What is Calais like as a place?

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There's a great P&O deal on at the moment and if DH and I go for the day as foot passengers, it'll cost £16 for both of us to return.

We were going to have a week off together (DS will be at his grandmothers) and unfortunately we can now only have one day.

I'd like to do something 'different' but not if Calais is a hole or, if being a foot passenger means we're going to spend half the day travelling on foot from the ferry port to the 'main centre'.

Any advice/experiences?!

If you get a good day you will be fine- you can sit on the beach, get lunch from the FAB boulangerie 2 mins walk from the beach and then maybe have a nice meal in "Cafe De Paris" in one of the main streets in Calais- nice french/belgian menu. If the weather is rubbish then there really isn't much to do... unless you REALLY like hypermarkets!

Hmm. It is easy to travel to from the ferry port though?

Also, does anybody know if it costs (and how much if so) to park at Dover?

There is street parking at Dover. Will see if I can find info on busses to Calais centre for you.

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It's actually all right. The port area is grim and functional but there are some nice older parts and your "typically French" streets as I recall. Boulogne much nicer though, with as proper walled "old town". Or it was 15 years ago - may not be now...

The ferry co's used to provide a bus from the port into town. Is def not a hole, is quite pretty, with the clock tower, and you'd get lunch there. I've done a day-trip, when I was a student, not a bad day out, though not wildly exciting.

That sounded a bit negative, sorry - for £16 for 2 people I'd do it! You'll have a nice wander around town, lunch and might be able to get to a decent beach for a walk.

Calais is not great TBH.

It's worth considering a 20 minute drive if you can do it to St Omer, where it's more 'provincial' and there is a fab Auchan supermarket. This is where we always head to and we always have a lovely day.

Yeh, Calais not that exciting. Boulogne better. But it could be a nice trip esp if you have a nice long lunch. I think its a courtesy bus from port to town but havent done it for a long time.