Ferry or Tunnel?

[AssemblyPoint]

Which do you prefer for your drive over to France with kids?…

Driving from Cumbria to Chamonix. Giving myself 2 days travel either side, then staying the for 5 days in between.

Tunnel will be faster but more expensive.
Ferry cheaper and more of an adventure for the kids.

What’s the check in process like for each? Is one better than the other?

Thanks!

We always take the tunnel but that's because DH gets seasick regardless of the size and style of vessel.

Last time we booked a FlexiPlus ticket, expensive but no waiting, you turn up and get the next train. Saved us another 1-2 hours each way.

You have both passport controls when you board so at the other end you just drive off.

I have travelled by both many times. In my opinion, the tunnel is far better. I never went by ferry again after using the tunnel. It's just so much more CIVILISED.

Another vote for the tunnel. So much easier.

Depends where in France you’re going? We live near one of the main ports so always take the overnight ferry there and the afternoon one back. Takes about 4 hours to drive from roscoff or Cherbourg to vendee region.

Tunnel, it's so much quicker and I save our clubcard points all year to pay for it

I seem to be a minority but I prefer the ferry. Unless you go on one of the busiest days of the year I find it's quicker and easier. No waiting around for hours, just board the next ferry. You then get to stretch your legs and use the facilities and all for half the price!

Tunnel every time. We always do the flexi thing and it’s so quick/easy plus all the free food/drink you can take to go is probably worth £100 for a family of 4.

Tunnel but we don’t make plans til last minute and sometimes just arrive and go straight on and off. Never paid extra for flexi. You can change the tunnel time and day easily also you just pay the difference in ticket price. We don’t book hotels as when we get tired and want to stop driving we see where we are. Plus hotels are cheaper last minute. We got a £500 room for £150 last minute one trip!

I get sea sick now too.

We have done all the ferry routes for years too. DFDS often let you in the one before if you arrive early.

I don’t have kids but I’d definitely say tunnel. Only took about half an hour. We didn’t have to wait around either; both directions they put us on the next train when we arrived. That wasn’t in school holidays though of course.

I hate boats so the ferry is grim for me.

We used to be loyal tunnel people but now prefer the ferry in school hols after some bad experiences with the tunnel including some 4h shockers with traffic backed up onto the M20 waiting to board

when the tunnel is busy you can wait 3h at the terminal easily and you are always in a slow moving car queue. Even when waiting to board, you are parked but don’t know when you will need to drive on with no warning. Can be 5min can be 90min. So you can’t let the kids out of the car seat for potentially hours. At least the ferry is a fixed time so if you are waiting you know for how long.

that said if you are travelling outside the school holidays the tunnel is great- drive up and get the next train.

flexiplus on the tunnel is also great but £££

ps We go a lot, like 5-6 times a year

The tunnel, for sure.

We have priced the ferry and every time, it would work out more expensive and take longer - the tunnel is so fast and efficient; if you book in advance, the price is great, even better if you are flexible with the time you travel.

It only takes 35 minutes and its run so smoothly. We have never bought a flexi pass. Every time when we turn up and it is earlier than our booked slot, they have let us on early.

We’ve also used Tesco club card vouchers, which has given a substantial amount off the price and on a few occasions, have paid for the full journey.

I think it will still be an adventure for the kids, as it is exciting to go in the tunnel and then you are in France before you know it! 🇫🇷

100% tunnel

The tunnel every time!

Quicker and doesn't leave me feeling travelsick/ropey for a day or so which the ferry does