We're hoping to go to France in September with our 2 dogs, taking our van from the UK rather than using the one stored in France so we can be more self-contained and avoid overnight stays in hotels etc. Our dilemma is whether to use our normal choice of the Poole to Cherbourg ferry (which is scheduled to be running again from the start of September) with a cabin or to use the tunnel. On the face of it, it is "safer" to use the tunnel as you stay in your own vehicle, but I expect the terminals will be much busier than Poole and Cherbourg harbours and I'm wondering whether the eastern side of France will be busier with visitors than the western side, with UK visitors and those from other European countries. Or am I just overthinking everything?
Advice from people who have recently used the ferries or the tunnel welcome - and other people's opinions. Thank you.
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I would always choose the tunnel, and don't think it's any busier in the terminals than anywhere else. You would maybe only need to use a toilet, so any one is as covid free as the next.
If you take your van, you have your own facilities of course, and wouldn't need any other accommodation.
Presumably it takes you a day's travel to get to Folkestone? Cross in the evening and hole up somewhere in France for the night.
We are using tunnel this year for first time with caravan ( we are approx 45 feet all up so normally use ferry peak season). Opted for tunnel for social distancing reasons, though interestingly / surprisingly came in cheaper than p & o Dover Calais this year 😳. Was a bit of a shock tbh.
The first time we crossed with our dog we used the ferry,we were a bit apprehensive at first but when I went down to check on her half way across she was snuggled up sound asleep in her basket.
We crossed over 30 times with her without a problem,3 of them o/night xings,you never know how they will be until you try.
saxo1
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Tunnel and hotel - and use your stored caravan. Hotels are full of sanitiser bottles, reception had one, the dining room had several, and our room has one. Lots of people in the service stations are wearing masks and there is also plenty of sanitiser there too (in the larger aires - otherwise take your own). The main reason is that the tunnel makes you stay in your car which is safer to me then being on a ship full of other people.
We are planning a trip across the channel in September. We usually go DFDS Dover to Dunkirk but when we checked their prices were similar to or higher than the tunnel.
Never paid more than £130 for a return crossing before but they wanted at least £200 for going over Saturday and returning the following Sunday.
Eurotunnel was £210 for a fully refundable crossing so we are going with them.
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Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 12/7/2020
The first time we crossed with our dog we used the ferry,we were a bit apprehensive at first but when I went down to check on her half way across she was snuggled up sound asleep in her basket.
We crossed over 30 times with her without a problem,3 of them o/night xings,you never know how they will be until you try.
saxo1
We've no issues with taking the dogs on the ferry (though we use the Poole-Cherbourg crossing in preference to the Portsmouth-Caen as it's shorter and the ports are quieter) - it's more a case of whether it's safer for us (from a Covid point of view) to use the tunnel or the ferry.
Although you stay in your own car for the crossing using the tunnel, we would need to get out to take the dogs to the Pet Control and the terminals will presumably be a lot busier than Poole or Cherbourg.
We also wondered whether the eastern side of France will be significantly busier with tourists than the western side, due to the majority of UK and other European visitors arriving in France that way.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I’ve used the tunnel for years for both domestic and commercial purposes. I think it’s safer and less hassle. We have booked a small air bnb which will be cleaned and we pick the keys up via a lock box. Then we travel down to the dordogne then onto the ardeche. I generally can’t fault the tunnel , I booked mine about a month ago in hope that we would be safe to go. Roll on august. Fingers crossed it’s all green lights still.
Depends what side of the uk you are and where you are going in France
West UK going to Normandy or west coast, no brainer to get the ferry for me, we use the ferry bunk Beds as our stop over, driving down west UK on a Saturday for the overnight ferry is quite nice
Grab some supper and a glass of wine
Up early and back on the road fresh
Getting over to the tunnel from the west to drive back west is a lot miles to save 200 quid
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Topic: Ferry or tunnel???
via mobile 12/7/2020 at 1:42pm
