Channel tunnel experiences please

zagfles

The advantage of the tunnel is there's a 2 hour window either side of your booked crossing which they'll let you use unless the others are full. If we want to cross at say 1130 we'll book the 1330 crossing and aim to arrive for 1130, and usually get straight on. Worst case we have to wait a couple of hours, but with a ferry crossing we'd usually aim to arrive a couple of hours early for contingency.

I think you can even get a much later crossing (up to 24 hours) if you are severely delayed, but you might have to pay the difference if eg the later crossing was peak and your booked one was off-peak.

soba

BenL wrote: »

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

Thanks BenL, that's really helped

DUKE

I've been through a few times by coach & felt slightly panicked when I thought about where I was. I was hot & I felt slightly sick sitting on the coach, so I got off & walked about & I was ok. It's quicker than the ferry, but I find that I prefer the ferry. Enjoy, it's an experience!

jolly_jen_2

The actual journey time is 35 minutes of which you are in the tunnel for 22 minutes. I am also claustrophobic but having lived in France for 3 years, it was the quickest and easiest form of travel for someone who also didn't like the ferry crossings... (Okay on a calm clear day but Force 8, no thanks). To help me, upon entering the tunnel, I closed my eyes and counted to 60, 11 times, using my fingers! I then opened my eyes and knew that for each minute I was in the tunnel, I was a step closer to coming out the other side. I had a CD playing and munched on some goodies for the latter part of the journey. Cars are parked bumper to bumper and there are approximately 4 cars in each carriage. Yes, you can get out of your car but not really any point as the only place to go is the loo. When you've got your eyes closed, just imagine you are using British Rail and you're above ground. In fact, i'd say it's nowhere near as bumpy. It's actually quite smooth. Take it from me, you'll be fine. If I can do it, so can you. Good Luck x

DCFC79

You can get out and stretch your legs, i use the time to do just that after being in a car for 3 and a half hours,

squirrelchops

I was initially a bit scared of the tunnel but faced with either that or the ferry it was the tunnel every time.....the thought of sea sickness, no thanks!
I do still feel funny in sone of the longer tunnels you get on the continent and would feel very nervous of the Frejus or Mont Blanc.

Anyway I digress....the first time we went via 'la tranche sur mer' I just got my book out and concentrated on reading and that got me through it...may have dozed off for a bit as it is quite warm in there and so smooth.

Tarry

jolly_jen wrote: »

The actual journey time is 35 minutes of which you are in the tunnel for 22 minutes. I am also claustrophobic but having lived in France for 3 years, it was the quickest and easiest form of travel for someone who also didn't like the ferry crossings... (Okay on a calm clear day but Force 8, no thanks). To help me, upon entering the tunnel, I closed my eyes and counted to 60, 11 times, using my fingers! I then opened my eyes and knew that for each minute I was in the tunnel, I was a step closer to coming out the other side. I had a CD playing and munched on some goodies for the latter part of the journey. Cars are parked bumper to bumper and there are approximately 4 cars in each carriage. Yes, you can get out of your car but not really any point as the only place to go is the loo. When you've got your eyes closed, just imagine you are using British Rail and you're above ground. In fact, i'd say it's nowhere near as bumpy. It's actually quite smooth. Take it from me, you'll be fine. If I can do it, so can you. Good Luck x

Force 8 was really good after a force 9 going over (yes I looked on the metoffice and port of dover site before I crossed):rotfl: We where glad it had ""calmed"" to a force 8, calmed been an operative word. I can't seem to get cheap deals for tunnel though as I don't book far enough ahead. So I tend to get on the ferry.

warehouse

The tunnel is fantastic, I'll never take the ferry again. Everyone else has covered what I wanted to say, but the only problem I had was that you get to the motorway so quickly that my Sat Nav didn't have a chance to pick up the satelites so I had to guess the first turn. Luckily I was right, but just be prepared for that first junction which comes up really soon after leaving the train.

Barnabysue

Just be aware that there are far fewer high spaces than low and on busy days if there are lots of high vehicles travelling they are likely to stop you from travelling through the high route. They won't leave high vehicles behind to let a low vehicle travel in the single deck. I would suggest adding a topbox to your car if you have one, even if it's empty it will guarantee you a high space if that's what you've booked.