Why is the channel tunnel such a rip-off?

MilanoChris said:
I don't have to drive into Folkestone, I just drive straight to the tunnel from the M20.
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Well you barely have to go into Dover either do you? Just follow the M20 as it becomes the A20 and that will take you straight to the docks?

Granted, I come down the A2 which is even easier - down to the cliffs, follow the overpass round and you end up at the dock entrance. Easy.
 
dangermouse425 said:
Totally agree with geekman here. The short journey time makes it worthwhile in my book. Plus the staff are usually flexible with sticking you on an earlier train when you arrive a bit earlier than expected on the return.
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I have to say, I've always found the ferries to be quite slick. Turn up at the dock in time for your sailing, give them your ticket. Drive to your embarkation lane and load, which doesn't take long. Then as Fox says, chill out for 60-90 minutes, go and stand on deck, stretch your legs or whatever.

The only time I've had trouble was last year on the way back. Cant remember what was happening but there was a big hold up at the port and we ended up sailing 1.5 hours later than planned. However, it was nothing compared to the trouble Eurotunnel was having - we drove past miles and miles of queues of cars waiting for the train.
 
[TW]Fox;26572465 said:
I didn't really have to drive into Dover either, the dual carriageway runs right to the ferry port :confused:
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Conscript said:
Well you barely have to go into Dover either do you? Just follow the M20 as it becomes the A20 and that will take you straight to the docks?

Granted, I come down the A2 which is even easier - down to the cliffs, follow the overpass round and you end up at the dock entrance. Easy.
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My point is that it takes less time to get to the tunnel.
 
Conscript said:
I have to say, I've always found the ferries to be quite slick. Turn up at the dock in time for your sailing, give them your ticket. Drive to your embarkation lane and load, which doesn't take long. Then as Fox says, chill out for 60-90 minutes, go and stand on deck, stretch your legs or whatever.

The only time I've had trouble was last year on the way back. Cant remember what was happening but there was a big hold up at the port and we ended up sailing 1.5 hours later than planned. However, it was nothing compared to the trouble Eurotunnel was having - we drove past miles and miles of queues of cars waiting for the train.
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My experience of the ferries has been pretty good as well, and for your trip I wouldn't bother with the tunnel. As you say, it's a nice break in the journey where you can relax and grab something to eat, which is a big advantage if you're doing a longish journey down to the south of France.

However, if you're only doing a couple of hundred miles or less on the other side and just want to get there as quickly as possible, I'd take the tunnel every time. Whenever I've used it it's been very efficient, and we've been able to practically drive straight off the motorway and onto the train.
 
geekman said:
My experience of the ferries has been pretty good as well, and for your trip I wouldn't bother with the tunnel. As you say, it's a nice break in the journey where you can relax and grab something to eat, which is a big advantage if you're doing a longish journey down to the south of France.

However, if you're only doing a couple of hundred miles or less on the other side and just want to get there as quickly as possible, I'd take the tunnel every time. Whenever I've used it it's been very efficient, and we've been able to practically drive straight off the motorway and onto the train.
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I will probably give it a try one year if we go again. This year though the discount on the ferry ticket makes it a no brainer.

Also, what's the deal once you're on the train - do you basically just sit in the carriage with the car? You don't have to remain in your own vehicle do you?
 
[TW]Fox;26572570 said:
It isn't much of a point, Google Maps has the Eurotunnel terminal exactly 9 minutes closer than the Ferry terminal at Dover.
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Living as I do 5 minutes from the Channel tunnel entrance and frequenting Folkstone and Dover quite often I can tell you it's more like 10 minutes :p

In all seriousness each has its place but the ferry is fantastic for picking up wine in a day. Book through the Majestic Calais website and you can get an afternoon return for £19. Go over, pick up stuff and I'm back in a few hours.


Conscript said:
Also, what's the deal once you're on the train - do you basically just sit in the carriage with the car? You don't have to remain in your own vehicle do you?
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You sit in your car or else if you're weird then walk up and down a carriage full of cars where people will think you're just lost looking for the loo.
 
The tunnel is brilliant, I hate boats due to suffering from sea sickness so the train is fantastic for me. I dont care about the price as its not enough to get wound up about and its just over 30mins and I can be off speeding across Europe. :)
 
Eurotunnel is fantastic value, so much nicer than a ferry unless you like boats.

Drive onto and 35mins later you're off into the wilds of France beats a couple of hours on the ferry.
 
Hades said:
What happens if you book two one way tickets two weeks apart? Is it cheaper?
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No, a one way ticket is £73, same as each way for a >5 day trip.

Surprised more people aren't similarly outraged that they'll pay their £73 to sit in a queue behind a guy who's paid £23 for the exact same service.. :confused:
 
garriec said:
Eurotunnel is fantastic value, so much nicer than a ferry unless you like boats.

Drive onto and 35mins later you're off into the wilds of France beats a couple of hours on the ferry.
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When I plan to go to the Netherlands I want to take the ferry as will be a nice break to stretch the legs, relax and take on some noms after the long drive from my house to dover :)

that and I like going out on deck and looking at the sea :)
 
Sasso said:
When I plan to go to the Netherlands I want to take the ferry as will be a nice break to stretch the legs, relax and take on some noms after the long drive from my house to dover :)

that and I like going out on deck and looking at the sea :)
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Yea I guess it does make a difference if you have a long drive beforehand. I'm only about 45 mins from either so that has no bearing on me. The drive to Holland was an easy one :).
 
I just use whichever I can get cheapest at the time.

I have used the ferrys a few times, and had one huge delay, and used the tunnel more times and had a couple of long delays. So it's swings and roundabouts really. Which is what you would expect, otherwise one would eclipse the other for Passenger travel :p
 
I much prefer the ferry. You can relax, have a cup of tea, read a book, stretch your legs. It's not that slow, and it's a lot cheaper.
 
Freefaller said:
I much prefer the ferry. You can relax, have a cup of tea, read a book, stretch your legs. It's not that slow, and it's a lot cheaper.
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been a while since I've been on the vomit comet (stena line catamaran) :p never been sea sick myself but a funny name given to the ship by my father who would use them often on business and see others not agreeing with the boats motions on rougher waters :p I remember trying to walk in a straight line and it would be as if you had a few pints to many... and then some :p
 
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