Cheapest way to cross the chanel - Ferry, Chunnel?

MrSix

MrSix

MrSix

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I'm going to visit friends in Belgium in August and I'm looking for the cheapest way to get there. Flights are around £400 from what I've found so far so I'm thinking it'd be cheaper to drive.

What's the cheapest way to cross the channel (no swimming suggestions thanks!) with a car? Does anybody have any personal recommendations from experience?

Alternatively does anybody know where is the cheapest place to get flights to Antwerp?
 
I may have just answered my own post - I've checked flights from LHR and they're coming in at around £130 which obviously blows the driving thing out of the water!
 
Eurostar. I just paid £70 return from London and the ticket is valid to ANY station in Belgium.

Why waste time with planes when Eurostar is cheaper, faster and easier?
 
Norfolk Line are the cheapest ferries I found, think it was about £50 return for a car, number of passengers doesn't matter.
 
[TW]Fox;16580797 said:
Not really as he's got to get to the Ferry and then from the Ferry to his onward destination.

He wont find a better deal than Eurostar I wouldnt have thought.
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I was under the assumption that he would still be taking his car, in which case i'm guessing it will be cheaper. Depends if he still wants the car or it's just to get him there. :)
 
P&O Dover to Calais
Norfolkline Dover to Dunkirque
LD Lines Ramsgate to Ostend

Flight wise, Cityjet from Manchester or London City to Antwerp. Other than that, look at other airlines to Brussels or even Ryanair to Eindhoven in the Netherlands (south) then jump on a train.
 
Charlie Bravo said:
P&O Dover to Calais
Norfolkline Dover to Dunkirque
LD Lines Ramsgate to Ostend

Flight wise, Cityjet from Manchester or London City to Antwerp. Other than that, look at other airlines to Brussels or even Ryanair to Eindhoven in the Netherlands (south) then jump on a train.
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Why are any of these better options than simply getting on the train at St Pancras and getting off in Brussels 1 hour and 58 minutes later for less than 70 quid?
 
[TW]Fox;16580945 said:
Why are any of these better options than simply getting on the train at St Pancras and getting off in Brussels 1 hour and 58 minutes later for less than 70 quid?
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Show me where I said better? They are just options so stop grizzling and move on.

Eurostar may well be fast and cheap but it offers no flexibility for getting about once you're there. I travel to the Netherlands around once a month and whilst taking my car or bike certainly isn't the cheapest option, it allows me to move as I please during my stay.

MrSix also asked about flights to ANR. Flight time from LCY is 45 minutes and therefore considerably faster compared to Eurostar.
 
Charlie Bravo said:
Eurostar may well be fast and cheap but it offers no flexibility for getting about once you're there.
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Actually it offers you a ticket valid for onward travel on any domestic Belgian railway service.

MrSix also asked about flights to ANR. Flight time from LCY is 45 minutes and therefore considerably faster compared to Eurostar.
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Great, flight time. + Transit to LCY Airport. + Checkin time. +Baggage collection at Brussels. + Transit time from the Airport to central Brussels.

There is a reason Eurostar has 70% of the cross channel market :)
 
Eurotunnel is an absolute rip-off unless you go for a day or 1 night return. Buying 2 day returns won't work as they'll catch your numberplate and/or credit card.

Norfolk Line are the cheapest in my experience. It's a rather grim experience though as the crossing is the best part of 2 hours, and it takes for ever to disembark.

Either that, or take the Eurostar. Under 26 = youth ticket = ~£60 return if you book well enough in advance at non-peak times.
FWIW, the Eurostar is by far the quickest way of getting from London to Paris/Brussels without a doubt.
Door to door, flying takes much much longer.

Flying across the channel isn't worth it at all unless you're on a connecting flight, or need to be in Heathrow or you don't mind wasting time and money. The taxes alone will cost more than a Eurostar ticket.
 
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[TW]Fox;16581032 said:
Actually it offers you a ticket valid for onward travel on any domestic Belgian railway service.

Great, flight time. + Transit to LCY Airport. + Checkin time. +Baggage collection at Brussels. + Transit time from the Airport to central Brussels.

There is a reason Eurostar has 70% of the cross channel market :)
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Valid for travel on each day of your stay should you not wish to stay put for the duration? I thought not hence why I said flexibility.


Flight time - 45mins

Transit to LCY Airport - Would he not have to 'transit' to St Pancras? Irrelevant comment.

Checkin time - checkin closes at minus 10 but he can checkin online anyway.

Baggage collection at Antwerp as in ANR as in where MrSix first stated - a few minutes at the most. ANR is a small airport served by Cityjet on Fokker 50's.

Next...
 
Charlie Bravo said:
Baggage collection at Antwerp as in ANR as in where MrSix first stated - a few minutes at the most. ANR is a small airport served by Cityjet on Fokker 50's.
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Ha! You clearly haven't been to Belgium before.

There's also much more stronger security, you can't take big luggage with you on the plane, you can't take liquids, etc etc..
It's really not worth it.
 
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