alan Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Hi All Happy New Year! Hope everybody had a good Christmas. I've been looking at Eurotunnel for this year's trip and not having used it before, could do with some advice. At a quick glance, I can't see any mention of height or length or pets? Are they particularly interested in any of these three. I see a reference to LPG but assume this does not refer to normal gas bottles. Any comments please? I would be most grateful. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shell181 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Hi Alan, we always use the tunnel, don't know about pets as we don't have any, LPG refers to the habitation gas - butane or propane, you cannot take an LPG powered vehicle. When you book, the dropdown list will say 'campervan', when you select this it will automatically place your vehicle on the train that takes coaches therefore item length are not a problem. Any more questions please don't hesitate to ask :-D Shell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smifee Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 The ref to LPG is for LPG powered vehicles. There is a limit to the amount of LPG you can have but unless you have a large LPG tank you will be well under that. You will have a security check, before boarding, during which you have to show that gas supply is turned off. Pets are only checked on the way back. Charge is £30 return. If using Tesco vouchers you still have to pay full price for the pet. One price fits all for a motorhome. A great way to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shell181 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Sorry Alan 'Happy New Year' to you too :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timetraveller Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 We've used it a couple of times & find it quick & easy to use. We take a flask of boiling water & by the time we have made a brew & drunk it, we are practically there. I like it because we never leave our van so comfort all the way. No problems with LPG bottles providing they are turned off & secure in their locker - they, the custom officers, will them. So for us it is the only way to travel to the continent 'cos I get sea-sick just waiting to leave the port!!!!! Good luck with your travels :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 As Timetraveller saysyou stay in your Motorhome.So IMHO, for anyone with mobility difficulties it's the ideal way of crossing the Channel. No trying to squeeze a wheelchair between vehicles to get to a lift on the Ferry, etc.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syd Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 We always use the tunnel, quick and easy. The actual time on your ticket is not a time that is fixed in stone, you can arrive earlier or later and still travel without any problems. Petrol station available as you leave the train plus a huge car park for a short break but for security reasons not recomended for a long stay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
602 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi, You drive up to the kiosk, go throught the menu for pre-booked crossing, click the buttons ...... "Non!" So you use the phone, specially provided for such occasions, and are directed to the "dogs" office. The bleary-eyed, taciturn vet takes quite a while to arrive, cos it is only 4AM. She hands you a scanner and indicates that you are to scan your dog .... but doesn't tell you how. You are successful at the 5th attempt. Drive back to the kiosk, everything works, head for car park, visit empty cafe (now 4.30AM) coffee and loo. Departure time approaches, so return to car park, watch the display panels which tell you when to start moving. Drive for miles (it seems), then straight onto train. Get told to move up a few inches. Toilets are situated at each end of train .... and you are in the middle. Toilets are similar to what you find at agricultural shows, appear to be made out of recycled plastic, but at least they are not "Cubicle Turques". Take your own paper. Soon after, you drive off the train. What was all the fuss about? You have made your first Chunnel crossing ...... you are now a veteran. If you hurry, you can beat the early morning crowds on the M25. 602 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondiane Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi there can you still get deals like 10 trips for £300 in a year.id like to try the tunnel but the cost keeps putting me on a ferry,book early £60 return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Quick, efficient and problem free for people and pets.Our dog is a veteran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 For us, the best feature of the Tunnel is driving straight off on arrival at France, having never returned to the UK by the Tunnel, is the arrangement reciprocated? Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkbrain Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 LordThornber - 2011-01-17 10:18 AM For us, the best feature of the Tunnel is driving straight off on arrival at France, having never returned to the UK by the Tunnel, is the arrangement reciprocated? Martyn Yes, down the ramp straight on to the M20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Thankyou for that, I think we're going to use it both ways for one trip this year, good to know. Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 DONT go to the Kiosk first :-S the Pets Passport car park is clearly signed with paw prints black on a yellow background :-S fork right to there before you go to book in, there is an office which you take your dog into and she will hand you the scanner to do your dog! she then checks the dog passport to see if all is filled in right!! you have to make sure you have visited a Vet 24 and not more than 48 hours before you leave, she will give you a sticker to attach to your fron windscreen that shows you have had your dog checked, and then its straight to the kiosk put in the card you have booked with! it is much easier that way saves putting in your booking number, that issues you with another paper hanger the same as the on you were given with on your first crossing and thats it, back home no probs (hopefully). You dont check your dog in when your on the outward crossing, you just go straight to the kiosk. Dont worry it is pretty straightforward once you have done it you will wonder what all the fuss is about. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scramblers Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Just booked via C&CC the Eurotunnel for two trips having first looked at price comparisons: May Trip Eurotunnel £151 Caravan Club £138 Caravan & Camping Club £135 September Trip Eurotunnel £121 Caravan Club £110 Caravan & Camping Club £108 It appears that the closer to your departure date the more expensive that it is! We always use Eurotunnel because we are exceptionally bad sailors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klyne Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 scramblers - 2011-01-17 12:03 PM Just booked via C&CC the Eurotunnel for two trips having first looked at price comparisons: May Trip Eurotunnel £151 Caravan Club £138 Caravan & Camping Club £135 September Trip Eurotunnel £121 Caravan Club £110 Caravan & Camping Club £108 It appears that the closer to your departure date the more expensive that it is! We always use Eurotunnel because we are exceptionally bad sailors. Best to get it free with Tesco Club Card Points ;-) David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
