Dover Calais ferry to book or not?

The laird

The laird

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I know I've seen it here b4 but we just can't decide whether to pre book or just arrive,any answers appreciated
Do you save mich by booking .?
 
In my experience they charge an arm and a leg if you just turn up. If you can't be sure of what time you will arrive it may pay you to stop just before you get there and book online rather than at the gate!
 
John H said:
In my experience they charge an arm and a leg if you just turn up. If you can't be sure of what time you will arrive it may pay you to stop just before you get there and book online rather than at the gate!
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Thanks John ,we did get stung a few years back,used to do ports to Caen or St,Malo b4 we had camper .
 
Did it 2 years ago at Calais for the crossing to Dover. They charged as much for the single fare as a return pre-booked from Dover/Calais, Calais/Dover would have cost. Never just turned up and paid again.

BTW, if you're in a club, you might qualify for a discount. P&O quoted me £108 odds for a return, C&CC quoted £96 odds for same dates and times (and vehicle).
 
It might pay you to consider buying a Flexible ticket - costs around £20 extra each way but allows free amendments, up to 72 hour slot and full refund options.

The ferry companies vary in costs and terms but all very clear on their websites.
 
definitely book ,much cheaper than turning up and buying a ticket, ridiculous really as I have never seen a boat full.
 
zimba90 said:
It might pay you to consider buying a Flexible ticket - costs around £20 extra each way but allows free amendments, up to 72 hour slot and full refund options.

The ferry companies vary in costs and terms but all very clear on their websites.
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Never knew about this thanks very much will look at it
 
zimba90 said:
It might pay you to consider buying a Flexible ticket - costs around £20 extra each way but allows free amendments, up to 72 hour slot and full refund options.

The ferry companies vary in costs and terms but all very clear on their websites.
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:ditto:

Find the cheapest ferry for the day you're thinking of, often silly o'clock in the morning, then book it on a flexible ticket, then take a ferry at a sensible time within the flexible limits of your ticket.

I just did this for my return as I wasn't sure on the return date, so basically got a flexible ticket for the price of a standard one as the ferry I caught was daytime price at the time I wanted, without change supplement :)

Edit/ This was DFDS crossing and was £20 extra for the flexi option
 
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lebesset said:
try booking on line the day before
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I never book until we have set off and that is from the Midlands which is only 4hrs from Dover, we set off then stop for the night and look online for the cheapest crossing then use C&CC (£10 cheaper), on the way back we stop at Le Touquet/Paris Plage for the Vets and then while we are there we book the return the same way, I have never paid for a flexible ticket because we can get to Dover/Calais and hang around waiting for the trip
 
I have in the past just rang around the ferry companies the week I was travelling & asked for the cheapest crossing, never tried just turning up but I would guess they are likely to charge you more, if you call you can try to haggle a bit with them especially if you can be flexible on times & dates. Just booked with Eurotunnel + Tesco vouchers, paid a bit more than I should have as I was going to book last week, cost £55 in Tesco vouchers +£3 cash for a return. Noticed that you can use Tesco vouchers with the DFDS Dover to Calais/Dunkirk BUT only with a car up to 1.85mtrs :sad:. Could have got that for £49 each way so with Tesco vouchers it would have been £32 in vouchers + £2 . I had to call Tesco & the girl I spoke to thought they were intending to have more ferry deals that you can use vouchers for.

When I booked with Eurotunnel I gave my reg. & was told my van was a CI Rivera 18 JTD maxi :rolleyes2: it is a Rapido A class, she said the info was from there computer linked to the DVLA. I rang the DVLA & the guy I spoke to said all the info they had said it was a 3 litre Fiat.
 
Hopefully we will be away next week, and as I have zillions of Euros on my FairFX card I tried booking on My Ferry link as a foreigner. Guess what? What was £63 is now £45! I didn't complete the transaction and looked at Brittany Ferries as well and it has the same effect. When I have a firm date I'll do it for real!
Anyone else tried this?
John
 
siimplyloco said:
Hopefully we will be away next week, and as I have zillions of Euros on my FairFX card I tried booking on My Ferry link as a foreigner. Guess what? What was £63 is now £45! I didn't complete the transaction and looked at Brittany Ferries as well and it has the same effect. When I have a firm date I'll do it for real!
Anyone else tried this?
John
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Have you had any luck John? About to book a trip for September and price one way was £46.80 or €54.00, or about £41.50 ish. Not a lot in the big picture, but why?
 
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