Eurotunnel

RCW

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Has anybody used the “ Euro tunnel”
For their van , I’m getting a bit tired of 10 hour ferry rides or paying a certain channel island operator a fortune with long connections. ?

Is it a squeeze getting it on a train ?
 
I last used the Chunnel in 2018. My moho is 7m long x 3m high and 2.5m wide. I had no issues either boarding or disembarking. HTH
 
US RV 2.5mtr wide +big mirrors 3.6mtrs high , 12mtr long + rear m/cycle carrier , just need to be careful thru the Dividers re mirrors , otherwise OK :)
this gives you flavour :)
 
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We've always used the tunnel, it's not only quick but also a good deal with Tesco vouchers. Motorhomes and other large vehicles are assigned to the single deck carriages so plenty of headroom. Cars are in the two deck parts.
 
We came back during Covid through the Tunnel as it was the only option. It was very easy and relaxing (put the kettle on for well needed cuppa …electric!!)
 
We always use it too...in or tag axle MH.

In normal times we cross at least 3 times a year. If you have a Tesco Club card or even better, a Tesco Credit card , you can use their vouchers to get x3 the value...so a trip costs about £65/70 in vouchers. We put everything we can on the CC and usually get at least 1.5 trips free per year. Currently I have over 2 free trips waiting in vouchers due to not travelling abroad this year.

Dead easy to approach; check in; wait; embark; sit back in the MH and drink your flask of tea/coffee; use the toilet if needed; then disembark. We never go on the ferry as Mrs GMJ isn't too good on water but even if she was it'd be hard to beat the chunnel.

not sure how you can put the kettle on on electric tho....?
 
The tunnel is a breeze. Arrive at the Folkestone end and go through the ANPR entry system that recognises your MH registration and will automatically give you your boarding ticket. Although it wasn’t working 3 months ago (Covid perhaps?) and the ticket was being done manually. If you arrive a bit early you may sometimes get given an earlier train, bonus. Then if you have a pet you need to pop into the pet reception to get the paperwork verified.

Drive to the waiting area and park looking at the large display boards showing, clearly, the train departure times, and how long until your ticket letter is called. Once it’s showing allowing you to board you then drive through to the first border control, passports etc., then get shuffled to one side to ensure your gas is OFF. 100 yards and through to the French border control, passports at the ready, see if they ask for your Covid pass details - I wasn’t required to shown anything, just a grunt “double-vac?” And we are through.

Follow the signs and drive down and be directed into the side of the train, it may look a bit intimidating at first until you realise it actually is really wide enough. If you are first in the queue it feels like you’re driving to France as you are going down to the very front. First in, first out.

Park where asked by the attendant, handbrake on, engine off, windows down a touch (this is a chunnel requirement) then get out of your seats and make yourself comfortable on your bed/lounge and relax for the next 30/40 minutes. It’s a very smooth ride and you barely realise you’re moving or stopping. Once you are permitted to exit, remember to drive on the right.

When you get a free moment, you will realise it is soooooo much simpler and easier to travel compared to the channel ferries.
 
Good write up.

Don't forget you get to watch folks wandering around looking for the toilet whilst you have one on board. Whilst doing that you are smugly sitting there drinking your tea/coffee too...or even enjoying your lunch :)

i remember a good few years ago now I went on a hoon around Europe with some fellow car enthusiasts and we were first on to the train. That basically meant a long run in a confined space with a screaming V8. Marvellous!!
 
The tunnel is a breeze. Arrive at the Folkestone end and go through the ANPR entry system that recognises your MH registration and will automatically give you your boarding ticket. Although it wasn’t working 3 months ago (Covid perhaps?) and the ticket was being done manually. If you arrive a bit early you may sometimes get given an earlier train, bonus. Then if you have a pet you need to pop into the pet reception to get the paperwork verified.

Drive to the waiting area and park looking at the large display boards showing, clearly, the train departure times, and how long until your ticket letter is called. Once it’s showing allowing you to board you then drive through to the first border control, passports etc., then get shuffled to one side to ensure your gas is OFF. 100 yards and through to the French border control, passports at the ready, see if they ask for your Covid pass details - I wasn’t required to shown anything, just a grunt “double-vac?” And we are through.

Follow the signs and drive down and be directed into the side of the train, it may look a bit intimidating at first until you realise it actually is really wide enough. If you are first in the queue it feels like you’re driving to France as you are going down to the very front. First in, first out.

Park where asked by the attendant, handbrake on, engine off, windows down a touch (this is a chunnel requirement) then get out of your seats and make yourself comfortable on your bed/lounge and relax for the next 30/40 minutes. It’s a very smooth ride and you barely realise you’re moving or stopping. Once you are permitted to exit, remember to drive on the right.

When you get a free moment, you will realise it is soooooo much simpler and easier to travel compared to the channel ferries.
It's the bit before arrival at Folkestone that I don't like; Poole and Portsmouth are much easier to get to. Yes, I miss out on the delights of department 62, but I'm much closer to 44, 17, 33...
 
Have a tunnel crossing booked in December, Covid permitting, first since Brexit. Has anyone been checked or searched for food imports? I can live without meat, but my favourite muesli includes pumpkin seeds, which are almost certainly forbidden!
 
We did a return trip on the tunnel in September/October, absolutely no questions about food going to France, the French customs only wanted passports and covid pass, no additional checks in France.
 
I have been keeping close to this as well as we are off through the tunnel in January for 2 months. I have yet to hear of anyone being stopped regarding foodstuffs ...so fingers crossed :)
 
Up until when we decided we would never go to France again, due to the costs associated with all the faff with dogs (all 3 of them), but up until that decision of ours was made, we always used the Tunnel as it was head and shoulders better than any of the Ferry services, most especially if you shopped at TESCO (like us) as our crossings were free! The biggest advantage though was the fact that we spent the entire very short crossing with our dogs and better still, we didn't have to suffer the noise of brainless kids running around on a ferry!
 
Up until when we decided we would never go to France again, due to the costs associated with all the faff with dogs (all 3 of them), but up until that decision of ours was made, we always used the Tunnel as it was head and shoulders better than any of the Ferry services, most especially if you shopped at TESCO (like us) as our crossings were free! The biggest advantage though was the fact that we spent the entire very short crossing with our dogs and better still, we didn't have to suffer the noise of brainless kids running around on a ferry!
The crossings were not free; the Clubcard points expended could have been used for other purchases.
 

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