Just booked 20% off P&O North Sea Hull-Rotterdam for less than LeShuttle

[carolyn]

Yes, my post was more aimed at people from the north, who like me dread the drive to Dover/Folkestone.

We used to go via Dover and Folkestone for years, even before the tunnel was built.

Then we crossed to Zeebrugge for many years, until POD closed it.

Mostly we travel to Spain now via BF Or Fly.

Having not used the Dover / Folkestone route for 12 years. We tried it last year. We drove down after 6pm from Manchester and even then, it was 1am before we were parked up in some scruffy and noisy M25 services.

The M25 was closed at Heathrow and the diversion was taking us inside the ULEZ At £300 a day. So I had to pull over and find an alternative route through to the other side.

The next day we drove the remaining stretch to board Irish ferries. The original vessel I chose, the flagship was not available and we had to get a delayed replacement. It was 4pm by the time we disembarked in Calais.

We were heading to The Netherlands via Brugge .

The return leg was via LeShuttle. We had stayed at the Camping Car park in Calais the night before. Check-in staff on the tunnel French side were rude and unhelpful.

The journey back during the day was stop-start. Congested, dangerous and tiring. 9
Hours . But that doesn’t beat our once 11 hour Sunday trip 20 years ago.

I can understand it for you up North but you did mention us folk in the South West so it wasn’t surprising Hawkstone and I joined in as it didn’t really make sense to us

 

[EuroTrotters]

I can understand it for you up North but you did mention us folk in the South West so it wasn’t surprising Hawkstone and I joined in as it didn’t really make sense to us

Did I ?

 

[suavecarve]

Did I ?

No

Easily mistaken but it wasnt you. Your point was the Northerners, to whom it does make sense

 

[carolyn]

Did I ?

I do apologise, it was Brains

 

[EuroTrotters]

No

Easily mistaken but it wasnt you. Your point was the Northerners, to whom it does make sense

They should have gone to a Professional optician

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[Baggydave]

Yes, my post was more aimed at people from the north, who like me dread the drive to Dover/Folkestone.

We used to go via Dover and Folkestone for years, even before the tunnel was built.

Then we crossed to Zeebrugge for many years, until POD closed it.

Mostly we travel to Spain now via BF Or Fly.

Having not used the Dover / Folkestone route for 12 years. We tried it last year. We drove down after 6pm from Manchester and even then, it was 1am before we were parked up in some scruffy and noisy M25 services.

The M25 was closed at Heathrow and the diversion was taking us inside the ULEZ At £300 a day. So I had to pull over and find an alternative route through to the other side.

The next day we drove the remaining stretch to board Irish ferries. The original vessel I chose, the flagship was not available and we had to get a delayed replacement. It was 4pm by the time we disembarked in Calais.

We were heading to The Netherlands via Brugge .

The return leg was via LeShuttle. We had stayed at the Camping Car park in Calais the night before. Check-in staff on the tunnel French side were rude and unhelpful.

The journey back during the day was stop-start. Congested, dangerous and tiring. 9
Hours . But that doesn’t beat our once 11 hour Sunday trip 20 years ago.

Just a quick mention. If you’re diverted off the m25 into lez because of road works take pictures of signs. You will get a fine but if you can show the diversion it will be cancelled. Highways England are the folk to contact for confirmation of diversion.
Ask me how I know. Our fine would have been £1200.

 

[JockandRita]

So, tunnel has lost our business.

Same here Stewart. The only reason we are on the Tunnel on this trip, is because our German trip couldn't go ahead in September, so rather than lose the crossing, we managed to re book it for a Jan/March return before it expired.

