We're contemplating a trip to Norway next year. All our ferry crossings to date have been Poole - Cherbourg and very easy (we live 30 mins from Poole). Whenever there's a news article on ferry/border issues it seems to be reported from Dover. There's nothing to separate Dover & Folkestone on ferry prices, is one easier/less hassle than the other? The alternative of course would be the tunnel but that costs almost half as much again.
Folkestone or Dover?
- Thread starter David BW
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- Feb 14, 2021
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Irish ferries from Dover are a bit cheaper if you go late in the evening. 7.5 metre van, 21st Jan Irish cheapest £114 P & O £121.50 at Folkstone.
Still - if going to Norway I wouldn't worry about 7.50 - won't even buy you a coffee
Still - if going to Norway I wouldn't worry about 7.50 - won't even buy you a coffee
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Thanks - we’re looking at various options in September. Most seem to be within a few pounds of each other; haven’t looked at evenings though.
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Have you considered driving up north to Felixstowe / Harwich and crossing on PO to Holland - morning ferry @ 7.30 ish gets you across around 4.00pm , so time to find somewhere to o/night before darkness , and you are nearer to eventual destination.
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Don't forget Dunkirk, they MIGHT be cheaper with less hassle?
Ah - just looking at the list again, it was only the Tunnel from Folkstone! Feeling foolish now! The options were Calais or Dunkirk, the latter giving a shorter trip on the other side.
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Thanks but that one would be too long for our dog.
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Calais or Dunkirk does not make much difference at Dover but Dunkirk is very easy for the return, as there is only one ferry every 2 hours, so one drives straight in to check-in with no hassle from immigrants.
The DFDS website shows the Calais and Dover sailings and prices on the same page so comparison is easy and the prices are usually similar.
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I know your query is about Dover/Folkestone but have you considered DFDS Newhaven-Dieppe. Ferry prices are cheap as chips. Crossing is 4 hours and your dog would stay in the MH. (Only you can decide whether that is doable).
Basically it seems to me that you have a trip up the coast and you have choice of which side of the Channel you do that on. At least on the Europe side you can feel you are properly on holiday!
Calais to Lille is 95km. Dieppe to Lille is 160 km.
Newhaven-Dover is 90km. (All as the crow flies but gives you a rough idea)
I have a circa 275 mile slog to get to a ferry port and no way do I want to add more miles and more congestion to make Dover!!!
Basically it seems to me that you have a trip up the coast and you have choice of which side of the Channel you do that on. At least on the Europe side you can feel you are properly on holiday!
Calais to Lille is 95km. Dieppe to Lille is 160 km.
Newhaven-Dover is 90km. (All as the crow flies but gives you a rough idea)
I have a circa 275 mile slog to get to a ferry port and no way do I want to add more miles and more congestion to make Dover!!!
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Trouble the A27 from Portsmouth to Newhaven is awful, we've done it this year, queues at every island and then roadworks on the M27. We started mid afternoon going west so expected to get close to the M27 before the queues started .
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An interesting idea, and one we hadn’t considered. Newhaven definitely sounds preferable to Dover for us. A 4 hour crossing is no problem for our dog. We’ll throw that into the mix and continue with our head scratching. Thanks
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Nanniemate
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- Oct 1, 2019
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- Still dropping clangers and making it up as I go along
The late crossing you can sleep acrossthe water , then wake up fresh and a full day to travel could also work
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I've seen dogs on the Harwich to Hook of Holland route. This is from the Stena website:
"Kennels and pet-friendly cabins on board
There are a limited number of places available in our heated kennels. You book this in advance at the step "Stena Plus & Extras on Board" of the booking process. We also have a number of pet-friendly cabins available so that your pet can travel with you. Pets are not allowed in the restaurants, bars and shops. There is an area available on board our ferries where you can walk your dog."
More detail here: https://www.stenaline.co.uk/customer-service/pre-travel/can-i-bring-my-pet
My experience on that route has been very good (I realise that I have easier access to Harwich from Bedford).
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- Feb 14, 2021
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- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
Personally I tend to go for an evening ferry and then park up and sleep somewhere on the French side ready for a early start the next day.
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Riverbankannie
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If you have a dog then I would recommend P&O Dover Calais booking the dog lounge. Very convenient.
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Riverbankannie
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It’s all very civilised and select as humans have to pay to go inDo the dogs allow humans in to visit them, or only if they bring treats?
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Tel No: +44 3305878787 - A local call that puts you through an english speaking operator in France. They keep French business hours so Monday to Friday 08:00-16:00 Monday to Friday UK time.
P.S Regarding getting there I agree taking the M27/A27 can be a bit of a pain so you book your ferries to avoid weekday rush hours. And there is zero problem bowling up the night before for the 09:00 ferry. Lots of local eateries and a Sainsbury's to fuel up both passengers and the the MoHo. My routine is to set out allowing 5 hours for my drive down from Bolton to catch the 5.00 p.m ferry but my next trip (back end of April) I am driving down Saturday p.m. to catch the 09:00 ferry. My aim is to fuel up at Sainsbury's at circa 21:30 then get a take away Kentucky Fried Chicken, park up for the night on the DFDS car park then put the kettle on!
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