at the Chunnel Terminal that evening? Would it be better to let them clear that overnight and get a clear run in the morning? This was the reason I haven’t yet argued the stopping overnight in France point to much yet!
I think you'd find that the Saturday morning crossings are much busier than the Friday night, especially in the British school holidays. Usually night crossings are cheaper precisely because they are not as full. When our children were at school we always used to cross on a Friday night and then stay overnight on the other side.
Fair point Val. Eurotunnel have obviously got their finger on the pulse, I have just rechecked the fares, from 06:00 on the Friday until mid-afternoon on the Saturday, the fares are up at £182, so there is no incentive on price!
We are booked on the 07:36 on the Saturday morning, so I was planning on getting to the terminal about 06:00, hopefully missing the melee. We’ve never done the dart straight from school before, hence I am keen to glean as much info from people who have done it before. All I was basing my thoughts on were memories of the traffic reports on the Radio, usually the later in the day on the Friday, the worse it sounded like it was.
What I was keen to avoid was after driving 4 hours+ down from Shropshire, was to get delayed from getting across and still having to drive in France to get somewhere to park up.
Yes, I can see your point and oviously that's considered a busy time. It used to be possible to park up around the ferry ports, but these days traffic 'management' prevents you parking almost anywhere within ten miles!
There are some posts on a Motorhome forum which may help and though there are some recommendations, at least it will give you some ideas where you CAN'T stay.
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Topic: Overnight stop near Folkestone
