Safety, crossing channel Calais to Dover
viewing pictures while closing a part of the refugees camp in Calais gave us a new reality :
where do you stay for an night before coming over with the morning ferry ? Do you have any notes for travelling save in this area ?
Comments
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We use the tunnel rather than the ferry and stay at Camping les Epinettes at Peuplingues. It's about 7 miles from the tunnel and it's always been fine. Only takes about 10 or 25 minutes the following morning to get to the tunnel, but ferry will of course take a little longer.
We were there last year at the beginning of July when the ferry strike was on and there were problems with migrants. The site had more people on it than usual at that time as some people were stuck for a number of days there due to cancelled ferries. But normally we stay there twice each holiday, once on the first night and again on the last night and find it an ideal location, so close to the tunnel.
PS to Mods: should this post be in the Overseas section rather than in the UK section, as it's asking about returning FROM Calais, rather than TO Calais?
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I think I would stay, eat and shop at Boulogne these days. There are decent campsites, restaurants and supermarkets there, and only 20 miles up the motorway to the ferries and tunnel at Calais.
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We used to always stay at Chateau du Gandspette, which is still our choice. It's rural enough to be away from any potential issues, and you can travel straight from there to the port without needing to stop.
Having said that, there were absolutely no problems in and around the migrant camp yesterday lunchtime when we passed by on our way back home to England. Yes, there were extra police vans, and the slip road on to the autoroute next to the site was closed,
but there were no incidents, and no migrant presence along the autoroutes, or signs of temporary shelters under the bridges as there used to be.0 -
thanks for quick response. we are just a little bit scared seeing these pictures, but if there are no problems we look forward for our trip to UK in a few weeks.
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The St Louis site at Autingues (near Ardres) is about 30 mins from the port. It has recently been taken over by new owners and is now good again and well worth a look.
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The St Louis site at Autingues (near Ardres) is about 30 mins from the port. It has recently been taken over by new owners and is now good again and well worth a look.
Write your comments here...we stayed here in June 2013 it was very wet weather just sat and watched it rain, you say it now hws new owners. have they up dated the showers and disable toilets the state and smell was terrible the hot water inthe showers could
have made a pot of tea with it yet the washing up aresa in the same boilding was barely warm, But the site was very handy for the tunnel malc0 -
thank you for your info
most of them we can´t use because the will open April1th and we go to an Easter visite to England
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Too much TV can be bad for you on subjects like this. We have just come back through Calais and I considered staying at the terminal car park, and would have done, but we decided to make use of time and head up the road for a hour or so first.
1) Mile after mile of new double fencing.
2) Police vans will blue lights flashing every few hundred yards.
3) Dogs and so on everywhere
In my opinion, you're better off now than you've ever been.
We spent the night at Dunkerque ferry terminal in the end, newly altered so parked in a different spot to usual.
Russ
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The St Louis site at Autingues (near Ardres) is about 30 mins from the port. It has recently been taken over by new owners and is now good again and well worth a look.
Write your comments here...we stayed here in June 2013 it was very wet weather just sat and watched it rain, you say it now hws new owners. have they up dated the showers and disable toilets the state and smell was terrible the hot water inthe showers could have made a pot of tea with it yet the washing up aresa in the same boilding was barely warm, But the site was very handy for the tunnel malc
Yes, the sanitary block has been completely updated and is now fit to use ( I agree it wasn't in the last few years of the old owner's tenure ) with lots of hot water in good shower cubicles. You can't do much about the rain but at least now the whole site has a cared for look and feel.
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We stay at Le Crotoy, 60 miles from Calais, safe and a lovely village with nice Restaurants
Admiral
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The St Louis site at Autingues (near Ardres) is about 30 mins from the port. It has recently been taken over by new owners and is now good again and well worth a look.
Write your comments here...we stayed here in June 2013 it was very wet weather just sat and watched it rain, you say it now hws new owners. have they up dated the showers and disable toilets the state and smell was terrible the hot water inthe showers could
have made a pot of tea with it yet the washing up aresa in the same boilding was barely warm, But the site was very handy for the tunnel malcYes, the sanitary block has been completely updated and is now fit to use ( I agree it wasn't in the last few years of the old owner's tenure ) with lots of hot water in good shower cubicles. You can't do much about the rain but at least now the whole site
has a cared for look and feel.Write your comments here...thanks for info may well use them next year no France this years malc
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