Channel tunnel experiences please

Rachie_B

Much prefer the tunnel to the ferry!
last time we took the ferry to Calais ( July 07) it was soooo rough and everyone was being sick!

Since then we always go via Eurotunnel using Tesco clubcard deals

BUT going on overnight ferry Plymouth - Roscoff in May half term eek!
hoping as it's overnight in a cabin it won't be too bad .... !

Tarry

Rachie_B wrote: »

Much prefer the tunnel to the ferry!
last time we took the ferry to Calais ( July 07) it was soooo rough and everyone was being sick!

Since then we always go via Eurotunnel using Tesco clubcard deals

BUT going on overnight ferry Plymouth - Roscoff in May half term eek!
hoping as it's overnight in a cabin it won't be too bad .... !

It's never nice when you get a rough crossing is it and everyone is ill I just take a travel sickness tablet if I know I am going to get a bad crossing.

Outpost

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

than the ferry, you just drive on, open the thermos have your coffee
and drive straight off on to the French roads. just a pity I run on LPG
and can't use it in my main vehicle.

Use what in your main vehicle? Coffee!?

eyeinthesky

I use the tunnel for day trips about every 4 months. The wife and I go to Belgium to get our ciggies, then back to Cite Europe for a bit of shopping, (wine mostly, lol), then back to the tunnel and home. We always take a sandwich and a drink, and a book to read. Not claustrophobic at all, very quick and painless, just 35 mins on the train each way.

bylromarha

Do you know, this thread has made me realise that my claustrophobia didn't kick in when I went on Eurotunnel? Didn't occur to me at all.

Probably cos I had a 5 yr old and 3 yr old who were loving the adventure and used the time in the tunnel to get out of their PJs, brush their teeth, get dressed and prepare for the drive to Disneyland.

No wonder I didn't get claustrophobic - I was more worried about the fact I had a 3 hour drive with no Sat Nav on French roads with only 2 hyper kids to keep me company - then the 3 hours drive back again onto Le Shuttle 8 hours later.

Basically, imagine taking all the seats out of a train carriage, driving your car onto that empty train carriage and the carriage being big enough for doors to open fully and people to walk comfortably alongside each car.

Thomas_Crown

kremmen wrote: »

It doesn't stop in bad weather ( ferries often do).

Not true! Remember when it snowed & the electric motors of the locomotive got snow lodged on them while stationary at Calais.? The train departed & entered the tunnel & the snow melted, then the water got into the motors & the train ground to a halt. Looks like the French have ''the wrong type of snow'' just like us.

gordikin

bylromarha wrote: »

Do you know, this thread has made me realise that my claustrophobia didn't kick in when I went on Eurotunnel? Didn't occur to me at all.

Probably cos I had a 5 yr old and 3 yr old who were loving the adventure and used the time in the tunnel to get out of their PJs, brush their teeth, get dressed and prepare for the drive to Disneyland.

No wonder I didn't get claustrophobic - I was more worried about the fact I had a 3 hour drive with no Sat Nav on French roads with only 2 hyper kids to keep me company - then the 3 hours drive back again onto Le Shuttle 8 hours later.

Basically, imagine taking all the seats out of a train carriage, driving your car onto that empty train carriage and the carriage being big enough for doors to open fully and people to walk comfortably alongside each car.

Perhaps you're not really claustrophobic then....and have some other condition?

You were in a car ( an enclosed space?) and it was driven onto another enclosed space and transported through another enclosed space and you didn't realise it!?

bylromarha

gordikin wrote: »

Perhaps you're not really claustrophobic then....and have some other condition?

You were in a car ( an enclosed space?) and it was driven onto another enclosed space and transported through another enclosed space and you didn't realise it!?

No, am certainly claustrophobic in certain situations. It is not an all encompassing, every situation affects every sufferer type of anxiety.

As per Wiki

"A typical claustrophobic will fear restriction in at least one, if not several, of the following areas: small rooms, locked rooms, cars, tunnels, cellars, elevators, subway trains, caves, airplanes and crowded areas. Additionally, the fear of restriction can cause some claustrophobics to fear trivial matters such as sitting in a barber’s chair or waiting in line at a grocery store simply out of a fear of confinement to a single space."

peachyprice

bylromarha wrote: »

No, am certainly claustrophobic in certain situations. It is not an all encompassing, every situation affects every sufferer type of anxiety.

I didn't effect me either bylromarha, and I can get claustrophobic just taking a jumper off

I got far more twitchy on the Eurostar last time I went to Disney, we were stuck outside the tunnel for an hour and the old chest tightening and numb arms started, i managed to talk myself through it before we got in the tunnel, thankfully.

The most stupid thing I've ever done is visit the catacombs in Paris, I knew it was underground, I knew it was walking through tunnels but it didn't occur to me that I would find it claustrophobic, duh! My OH has never seen me move so fast!

BenL

This is us and the old van in the tunnel, we did go in the extra height section where roof-racks, caravans, motorhomes etc go.

Smaller vehicles came in too though like the car behind us



Ben