DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Travelling on Eurostar and through Calais

MarkOne

Member Since: 23 Jul 2011
Location: County Antrim
Posts: 3345

2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Corris Grey

I travel back and forth 2-3 times a week, it is quiet now. It flares up now and then but even then I have never concerned myself to much about it.

15th Jan 2017 3:44 pm

IOM man

Member Since: 03 Nov 2013
Location: Peel
Posts: 303

2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE Auto Nara Bronze

ruben wrote:
No, don't you think, SWMBO is rigth now, Europe is crazy these days, it's full of annoying poor people on the roads impossible to circulate, if you have the misfortune to stop stealing you safely, do not even bring children to the most insecure continent on earth, Your wife is quite right, here the dirty immigrants are so many that they no longer fit and fortunately they are already falling to the sea .... better ensure your holiday in some beautiful camping in the countryside of Surrey, do not come and ignore me, never The black forest had so many reasons to call itself so, it is full of hungry blacks now

Thanks for your reply Ruben, I better not show my wife your reply as she probably wont want to even leave the Isle of Man after reading the above and we will probably end up getting as far as CentreParcs :whistle

To be honest the issues in Calais (Not the rest of Europe) don't bother me at all, but when a mum is being protective over our little one i need to listen to her as they are always my first consideration

My background is in the construction industry and I have friends that have come from all parts of Europe and the rest of the world - One of my good freinds comes from St Helena and it takes him nearly 7 days to get home, so i have no issues at all with other nationalities, migrants or any other person - live and let live is my motto

I am really looking forward to the traveling/touring and seeing some of Europe as i have never done it before and especially as i can use the Disco as that is what its been bought for

Current:
2010 Discovery 4 HSE TDV6
2020 Audi Q2 TSFI 40 Aline Quattro Black Edition
2006 Audi RS4 4.2 V8 - Toy in the garage

Gone but not forgotten:

2006 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV6
2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport Hybrid
2005 Discovery 3 HSE TDV6
2015 Discovery HSE Lux
200 Discovery TDI
300 Discovery TDI
Land Rover 90 2.5 Diesel
Series III SWB Land Rover 2.25 diesel
TD4 Freelander Kalahari
1.8 petrol Freelander

15th Jan 2017 3:48 pm

IOM man

Member Since: 03 Nov 2013
Location: Peel
Posts: 303

As we live on the Isle of Man we live a bit of a sheltered life from what goes on in the world, so I thought it would be good to ask the forum members what their experiences are and the replies have been great

, thanks everyone for your replies and advice - the picture of the Gateau helps with the decision to go

We are going to compare all the costs tonight and make our decision but all your advice has helped my wife reduce her worry over traveling through Calais so i think we will be possibly taking the Disco

Current:
2010 Discovery 4 HSE TDV6
2020 Audi Q2 TSFI 40 Aline Quattro Black Edition
2006 Audi RS4 4.2 V8 - Toy in the garage

Gone but not forgotten:

2006 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV6
2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport Hybrid
2005 Discovery 3 HSE TDV6
2015 Discovery HSE Lux
200 Discovery TDI
300 Discovery TDI
Land Rover 90 2.5 Diesel
Series III SWB Land Rover 2.25 diesel
TD4 Freelander Kalahari
1.8 petrol Freelander

15th Jan 2017 4:00 pm

MrH

Member Since: 08 Aug 2007
Location: lost in the forest
Posts: 7754

As some may know on here, I am German, although predominantly lived in the Uk since 1974.

My sister lives on the German side of the border down near Basel (Switzerland), which is right on the edge of the Blackforest and we frequently go there on holidays. I also lived and worked there for 2 years so know the area quite well. I strongly recommend the region of "High" Blackforest around Schluchsee a town which takes it's name from the lake its by, which has been damed and forms a massive top reservoir for a big hydroelectric system. The whole area is great for walking, cycling and in the winter skiing.

As for travel, we always use the Chunnel. To avoid some Toll costs we travel from Calais through Belgium to Luxembourg where we make a cheap fuel stop and then head on down toward Basel via Strassbourg.

