Anyone travelled on Eurotunnel recently?

[lilibet]

If you are early, do they make you want or put you on the next train? We've had both happen to us and are hoping that we can turn up early.

thanks

We've always got the next train. Think it depends on availability. Apparently the passport control is v slow at the mo so be in plenty of time.

It does depend on how busy the train is.

Last year we were early (despite it being a 7.00am crossing!) and we got on the earlier train - it was a Friday morning. However on our return from France - Saturday evening 8pm - we had to wait. It was very busy, a popular crossing.

We are doing similar this summer - leave on a Friday - return on a Saturday (not the next day )

Definitely depends on whether the service is fully booked or not. Do ask when you arrive though because the letter they give you will determine what service you go on (you probably know that already though!)

thanks, we're doing the longest drive we have ever done - over 700 miles in one day and the travel company only had a later train than we normally use.

It's going to be a long, long day ...

Urgh, that sounds horrid.

I meant to say before that I have actually managed to get on a train that was two trains earlier than the one I had booked on so you might be lucky. Is there any way you could ring and find out if it's worth you hanging around? I suppose if not, you could always have a nap ...

Get there as early as you can and I'd say you should get on an earlier one. We travelled on a Friday a couple of weeks ago and people with later letters than us were on our train. Passport control took forever on the way back in Calais so get there as early as you can on the way back too. You are very brave to be doing 700 miles in one day!! We have a 4 month old DD so we overnighted on the way down to Loire and on the way back, I think DD might never have forgiven if we hadn't us!!!

Dh got to Calais 2h early for the 10pm train the Saturday before last (having travelled a similar distance to you) and only managed to get on the train just before the one he was meant to get - and even that took some persuading.

Ds2 and his friend are both 15, and well equipped with ipods and game boys so they hopefully will be fine. We are doing it as cheaply as possible this year and an overnight was a bit of a luxury

OP for future reference we overnighted at a B&B hotel in Arras (we have family nearby who we visited but couldn't put us up as they already had visitors). B&B hotels are a chain of budget hotels... Vv basic but clean and secure. We only paid €39 for the room! We spotted one on the outskirts of Rouen and made a mental note for future trips..

There was a time in Calais when you could be sneaky and nip round the little roundabout towards the earlier train but now they seem to always have someone stationed there to stop chancers like us

Goosey, we normally go to F1 whixh is cheaper than that seeing as we need two rooms, but include an evening meal for four adults and it mounts up. Cutting costs wherever we can this year, but I don't give a stuff - I'm off to France

It say on the ticket that subject to availability you can change to an earlier or later train within two hours either side without additional charge. When you check in the machine offers you diffent times and you choose the one you want, if it s more than two hours difference you can pay a supplement. We often travel on eurotunnel, and love the flexibility. Also online you can amned the booking easily again depending on availablilty.