Ok, so we are taking the tent across to France this summer. Booked on Eurotunnel on Saturday 23rd of July (8.50am crossing) which is the first day of the school summer holidays!!!
Anybody travelled on the tunnel on the first day of the school holidays and got any tips on what to expect/what the delays are like? We have used Eurotunnel before but not at such a busy time!
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Quote: Originally posted by RichJean+Ellie on 12/4/2016
Ok, so we are taking the tent across to France this summer. Booked on Eurotunnel on Saturday 23rd of July (8.50am crossing) which is the first day of the school summer holidays!!!
Anybody travelled on the tunnel on the first day of the school holidays and got any tips on what to expect/what the delays are like? We have used Eurotunnel before but not at such a busy time!
try putting your route into Google maps and use the leave now facility - it will estimate traffic levels at this time.
Not that bothered about delays getting there as we are staying overnight nearby to get an early start. More after advice on delays etc at the tunnel itself, Google won't tell me that!
------------- May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights
unless there is a technical fault you wont be delayed if you arrive 1h before your booked crossing. during busy periods they put on 3 trains/hr and you will be on one of them.
i am travelling plymouth/roscoff on the saturday, the day after the schools break up. when we booked in january some routes were already full. i am planning on leaving in the early hours even though our sailing is not until the after noon and 3.5h is normal to get to plymouth. problem is it sometimes takes us 4h just to get to somerset on a friday afternoon.
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Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
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We've been through the tunnel around the start of the school holidays before. Even on the busiest days the whole operation works like clockwork. If you're massively early they'll try to put you on an earlier train if there's space, and you're allowed to be up to 2 hours late.
That said, after recent events they were checking every single passport (as well as the usual API) and that did cause delays I believe.
It is a very slick operation though, even the loos in the terminal manage to cope on busy days.
We travelled last year on the Sunday after they broke up, we arrived about 2 hours early but weren't given the option of an earlier train, we had to take the time we were booked.
It was busy but not overcrowded
Thanks for the re-assurances. As I say, we are staying overnight a few miles up the road so will get there leaving plenty of time to get through customs etc.
When we have used the tunnel before, we have always been put on an earlier train but don't think this will happen this time as we are in a high carriage because of the roof box and all the trains are full on that morning!
------------- May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Les Medes on 15/4/2016
Do not forget to complete you API (Advance Passenger Information) as this will save you some time
Already done!
------------- May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights