http://www.directferries.co.uk/

The above is an OK site for comparison, but it can be cheaper to go direct.

Eurotunnel: Faster Than A Ferry To France - Folkestone Dover to Calais

All of them do have offers from time to time, and the earlier you book, and sometimes the more unfriendly times you travel, can all bring the price down. The only time I've turned up without booking was £300 return for a car on the Chunnel, whereas the last crossing was for a 4m tall, 7.5m long camper and £36 one way

Most people will struggle to be sea sick on the train, but it does go dark outside the carraiges for 20 mins or so while you are under the sea, not nice for some! And in this day and age any are liable to strike action causing delays.

Personally I like boats, it feels like its becoming a trip not just an extension of the motorway. And as for not going to the UK at all?!?!?!?!?! Theres quite a lot to see you know



And while in France, 6 July, long weekend, Classic Le Mans

http://www.lemansclassic.com/en/s01_...01p01_home.php

Every 2 years, not the June "normal" race, but bonkers enthusiasts on 4 wheels from every motoring era, 1923 to 1979 in sensibly arranged groups running I think 4 hour rotating stints for 24 hours. Camping essential, many camping areas only metres from the circuit, everyone well behaved, prebooking would probably be essential for camping very soon, just entry on the door may be OK but you'll struggle to stay close by. Ride up early Friday, tent up, chill out and enjoy the noise! Well worth a look if you can

Yes, but you have to stay in the well lit carriages.
And there are plenty of windows for looking out at the fishes.

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Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Beware of a scam on the tunnel. I booked and paid in advance over the phone. When I checked in at the port the guy in the booth said they had my booking but my card had been rejected and at this late stage I would have to pay cash. When I asked for a receipt he said my ticket was the receipt, which sounded reasonable at the time.

Months later when I got home I found that my card had been successfully charged on the day I booked. It appeared that the guy had lied and pocketed my cash. As it was a one way booking he possibly assumed I would not be coming back even if I spotted the con later.

When I phoned the company they intially claimed it could not have happened, that I had no proof and that the guy in question was a long-term employee and very honest. When I asked for his name so I could report him to the police for theft their tone changed and I was referred to someone else who then said they would send me a refund. I subsequently received a cheque.

All part of the adventure, but in retrospect I guess I should still have reported it to the police.

That's shocking mate. I have never heard of it happening before though. We have only used the tunnel once and have only got praise for it. If it had of happened though, her who must be obeyed on pillion would have kicked up a stink and forced the poor bloke to call a supervisor in. I hope Eurotunnel sacked the bloke!

@MM17. Your choice really. I always want to be riding, so the extra time and sea sickness means tunnel for me. I used to use Hovercraft and seacat before....remember those? Only thing is, as has been pointed out, your stuck by your bike. Fine with me. And just sit on the floor. And at that time of year you will be bunged in with all the other bikers too, so make some friends.

During the tunnel's pre-opening trials and following early days, motos were put in small 'cupboards' and the riders sat in a small room above it.

When entering the train's lower level, look behind you - there is a curved (towards you) door. Behind that were spaces for 3 motos. Alongside is a passenger door leading up stairs to a small room with 6 seats and a water dispenser.
The loading staff used to very tightly ratchet strap the bike's front from the handlebars down to wheel clamp supports, leaving the suspensions fully compressed for the journey. After a few claims for damaged fork seals, handlebar controls etc they abandoned these rooms and kept riders with their motos. Initially we were told to use centre stands but some fell over during the journey (I once helped a very unhappy Italian couple pick up their fully laden K1100LT). Now you must use side stands only. By leaving the riders in control of their motos, responsibilty remains with the rider.


Another abandoned feature were metal 'buffers' that rose up before all carriage interconnecting doors to prevent cars going forward into the doors or next carriage in the event of an 'emergency stop'. These buffers lowered when the train stopped and the doors opened, to allow cars to drive half the length of the train to a side exit. Unfortunately even when lowered the buffers were still about 5 inches (13cm) or so higher in the centre of the roadway than the wheel tracks. A few claims from owners of low supercars like Ferrari, Maserati, Lambo, etc for new exhausts, air dam skirts, suspension and steering damage etc soon prompted the removal of these buffers!

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Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Cannot really add anything other than to say i always use the train, i only used the ferry once and it was delayed 8 hours due to bad weather, book the train online in advance and its about £10 more expensive but get there super quick and the trains leave every 30 mins or so. Also if you are coming into london then you must go to the Ace Cafe on the A406 near Wembley it would be a crime to miss it!