We've seen plenty of immigrants wondering around the Calais area, but practically always being escorted/shooed away from the terminal by a heavy presence of local police and sometimes army. However, we have never had any issues where we felt threaded. We've several times stopped over night in the local Ibis right by the terminal before returning home and the car-park is used as a depot for the police vehicles so again we had no worries about staying there.

Don't fret, as said before it's overly reported and blown out of proportion in the media to sell papers, just enjoy the trip.

By all means PM me for more info re places to see and where to stay in and around Schluchsee if you want some pointers

LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.

15th Jan 2017 4:26 pm

ruben
D3 Decade

Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2383

2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Tonga Green

IOM man wrote:

Thanks for your reply Ruben, I better not show my wife your reply as she probably wont want to even leave the Isle of Man after reading ......

Sorry, I just wanted to be something ironic, but I clearly do not have the command of your language to allow me to look like it, I'm sorry for that. Regarding their fears to say now that they are totally removed from reality and are not an objective problem anywhere, however I understand you, I am the father of a beautiful girl too.
.... immigration is a humanitarian problem that exists and is real and that should concern us all but in another sense, for humanity and justice and not for a possible danger of personal security that is not, that is only in certain speeches of certain fascist and xenophobic politicians that we should not listen to. Travel you through Europe, it is safe and highly recommended, I do it constantly.

lost in translation!

15th Jan 2017 5:28 pm

Dixie Dean

Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298

2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Stornoway Grey

If you are travelling out of season (i.e. other than mid July to mid August) you should get an ACSI card and each night of camping on site on which the ACSI card is valid will only cost you between Euro 11 and 19. See campingcard.co.uk for details. Also if you plan to go to the Black Forest, make sure the towns you stay in are participating in the Konus Card, a free travel card, valid on the buses, trams and trains throughout the Black Forest. For instance we have stayed in Bad Leibenzell, Steinach, Wolfach and Frieburg, where you get a Konis Card for the duration of your stay. You simply pay the obligatory tourist tax of about Euro 1.20 each a night and get the card free. We have travelled 100s of miles throughout the BF all for free. You can take your bikes as well, so take the train up the valley and bike back. Great.
See http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/info/KONUS for details. If you need any further advice about these or caravanning in general on the continent, please PM me.

By the way, both ways on our last trip in August September of last year were completely uneventful. Not a single migrant seen. 2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575

15th Jan 2017 6:08 pm

Gazellio

Member Since: 09 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130

2009 Discovery 4 TDV6 SE Auto Indus Silver

We go two the three times a year and it perfectly safe we rarely see a soul on exit french side I would take your car!

15th Jan 2017 6:33 pm

Compusmentis

Member Since: 18 Feb 2016
Location: Effingham
Posts: 237

2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Java Black

I think there is a little mis-understanding going on.

No-one in their right mind thinks all of Europe is full of would-be criminal migrants. It is just very well publicised in the UK press that the approached to Calais are targeted by migrants and traffickers.

To those who say 'I have never seen a migrant' I would suggest driving an HGV towards the port. Sometimes it can be very intimidating. On three separate occasions, my trucks have been targeted, usually by the creation of a fake 'accident' which brings traffic on the A26 to a halt, and a forced entry to the trailer is attempted.

Nothing will happen on the outbound trip at all, apart from seeing beautiful Europe, and meeting some fantastic people.

Just be sensible on the return trip. Don't stop anywhere (100kms) near Calais, and keep everything locked. You'll be fine.