I think we were all spoiled by the Tunnel's Frequent Traveller tickets. TBH, even if the Tunnel had increaed the price of the car tickets and doubled the MH suppliment charge, folks would still have been happy to continue with it for the convenience.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Bill-H]

Hull is nearer by 100 miles for me than Dover or Newhaven but the Hull-Rotterdam ferry costs for me are £615 one way!
Dover-Dunkirk same travel date £265.
To Rotterdam we'd need a pet friendly cabin as it's a 10 hour crossing, motorhome and car on a trailer.
To Dunkirk - dogs stay in the vehicle and we don't need a cabin as its less than 3 hours
Travel down the day before and overnight free at a pub and into northern France by lunchtime, or over into Belgium.
Price difference £350
I can travel quite a way over a few days for £350 and could be sitting on a beach in the Med or high in the Alps or the Pyrenees and still be in pocket after paying for fuel and a couple of aires.
I can understand some reluctance to travel around London on the motorway system, but the motorway system around Manchester and Leeds can be quite congested at times - and just as daunting for someone who doesn't know the route.

 

[Guigsy]

Hull is nearer by 100 miles for me than Dover or Newhaven but the Hull-Rotterdam ferry costs for me are £615 one way!
Dover-Dunkirk same travel date £265.
To Rotterdam we'd need a pet friendly cabin as it's a 10 hour crossing, motorhome and car on a trailer.
To Dunkirk - dogs stay in the vehicle and we don't need a cabin as its less than 3 hours
Travel down the day before and overnight free at a pub and into northern France by lunchtime, or over into Belgium.
Price difference £350
I can travel quite a way over a few days for £350 and could be sitting on a beach in the Med or high in the Alps or the Pyrenees and still be in pocket after paying for fuel and a couple of aires.
I can understand some reluctance to travel around London on the motorway system, but the motorway system around Manchester and Leeds can be quite congested at times - and just as daunting for someone who doesn't know the route.

For pets, the tunnel can be significantly less stressful.

I've had a 3.5 hour journey to the tunnel terminal turn into an 8 hour epic before, due to the M25. And once you reach Calais, there aren't any good places to stop until you're about an hour away. It's still not put me off.

 

[stewartwebr]

Same here Stewart. The only reason we are on the Tunnel on this trip, is because our German trip couldn't go ahead in September, so rather than lose the crossing, we managed to re book it for a Jan/March return before it expired.

I think we were all spoiled by the Tunnel's Frequent Traveller tickets. TBH, even if the Tunnel had increaed the price of the car tickets and doubled the MH suppliment charge, folks would still have been happy to continue with it for the convenience.

Cheers,

Jock.

Aye, the good old days. I shared many a frequent traveller ticket with fellow funsters, within the rules of course

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[funflair]

We used the Hull Zeebrugge crossing when we were still working, I could finish at 12 on a Saturday get home, pack the caravan and be on the boat with a glass of wine before 6pm, yes it was more expensive than the tunnel or Dover ferry but so much more convenient than heading South which I still hate as the roads are a national disgrace. Last year we were down Soth already for Goodwood so used the Portsmouth Le Havre ferry as we were heading to France so that was perfect, heading to France again this year and to be fair that route would make sense but it may well end up being the Hull-Rotterdam just for convenience at this end.

I will add that we always book the P&O Hull ferry through the Caravan Club or C&MHC as they now like to be known, always a good deal and more than pays for the membership each year.

 

[WESTY66]

Is the Dover Calais ferry route like Eurotunnel in that you just drive straight off the ferry or do you have to que for passport/custom control on the French side?

 

[Hawkstone]

Did I ?

We were just supporting your use of ferries as opposed to that horrible tunnel

 

[nicholsong]

Is the Dover Calais ferry route like Eurotunnel in that you just drive straight off the ferry or do you have to que for passport/custom control on the French side?

The French have passport/customs checks set up at Dover, so that has alread been done when you arrive in Calais or Dunkirk so one just drives off. At Calais/Dunkirk UK Border Control do the checks in Calais, and Dunkirk.

This only applies on Dover-Calais/Dunkirk routes.

 

[Brains]

If I were to leave at the same time as you (say 1700 hrs) I would be on a ferry at say 20-2100 hrs and be in Bergues to overnight then 3 hrs 30 to Dusseldorf (before lunch)
If I were to leave at the same time as you and go to Hull I would estimate getting there about 2200 hrs........ Have I missed the ferry and have to wait 24 hours as well as being £190 out of pocket ?

