Cheapest day/time for crossing channel

Hi, Maybe not the answer you are after but suggest you choose a time of year first then use the European Search & Book facility to fine tune, taking into account where you are coming from, home, and going to, destination.

There are so many variables as to make giving advice based on your OP no more than a guess so a bit more info will, I am sure, glean a lot more advice.

The Tunnel is by far the most convenient and can be very cost effective if you have a large motorhome but as AandJ point out there are many variables to take into account.

peedee

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Agree with above advice; lots of variables - how long is a piece of string?  Personally, we've used the tunnel for years as we use Tesco vouchers to pay for part of it and OH isn't a good sailor but these criteria don't necessarily apply to you.  I've recently booked a crossing with them (direct via their website, online) and it's a matter of deciding dates, then "playing around" with the booking system to see what prices are.  Broadly speaking, I found crossings between roughly midnight and 6am were the cheapest (but no thanks, not for us!) and Tuesdays/Wednesdays appeared to have cheaper rates at certain other times (during the day).

No experience of booking ferries, nor of booking via CAMC.  Bear in mind that, if booking through CAMC and any amendment is necessary after booking, they are only contactable during the working week, not during weekends or evenings.

I know last year on the Dover-Calais crossing the tunnel was undercutting some of the ferries. If you are able to go along the coast then I'd start my search with Newhaven-Dieppe. If over 60 then phone your booking as you will also get a 20% reduction. My return leg from Dieppe on Sept Mon 25th at midday is £134 for 2 adult, car and van.

 For comparison, C&MC prices on the Calais or Dunkirk crossing back, same time and day are £190-£230.

Colin

 

The Tunnel is still undercutting ferry prices, at least for me. It is some years since I last used a ferry, preferring the convenience of the Tunnel, but I do keep an eye on costs and have just run a check on DFDS Dover to Calais against the Tunnel. DFDS £313 and Tunnel £303 return for the same day and roughly the same crossing times. Long distance crossing are even more expensive for me. Even with night stops I save over £200 by using the Tunnel to travel to Spain rather than using the ferries from Portsmouth to Northern Spain. I am time rich and don't mind long distance driving, avoid tolls as much as possible and often night stops on the Aires are free.

Like InaD I also use Tesco vouchers for the Tunnel.

peedee

Abbeyland, I never found that Cornwall to Brittany via the tunnel was desperately convenient, but without knowing where you live or where you are going it’s hard to give you advice. 

EuroT, a few years ago, 2014 I think, I was holidaying near St Austel and going to the Costa Brava following on. It was cheaper to drive to Folkstone than use the Plymouth ferry, the latter costing over £600 compared to £120 on the tunnel.

peedee

P.S. just run a check and it looks like the Plymouth Roscoff prices have come down to about twice that of the Tunnel!

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I tried it once AD and got very bored. While I have good see legs my better half has none so I would hate to be in rough seas.

peedee