Dunkirk to Dover or Calais to Dover which would you recommend

[orridge]

So it looks like the Tunnel has priced them out of our use at the moment travelling 28/5 to 4/6 Half-Term £733 return vs £200 on the ferry.

We can use either Dunkirk or Calais to Dover having never used the ferry is one port better or easier to use than the other.

 

[ctc]

Stay there, but if you must come back the traffic is lighter at Dunkirk but the roads and security are better at Calais and far more looking for a lift.

 

[nicholsong]

Our experience is mostly with Dunkirk which does not seem to attract immigrants, probably because with only one ferry every 2 hours there are no queues, so no slow moving traffic for the illegals to try to jump on.

Also if early there is/was a quietish parking area by the ticket office to park-up, have even spent the night there for an early crossing.

For us Dunkirk every time, but also shorter drive from Poland.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Calais out Dunkirk in ?

 

[Arnside037]

Depends 'how' you cross. That is to say, if you live in East Sussex, then a quick drive to the Dover - Calais crossing will see you over the water and on your way sooner than Calais -Dunkirk, If you live further from the port then an overnight near Dover will mean that you could want an early start, so if like us you take a breakfast on board so as to avoid the breakfast stop as soon as you arrive in France, then the Dover- Dunkirk gives you time for a leisurely breakfast.
Then it depends where you are going in France. If you are going south or west the Calais is the option. If going east to or through Belgium, or to Holland or Germany or Luxembourg, then its Dunkirk. Even going to Strasbourg, might be better from Dunkirk.

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[sylvester1954]

So it looks like the Tunnel has priced them out of our use at the moment travelling 28/5 to 4/6 Half-Term £733 return vs £200 on the ferry.

We can use either Dunkirk or Calais to Dover having never used the ferry is one port better or easier to use than the other.

Dieppe to Newhaven. Van, two adults one dog £94 one way

 

[dazandandrea]

We prefer dover to Dunkirk.
Dunkirk is always quieter.

 

[orridge]

Dieppe to Newhaven. Van, two adults one dog £94 one way

Yes we looked at that as heading to Normandy but unfortunately full for the dates we are looking at.

 

[orridge]

Depends 'how' you cross. That is to say, if you live in East Sussex, then a quick drive to the Dover - Calais crossing will see you over the water and on your way sooner than Calais -Dunkirk, If you live further from the port then an overnight near Dover will mean that you could want an early start, so if like us you take a breakfast on board so as to avoid the breakfast stop as soon as you arrive in France, then the Dover- Dunkirk gives you time for a leisurely breakfast.
Then it depends where you are going in France. If you are going south or west the Calais is the option. If going east to or through Belgium, or to Holland or Germany or Luxembourg, then its Dunkirk. Even going to Strasbourg, might be better from Dunkirk.

We are just over 1 hour from the tunnel so we always use that so the ferry will be a new experience and unsure if there was much difference using Dunkirk or Calais.

Will be staying at Gravelines the night before so halfway between either.

 

[Fdhadi]

Next trip for us is Dover Calais out and Dunkirk Dover back.
Not much in it tbh.

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[gus-lopez]

Dunkirk for me always.

 

[jollyrodger]

If traveling that way normally Dover /Dunkirk /Dover as then on route to or from Belgium
Less crowded and overnight at Bray Dunes

 

[dryad]

have nearly always used Dunkirk, slightly longer trip than the Calais route, they didn’t/don’t take foot passengers so was more pleasant onboard, haven’t been for a while so not sure if it’s the same..

.

 

[denisejoe]

Dunkirk is definitely a much quieter port. We don't do ferry usually as prefer tunnel but if we do it's generally Newhaven/Dieppe but if we wanted to go from Dover then we'd use Dunkirk.

 

[Brains]

Dunkirk roro ferry port is actually closer to Calais than it is to Dunkirk!
It's the quieter port, so less likely to suffer from delays, but fewer ferries.

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[nicholsong]

have nearly always used Dunkirk, slightly longer trip than the Calais route, they didn’t/don’t take foot passengers so was more pleasant onboard, haven’t been for a while so not sure if it’s the same..

That could explain a lot. Certainly we have never experienced bad behaviour on DVR-DRK. Kids seem to want o be in the games room or the forward facing lounge so easily avoided.

Story against myself. I thought we had booked to DRK but was surprised when the French coast came in sight so early, then I recognised the Calais port entrance. The DFDS booking system has the timetables for both ports on the same page interdispersed, so my big fingers had obviously hit the wrong line, and I had not checked the boarding label when sticking it on the sun blind.. I am still living it down with Basia.

 

[gus-lopez]

have nearly always used Dunkirk, slightly longer trip than the Calais route, they didn’t/don’t take foot passengers so was more pleasant onboard, haven’t been for a while so not sure if it’s the same..

.

Yes, still the same.

 

[Spriddler]

Story against myself. I thought we had booked to DRK but was surprised when the French coast came in sight so early, then I recognised the Calais port entrance. The DFDS booking system has the timetables for both ports on the same page interspersed, so my big fingers had obviously hit the wrong line, and I had not checked the boarding label when sticking it on the sun blind.. I am still living it down with Basia.

Many years ago when I had frequent flyer (Executive Club etc) privileges with very many airlines I used to be able to turn up with only hand luggage just as the flight was boarding. On one occasion I was halfway to visiting a customer in Geneva when I realised that my secretary had booked me on a 'bucket 'n spade' flight to Gerona.

 

[68c]

On one of my first trips to work in Egypt the office girl kindly booked me a Muslim meal on the plane. No last bacon sandwich.

 

[mitzimad]

not enough difference between the two id go with which one sails when you want it or if ones cheaper

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[Riverbankannie]

have nearly always used Dunkirk, slightly longer trip than the Calais route, they didn’t/don’t take foot passengers so was more pleasant onboard, haven’t been for a while so not sure if it’s the same..

.

They take coaches though Last time we used the Dunkirk crossing it was the morning after a big game at Wembley which Germany lost, it was not a pleasant crossing and felt tediously long. There was nowhere to sit and even the stairways were being used for seating.