Ferry or Eurotunnel- which is best? READ THIS before you book

Driving to Europe from the UK this year? Wondering if you should use the ferry or Eurotunnel? Today, we’re sharing the pros and cons of each, plus some tips to save you money, whether you’re travelling by motorhome, campervan, caravan, bike or car.

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Ferry or Eurotunnel- which is best?

When you decide you’re going to visit Europe and want to take your own vehicle, one of the first things you need to do is book HOW you’re going to get there.

One of the most common questions I get asked is which is best. Annoyingly, the answer is “it depends” (I go into why below…)

I’ve been travelling Europe in my motorhome since 2018 and have used many ways of getting to and from the UK to the continent, both with and without a dog.

Ferry or Eurotunnel- watch the video

As you can see in the video below, whether I use the ferry or the Tunnel depends on several factors. (If you can’t watch the video, just keep scrolling…)

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Driving to Europe from UK- the Options

So, let’s talk about the options you have if you want to get from UK to Europe by road.

EuroTunnel Le Shuttle

Obviously, one option is the Eurotunnel (also called the Le Shuttle or the Chunnel). This is a train which carries cars, motorhomes, campers, trucks & bikes under the English Channel. It runs from Folkestone to Calais multiple times a day and is very easy to use, even with a larger vehicle.

Pros of using the EuroTunnel to travel from UK to Europe

There are several advantages to the Eurotunnel:

• Generally cheaper than a ferry
• Definitely quicker- takes 35 minutes
• You (and your pets) stay in the vehicle together
• You can travel with a maximum of 5 dogs (unlike some ferries or pet-friendly ferry cabins) – (unless you have a permit to travel with more.)

Cons of driving to Europe using the Eurotunnel

• You can’t use it is if you have LPG as a propulsion system on your vehicle.
• Regular delays in summer, especially in school holidays
• Means going via Calais, which can be a long way round if you don’t live nearby
• You don’t get much of a break from driving

Can I use the Eurotunnel with LPG?

No. As mentioned above, you CANNOT drive from UK to France on the Eurotunnel if your vehicle uses LPG for propulsion.

If you have LPG onboard as a source for heating, cooking etc, that’s fine- but it does need to be turned off for the crossing, which means you might want to use ice packs or buy a couple of packs of frozen peas to keep everything cold in the fridge.

Ferry crossing options from the UK to Europe

There are LOTS of ferry routes for crossing from the UK to Europe. Some of the most popular include:

• Portsmouth to Caen (my favourite route if crossing to the west of France, Spain or Portugal. I use the dog friendly cabin on the overnight sailing when possible.)
• Portsmouth to LeHavre (cheaper than Caen- it’s the economy route)
• Poole to Cherbourg
• Dover to Calais- takes about an hour!
• Dover to Dunkirk- even easier to cross into Belgium and East.
• Newhaven to Dieppe (DFDS)

Poole to Cherbourg – perfect for anyone who lives in the west country to visit France

There are, of course, many more options. The main ferry providers are:

Pros of using the ferry to get to Europe from UK

There are two main reasons I would choose the ferry over the Tunnel:

• 1- when we’re heading from Portsmouth to west coast of France (when using the Eurotunnel adds several hours of driving onto the route)
• 2- when I’ve done a lot of driving to get to the ferry and want a night’s rest on the crossing
• 3- when crossing from Dover to France in peak season (the delays on the ferries are often much lower than the delays on the Chunnel, especially in school holidays)

I prefer to travel on ferries which have pet-friendly cabins so Mac, my cocker spaniel, can stay with me. He comes and chills in the cabin with me- whether travelling by day or overnight.

Cons of driving to Europe using ferry

There are several cons to the ferry:

• More expensive
• Slower (depending on where you’re going)
• Potential storms
• The breakfast onboard is awful (Brittany Ferries- I’m looking at you!).I struggle to see how they manage to consistently make it so horrible without deliberate effort!

None of these are down to the ferry company (except the breakfast!), but they are worth taking into consideration.

Eurotunnel or ferry- which do I use when driving from UK to Europe?

As mentioned previously, I use both.

The usual rationale is this: If I’m travelling to a destination in Europe WEST of Calais (such as Bordeaux), I use the ferry (as long as I’m travelling from Portsmouth)

Any other time, I prefer to use the Eurotunnel, except in school holidays.

It really is that simple.

Crossing the channel with a dog – is Ferry or Eurotunnel better?

Mac doesn’t really mind- he’s been on both several times. I think the Eurotunnel is definitely easier with a dog- and there is more opportunity to exercise them before boarding.

Onboard the ferry, there’s a tiny area where they can do their ‘business’, but nowhere for dogs to run or play.

Having said that, most ferries only allow you to bring 2 dogs onboard- so if you have more dogs than that, the tunnel is a better option.

Ferry or Eurotunnel- Tips to save money

There are several tips we’ve discovered to save some money whilst driving to Europe from UK.

• Book in advance. Way, WAY in advance
• Use Tesco Clubcard points for the Tunnel
• Don’t book a return ferry trip. Book 2 singles. This saves fees if you need to change the return journey AFTER you’ve travelled
• Try to travel during the day on the ferry. Cabins are much cheaper than overnight
• Conversely, night crossings are much cheaper on the Eurotunnel.

Which do you prefer?

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