To try and avoid queues...

[DoverShortcutPlan]

I've got a Dover -Calais ferry crossing booked for next Sunday at 11am. It would ordinarily take 2hours to drive from home to Dover. So would normally aim to get to Dover for 9am, I'd leave at 7am.

But if the traffic is going to be horrendous (seen stories of people queueing for 5 hours!) I'd have to leave the day before! Would staying in Dover overnight help avoid the queues?

Or do you think it might have settled down by next weekend?

Anyone got any advice?

I wouldn’t be going, sounds like an absolute headache. And no, I don’t think it will be sorted by then. Can you buy some cheap EasyJet flights instead?

I'm sorry, I really don't know, I suppose it depends if the French put more staff on or not?!

At least you have a week to see how things go.

if it was me I would assume staying over would help a bit, but not enough to warrant the hassle & cost.

if it's bad today and next Saturday I'd just leave at this time of day, but then I'm usually awake now anyway -are you?

I hope it's not too bad & you have a lovely holiday (if that's shut pure going)

I would be watching and waiting to see how things go at Dover this week. On Friday I would make a final decision about when to leave and be prepared to spend some time queuing.

I hope all goes well for you and this doesn't spoil your holiday.

Thanks all. I'm sad, as it's our first holiday in years, saved really hard for it. I think a night on a campsite just outside Dover might just be the 'added bonus' !

The idea of flights is well out of the window I'm afraid. Can't afford them!

It's still shit here but in all honesty I think it will be fine by next week. This part of Kent is nearly ready to riot, nobody can get out at the moment
When it starts moving it moves quickly though
If you decide to stay over I'd stay in Folkestone as its probably cheaper, there's a travel lodge/holiday Inn near the big tesco which has a good reputation
I hope you have a lovely holiday @DoverShortcutPlan

Just a thought but how about changing the sailing so that you arrive in a different country, Holland or Belgium and drive down from there. Surely even doing that wouldn't take 30 hours.

Well you wouldn't need to leave the night before, more like 5am?

Do you have to be on that crossing? They're Honouring tickets on any crossing if due to delay, so you could just set out as normal and be on an early afternoon crossing?

Queues probably be better by next week, if not just join the queue, bring lots of snacks and they will put you on the next crossing.

We went eurotunnel from Folkestone yesterday. Planned for it, stayed in folkstone the night before. Took 5 hours to do a 5 mile drive. Got on train 2 hours later than planned, drove off 35 minutes later and all was good again.
Took books, snacks, played games, painted my toe nails. Had a nap at one point.
Didn't have any kids with us which was the biggest bonus I guess!

I can't afford to change the crossing, unfortunately. The ferry timing isn't essential , it'll just make our holiday shorter. Its just me and my ds.

The campsite I've found is 13 quid for the night, so that could be fun.

Will definitely bring many snacks and gallons of water.

My next issue is where I'm going to wee if stuck in the car for hours!

But you don't have to change the crossing OP, that's the point.