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Mr and Mrs Rixxy - London to Australia 2011 - 2012
www.jamesandcat.com

I can understand why you'd choose the tunnel over the boats - speed and no bad weather delays being the main two reasons, but for the life of me I cannot understand how it is even close to competitive on price. Just looking back at the quotes I got for my last trip a couple of months ago - ferry £26.00, tunnel £108 for a Thurs morning departure / Wed afternoon return.

I've never, ever managed to get a price quote for the tunnel that wasn't at least double the cost of taking the boat at the same day/time. And that's summer or winter, day or night, bike or car, last minute or six months ahead. Where all these cheap fares come from I've no idea. I've never seen them. :confused1::confused1:

I wouldn't bother with the UK at all.... Straight to 'Europe' for me.

Roads are a whole lot less crowded, and not so many 'jobsworths' making sure you don't stop/park in the 'wrong' places.. accommodation is also cheaper and better value.

Just my view, but the UK is not a place I would choose for my main motorcycling (or any other) holiday.

It's not known as 'Rip off Britain' for nothing.

Miss England out >>> thats a Southern thing, fly into Manchester, Stay over night free at our place.
Ride some of the best roads in Europe (North Wales, Penines, Lakes, Yorkshire Dales). Ride to Hull, off at Zeebruge having a boozy night on board. (About £200), France in 40 mins, the rest is optional.


If not..... I have used the tunnel 100 times since it opened.
At the gate, Buy a single ticket or ask how much a 24 hrs return is, sometime cheaper, Do not rely on ON-LINE booking as you will need to adhere to times and the tunnel isn't cancelled due to bad weather or French blockades.
Go to the booth, pay as you go, I have never waited more than 20 mins. and the train is easy to get on/off. NO tie downs, NO greasy ramps, no expensive refreshments. YES you have to sit on your bike or stand, but if you have survived the M25 motorway, you might need to stand for a bit.

Exit in Calais is straight onto the motorway network, so no 1st French miles through a town centre.

This week prices for tunnel quoted at £29 single..... not bad for July4th .

Note about online. It would seem that even when I was told by both net and telephone booking for the tunnel that there were no tickets for the Valentines weekend (2009) I drove to the coast (from Manchester about 280miles) to get to the ferry. As I was on the way, there was Zero traffic on the motorway, so I pulled off at the tunnel exit and was on a train in 3 minutes.

Us Brits have this odd 'need' to see ourselves crossing the great divide and watching Blighty dissapear ....... sod that I want to make things simple. Tunnel 4 me.

I'd guess most people will be aware of the possibility of seasickness on the boats and have some idea of their own susceptibility, but there is an equivalent for the tunnel - not trainsickness but earache.

Earlier in the year we came back to the UK using the tunnel from a family trip to France with my daughter totally bunged up with a cold. The increase in air pressure as the train descended into the tunnel caused extreme pain in one of her ears that lasted until we emerged in Kent.

The rest of us then suffered extreme earache in both ears as she complained that we should have taken the boat!

If travelling into France or the southern part of Europe I generally prefer the 'Chunnel' as the trip over is quick & will not be affected by adverse weather conditions. I usually try to get a 7.30ish morning slot as that way I miss most of the traffic travelling down to the UK terminal & due to the time difference you miss the rush hour on the French side too. If I want time to relax when getting to the continent I prefer to get an overnight ferry as you can have a few s, chill out & then get your head down but you are still back on dry land first thing in the morning & can get a few miles done before hunting down a breakfast stop.

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.

Another Tunnel plus (and in fairness I have only used a ferry for 1 'one way' trip since the tunnel started any operations, trial or commercial) is that there are up to 4 departures an hour.

If you miss your exact booked Departure, but arrive within the booking 'window' thereby avoiding surcharges, you will not wait long for the next train.
But between 11.0pm and 7.00am it can be 90 minutes or so - the same waiting period as ferries in peak times!

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Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

I'm a ferry man. No one has said about cost. The ferry is a lot cheaper if you are going for more than a few day's. The tunnel charges you not only for the crossing, but for the amount of time you are away. The ferry on the other hand charge you for the crossing no matter how long you are in Europe.

A bike crossing for one day return is round about £38.
No matter how long you are in Europe. With the ferry it's the same price, One day or one month. The tunnel will charge you more the longer you are away.

Have a look and see if I'm not right.
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.