Message Forums

Hi hope you can help. Going over to France camping in August  we're booked on a tunnel crossing at about 8 pm travelling form Yorkshire so looking for an overnight site in callais that does not mind arrivals a little later in the day . In the past we have driven overnight but taking 2 children this time so planning stop overs on the way  down south. Many thanks.

You might be better booking a cheap b&b, don't forget France is an hour in front of us so it'll be getting on towards 10pm their time by the time you've offloaded and on the motorway.

Le Bien Assise at Guines usually accepts arrivals quite late although 10.00pm might be pushing it a bit. The Tunnel will often allow you to take a crossing up to two hours before your booked crossing time if there is room.

David

We are in a Motorhome so it's a bit easier for us but we drive the 250 mile to Dover but stay at a campsite this side and then take the early morning ferry. This gives you a good few hours driving in France during the day.

Have you considered staying at a budget hotel near Dover i.e. Travelodge or similar.

Mke

If you're in a tent then a budget hotel in France might be your best option.  There are many chains of them - all reasonable prices.  Once you've booked you're given a 'code' which opens the door and gives you your room number (reception is often unmanned later in the evening) - so you can access your room at any time during the night. 

There's a link here to all the various chains.

What route are you taking to the south?  Someone did post information about a site just off the A16 (towards Abbeville) which takes late hours arrivals - and if that's the way you're heading then you could perhaps locate it using the search facility. This is the result from a search using 'overnight calais' - or someone else may remember the name.

If you are caravanning/ motorhoming there's a Campsite in a little village called Peuplingues accepts late arrivals (I can't remember the name now!! but there are reviews on here), we emailed ahead and asked if an arrival of gone midnight would be ok "The lady from the campsite say Yes".

Alternatively change your crossing to early in the morning and stop at one of the CL's (if you're in the caravan club) in and around Dover/ Folkestone. You can stay hitched up and can come and go as you please.

Otherwise I'd go for the travelodge option (if you are a member of Topcashback, Travel lodge offer 3% cashback, so a £9 quid room would give you a couple of pennies back!)

Hi welsh woman.

                        We are also taking a trailer this year, I would not worry about the security at a budget hotel, they almost all have secure gated parking, last year we used the B&B at Arras for our first and last overnight stop, this year we will are using the "Pemiere Classe" chain a little cheaper than the B&B's but not as basic as the F1's for 2 overnights on the way down South, and two on the way back, first and last will again be not far from the French ferry port of Dunkerque, also as others have mentioned it does not matter what time you arrive at the budget hotel, even if the staff are not there, so long as you have your booking and credit card, the automated code will give you entrance to the car park and hotel and room etc. for us it works well, and after the 300 mile drive down to Dover, roll of the Ferry and then a short drive to a budget hotel, then grab a takeaway and cheap bottle of vin rouge, happy days, would not do it any other way!.