The first step...how far and which direction..?

[zen navigator]

I am in Manchester travelling to France. As this is my first time to France. I am not sure how long it will take me to travel to the Chunnel \ Dover. But I am guessing 6 - 7 hours. Slightly less for the Chunnel or I am misguided



2 hours for the crossing and I am on the other side, which 9 - 10 hour day. I am guessing I will be ready some 'Egyptian PT'



So start at night to get in France bright and early, but knackered or normal start to get there at the end of the day and a desperate drive to find a bed for the night



Also I guess an unsocial departure time at the port = cheaper crossing



I am flying solo, co-pilot hasn't got her wings



Anybody got any thoughts on this matter?



Dave

 

[catask11]

Hi! Just returned from that way and we did the Ferry this time. Around 2 hours dover to calais. We did night time crossing there and back and it was £40 return. August last year we went in a car through the eurotunnel and it was 35 mins and £106 (approx return). Going by ferry means you can have a catnap but eurotunnelo is quicker.
Both cases you are stright onto a Motorway in france. There are plenty of stopover places (Aires) through france so you can full in where every you want. Be careful of the smaller ones, try and pick reasonable busy ones (security).
Hope this helps.
Cath

 

[Deepinvet]

Don't know if this helps but I used to drive from Boston lincs in a Truck and in 10 hours I could get to, well nearly, Orleans..this is about 1.5 hours south of Paris.

 

[biggirafe]

I am in Manchester travelling to France. As this is my first time to France. I am not sure how long it will take me to travel to the Chunnel \ Dover. But I am guessing 6 - 7 hours. Slightly less for the Chunnel or I am misguided



2 hours for the crossing and I am on the other side, which 9 - 10 hour day. I am guessing I will be ready some 'Egyptian PT'



So start at night to get in France bright and early, but knackered or normal start to get there at the end of the day and a desperate drive to find a bed for the night



Also I guess an unsocial departure time at the port = cheaper crossing



I am flying solo, co-pilot hasn't got her wings



Anybody got any thoughts on this matter?



Dave

Hi Dave
We travel over in the evening to Calais and then park up either in the Aire at Calais or on the dock, both are well used just head towards the Aire in Calais and you will see loads of Vans parked up. Never had any trouble.

Then you can get up nice and early in the morning and head off out of Calais before the traffic starts. Its easily possible to get down to the south of France or the spanish border when you do this

Others prefer to get a very early morinng boat into France and sleep in the UK at Dover but I think this means you are tired before you even hit France

 

[John H]

We normally aim to get to France at the end of the day and stay overnight in Boulogne. Unlike the aire at Calais, Boulogne is free and quieter. There is no official aire but if you ask the police they will direct you to either a car park on the waterfront which is free overnight or the car parks around the walls of the old city which are free all day and night. For full details, see the France forum. Happy travels.