Crossing the Channel

France, Belgium, Holland and beyond..

Getting to grips with the options and costs of getting your car and bike across to mainland Europe can take some time. And even experienced travellers can end up paying more than they need - when going on a short break or a grand tour.

Marketing plans that make return trips cheaper than singles, that have different prices depending on starting point - and that add penalties for not coming back on a return - make for consumer confusion. I’m sure that all you keen cycling fans that arrange your own travel regularly will know all the best deals (please send in your tips) - but for the visitor from, say, the US then the ticketing schemes will often defy logic. So the best option is to check several operators for their latest offerings before booking.

Ferry Companies operating the Short Route Channel Crossings
These are companies that provide the sea crossings for 2009 -
Norfolk Line Dover-Dunkerque 12 return crossings per day 1hr55
P&O Dover-Calais 20+ return crossings per day 1hr30
Seafrance Dover-Calais 15 return crossings per day 1hr30
LD Lines Dover-Boulogne 2 return crossing per day 1hr45
LD Lines Dover-Dieppe 1 return crossing per day 4hr15
Transeuropa Ramsgate-Ostende 4 return crossings per day 4hr
Transmanche Ferries - see LD Lines above
Hoverspeed closed in 2005
Speedferries went into administration Nov-2008. Replaced by LD Lines from 12-Feb-2009

Channel Tunnel Crossings
Eurotunnel Folkstone-Calais frequent crossings 35min
Eurostar provides foot passenger crossings from London, Ashford and Ebbsfleet to Calais, Lille, Paris and Brussels