Is Calais Safe?
Planning a trip to Nomandy in June, Via Folkstone - Calais, but spoke to some members at Chatsworth at weekend and they informed us that they did a same trip in October 2016 & there was still many migrants wandering along the roads on the outskirts of Calais. My wife is concerned about being safe, have any other members travelled through Calais since last year, & is there a reason to worry about safety.
Comments
-
After today's tragic events I would say Calais is safer than London.
1 -
I agree with eurotraveller I would rather have been in Calais than London this afternoon.
Thousands of holiday makers have travelled through Calais without incident and I don't recollect one instance of a caravanner or motorhome reporting on the caravan forums of being targeted like the lorries were at the height of the troubles there.
We certainly came through last August and October without incident.
0 -
We travelled through Calais last September in the early afternoon, and saw absolutely nothing to be concerned about.
interestingly, we travelled back via Caen-Portsmouth and although nothing concerning, UK Border Force asked me to open caravan door to check nothing untoward.
1 -
I don't think the migrants pose "danger" as such - it appears to me that the only risk is inadvertently giving one a lift home and getting prosecuted as a result. However I have avoided Calais by sailing to Dunkerque, Dieppe. Caen or Roscoff instead.
0 -
We travelled back through the height of the troubles in 2015 (when they set fire to the tunnel) There were miles of stationary lorries queing to get into Calais and Coquelles too. We saw a group of migrants running alongside the lorries, trying to find a way into them. At no time did we feel unsafe because they were not targeting caravans or motorhomes. We were told by the customs officer that caravans were not a target as they are too easily searched. He did, however, just for our own peace of mind, advise that we keep the doors locked (Do you travel with your caravan unlocked?!!)
Last year, we went exactly the same route and didn't even see a migrant at Calais. We did see 4 or 5 enroute to the ports, posing as hitch-hikers at the rest areas/fuel stations. The only threat they carried was their badly written signs.
I firmly believe there is no threat from these people, but just be vigilant.
2 -
Well there were no signs of any problems when I came through from France 2 weeks ago. Even stayed on the Wissant Aire before catching a morning train. The press as usual blow everything out of proportion. I have never had any problem this year or last or even before that and will be using the route again later in the year.
peedee
0 -
We have travelled via Calais (Tunnel and Ferry) many times over the past few years and never felt threatened. Yes, a few years ago we saw some migrants by the road but they did not bother us; last year we did not see any. Please relax, and enjoy your holiday.
1 -
Have not seen or heard anything about immigrants for a long time. We have travelled to and from Calais via the Tunnel for the past 13 years with the Caravan and never ever seen an immigrant in April or June. We would not consider travelling any other way.
DianneT
2 -
We travelled back via Calais yesterday and stayed overnight in the new MH Aire on Saturday night.
Would agree with Peedee, never had a problem travelling through Calais via Eurotunnel even at the height of the problems.
Worst experience we have had is the road surface on the M20 - describing it as diabolical is being polite !!
1 -
Hi,
Came back from seeing some our campsites in France. We went through the Eurotunnel two days ago and there were no problems at all.
Many Thanks
Thomas Ash - Travel Information Officer
0
