Hi, I was looking to take Ferry over from France to visit Dover and Canterbury. (it appears cheaper with a car than on foot?) Can anyone provide insight into the Ferry's,(best times, best one to use etc..) as most folks don't seem to use this method. We are a family of 4 in a rental car.
thanks
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Some rental companies don't allow you to take the car on ferries, so check the fine print of your agreement. We often suggest separate cars for each side of the Channel.
The two ferry companies serving Calais-Dover are http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferry-to-france/dover-calais and http://www.poferries.com/en/dover-calais. DFDS also serves Dunkirk if you want to avoid issues around the migrant camp in Calais. See also http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/articles/Calais-ferry-disruption-advice-and-alternative-ferry-routes/.
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
Also, just to remind you. The French drive as we do. The English, on the right side of the car on the right side of the road. By renting two cars in two different countries, each one is set up for that country. Ie. headlights aimed the correct way, etc.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33840 posts
There are three ways.
DFDS, P&O, and the Eurotunnel, where you drive on a train in Coquelles and drive off in Folkestone in just 35 minutes.
Most rental companies do not allow cars on ferries. Only P&O carry foot passengers.
Foot passengers are much cheaper than cars. Foot passenger provisions are not very easy as others have posted here some months ago.
Posted by
3123 posts
Tip: One thing I found a bit confusing is that not all ferries sail every day, at least at some of the Channel ports. (Dover-Calais may have daily service year round, I'm not sure.) Apparently the ferry companies sometimes rotate which boat will serve which port on which day.
Just so you don't think you are hallucinating when you try to book a certain ferry on a certain date and all of a sudden it doesn't exist.
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
With all the troubles surrounding Calais at the moment, I would consider not using it as an exit or entry point in France.
Update. I read today 10.24.2016 that France is removing the Calais tent city. It should be clear of people in 10 days or so.
Posted by
Central Valley, California
293 posts
Echoing the sentiment about Calais's problems at the moment. Too much going on there. There are car ferries from Boulogne, how about looking those up? And take Dramamine with you.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10625 posts
Second the Dramamine suggestion for the ferry. Also, as long as the English immigration/passport control process takes place on Continental soil, as it does under the current treaty, look for the encampement in Calais and elsewhere to reappear within weeks. This isn't the first time it's been dismantled.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
My one time crossing the Channel landed at Boulogne. I can't remember if it was a car ferry. The car ferry experience I had was a night crossing 9 hours from Malmö to Travemünde to start my first trip in Germany. Both crossings were pretty mild and in the summer.
"...to use this method." There are still a few ferry routes I want to do, two are top priority: Plymouth to St Malo, and Rostock to Helsinki.