Member Since: 03 Nov 2013
Location: Peel
Posts: 303
Travelling on Eurostar and through Calais
Hi All
We are planning this years holiday and I want to take the Discovery and travel up to the Black Forrest and do a bit of touring, but my wife is a bit apprehensive of travelling on the Eurostar and through Calais due to the migrant issues in Calais and would rather fly and hire a car on arrival - bearing in mind we will have our 3yr old son with us so my wife is in protective mode which is understandable
I just wondered what other people have come across or heard about when travelling through Calais with a family
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15th Jan 2017 10:53 am
ruben D3 Decade
Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2384
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 nowlost in translation!
15th Jan 2017 11:17 am
Inigo
Member Since: 28 Feb 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 271
I have travelled through regularly over the years and while the increased security measures make it look like a war zone, it is fine.
On the way out, you just drive through and no-one is interested. On the way back I'd take the precaution of booking a daytime crossing. I might be a little nervous approaching in the were small hours. Also, if you need to plan an overnight stop before the crossing, I would make sure that you are a fair few miles away from Calais. Anyway, all the local Ibis and such like appear to be full of gendarmes.
15th Jan 2017 11:18 am
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
I've been driving through the tunnel 2 or 3 times a year for about 10 years now... never had an issue or even seen a migrant. The fences get bigger but I've only seen problems on the news.
(mind you, I rarely stop in France if I can help it )2005 D3 HSE 2011 D4 Landmark 2016 D4 HSE Lux
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15th Jan 2017 11:40 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I'm going Tuesday morning on the 07:20 so I'll report back when I get to Austria.
15th Jan 2017 11:43 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
crews control wrote:
I've been driving through the tunnel 2 or 3 times a year for about 10 years now... never had an issue or even seen a migrant. The fences get bigger but I've only seen problems on the news.
(mind you, I rarely stop in France if I can help it )
We saw a few last year when we arrived in the morning but they were more concerned with the boot/baton strikes they were receiving than trying to get in my car
I saw a few last year on the way back from the Pyrenees - and did drive through some tyre smoke right at the tunnel which did make life interesting for a few seconds, but it really isn't an issue - there is a heavy police presence and seem to deal with any trouble.Mark.
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15th Jan 2017 11:57 am
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
First things first - if you are taking your car you will not be on Eurostar that is foot passengers only. With the car you go on Eurotunnel.
Having said that Continental Europe is a wonderful place to explore and the Black Forest is beautiful. I love it and I go there as often as I can. Just be sensible and check you car and surroundings the same as you would in the UK and as was said try to return during daylight hours.
Calais is now a lot less problematical since the closure of the ''Jungle'' and with just a car the ''immigrants'' would not be interested in you - they want somewhere to hide and with your wife, baby and all the associated clobber that doesn't leave much room
We (my wife and I) will be off again in a few weeks and with our Airstream on tow and will be touring all over France and it's neighbouring countries just as we have done for many years along with thousands of other Brits and we have no fears but we are alert.
Final point driving on the Continent is a lot less hassle than in the UK especially on French toll Autoroutes - they are costly but very relaxing and with ''Aires'' every twenty or so miles you don't have to worry about finding ''comfort stops''.
Just go for it and enjoy as I am sure you will.
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15th Jan 2017 12:03 pm
Dusty
Member Since: 23 Sep 2013
Location: London
Posts: 1022
The comfort of taking as much stuff as you like, not wasting several hours at an airport and paying through the nose for car hire will far outweigh any inconvenience you may experience on the Eurotunnel. I understand your concerns with having a little one, but having made this journey many many times in the last few years, I have never experienced any problems.Discovery 4 HSE
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15th Jan 2017 12:13 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13906
I do this route with my family several times a year and so do other members of my family. In the 20+ years we've been doing it we have never had any problems. The last three tiimes I've not seen any signs of migrants.
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15th Jan 2017 12:23 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
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
Jesus, don't hold back
15th Jan 2017 12:26 pm
ruben D3 Decade
Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2384
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.lost in translation!
Last edited by ruben on 15th Jan 2017 1:45 pm. Edited 4 times in total
15th Jan 2017 12:33 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
I'm with Ted on this, there's nothing to be worried about and in the three/four trips I took the last year I never saw anything that could be described as an immigrant. Europe is stunning and it'll make you wonder why you come back after seeing it. They have stunning landscapes and fantastic weather all joined up by snooker table roads. Just do it.
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15th Jan 2017 1:35 pm
ruben D3 Decade
Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2384
fisherman wrote:
I took the last year I never saw anything that could be described as an immigrant
you never saw an immigrant?? Can you describe what that is this?
I´m very surpraised for this type of things! or maybe the problem is in the tabloids, is terrible to hear these things !! lost in translation!
15th Jan 2017 1:45 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
The tabloids said an awful lot which was not about truth but selling papers.
The fuel problems in France were way over exaggerated last May to the point that the only place I had trouble getting fuel was Folkestone and no problems at all in France. I repeat that I never saw an immigrant and to be honest, wouldn't have worried if I had. Europe is so much nicer than the UK to caravan (mainly down to the weather) and the landscapes as stated are stupendous.FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
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