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Original poster

Has anyone booked a ferry and drive holiday to Europe for this year - how much could brexit fuck it up?

41 replies

thduchessstill · 03/01/2019 22:22

I had resolved not to book anything until after March, but it comes to this time of year and I really need something to look forward to...

Has anyone booked and if so are you worried, or if you're holding off, why?

I know it's all been said, but surely it won't still be chaos in July? I mean it know it will be horribly shit for the foreseeable, but we will surely be able to get out of the shithole for a bit, won't we? I know if it all goes ahead I will really want to leave for a bit.

I don't know, there's a sale on now and I'm worried prices will rocket up if there's a deal/it gets called off or delayed and lots of people who've been waiting all start booking come the end of March.

What do you think?

OP posts:
strongandlong · 03/01/2019 22:29

We've just done exactly that. £200 deposit and the balance doesn't have to be paid until May. We're assuming we'll be able to make a call at that point...

leghairdontcare · 03/01/2019 22:30

www.gov.uk/government/brexit

Brexit technical notices, go wild!

"In the event of a no-deal Brexit*, Passenger ferries should continue as normal, but there will potentially be huge delays on the roads around ports due to extra checks on commercial vehicles. You will need a permit to drive in Europe. You will need 6 months remaining on your passport.

Might be sorted by July, or more likely it won't have even happened by July.

PersonaNonGarter · 03/01/2019 22:30

What specifically are you worried about? The exchange rate?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
FaFoutis · 03/01/2019 22:34

I want to go on one but haven't booked. Potential delays and awful exchange rates put me off. I was looking at Easter though, it might have calmed down a bit by July.

HelloJackieYouLookNice · 03/01/2019 22:35

I’ve resisted the urge to book. Like you I want something to look forward to but I just can’t risk it, it’s not just the money it’s the thought of being stuck on the motorway for hours trying to get to Dover.

I’ve booked a UK break for Whitsun instead and if things look ok nearer the time I’ll book somewhere in France for August.

We are going to the Netherlands this weekend and I’m feeling sad thinking it could be the last time I use my freedom of movement Sad

GoodStuffAnnie · 03/01/2019 22:36

We’ve booked. It’ll be fine.

Original poster
thduchessstill · 03/01/2019 22:37

I have seen that driving should be fine. I was worried about the ports but it seems that problem is mainly focused around Dover and the immediate aftermath of a no-deal scenario. The exchange rate is a worry because I'm so unsure of how much of a difference that could actually make. I did this kind of holiday for the first time last year and was actually pleasantly surprised by the cost. I know people who've been doing it for years have seen it get pricier, but for me it was similar to being at home in terms of food costs, so not a problem. I wonder just how bad it could get though.

Paying just the deposit then deciding when it's clearer is a really good idea, thanks.

OP posts:
Miljah · 04/01/2019 07:58

This will be the first year in a decade where we haven't booked a villa in Spain.

I suspect there'll be a lot of hassle at airports etc, but the biggie is the exchange rate.

ErictheGuineaPig · 04/01/2019 08:01

Nobody really knows that's the problem. It could all be fine, it could all be chaos. I don't want to book a holiday abroad this year just in case. I'd rather see how it pans out.

CherryPavlova · 04/01/2019 08:05

We’re due to go out to our boat in April but are holding off booking the shuttle. We want to see what impact there might be on the Kentish motorways as we have no desire to use leave queuing on the M20.

trilbydoll · 04/01/2019 08:07

We've booked a campsite for August and will sort out the ferry once we have worked out if we need a roof box or not. Hopefully there will be enough time between March and August to sort out any necessary paperwork.

BikeRunSki · 04/01/2019 08:11

I’m having exactly the same quandary as you OP. Was going to book, from an east coast port, then everyone at work was asked to do voluntary training on managing public order incidents in the event of a non-deal Brexit, which included scenarios involving the east coast ports. If you want a ferry holiday, you need to go from a port which can not accept the really big commercial shipping (which are planned to replace air freight if air freight cocks up) , which I think is Plymouth and Portsmouth.

babysharkah · 04/01/2019 08:13

We are looking at the tunnel instead of f try but we want to go April 8th. I'm holding out for now. Further fucked up by not knowing what if anything is going to happen to the PETS scheme as our dog usually comes too and needs his passport updated.

