Where to stay near Folkestone/tunnel?

[WilfSell]

Will be arriving late in evening, 3 kids in tow. Planning to stopover rather than drive through night to France.

Any suggestions for civilised places with good access to Tunnel?

There's a Holiday Inn Express right by the tunnel entrance link here. I don't know if they'll let you have 3 kids in one room though, but it does say they have connecting rooms.

I haven't stayed there but we're thinking about it for this summer too.

Thanks - that looks like a good option.

Another option would be to get the crossing over with and to stay at the IBIS Calais Coquelles. They do family rooms, breakfast is really lovely and already gives you a French feel - it's in a soulless location but it's very convenient.

Yes, I suppose I'd imagined (us being driving to France virgins) that it would be just easier to stop in Folkestone. But perhaps it would be more civilised to just get it over with. I will investigage, thanks.

We've done what emkana suggested - got across to the other side and stayed at the Ibis (or one of the other hotels, theres 3 in the same complex next to CiteEurope I can't remember the name of the one we stayed at) and it was great. We had dinner at CiteEurope and stocked up with a few groceries at the Hypermarche (we were self-catering at Centerparcs) and it was all v. convenient.

We went on the ferry from Dover last year and stayed in Canterbury, which is 18 miles away from Folkestone and lovely to look round with nice places to eat (if you've time for a wander).

We stayed overnight at the Folkestone Holiday Inn Express 2 weeks ago - it is great. Brand new and spanking clean. Continental breakfast is free too. It takes about 5 mins to drive from the hotel to the Tunnel check-in gates. We booked in advance and cost £45 for the night. Room wasn't massive though and we had to make up the sofa for DD when we got there (bedding was left but bed not made up), but it was fine for what we needed. Is beside a large Tesco too which was quite handy for filling up the car (as petrol in France was ?1.22 per litre). We also made a point of calling back into the Tesco on the way back to fill up the car so we had enough to get home.