If i were to leave at my normal time of aiming to catch 0800 hrs ferry (after a night shift) I would be in Dusseldorf the same night from Dover, but if I were to go via Hull it will take me 24 hours longer (and £190)

The comparison I was using was Harwich/Hoek of Holland route (not Hull/Amsterdam)

Leaving home at 17.00h (Although I could leave an hour later)
Harwich 80 miles/1.30 hrs
Loading from 19.30h
Nice cabin, restaurant etc.
Arrive Hoek van Holland 08.00h
Dusseldorf 250km/3hrs
ETA would be 11.00h

As you live on the Surrey/Hants border, Harwich and Dover will be similar distance/time.
Calais/Dusseldorf is about 4h30
Hoek/Dusseldorf is about 3hrs

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[EuroTrotters]

Just a quick mention. If you’re diverted off the m25 into lez because of road works take pictures of signs. You will get a fine but if you can show the diversion it will be cancelled. Highways England are the folk to contact for confirmation of diversion.
Ask me how I know. Our fine would have been £1200.

Crikey

 

[Ejaydee]

Getting out of Dorset is the worst part of any trip.

You should try getting out of Cornwall during the summer months (we live in the far west), that can really be a burden if you hit the traffic wrongly .

I am interested in this thread because although I haven't ever taken the MH out of the UK and so far have not had any ambition to do so, I am now seriously thinking about going to north western Spain (La Coruna area) in August next year (2026) as there will be a full eclipse of the sun which will be observable from there.

In the 1980's, I lived in La Coruna for three years, but I have not been back since and would like to revisit the old haunts. We now have Spanish friends that live in Padrón just to the south of Santiago de Compostela, and an old shipmate from 40 years ago lives in Vigo, so that has given me extra impetus to get my backside into gear and travel over the water for a few weeks next year.

However, whereas several decades ago I would have just packed the car and gone to the ferry port at Plymouth and hopped across to Roscoff, having read several other threads recently, it seems to me that one has to be in full "expedition mode", in order to getting over the water in a motorhome and staying on the right side of the law.

Firstly, we have a dog, which seems to create a whole set of additional considerations, cost and actions, and which could present problems for selecting a suitable pet friendly route across.

Added to that is information contained in a number of threads on MHF about all the additional "stuff" you seemingly need to carry with you to just get around over on the continent (Angles Morts, emergency kits etc etc), never mind all the threats of criminality, perceived or real, it makes me wonder why so many Funsters ever bother leaving these shores.

I will be watching this and similar threads with interest over the coming months, to work out the best route for me to get to Galicia in the most relaxed and most inexpensive way possible next year .

I haven't driven on the continent since being in Holland in 2000 when we were having a boat built there, so that will be a bit of a rude awakening when we disembark the ferry or train and I am faced with driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

 

[Hawkstone]

You should try getting out of Cornwall during the summer months (we live in the far west), that can really be a burden if you hit the traffic wrongly .

I am interested in this thread because although I haven't ever taken the MH out of the UK and so far have not had any ambition to do so, I am now seriously thinking about going to north western Spain (La Coruna area) in August next year (2026) as there will be a full eclipse of the sun which will be observable from there.

In the 1980's, I lived in La Coruna for three years, but I have not been back since and would like to revisit the old haunts. We now have Spanish friends that live in Padrón just to the south of Santiago de Compostela, and an old shipmate from 40 years ago lives in Vigo, so that has given me extra impetus to get my backside into gear and travel over the water for a few weeks next year.

However, whereas several decades ago I would have just packed the car and gone to the ferry port at Plymouth and hopped across to Roscoff, having read several other threads recently, it seems to me that one has to be in full "expedition mode", in order to getting over the water in a motorhome and staying on the right side of the law.

Firstly, we have a dog, which seems to create a whole set of additional considerations, cost and actions, and which could present problems for selecting a suitable pet friendly route across.

Added to that is information contained in a number of threads on MHF about all the additional "stuff" you seemingly need to carry with you to just get around over on the continent (Angles Morts, emergency kits etc etc), never mind all the threats of criminality, perceived or real, it makes me wonder why so many Funsters ever bother leaving these shores.

I will be watching this and similar threads with interest over the coming months, to work out the best route for me to get to Galicia in the most relaxed and most inexpensive way possible next year .

