Driving to Champagne Region for 3 days

[ThreetoTango]

I’m a complete novice at driving in France and planning the crossings. There are so many ferry options or do we use the tunnel?

DH and I have been invited to join some friends in their accommodation and I need to plan getting to near Reims the fastest or easiest way.

We live in the SW so Dover is a long drive.

Any advice welcome.

You will need a clean air sticker on your car before you drive to France. Reims is a part of this scheme https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/law-change-for-uk-drivers-in-french-cities/

are you planning to get to Reims in three days from the U.K.? Or is your whole trip
only three days in duration?

It's really easy and quick to get to Reims from Dover, only a couple of hours. Mm I love Reims.
you also need various bits and bobs to drive over there, you can get kits on Amazon or the ferry.

i really recommend L'Assiette Champenoise to stay, it's lovely and the restaurant is wonderful

Tunnel is better than ferries, Crit'air is very fast when you apply and ooh I love Reims too. The mediaeval market and Jeanne D'Arc festivals are amazing (in May I think).

Reims is fantastic. When are you going? Not sure of the dates but the son et lumière show at the cathedral is amazing.

Definitely the Chunnel, it's just so much easier. Yes, they can have delays (so can the ferries), but don't panic if there's a hold up on the way, they've always managed to fit me on to a subsequent train in that situation.

The Crit'Air is easy - although it takes a couple of weeks to come through - but if you're not going to be driving in the city itself (i.e. your friends will be driving you in and out, or you're using public transport from your base outside the city) then it's probably not necessary.

It’s a very straightforward journey on the motorway from the Chunnel to Reims. Get a bip and go to pay the tolls.

Thank you very much for the replies.
The info on Crit’Air and bip are so helpful.

Ive mapped the trip and it should take about 8 hours including charging our EV.
We might stay nearer the Folkestone the night before.

From SW, to Champagne for 3 days- is just not worth it. Add 1 day each way to travel. We always use the Tunnel for short trips.