OV9

What’s the least unpleasant option? I’m not up to speed on how likely delays are with each option at the moment. Thinking of July/August time.

Ferry - cheaper, even with an upgrade for lounge access and priority boarding, longer journey
Tunnel - more expensive, shorter journey

Tunnel every time for me.

We used to do the Normandy Express from Poole --> Cherbourg but Brittany don't run it any more so we're overnighting Portsmouth --> Ouistreham this year - even with a carry over credit from pre-pandemic its doubled in price to £840 return (with a cabin however as being in with great unwashed in a "lounge" is not ever happening) - so not cheap either but least worst option from sw england

edit
Seems that there is the Condor Liberacion high speed crossing available now as well - thats circa £600 for estate car and 2 adults/2kids

Eurotunnel and stump up for FlexiPlus, it's massively less stressful esp if you have kids

Tunnel. Every time. So efficient.

Yeah, tunnel every time

Tunnel. You always have lanes dedicated for cars for entering the eurotunnel no matter how backed up the lorries are.
Once Dover gets backed up everything goes out the window. I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours in Folkestone last week just due to the back log from Dover.

Sundayjumper wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:43 am Tunnel. Every time. So efficient.

Absolutely this. The tunnel is ace and every time I've used it we've got on a much earlier one than we booked as we got there in good time. I can't believe people still use the ferries TBH.

I'm a cheapskate and never found decent deals for the tunnel.

Always used the ferry, which if you book up just after Christmas can be quite cheap.

Probably sacrilegious but next time I go to mainland Europe I'm going to take Eurostar/TGV and hire a car at my destination.

Thanks all, gut feel was tunnel. Will look at FlexiPlus.

I love the overnight Portsmouth-Caen crossing. I don’t particularly care for Calais and it’s environs, not driving to the end of Kent, so I always do the ferry.

Jimmy Choo wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:24 pm Probably sacrilegious but next time I go to mainland Europe I'm going to take Eurostar/TGV and hire a car at my destination.

I’ve sort of done this a couple of times -
Eurostar to Paris after work in time for a late dinner, stay over and catch an early train to Spain (5 ish hours to the border) is a very civilised way to travel.

Jobbo wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:34 pm I love the overnight Portsmouth-Caen crossing. I don’t particularly care for Calais and it’s environs, not driving to the end of Kent, so I always do the ferry.

One of my (bike) touring buddies recommends this route too, as you avoid both the above hassles and you're straight into the wonderfully empty French A roads. We'll probably use this method if we visit our French chum next year.

Jobbo wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:34 pm I love the overnight Portsmouth-Caen crossing. I don’t particularly care for Calais and it’s environs, not driving to the end of Kent, so I always do the ferry.

A friend today was talking about the overnight Portsmouth-Cherbourg. Also nearer home to get to, but another £200 more on top of the tunnel. Means an early start in France though, so maybe saving time and effort of having to stop over on the first night - instead being able to drive further south on that first day, if that’s the plan.

JonMad wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:53 pm

Jobbo wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:34 pm I love the overnight Portsmouth-Caen crossing. I don’t particularly care for Calais and it’s environs, not driving to the end of Kent, so I always do the ferry.

A friend today was talking about the overnight Portsmouth-Cherbourg. Also nearer home to get to, but another £200 more on top of the tunnel. Means an early start in France though, so maybe saving time and effort of having to stop over on the first night - instead being able to drive further south on that first day, if that’s the plan.

I haven’t been to Cherbourg for years but it’s quite a bit further north than Caen - it’s on a promontory without a decent main road (at least there wasn’t when I last used it). Also shortens the ferry crossing compared to Le Havre or Caen so if you do the overnight, it’s not long enough for a decent sleep.

Tunnel is awesome but the costs have gone up sooo much over the last few years. Last time I booked a return (in April) it was around £350 return. Flexplus would have taken it over £500. I could literally fly to Ecuador for the same money.

We do (or did) this journey quite a bit. The best option depends on your visit. For a short weekend or midweek break, I always use the tunnel as time is of the essence. For family holidays, I always catch an early ferry. That way I can have a little snooze before the big drive the other side.

I love the speed of the tunnel, but during school holidays, the delays are horrendous and common. We've waited 6 hours in the past. Cost is getting stupid too. Longest delay with the ferry was an hour, but this is rare and they are great vfm.

Regardless of which one you choose, go very early morning for the best deals, minimal traffic and lowest chance of delays.

Portsmouth to St Malo is a good crossing if your going the west side of France and they used to do a short day or overnight crossing. Its a 600+ miles of driving going from Wales to St Malo via the tunnel so it depends on where you're going from and to ?

P&O ferry? Take the train!