Eurotunnel 7/10 June 2019 Sold out

SallyD
SallyD Forum Participant Posts: 85

Have been trying to book on Eurotunnel for next year but our preferred date was showing sold out which seemed strange as it covered from 18.00 Friday 7 th June through to 10.00  Monday 10th June. All dates & times either side were fine. I called Eurotunnel helpline and the reason for the blocked period is because they will be scheduling maintenance periods but they are not yet confirmed. When they are arranged the availability will be undated with the time periods that can be booked. Must admit I was a bit worried that we would have to look at a ferry option!

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  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #2

    I'm nearly ready to book as well, not for those dates, but had a quick look, and it's still the same.  Never come across that before; hope you don't have to wait too long before you're able to book.  Did they give any indication of how long it would be before dates are confirmed?

  • SallyD
    SallyD Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited October 2018 #3

    No, just to keep checking. Hopefully prices on my return leg won’t go up in the meantime 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited October 2018 #4

    I have found that the Tunnel prices don’t vary much until quite close to departure date so there should be no need to book so far ahead. Early June is not high season although I agree that if you know your dates and they are fixed then it doesn’t do any harm to book.

    For about three years we changed return Tunnel dates late June whilst away (about 1-2 weeks before scheduled return). The price wasn’t much different.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2018 #5

    Sally, can you go,a day either side? if so, would it be better to book that now, then you have it sorted?

    whats the issue with a Dover ferry ride, it's short enough.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #6

    No, they don't vary by a huge amount, but I've found at times that certain dates/times do seem to go up more than others, a result of pricing according to demand.

    I do like to book early, it's all part of the holiday for me.  Also, booking direct with Eurotunnel, should there be a need to change, it is very straightforward, as you can change crossings up to 12 months after the date of booking; that is, the return crossing can be booked at the latest 1 year from the date of booking.  No admin costs and you only pay the difference, if any, between what you've already paid and the cost of the "new" crossing.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #7

    whats the issue with a Dover ferry ride, it's short enough.

    If you were married to someone like my OH, the answer to that is: why go on a ferry when you don't have to?  He's been ill a few times during choppy crossings, doesn't bother me, so don't know about the "weaker sex" surprisedsurprised

    Apart from that, we prefer the tunnel as it's quite flexible if you arrive early, and also because we use Tesco points laughing

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited October 2018 #8

    We love the tunnnel. Apart from the speed, we drive the motorhome on then eat a sandwich in transit ready to drive straight off and on to the A20.

    Contrast the ferry, busy and noisy with school kids, young teens, amusement arcades etc. It can be quite difficult to find peace and quiet.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #9

    We do the same; As for your 2nd paragraph: we tried the Hull route a few years ago, as it's much nearer of course to where we live.  But we got less than 4 hours sleep due to kids running about in the corridors until about 2am.  We did ask them to stop, but of course to no avail, then also complained, but it made no difference.  With the result that we both felt lousy the next day, far from being refreshed after a good night's rest, as the advert goes.  The same happened on the way back, so that really put us off the longer crossings.  Perhaps we were unlucky, but as my OH isn't a good sailor at the best of times, we much prefer the tunnel.

  • SallyD
    SallyD Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited October 2018 #10

    Due to a fixed holiday period we need to make use of every day available so unfortunately can’t leave home earlier than the Friday evening of that weekend. As the block is showing from early Friday pm  until Monday pm that would mean losing 2 days of our 21 days. With regard to the ferry crossing option we use the tunnel as we take our dog with us and don’t like the idea of leaving her in the car for the crossing plus I’m not too keen on the ferry since a very bumpy excursion on 1st July a few years ago! Although we did use Portsmouth/Caen pre dog days so have checked out their dog friendly cabins crossing but they seem extremely pricey.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #11

    SallyD, if you really want to make sure of your return date, then you could book a return now, by using the outward date as, say the day before, Thursday, and the return on the date you want.  Then once the dates become available again, you could change the outward journey to that date.  Booking direct with Eurotunnel and then changing dates doesn't incur an admin charge, you only pay the difference, if any, between what you've already paid, and the new fare.  BUT, if the new crossing is cheaper, you don't get a refund.  So I'd just book the cheapest outward, then if necessary pay the difference for the new outward crossing.

    Of course, if you book via the club, then you will incur an admin charge to change.

  • SallyD
    SallyD Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited October 2018 #12

    InaD, thanks for your advice however we use Tesco club card to book so I think an admin charge might occur if I try your suggestion. We will just sit tight until the dates we need appear (hopefully!)

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #13

    I use Tesco vouchers to book as well, and always have done.  I've never been charged an admin fee; most recently had to change our May/June trip this year due to impending housemove.  Changed both outward and inward crossings about 10 days beforehand and all I paid was the (small) difference between what I'd paid already and the new crossings, £20.  All you do is ring up and change the date/time, very easy.

  • SallyD
    SallyD Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited October 2018 #14

    Thanks for that info, most helpful