I haven't driven on the continent since being in Holland in 2000 when we were having a boat built there, so that will be a bit of a rude awakening when we disembark the ferry or train and I am faced with driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

I feel your pain. We have holidayed many a time in the South West….I have spent many hours stationary on some of your roads but it was always worth it when we finally reached our destination.

 

[suavecarve]

The comparison I was using was Harwich/Hoek of Holland route (not Hull/Amsterdam)

Leaving home at 17.00h (Although I could leave an hour later)
Harwich 80 miles/1.30 hrs
Loading from 19.30h
Nice cabin, restaurant etc.
Arrive Hoek van Holland 08.00h
Dusseldorf 250km/3hrs
ETA would be 11.00h

As you live on the Surrey/Hants border, Harwich and Dover will be similar distance/time.
Calais/Dusseldorf is about 4h30
Hoek/Dusseldorf is about 3hrs

Its still far far too expensive and longer to get there.
Its 3 hours to Harwich versus 90 minutes to Dover.

Youre paying to sleep on board, I would be FLTing it up in Bergues.

If I were to leave at 1700 hrs I would be able to catch the 2200 from Harwich and have had up to 9.5 hours kip and probably ready to roll at 0630 hrs to your example of Dusseldorf.
If I left to get to Dover I would be asleep in Bergues for the same amount of time as you had slept on the ferry.

It is about an hour further to Harwich than Dover for me.

I would be 2-400 pounds better off, could wake up when I wanted, (call it 0630 when you arrive) and I would only be an hour later than you, however if it were Luxembourg as the destination, I would be there slightly earlier than you, and still have the spare cash.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Same here Stewart. The only reason we are on the Tunnel on this trip, is because our German trip couldn't go ahead in September, so rather than lose the crossing, we managed to re book it for a Jan/March return before it expired.

I think we were all spoiled by the Tunnel's Frequent Traveller tickets. TBH, even if the Tunnel had increaed the price of the car tickets and doubled the MH suppliment charge, folks would still have been happy to continue with it for the convenience.

Cheers,

Jock.

I notice BF don’t allow passengers to prolong booking more than the following year, unlike before

For pets, the tunnel can be significantly less stressful.

I've had a 3.5 hour journey to the tunnel terminal turn into an 8 hour epic before, due to the M25. And once you reach Calais, there aren't any good places to stop until you're about an hour away. It's still not put me off.

Camping car park , Calais ?

We used the Hull Zeebrugge crossing when we were still working, I could finish at 12 on a Saturday get home, pack the caravan and be on the boat with a glass of wine before 6pm, yes it was more expensive than the tunnel or Dover ferry but so much more convenient than heading South which I still hate as the roads are a national disgrace. Last year we were down Soth already for Goodwood so used the Portsmouth Le Havre ferry as we were heading to France so that was perfect, heading to France again this year and to be fair that route would make sense but it may well end up being the Hull-Rotterdam just for convenience at this end.

I will add that we always book the P&O Hull ferry through the Caravan Club or C&MHC as they now like to be known, always a good deal and more than pays for the membership each year.

I usually book with caravan club . Bu they were more expensive . Even with the combined overseas overnight vouchers . That are often difficult to use or refused .

You should try getting out of Cornwall during the summer months (we live in the far west), that can really be a burden if you hit the traffic wrongly .

I am interested in this thread because although I haven't ever taken the MH out of the UK and so far have not had any ambition to do so, I am now seriously thinking about going to north western Spain (La Coruna area) in August next year (2026) as there will be a full eclipse of the sun which will be observable from there.

In the 1980's, I lived in La Coruna for three years, but I have not been back since and would like to revisit the old haunts. We now have Spanish friends that live in Padrón just to the south of Santiago de Compostela, and an old shipmate from 40 years ago lives in Vigo, so that has given me extra impetus to get my backside into gear and travel over the water for a few weeks next year.

However, whereas several decades ago I would have just packed the car and gone to the ferry port at Plymouth and hopped across to Roscoff, having read several other threads recently, it seems to me that one has to be in full "expedition mode", in order to getting over the water in a motorhome and staying on the right side of the law.