DippyAvocado · 04/01/2019 08:15

Booked for August, but not from Dover. I'm not overly concerned about them not running but I am anticipating much worse traffic around the ports and will be leaving extra time for the journey.

Sophiesdog11 · 04/01/2019 08:16

We have tickets for the Women’s World Cup in France (DD18 follows women’s footie) and plan to do a caravan holiday around that, going as usual on Tunnel. I am a bit nervous of delays in Kent, but we will travel a few days before matches, and at end of June, so not school hols, so hopefully any delays won’t be horrendous.

Main concern is our dog, who may need an extra blood test for rabies, but I will look at that once the Commons vote has happened, she is up to date with rabies vaccine so will just be a case of getting blood test done.

someoneseatenmyapple · 04/01/2019 08:16

I'm not sure what to do either. We usually go to the south of France to a cabin on a camp site and drive, crossing the channel with Eurotunnel. Very aware that these places already get booked up anyway as very popular with French, Dutch and German holiday makers too. So a bit anxious we could miss out on specific dates. However my reluctance is more to do with our income as both of us are self employed and if the economy shrinks, even slightly we will have less money and may have to forgo a holiday this year.

We went to France in September then December and Pound/Euro exchange was worse in that time.

However my brother has just booked a similar holiday in June and doesn't seem worried.

We live in Kent and Operation Stack is horrendous when in place though.

ReaganSomerset · 04/01/2019 08:20

We're going to Centreparcs.

Sophiesdog11 · 04/01/2019 08:21

babysharkah - I was reading about the pet passport on a No deal section of BBC the other day.

Basically pet passport scheme won’t be valid. They will need rabies vaccine, then confirmation blood test at least 30 days later, then travel 3 months after blood test confirms dog is covered. And a health check at a vet 10 days before travel. Bit of a pain, but not impossible.

As per my post above, our dog had rabies last summer, so I will get blood test done if it’s looking like a No deal once vote has happened.

CherryPavlova · 04/01/2019 08:21

babysharkah. We take the dog but have already predicted need for rabies vaccine titre so had that done and passport updated just in case as it takes a while if previous rabies vaccine hadn’t been effective. Luckily his had so it was just a quick blood test.

babysharkah · 04/01/2019 08:31

Ddogs rabies has expired - my vet reckons if we go out with no deal it could revert to a three month instead of three week wait period for the blood test so travel before end June wouldn't be possible. That's the worst case scenario according to DEfRA.

Sophiesdog11 · 04/01/2019 11:59

Yes the 3 month wait is my understanding babysharkah, but why the end of June, there is no reason why the blood test can’t be done now, or as soon as we know there is a likely No Deal situation?

It may not be needed, but if someone wants to travel in May, it would make sense to do it sooner rather than later? I don’t see anything that says the test must be done after March, just 30 days after vaccine, then 3 mth wait.

My plan is to get blood test done ASAP if the commons vote goes against the deal, even though I know that there is a chance a deal may be sorted by end of March. I’d rather waste the cost of a blood test than have to put Dog in kennels.

ManicUnicorn · 04/01/2019 12:32

I think there's something really unethical about travel companies taking money from people when they don't know what's going to happen with regards to Brexit.

Hoppinggreen · 04/01/2019 12:35

Anyone saying “it’ll be fine “ has no idea what they are talking about a d is sticking their fingers in their ears and going “la la la la”
It MIGHT be fine but literally nobody can say for certain
I’m booking nothing at all just yet until the situation becomes clearer

Ta1kinPeace · 04/01/2019 13:58

Pet Passport rules are unknown
Driving Licence rules are unknown
Visa / Passport rules are unknown
Congestion around Channel ports is unknown
Customs / duty free rules are unknown
Health / Travel insurance rules are unknown

I suspect it WILL have settled down by July
but it may all be rather 1972
but then that is what the no deal brigade want Hmm

Whowouldathunkit · 04/01/2019 14:24

I wouldn't book anything OP. Those who say things will be fine are delusional and have no concept that services could breakdown. It would only take a sixty second delay in processing each indivdual vehicle for Dover to be crippled. The LA have already taken over the approach roads and ARE preparing for 16 miles of tailback, and that is only for commercial vehicles. Forget about passenger cars!

You would be an idiot to plan any European travel this side of Christmas.