Ferry out of Dover

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A couple of weeks ago we had a window to go on vacation and hurried off. Upon arrival in Dover (could have been 5 April) we drove west, past an incredibly long line of lorries on their way to Dover. It felt like 10 miles long, but could have been shorter. Or longer! Is this normal? How can we book a ferry to France if we don't know how long the line will be and how long it will take to get to Dover?

Also, Dover seemed a bit tricky, is it easy to figure out where to go?

Beginning to wonder if we'll ever get back home?
 
The queuing lorries don’t effect you, you go straight to the port unless your a frieght vehicle in excess of 3500kgs.

Upon arrival in Eastern Dock it will all be very simple,

If you take the M20 route stay away from the freight queues, and head straight in.

If you use the A2 route, keep an eye on your sat nav, if there’s a long queue down the hill to the port do a right at Whitfield roundabout (you should pop into Tesco for fuel anyway) then head for the town centre and turn left to Eastern Dock.

id book DFDS rather than P&O as they’ve been a nightmare.
 
So we can just pass the lorries, staying in the right lane? And they will let us in when we want to leave the motorway?
 
Thanks, we're feeling a lot better abt Dover now :)
 
At Hereford ATM.
We were talking about this last night. Between us we decided that, particularly with the P&O nonsense, depending where you are going once in France, would affect your choice of crossing.
It could be worth considering this. Travelling through to Central or Western France, Spain, then Newhaven -Dieppe or Portsmouth - Caen, would save a lot of miles once in France.
Going east, Germany, Italy and the like? Dover - Calais, Dover - Dunkirk, or Eurotunnel.
Don't discount the tunnel. A 35 minute crossing, without having to leave the comfort of your van. Against 2-4 hours of bored, screaming kids running around, throwing up. The choice can be priceless.
 
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Heard some conflicting report on radio 2 traffic yesterday, they said "you should know by now to go through the cones"? Has anyone just recently gone through the tunnel (heading East) and can please tell us the situation on the M20? We will attempt to cross next month. Cheers. (y)
 
We came back on DFDS towards the end of March. We always used the tunnel when we could get the Frequent Traveller Tickets, now as they are not available we checked the price with DFDS and the Tunnel. At that time there was a £50 difference so we went with DFDS. When we got to the checkin at Calais they gave us a voucher for a free meal on board. It was a superb English Breakfast with tea. The strange thing is they put us on an earlier ferry 10.30am instead of 11.50am and the ferry was not even half full. We are going back on the 8th May and we will book with DFDS again.
PJ
 
pamjon said:
We came back on DFDS towards the end of March. We always used the tunnel when we could get the Frequent Traveller Tickets, now as they are not available we checked the price with DFDS and the Tunnel. At that time there was a £50 difference so we went with DFDS. When we got to the checkin at Calais they gave us a voucher for a free meal on board. It was a superb English Breakfast with tea. The strange thing is they put us on an earlier ferry 10.30am instead of 11.50am and the ferry was not even half full. We are going back on the 8th May and we will book with DFDS again.
PJ
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Remember a while back there was My Ferry Link ?

Best deal we ever had and got it twice, there and back, 7.5m motorhome, 2 adults £37.44 each way and that included a £20 voucher (y)

We didn`t have a meal but got some chips, 2 coffees and some other bits to go with the butties we always make, not paying those crazy prices onboard.

When the wife got to the till the lady said you`ve only spent £15.10 go and get more stuff so she grabbed some chocolate bars which brought it up to just over £20 and the lady said that`s close enough, enjoy :)
 
I thought that tourists travelling to dover were to use the A2,M2 and freight traffic was to use the A20, M20 and join the queue. We used the A20 just as the crisis started and the signs told freight to stay in the left lane and non freight to stay in the right hand lane
 
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Regarding the tunnel: I read recently that you can't use the tunnel if you've got gas in the van? And we all have gas, so how does that work? And if we're allowed, what's the size limit? We're 6m long and just under 3m high.

And isn't it claustrophobic? I know, I've got issues...
 
Bigshug said:
I thought that tourists travelling to dover were to use the A2,M2 and freight traffic was to use the A20, M20 and join the queue. We used the A20 just as the crisis started and the signs told freight to stay in the left lane and non freight to stay in the right hand lane
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We just came down the M25 and are just south of London, there were signs for freight traffic to use the M20.
 
HAUL83 said:
Regarding the tunnel: I read recently that you can't use the tunnel if you've got gas in the van? And we all have gas, so how does that work? And if we're allowed, what's the size limit? We're 6m long and just under 3m high.

And isn't it claustrophobic? I know, I've got issues...
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It's fine, you just make sure your bottles are closed. And I think not claustrophobic. You are in the van anyway, so it's no tighter than that.
 
Came back through the tunnel last week. No queues anywhere. If coming to the tunnel and concerned about the M20, come from Canterbury via the B2068 stone street and then you only join the M20 at junction 11 and leave at 11a.
(If numbers are wrong, sorry...only one junction anyway)
Don't find the tunnel claustrophobic, think you have to forget it's in a tunnel and it is so quick and simple and over before you know it.
 
Train is my choice too, even with the extra cost, it's just so easy. I'd probably draw the line when train is well over twice ferry cost.

Make a cuppa while waiting, get on train and have a 30/40 min nap, good for hours then.

As already said, all you need to do is turn off gas. There is a max limit of gas, but it's way beyond what I carry, I think it's around 90 litres.
Have nearly always been checked by staff to make sure gas is off, but never been asked the amount.
 
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