New gearbox & TC, 3 x front wheel bearings, belts changed, new oil pump, new battery, new rear prop, new front prop, new front diff, front arb refurbed, front cv boot kit, egr blank and BAS software patch, full rear suspension / drivelive rebuild, new front arms, LED trailer light fix, split charge.
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15th Jan 2017 6:38 pm

IOM man

Member Since: 03 Nov 2013
Location: Peel
Posts: 303

Thanks again everyone for your replies, advice and for offers of further information

I have printed the thread out and gave it to SWMBO as she is the itinerary planner - I just pay for it

Looking forward to a good run in the Discovery as we are a bit limited on an island that is only approx. 15 miles wide and only 37 miles long Current:
2010 Discovery 4 HSE TDV6
2020 Audi Q2 TSFI 40 Aline Quattro Black Edition
2006 Audi RS4 4.2 V8 - Toy in the garage

Gone but not forgotten:

2006 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV6
2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport Hybrid
2005 Discovery 3 HSE TDV6
2015 Discovery HSE Lux
200 Discovery TDI
300 Discovery TDI
Land Rover 90 2.5 Diesel
Series III SWB Land Rover 2.25 diesel
TD4 Freelander Kalahari
1.8 petrol Freelander

15th Jan 2017 11:01 pm

smokietn

Member Since: 31 Oct 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 13

2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Barolo Black

Thought I would add my bit, the eurotunnel terminal for cars is no problem with migrants, I have been through a number of times recently even at the peak of the problems with out hassle. I have friends who live within an hour of the terminal who are in their late 70's who come over on a regular basis about once a month and they have not had any problems nor have they had any problems in their village. The problems were always concentrated around the docks for the car ferries rather than the train. Would agree that if you are stopping overnight avoid Calais at the moment as there do appear to be a few returning I would suggest either Bolougne or Dunkirk. Most of the hotels have secure car parks though this is not because of the migrants they always have had. Some thing else I would suggest is if you are going to use the French motorways apply for a liber-t tag from Sanef tolling their UK site is saneftolling.co.uk this allows you to use the motorway system and be billed home to your UK address with payment via direct debit on you uk account. Saves a lot of time at busy toll point as you drive straight thru.

Regards
Mike

16th Jan 2017 11:22 pm

J@mes

Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547

2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Corris Grey

Got through the tunnel at 0800, not a deviant in sight!!

Last edited by J@mes on 17th Jan 2017 5:04 pm. Edited 1 time in total

17th Jan 2017 3:49 pm

IOM man

Member Since: 03 Nov 2013
Location: Peel
Posts: 303

Thanks James Current:
2010 Discovery 4 HSE TDV6
2020 Audi Q2 TSFI 40 Aline Quattro Black Edition
2006 Audi RS4 4.2 V8 - Toy in the garage

Gone but not forgotten:

2006 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV6
2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport Hybrid
2005 Discovery 3 HSE TDV6
2015 Discovery HSE Lux
200 Discovery TDI
300 Discovery TDI
Land Rover 90 2.5 Diesel
Series III SWB Land Rover 2.25 diesel
TD4 Freelander Kalahari
1.8 petrol Freelander

17th Jan 2017 4:45 pm

blackdog1

Member Since: 11 Dec 2015
Location: Staffordshire, but can be anywhere in Europe.
Posts: 296

2016 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Tech Auto Corris Grey

ruben wrote:
Thanks J@mes, I was beginning to think that the irony mode had not been understood

but....now seriously, what it makes me think this, and if you allow me and sorry for that, is that given the vision or idea that some people have of Europe incredible for me, your referendum of European disadhesion would not have triumphed with 90% of the votes in favor.

The UK will soon be gone from the EU , and our money with us, bye, bye EU.

17th Jan 2017 5:34 pm

Moo
D3 Decade

Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13899

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Zambezi Silver

Ruben and all our friends in Europe and elsewhere, we will always be your friend and welcome you when you come to visit. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)

Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)

Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)

No longer the Old Buses original owner

231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control

17th Jan 2017 6:03 pm

Russell

Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564

We go over a fair amount and live 20 minutes from the tunnel. I have been over all times of the day and night and never had any real issues.
I have seen lots and lots of migrants, some trying to board lorries, I have also had them knock on the car window and ask us to take then to England, I politely declined and asked them to go away, they always have with no issues.
If I had any concerns I would not take my family through there MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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17th Jan 2017 6:19 pm