Crossing the Channel

So you’ve made your decision, you’ve decided to take the car. Great, you can fill up with all the kids stuff and still have plenty of room to bring back cases of wine, terracotta pots and whatever other goodies you pick up on your French holiday. Why not get your continental driving kit or perhaps a roof top box. There are great deals from Halfords.

The next step is to book either the Eurotunnel (The Shuttle) or a crossing by ferry. The Shuttle is the best option if you want to get across quickly with the minimum of fuss, there are very regular crossings and the journey takes only 25 minutes. The advantage is that you can generally drive straight off the M20, go through the self-service check in and almost immediately drive onto The Shuttle. You can be on the road in France less than an hour after you arrive at the terminal in Folkstone.

If you prefer to cross by sea, then there are some great deals on-line. Choose a crossing to Calais or Dunkerque for the lowest fares, or have a look at crossings to Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo if you are heading for Britanny or if you just want to get a head start on your car journey further South.

There are couple of other options that you might want to consider. You can book train tickets from the UK all the way to your destination in France travelling by Eurostar and the TGV or you can even take your car on the train using The French Motorail service. This service only operates from May to September.