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Eurotunnel or ferry: Which is the best way to travel?

If you’re looking to travel between Dover and Calais, should you take the ferry or travel by Eurotunnel Le Shuttle? Here, I’m going to take you through the advantages and disadvantages of making a journey by Eurotunnel or boat.

Dover to Calais - Eurotunnel or ferry?


Eurotunnel or ferry – all you need to know

So, I generally focus on money-saving, but I always like to share my (limited) knowledge when I get a chance. And I know that many people often wonder whether they should take a ferry or use Eurotunnel (also known as the Channel Tunnel) when travelling to and from France.

I have lived within 15 minutes of Dover Western Docks all my life. My dad worked at the Hoverport and I remember taking a bumpy ride on a hovercraft across to France in the mid-’80s A few years later, I made my first ferry crossing with school on an exchange trip. I was relieved that not every crossing involved you jumping 6 feet in the air every few seconds.

In the early 2000s, work required me to travel to France and Belgium. At the time, that meant I was travelling by ferry several times a week. At the end of the decade, this changed to the tunnel, and I made up to 5 return journeys every week!

Obviously, the Hovercraft is no longer an option, but I can give you some pros and cons with choosing either the ferry or the Channel Tunnel (known as Tunnel sous la Manche to our crazy French friends).


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Do I need a passport when travelling from Dover to Calais?

If you’re a British national, you will need a passport that has at least three months’ validity left.

EU citizens only need to provide a European Union ID card to gain entry to France. However, for entry into the UK, they must have a passport.

If you’re from outside the EU, you may require a visa to travel to France. You can find more details here.

If driving a vehicle, you will need a valid driving licence.

Do I have to prebook my tickets?

Not necessarily. You can turn up to Dover ferry port or Cheriton and purchase your ticket there. However, this does depend on how busy it is on the day. During peak periods, the ferries and Eurotunnel will probably not have space for you to travel for several hours, if not days.

Which ferry companies operate from Dover?

There are three ferry operators to choose from when travelling from Dover – P&O, DFDS and Irish Ferries.

Which is the cheapest way to cross the Channel?

If you’re travelling out for a day, prices are similar between the ferry and tunnel – although the ferry is usually slightly cheaper. But if there’s a week between travelling out and returning, then taking a ferry will often save you quite a few £’s more compared to the Tunnel.

Many years ago, P&O used to offer some very cheap deals for tickets – sometimes as low as £1. Unfortunately, cheap ferry tickets are pretty rare now.

If you decide to book a ferry ticket, remember cashback sites. P&O and DFDS Seaways are both listed on TopCashback. That means you could save up to around 10% off the price of a ticket.

That’s not the only way to save money when crossing the Channel though.

If you have some Tesco Clubcard points, you can exchange these for double their value when booking with P&O. And, although Eurotunnel doesn’t appear on cashback sites, you can also book Channel Tunnel tickets through Tesco Clubcard.

Another way to check you are getting a good deal is to check prices on a comparison site first.

Which port has the best facilities?

The docks at Dover has a small Costa near the entrance to the port. You will need to park at the short-term car park (it’s free) and take a 3-minute walk. However, it’s not cheap and tends to close in the early afternoon.

There is more to choose from once you’re in the docks and through check-in. Facilities include:

  • cash and currency services
  • toilets,
  • cash machines (ATM)
  • vending machines
  • free Wi-Fi access
  • Costa Coffee
  • Burger King
  • WHSmith
  • massage chairs
  • games room

Because the port is so large, a couple of buildings contain these shops. But, wherever you have to wait for your ferry, you shouldn’t be more than a couple of minutes walk away.

In Cheriton, once you have checked in, you must wait at the terminal building until you are called to the lanes to wait for your train. If you’re cutting it fine, you won’t have any time to visit. In the building are the following facilities:

  • Burger King
  • WHSmith
  • Starbucks
  • The AA
  • Leon
  • La Gare
  • World Duty Free
  • cash machines (ATM)
  • currency services

A short time before your train leaves, you will receive an announcement to proceed through border control and head to the departure lanes. Depending on how busy it is, You can wait between 1 and 90 minutes at the lanes. There used to be a small ‘wagon’ at the lanes that sold and drinks but that closed during Covid. Instead, there are a couple of vending machines.

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Speed and convenience

So, which is the fastest way to cross the English Channel?

If everything goes to plan, a ferry crossing from Calais to Dover will take around 90 minutes. You will need to check in 45 minutes before departure if travelling by car or 60 minutes if on foot. When you arrive in Calais, you will be called down to your vehicle and will wait until called for unloading. Leaving the vessel will usually take 5-10 minutes and there are very few delays.

Once off the boat, you will need to follow the route around the port and then it’s a short journey to the motorway – around 5 – 10 minutes, depending on traffic.

