Channel Tunnel

teamdavey
teamdavey Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited November 2021 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all, just booked France for summer 2022 - will be our first trip overseas in the van - we did have it all booked for 2020 but then there was a pandemic. (you may have heard about it). This year we went to scotland for 3 weeks which was awesome.

I already have the channel tunnel booked from 2020 and they have honoured the booking for 2022 but I need to change the dates to suit our new holiday.

My question is - how early do I need to arrive at the channel tunnel site ? e.g. if my booking is for 1300hrs what time do I need to arrive for checkin etc ? we will be travelling from Abbey Wood site where we have a couple of nights booked to start the holiday!

Many thx

 

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #2

    My question is - how early do I need to arrive at the channel tunnel site ?

    Your booking information should tell you that. What was routine before the pandemic (an hour before?) may not currently apply.

    peedee

     

     
  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #3

    The Tunnel has always been quite flexible unless it has changed recently. When I last used the Tunnel you could arrive two hours either side of your booked time. If you arrive early they will usually offer an earlier crossing if available, they seem to like to keep things moving. On the other hand if you arrive early and they can't offer an earlier crossing you just book in for the booked time and go and park up until called. They have LED notice boards which announce which crossings are now loading. All very efficient. If you have not use the Tunnel before and are a bit concerned about loading onto the Shuttles there are lots of videos on YouTube showing you how it is done.

    David

  • teamdavey
    teamdavey Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited November 2021 #4

    ah yes, thanks - it does say no later than 45 minutes before scheduled time on the booking form, didn't see it before - always good to get proper human advice ! - I'm just trying to work out times as I have a stopover in London and another stop over in france either side of our main holiday destination! I have watched some youtube vides of the process so all looks reasonably straightforward! 

     

    Cheers

    Patrick

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #5

    I've always allowed a good margin of error in my arrival time, adding 30 - 45 minutes, just in case. As noted above, if you arrive ealy and places are available you will get offered an earlier crossing but sometimes at a cost increase. This happens when you bridge the price brackets.

     

    Colin

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #6

    If you leave Abbey Wood by around 9.00am you should have plenty of time  to get to to Folkestone for your crossing in normal circumstances. You might want to check to see if the roadworks around Maidstone are still ongoing. At least when you exit Abbey Wood you are on the right side of the Dartford Crossing! When you get to France what direction are you heading in?

    David

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353 ✭
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    edited November 2021 #7

    Don't forget that if you are travelling with a pet, you will need to allow extra time at Folkestone, as clearance is now done in the UK before you travel to France.

    You will also have your pet paperwork checked in France when returning to the UK.

  • teamdavey
    teamdavey Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited November 2021 #8

    David, we are going to a site near la rochelle can;t quite remember the name without looking it up, got great reviews and got a water park for the kids.

     

     

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #9

    So you arrive at Calais at 3pm. French time with 450 miles ahead of you. I suggest 150 miles in 3 hours that day to an overnight at Camping le Clos Normand at Bourg Achard - leaving the remaining 300 miles for the next day. Does that sound about right?   (But I don’t think they accept twin axle caravans so hope that doesn’t cause a problem.)

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