602 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 DONT go to the Kiosk first the Pets Passport car park is clearly signed with paw prints black on a yellow background Yeah, easy ...... once you know. TESCO vouchers are great, we went free last time, including the trailer. Train fare depends on time that you travel .... we always travel at unsocial hours. On the other hand ..... we had to pay for the dog. Not only that, it took us 12 hours door to door, Dinan to Swansea, about 600 miles. Compare that with the ferry at 8 hours, plus 5 hours (including contingency factor) from Swansea to Portsmouth. If you miss the ferry, you have missed the ferry. If you miss the train, there will be another along soon. We travel through France overnight, scarcely see another vehicle. Wonderful! 602 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi there can you still get deals like 10 trips for £300 in a year.id like to try the tunnel but the cost keeps putting me on a ferry,book early £60 returnA frequent traveller account costs £390 which covers 10 passages or 5 returns for a car valid for 12 months from when you open the account , for a motorhome its an additional £18 return = £96 return 1st time of travel from UK is 16.20pm and last time to leave France is up to 13.59pm you only have to book at least 24 hrs before you travel and only book one way you book to come back to UK when you feel like it we have done this now for the past 3 years and will do it again this year, the only small downside is there is an extra charge if you wish to travel during busy periods eg bank holidays and school holidays but these dates are shown on their website I hope that answers your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Not keen on travelling at 4 a.m. (very uncivilised) so my booking for a 10.50 crosssing (return) in May this year is.......nothing. Well, actually it should be £160 but £40 worth of tesco vouchers - collected on shopping/diesel we had to buy anyway - covered the cost for the trip. Next trip will be a little more expensive in vouchers as you only get 3 times their face value so £40 worth will = £120. However, with diesel costing near (or over) £10 a gallon soon methinks I will soon make up the points difference! Great way to cross though - especially with dogs. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Used it once for a return trip, both of us didn't like the experience or cost, plus we found the staff to be rude and unhelpful. So back to the ferry, which we both like, and you can pay for an upgrade on P&O to the nice lounge away from the plebs and kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinou Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 kelly58 - 2011-01-17 4:08 PMHi there can you still get deals like 10 trips for £300 in a year.id like to try the tunnel but the cost keeps putting me on a ferry,book early £60 returnA frequent traveller account costs £390 which covers 10 passages or 5 returns for a car valid for 12 months from when you open the account , for a motorhome its an additional £18 return = £96 return 1st time of travel from UK is 16.20pm and last time to leave France is up to 13.59pm you only have to book at least 24 hrs before you travel and only book one way you book to come back to UK when you feel like it we have done this now for the past 3 years and will do it again this year, the only small downside is there is an extra charge if you wish to travel during busy periods eg bank holidays and school holidays but these dates are shown on their website I hope that answers your question. Just booked Easter trip on the tunnel - originally booked the car then changed our minds to take the MH - online new booking and quick tel call to cancel original booking - no charge for cancellation - all done!We have always found the staff very friendly but have used the loos once - not to be repeated! The cost for frequent travellers has just gone up to £42 per ticket (plus the £9 for a "camping car" if taken) but if you already have tickets in your account no increase whilst using them. If we tow our Smart car on an A frame (or any other towed item) we have to pay for another ticket each way as you can't use the prepaid tickets for trailers. We think it's great value as wecertainly go frequently. We live in Southampton and checked out the new LDS route from Portsmouth (30 minutes from us) at the weekend at the France Show in London and were quoted £110 each way for a car and about £330 return - non peak season for a MH , depending on size - for an 8 hour overnight crossing! We will stick with the drive to Folkestone, 35 minute crossing and comfort in our own vehicle.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerGW Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 smifee - 2011-01-16 10:52 PM ...You will have a security check, before boarding, during which you have to show that gas supply is turned off. Or, as happened to me, the conductor will just ask if you have done so. The whole journey was stress-free for the pooch and for me. I went early morning both ways, which saved some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hi All Thanks very much indeed for all your postings and replies, it's helped me (and others, I hope) sort out our travel arrangements. We've decided to give the Eurotunnel a miss this year but may give it a try next year, certainly not as expensive as I envisaged. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scramblers Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 alan - 2011-01-19 9:13 AM Hi All Thanks very much indeed for all your postings and replies, it's helped me (and others, I hope) sort out our travel arrangements. We've decided to give the Eurotunnel a miss this year but may give it a try next year, certainly not as expensive as I envisaged. Alan Hi Alan, If you plan to use Eurotunnel next year, I would recommend that you look at the prices in November or December this year. Remember the prices rise the closer to your journey date you book the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armstrongpiper Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 As a regular Eurotunnel user, I read this thread with particular interest. There are a few references to the on-train loos being inconveniently placed or 'yucky'. Most M/Hs have their own loos - so why not use them! We always do, and can't see a problem. Neil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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