Yeah, we always used to buy cheapest ticket and just rely on changing at booth. Normally about €40 to change.
Eurotunnel - A Sneaky Little Trick ;)
- Thread starter PeakyBlinder
- Start date
Did it not always have words to this effect in the T&Cs? But they have to accept people to keep things moving
Between delays and issues and arriving early and late once when we basically had to queue from the m25, I don’t think I’ve ever taken the booked train!
Between delays and issues and arriving early and late once when we basically had to queue from the m25, I don’t think I’ve ever taken the booked train!
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Just checked my June booking.....
This is all it says in the main confirmation
"We advise you to arrive at least 60 minutes before your departure, to allow for processing of check-in and border controls"
I'm guessing the T&C's may have other clauses benefitting them.
I do remember having a lively discussion with a staff member at the booth where they decide which lane to go in, a few years back.
We had gone through the check-in ANPR booths with 5 minutes before the end of out check in time, as printed out on the mirror hanger. When we got to the lane allocated, she said we were late and would have to get on a later train. I showed her the hanger which proved we weren't late at all.
This is all it says in the main confirmation
"We advise you to arrive at least 60 minutes before your departure, to allow for processing of check-in and border controls"
I'm guessing the T&C's may have other clauses benefitting them.
I do remember having a lively discussion with a staff member at the booth where they decide which lane to go in, a few years back.
We had gone through the check-in ANPR booths with 5 minutes before the end of out check in time, as printed out on the mirror hanger. When we got to the lane allocated, she said we were late and would have to get on a later train. I showed her the hanger which proved we weren't late at all.
I remember when it first opened how much easier and quicker the tunnel was compared to ferries, it’s getting to the stage now that I’m not sure why we still use it. Last time we booked a ferry back last minute (mainly before it was from dieppe so closer) and that was so much easier and less stressful than the tunnel is now
If it comes to it maybe you can shove the rack in the van and ride the bikes on?Maybe I should not have declared being a campervan! First time using the tunnel, first time abroad in the van, don't wanna get ripped off but also don't want to be refused travel for being 20cm longer than I have stated
We had to do this on the ferry when the bikes on the roof (we were in the car) were higher than we’d allowed in the booking.
Kids and wife had to go and buy yellow vests from the shop, ride their bikes on (and off at the other end) while my bike dismantled and was shoved across the back seat because the boot was full.
We got the most strict and also useless guy at the checking in booth it seems. I get he needed to raise the issue but I asked if we could just pay extra and be put on a deck for high vehicles - no room he says. Paying extra wasn’t a problem- he let us do that for three ‘extra’ foot passengers/cyclists.
When I parked the car on deck I poked my head in the other levels - the one with motor homes had huge gaps, room for ten cars by the look of it. I can’t imagine that many vans missing the sailing?
Lesson learned to double check the booking.
You can always phone up and amend it if you’re worried.
Having said that my experience of ET is fairly big gaps in between vehicles so I can’t imagine there would be an issue.
This makes a lot more sense.
I haven’t used ET since we were bumped back for hours and hours on a return to the UK.
The motorway heading toward the terminal at the French end had a four hour delay due to an accident. Our TomTom diverted us through farm lanes etc and this, plus leaving with a bit of time to spare (as we didn’t want to miss our slot) meant we arrived at the terminal in good time…
The place was rammed with angry sweaty travellers.
“Sorry, you can’t board your train as everyone here was meant to be on an earlier train so they get priority. You’ll have to wait.”
Seemed having a booked time slot meant sweet FA to them and people that turn up late got to go on first. That attitude put me off so it’s been ferries ever since.
Just to add that we went on the Euro tunnel the other week and it was 250 pound return pre-booked for a camper van blah blah..
And weve looked at doing another trip in a month or so time and the prices already doubled up to over 500 pound. So that's not going to happen.
Master spade the time of year supply and demand maybe?
Don't know is the last trip we just done was our first trip to Europe in the van itself.
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And weve looked at doing another trip in a month or so time and the prices already doubled up to over 500 pound. So that's not going to happen.
Master spade the time of year supply and demand maybe?
Don't know is the last trip we just done was our first trip to Europe in the van itself.
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“Please note, if you are booking a campervan, accessories such as bikes or roof boxes should be included in the length declared”
You don’t need to add the items as you should have included them in the overall length of the unit earlier in the booking process.
It all depends on the day (school holiday e.g.) and the lenght of the stay. I go for £170 return in a few weeks but that´s not helpful if you can´t make the time and need to stay longer. The christmas one I booked it closer to £400
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C&CC give a discount too but when I booked before covid it was booking through them, like booking through a travel agent so you had no direct access to the booking through eurotunnel, quite annoying especially as I then had to repeatedly change it due to lockdown. Not sure if it’s still the same though.
Reading about all these problems that folk have with Euro Tunnel & the Dover Calais ferries makes me wonder if I’m doing something wrong. We use Newhaven/Dieppe whenever possible & it’s so easy & hassle free. We just book on as a “Small Motor home” job done. It asks for the vehicle reg, but only for ticketing purposes, it doesn’t check the provenance of the vehicle or ask for any measurements. We rock up at check in, hand our passports over and that’s it. We can camp in the terminal at either end if we have an early morning sailing, Dieppe is a delightful spot for a meal if we’re waiting. We now get a 20% discount for being fossils. Dieppe is 100 miles closer to The Alps/spain/south of France than Calais. The road connections are good at both ends. What’s not to like??
We always use Newhaven to Dieppe. Book as a large car. We get the early morning ferry so we can stay over in the car park then get a breakfast on the boat.
Don’t forget if one of you is over 60 you get 20% off but you have to book by phone for that. Which is easy enough to do.
Don’t forget if one of you is over 60 you get 20% off but you have to book by phone for that. Which is easy enough to do.
We booked a couple of years ago through C&CC and it was a pain in the ass .
No direct access to ET , they hadn't included the dog despite requesting this which added £25 each way to the price etc etc not worth the hassle
We've booked through CAMC the last 2 years and no problems.
Quite like the idea of newhaven/Dieppe but I think the dog causes a problem with this?
No direct access to ET , they hadn't included the dog despite requesting this which added £25 each way to the price etc etc not worth the hassle
We've booked through CAMC the last 2 years and no problems.
Quite like the idea of newhaven/Dieppe but I think the dog causes a problem with this?
@Frigo110. I'm fully aware of all that but thanks anyway. I was particularly interested to see the fares paid by @d8smt in context (and I'm grateful to him for the response). Speaking personally, I recently paid £400 for a return departing 1424 hrs on 8 June and returning 1050 hrs on 3 July but it is a 'Standard Plus' and we will probably change the return at some point depending on the weather. I didn't manage to get my aris in gear to make the booking and am probably paying a price for that but I can live with it. @Bigsidavies I've thought about trying Newhaven but never really looked into it properly but maybe I will for our August trip.
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Sorry, I just realised I miswrote; it was Cherbourg Poole ferry we used. Really nice experience, just as I remember it pre tunnel
It’s worth going on a ferry just for the breakfast
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