Estimated total time from Dover to Calais – 2 hours 20 minutes

Again, you will need to check in 45 minutes before you are due to leave. But don’t arrive too early. If you’re there more than 2 hours before your departure time, you may be turned away because of limited space on-site. Eurotunnel crossing time is 35 minutes and once you arrive, it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes to offload. However, I have been stuck for much longer. If a car breaks down or the doors fail, you can wait for some time.

Once out of the train, traffic moves quite freely and you are almost onto the motorway.

Estimated total time from Folkestone to Coquelles – 85 minutes

Dover to Dunkirk

I need to add the fact that DFDS also run a service to Dunkirk. This takes around 30 minutes longer compared to Calais but will take you further east along Northern France. The port tends to be a little quieter and may be worth considering if you want to reduce driving time.


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Comfort

This depends on your preference. Travelling by the Channel Tunnel means you never have to leave your car. This is nice for some, but if you have a long journey on either side of the tunnel, it might be nice to be able to take a more extended break from driving. One major downside to the Tunnel is if you are parked next to a toilet. On busy days, expect a queue of people standing next to your car as they wait to use the facilities. And most of them don’t care about staring into your car to see what you’re doing. There aren’t too many toilets onboard, but it’s still something you need to be aware of.

During the summer, the Tunnel can be pretty unpleasant. Some of the train air conditioning units have seen better days and can feel like an oven. I have seen temperatures reach over 30 degrees.

You will need to keep windows partially wound down for safety reasons in case of any announcements.

The ferries have shops and bar areas to relax and unwind in. Plus, it’s always nice to go and watch your journey out on the deck. Well, as long as the weather is nice. If the wind is blowing, you can expect a bumpy crossing. This isn’t a problem for many, but I am still waiting for my sea legs. If it does get choppy, head to the middle of the boat as this is often the smoothest part.

Another issue for the ferry is during busy periods. During peak times, it can get pretty crowded onboard. That means you can struggle to get a seat and it gets very noisy with many school groups roaming around. P&O offers a Club Lounge, which entitles you to free drinks and snacks and access to some very comfy sofas. It is often quieter but can fill up quickly. Prices start from £12. It’s usually best to pre-book, but you can always ask on the boat if room is still available.

travelling with eurotunnel


Does Eurotunnel have WiFi?

WiFi is provided at both the Cheriton and Coquelles terminals but not available during the actual crossing. However, it is possible to get a mobile phone signal, but it depends on your provider. From Cheriton to Coquelles, I have gotten a signal for Three, Vodafone and Sky and all have been good enough for an internet connection.

On the return journey, you will receive a French network signal as you travel in a different tunnel.

P&O provide 30 minutes of free WiFi or unlimited if you have a Premier ticket. Irish Ferries offers just 20 minutes or you can pay for an unlimited upgrade. On a DFDS ferry, WiFi is free. If you’re relying on a phone signal, UK networks usually drop out around 5-10 minutes outside of the port. Your phone will often pick up French networks as they stretch further.

Reliability

I always assumed that because the ferries were susceptible to the weather, they wouldn’t be particularly reliable. However, it takes some fairly extreme weather before crossings are cancelled. But there have been some issues at Dover, with the Police Aux Frontières (passport control) not providing enough staff and the start of the holidays always seem to bring the port to a standstill.

Although you don’t tend to see the same issues on the Channel Tunnel, the crossings don’t seem to be quite so reliable. If one train should have issues once in the tunnel, it can bring the whole system to a grinding halt. Plus, the trains are over 25 years old now, meaning they have seen better days.

What if I miss my train or ferry?

I’m afraid there is no set answer to this and depends on many factors. If there have been major delays for one reason or another, the transport companies tend to be quite accommodating and will book you on to the next train or ferry. However, I have seen passengers wait over 4 hours for the next crossing.

You won’t usually be charged for missing your booking, but this does depend on how close you were to being on time. And it can depend on how generous the company is feeling that day.

Eurotunnel or Ferry?

So who wins in my vote for the Dover to Calais crossing?

Personally, I will always opt for the Tunnel. Despite a few reliability issues, I prefer that it’s quicker and I can keep to myself and watch a movie in my car.

It probably doesn’t help that I have used the ferries countless times and the novelty has worn off. Plus, I’m not too fond of thinking I might be seasick.


FAQs

What is the fastest way to cross the channel?

The Channel Tunnel is the quickest way to cross and will take 35 minutes.

What is the distance between Calais and Dover?

The total distance is 27 miles.

What is the cheapest way to travel between Dover and Calais?

If you’re not bothered by how you travel, then a car-sharing service such as BlaBlaCar can offer journeys for as little as £4. Or, there are bus services like Eurolines that also offer cheap tickets.

Can you take a caravan on a ferry?

Yes, you can. Caravans can also be taken by Eurotunnel.

What’s the difference between Eurostar and Eurotunnel?

Eurostar is for foot passengers only and runs from St. Pancras International. Eurotunnel runs from Cheriton and will only accept freight, passenger vehicles or cyclists.