do I stop before tunnel crossing or after?

lotty

Guest
Hi all,
Well I'm about to book my tunnel crossing to France and was just wondering what you guys do when traveling to France. Do you take a late train so you can travel down and then across in the one day or do you travel down, stop overnight then cross on an early train the next day?
I noticed the really early or late trains are the cheapest. If I stop before crossing, can you overnight at the tunnel car park or do I have to find a spot in the area to park up?
I think I fancy travelling across in the one day as we only have 2 weeks so if I overnight here then It's one day of the trip we would miss out on in France?? :confused:

What do you guys do?

:dance:

Lotty
:wave:
 
I usually travel down after work usually taking me around 5-6 hours arriving around midnight, they are not too strict and will let you on an earlier train if need be, get a few hours into France and stop for the night:D
 
I've always been lead to believe that you cannot overnight in the Tunnel car park; consequently we never do but I'm not sure if this is actually officially so. We park up in a side road on a small industrial estate just on the west side of Folkestone without problems. The return journey can be a bit problematic; we've never managed to find some of the alleged safe places (no GPS) so we usually just 'wing' it but nowhere I would especially recommend. If you turn up early at the Terminal they'll often let you onto the next available train.
 
***** said:
it would be quite easy to catch the train and overnight on the French side.
It all depends on the time of day you intend to leave home.
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It will prob be late morning, by 10am? In that case we should be in time to catch a tea time train and get to France while it is still light, that way I can find an Aire in the daylight and not panic in the dark. (hopefully)
:banana:
 
***** said:
There is Bolougne by the marina, I think it costs about 10 euro

I know I spelt it wrong, it should be Boulogne
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Thanks Graham, had a quick look in Aires book and there's a few around there and it's not too far to drive after the tunnel, looks the ideal 1st night stop.
 
If you arrive a couple of hours early they will usually let you on the next available train. They won't let you in to stop for any length of time at the tunnel. We take the next available train we can without any extra charge, we either drive to the free aire at Wissant N 50.88682 E 1.67027 about 15kms from the tunnel. You just need to get on the free motorway E402 for a few miles then turn off onto the D243. The other option is to stay on the motorway & get off just before the toll section near Boulougne & stay on the Auchan car park at Saint-Martin-Boulougne. If you park near to the Mcdonalds you can pick up the free wifi from there or from the Leroy Merlin store (we found that a stonger signal when we were there just over a week ago)
 
Kontiki said:
If you arrive a couple of hours early they will usually let you on the next available train. They won't let you in to stop for any length of time at the tunnel. We take the next available train we can without any extra charge, we either drive to the free aire at Wissant N 50.88682 E 1.67027 about 15kms from the tunnel. You just need to get on the free motorway E402 for a few miles then turn off onto the D243. The other option is to stay on the motorway & get off just before the toll section near Boulougne & stay on the Auchan car park at Saint-Martin-Boulougne. If you park near to the Mcdonalds you can pick up the free wifi from there or from the Leroy Merlin store (we found that a stonger signal when we were there just over a week ago)
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thanks, got these marked on the map too :banana:
 
Hello
I live in north Lancashire
I've tried both methods (parking up on Marine drive in Dover is fine)
My preferred method is to drive down for an evening crossing and park up in Gravelines.
I like to have leisurely stroll up the the boulangerie for a fresh baget and the food market on a Friday is wonderful.
I use the ferries because it's cheaper and I'm not in a hurry. If you only have 2 weeks this is not what you want to read.
Old age has a few advantages (but not many)

Enjoy your trip

Blue Skies
 
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