Depending on where you are headed in Europe, there may be a number of options when it comes to crossing the Channel, or ‘La Manche’ as the French know it. In this section, I’m going to cover the channel crossings I’ve used, and as I do more crossings I’ll add the details here.
When selecting a crossing, the things I would typically consider are
- how far the departure point is from where I live
- does the arrival point(s) work for my itinerary
- how do the crossing times work for my itinerary
- how much it costs
- the fun factor!
Le Shuttle – Folkestone/Calais
I had never been on Le Shuttle before doing The Italian Job. Therefore the fun factor was very high when considering it as an option for my trip. I also particularly like how incredibly quick the journey is – it’s under an hour once you are boarded. And it is very cost effective if booked well in advance. The timetable is also extensive so it’s pretty easy to find a timing that suits your needs. So there are a lot of positives for letting the train take the strain.
The only downside for me when considering Le Shuttle is how long it takes to drive to Folkestone. I’m based in the south west of the UK and even for me it’s a good 3.5 hours drive. This is a huge consideration when planning the number of hours I want to drive in a day, especially at the start of my trip. For this reason I’d be more likely to opt for a ferry on my outward journey as it gives me more of an opportunity to rest and have a decent break.
When travelling on the Shuttle, you stay in your vehicle so my advice would be to have something to drink and use the services before you are boarded. There are loos on board, but you are very much encouraged to remain in your car, so I’ve not been tempted to use them. The services at the outward passenger terminal are great, but you don’t get the opportunity to stop again once you are onboarded. So make sure you use them on the way out if possibly can. Further information about my Le Shuttle trip can be found in my blog.
Ferry – Portsmouth/Brittany
There are a number of ferry ports in the UK and several operators. For The Italian Job I chose to travel to Europe on an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen operated by Brittany Ferries.
To increase the ‘fun factor’ I booked myself a cabin, which I had never done before. I figured this would also mean I had a good rest between driving in the UK and in France, and the cabins are ensuite, so you also get chance to freshen up.
It was much less of a drive for me to reach Portsmouth than it would have been to travel to Folkestone for the Shuttle. Additionally the ferry arrived in Caen, which is much further down the coast and that fitted in really well with my plans. The only downside was the cost, because booking a cabin as well as the crossing is expensive for a single person. Although if there are more than one of you travelling it is a lot more cost effective.
Despite the cost, I would definitely rate an overnight crossing to Europe as my number one outward travel option. It was great fun, I got some sleep and a decent shower, and the arrival location was great. You can read more about the experience in my blog.
From X to Y
I’ve got a couple of trips coming up this year. My first crossing will be to/from northern Europe and the second to/from Spain, so I’ll let you know how I get on!
