Daytrip - Calais or Dunkirk?

[SoleBizzz]

On a small budget.
Which destination would you choose and why please?

Are you going as a foot passenger or taking a car SoleBizzz?

What do you want to do?

Taking the car. Staying over one night. Just gotta get away.

Calais used to be lovely but now isn't very nice at all, which is a shame. I don't know Dunkirk at all.

Go for a walk around the town. Museum, eat some glorious French bread and cake. I am taking my disabled DS.

Calais is a shithole.

Dunkirk, I have never been.

Boulogne is charming, old walked town, nice food. Haven't been for a few yeaes, but it was lovely when we went, and we went around ten times.

If you don't mind a bit of a drive, Brugge is one hour from Calais/Eurotunnel x

Boulogne would be a better bet. A bit further on from Calais.

Calais crossing and then drive down to Boulogne or Le Touquet if the budget will stretch. Much nicer than Calais itself IMHO.

Ypres (aka Ieper) is lovely and only an hour from Calais. Lots of history, we did an overnight there en route further into Europeans it was a perfect size to explore. Ds2 was still small and needed a buggy; it was easy to push around (they are used to lots of old veterans visiting so have made it accessible), plenty of restaurants. Small enough to do on foot.

Le Touquet is also nice if you want sea air. Nice to wander around, doesn’t have the same sort of history but has a fab beach (and the Novotel and [cant remember the name!] hotels are joined together by a lovely swimming pool that looks directly onto the beach.

Oh thank you so much everyone! Xx

I am really fat and don't have nice clothes
. Will the stylish and thib French throw me out? 😁😁😁

Sole - You are going to Northern France - very few people are Parisian type stylish there. I suspect you will look tres chic by their standards.

Avoid Calais - it's a dump. I have to go through it 3/4 times a year & I just get out of it as fast as I can. Sad, 15+ years ago it was fine.

Poor Calais :( I haven't been since 2006. I am going. I am scared but am goingx

It's not scarey - just a bit sad & dumpy. Stick to the main drag & you'll be fine.

Another vote for Boulogne, with its huge aquarium Nausicaá by the port, and its numerous fish restaurants, a lovely town to wander around.

And no, of course they won’t throw you out Sole!

I recommend going onto Bruges if looking for an overnight trip to the continent. If you go over first thing, you can get to Bruges by lunchtime, have frites & mayonnaise for lunch and have an afternoon and dinner in Bruges. The Ibis is very reasonable. Then head home the next day. Much nicer than Calais.

AdaColemanThe aquarium is the biggest in Europe! £42 for two adults not bad.

Sounds good Sole, but before you visit it, call in at the Boulogne Office de Tourisme. There is one near the Bassin Napoléon, and a couple of kiosks elsewhere in town.

They may have special offers on tickets, such as three venues at a reduced price, so could save you money.

The Office de Tourisme website has some good info on restaurants and attractions, so is worth a look to help you plan. How exciting, I wish I were going myself!

Co.e with us 'Ada'

Thank you for all of the fab advice everyone x

Bit late to this but I know the Dunkerque area quite well. What do you want to do and how far do you want to travel?

If you want somewhere nice (and very French) to stay, without a long drive from the port, have a look at Bergues. Pretty town with canals and some decent B&B/ restaurant type places. Has a very good market on Monday mornings.

Just watch for the speed cameras on the A16/E40, and the speed limits there. They are very strict on the 90kph stretch; all the French going past me at a rate of knots and I get a ticket for being 3 kph over the limit.

Before you ask, I have Belgian plates and information is evidently shared.