Firstly, we have a dog, which seems to create a whole set of additional considerations, cost and actions, and which could present problems for selecting a suitable pet friendly route across.

Added to that is information contained in a number of threads on MHF about all the additional "stuff" you seemingly need to carry with you to just get around over on the continent (Angles Morts, emergency kits etc etc), never mind all the threats of criminality, perceived or real, it makes me wonder why so many Funsters ever bother leaving these shores.

I will be watching this and similar threads with interest over the coming months, to work out the best route for me to get to Galicia in the most relaxed and most inexpensive way possible next year .

I haven't driven on the continent since being in Holland in 2000 when we were having a boat built there, so that will be a bit of a rude awakening when we disembark the ferry or train and I am faced with driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

Another benefit using North Sea . I won’t have to use those ridiculous ongly morr signs

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[Minxy]

It sounds like a lovely idea if we weren’t an hour from Poole or 2 from Portsmouth and Plymouth. I have done the drive to Hull many times as one son went to Uni there and I don’t want to do it again, not even if I was going to Italy!.

What did he study at uni? I worked there for yonks.

 

[carolyn]

What did he study at uni? I worked there for yonks.

Criminology and Forensic Science from 2010-2013.

 

[MisterB]

I can understand some reluctance to travel around London on the motorway system, but the motorway system around Manchester and Leeds can be quite congested at times - and just as daunting for someone who doesn't know the route.

An alternative route to avoid a lot of the M25 from t'th'north is to use the A14 to Ipswich ,(picking it up at either M6/M1/A14 junction or A1/A14 junction), then A12 to A130 (to Southend) then A13 to the M25. All dual carriageway, unfortunately it doesn't avoid the Dartford crossing though ....

 

[PlacidoD]

I know some of you are boycotting POSL.

But for me, to get to the Tunnel is an 4rse in the world of a place. Along with at least a 6 hour , 275 mile Journey on crap congested motorways and Dartford crossing or go anti-clockwise, with more traffic.

We can get to Hull in 2 hours, 100 miles.

Overnight relaxing on-board the ferry. Wake up, nice breakfast and hit the roads.

Hull-Rotterdam also saves us 200 miles on our route on the other side. That and €200 in French Tolls Saved and less W&T on the Moho.

So if any of you fellow northerners are looking to travel. might be worth looking at the 20% off offer.

Not surprised they are offering 20% discounts to try and recover business. I used Hull-Zeebrugge then Hull-Rotterdam for many years on motorcycle trips but got put off completely by the way they sacked their staff. I used to take pot luck sharing a cabin then. Not sure that is available anymore?

So a comparison as a solo traveller taking my oft trodden route to Baden-Baden then down the B500 to Switzerland.

Hull-Rotterdam return September 2025
£394.25
Bolton-Hull and back 200 miles (2 hours x 2)
Rotterdam- Baden-Baden environs & back - 750 miles (6 hours x 2)
Total miles 950 miles
Total driving hours- 16 hours
Total days - 2

DFDS Dover-Dunkirk
£256
Bolton-Dover & back 600 miles (5.5 hours x 2)
Dunkirk to Baden-Baden environs & back 750 miles (6 hours x 2)
Total miles 1350
Total driving hours - 23 hours
Total days - 2

DFDS Newhaven-Dieppe
£167.20 (with 20% Seniors discount)
Bolton-Newhaven & back 550 miles (5 hours x 2)
Dieppe-Baden-Baden environs & back 900 miles (8 hours x 2)
Total miles - 1450
Total driving hours - 26 hours
Total days - 2

So comparing Hull with Newhaven an extra 10 hours of driving and 500 miles saves me £ 227. Allowing a fairly standard 45 p per mile car allowance for those extra 500 miles .... surprise, surprise brings up the remarkably similar figure of £225!

And comparing Hull with Dover an extra 7 hours of driving and 400 miles saves me £138.00 which at 45p per miles is £180. So not a massive difference.

Food for thought! Shame they do not still do Hull-Zeebrugge -That would be quite attractive with a 20% discount!