 Poster: A snowHead
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So I have now booked a chalet in Chatel.
Planning on driving down there in january, as suggested on here I am doing it all DIY.
Just wondered if anyone on here has got the Ferry across in Jan before and know if it really bad or not. I want an open ticket rather then fixed times, and the difference is £150 for ferry or channel tunnel.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mistral_ski, travel in January shouldn't be too bad. In terms of traffic, that is. It could be pretty rough on the channel, obviously, if you hit bad weather but it's over quickly and the ships are well stabilised. If you book a fixed time on the tunnel you can usually go on an earlier train if you are early, or later if you are late. Within a two hour slot, and even outside that you only pay if there is a difference in the fare.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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How far have you to travel before the crossing , some like the ferry as it gives them a nice slot for rest and relax before continuing their journey .
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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From Suffolk, so not too far from me really. Just think it'd be more fun on the ferry for the kids.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Well I always go on the shuttle cause I just can't wait to get on my way and it's a lot quicker , if you have tesco club card points £10 of points turns into £30 on Euro tunnel vouchers .
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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January is deserted on the ferries (or used to be). That's why they gave away so many vouchers for £1 day trips and £10 for car+4 around that time. I'd hate to think how many of those I used to use. Being from Kent once upon a time, we'd go shopping in Calais regularly.
Been on a few rough ones, but as mentioned, they'll have stabilisers on, and it's less than an hour to get from the harbour to the sheltered bit along the calais coast.
I always take the ferry, and it's never been an issue in December or Early Jan. I book specific sailing, but 50% of the time arrive early and get put on the next one. The other 50% is because when driving from Kent, you'll rarely arrive early enough to go 1 boat earlier!
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It won't be much fun for the kids if they're vomiting and think they're going to die. We've had some pretty hairy crossings, dec/jan and now take the tunnel every time (free with tesco points of course)
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I have done dozens of crossings over the years: across the channel, north sea and Irish sea and only had one rough crossing (and yes I do Christmas/New year often). The huge ships and stabilisers really do work. If you are worried use sea sickness tablets.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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johnE, One was a rather small Norfolk Line and took two hours to get out over dover with two tugs! Followed by a journey with a view of the sea to port and the sky to starboard with a pitch which meant nobody could walk without holding a rail. I didn't get seasick but it was the only time i actually thought we might not make it. Another bad one involved sitting in the channel for 6 hours with the stabilisers out while they recaptured all the loose ships in the harbour. I was thinking of the kids of the OP rather than the effect on a reasonable adult (mind you my OH is worse than a kid on a choppy sea).
definitely had a lot less trouble on the train.
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mistral_ski, The Chunnel is pretty flexible, unless you're over a few hours late. I am often early and get to board and if late and it's busy, have waited for an hour. Not had probs with the Dover-Calais crossing before, though on longer trips it's been a tad lumpy.If you want to travel with the Chunnel tho and are worried about being half an hour late or early, don't. They will accomodate you no probs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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lost count of how many dover calais sailings I've done. easily 3 figures. in recent years (ie the last 15), with the modern stabilised ferries, I've just about noticed the swell once in a force 7, and the worst of that was walking round duty free.
had one cancellation in 30 years, and that was the hovercraft from pegwell bay.
90% of my dec/jan sailings are barely more than millpond, 10% they'll have the stabilisers out.
In my case tunnel costs 3x to save half or one hour of a whole day's travel.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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definitely had a lot less trouble on the train.
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Apart from the odd 6 hour wait "for operational reasons" or queues for immigration
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in recent years (ie the last 15), with the modern stabilised ferries,
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Interesting. I was going to say NOOO the ferries are awful for swell and se sickness but the last time I was on one was probably 15 years ago! Have they improved since then?
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You know it makes sense.
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Ive not been on one for many many years either probably around 15 years. My kids have never ever been on one, which is why I thought it would be more fun for them.
Liking the idea of the stabilisers on the ships.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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If you are travelling in January the tunnel should be quiet which means the chances of a serious delay are greatly reduced. It is always pretty grim around the peak times (New Year, Half Term Friday/Saturday departure Saturday/Sunday return) when I think the ferry would be just as quick - add the tunnels usual 60 minute peak time delay to the ferry with no delay and there is no difference time wise.
We stick to the tunnel as two of the family are poor travellers by sea (even on modern ships).
In the grand scheme of things the time saving (say an hour max.) is pretty irrelevant in a 14 hour journey (two hours to Dover/Folkestone, two hours waiting/crossing, eight hours Calais to Chatel with two hours of stops).
If the kids fancy the ferry go for that. I don't think I would pay extra for a flexible ticket though. You can usually gauge the outbound crossing pretty accurately and we just build enough slack into the return that we use up in a supermarket before we come home.
Enjoy Chatel!
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