Gergely
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 08:56 AM |
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What's the cheapest option to cross the Channel to UK?
Hi,
We are picking up our kit in about 2-3 weeks time. We will take a car with a trailer to do so. What are the options to cross the sea to get to the
UK?
Eurotunnel seems very expensive and I have checked Norfolk Line, which is cheaper, but both require a pre-booking. I have no idea how long it will
take me to travel 1500km with a trailer to get to either, so judging the time is very tricky...
Any suggestions? What options do I have other than the two mentioned and any ideas for the booking?
Thanks!
Gergely
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caber
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:06 AM |
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Swim! get some truck inner tubes to float the car and pull it behind you ! Job done!
Caber
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clutch_kick
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:10 AM |
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Gergely.
I will at some point have your problem, hopefully!! lol.
You have the advantage of being located on the mainland already, i'm on a forsaken island. (Anybody in the UK wants to offer me a job? lol)
Wouldn't it be cheaper for you to find a company who can load it on a trailer taking goods back and forth from UK to Hungary? I'm pretty
sure MNR can palletise the kit for you.
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r1_pete
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:14 AM |
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The ferries usually have a 4 hour loading window, I use Hull - Rotterdam quite often and can get on the ship from about 16.30 for a 20.30 sailing. So
you have a fair margin for arrival at the port.
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andyps
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:17 AM |
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Speedferries are generally about the cheapest, they cross from Boulogne to Dover with a catamaran, not sure if they take trailers though.
Alternatively choose your time carefully and go for someone like P&O. For MNR your shortest drive would be to do Hull - Rotterdam, but it
isn't cheap. It does cut down on fuel costs and cuts out on the need to book overnight accommodation however.
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:25 AM |
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wonder how fast you'd have to be going to jump the distance?
Theoretically off course unless your car could break the sound barrier…
Yes I’m bored 
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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BenB
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:25 AM |
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Price also depends on when you go. Night-time trips are often very cheap (for obvious reasons!!)..
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02GF74
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 09:41 AM |
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have you looked into shipping the chassis over to you in Hungary? That may be a cheaper option?
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Guinness
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 10:08 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
wonder how fast you'd have to be going to jump the distance?
Theoretically off course unless your car could break the sound barrier…
Yes I’m bored
What about taking the tyres off the wheels and driving through the Tunnel? Obviously you'd have to pick the right track, as playing chicken
with an oncoming Eurostar is only going to end badly!
Mike
[Edited on 14/5/08 by Guinness]
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I love speed :-P
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 10:36 AM |
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Last few times we have been with Norfolk Line and have never paid more than £19 return, but as you say you need to book beforehand.
Don't Steal
The Government doesn’t like the competition
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Bob C
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 10:47 AM |
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I remember going on eurostar. There were loads of day return deals UK-france & back in a day, really cheap. There was nothing going the other way.
Says something about rip- off britain dunnit...
At the time I think day return was < £20 but a return over a week was ~£80. Yes they WERE on the lookout for folk buying 2 day returns a week a
part & only using half....
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vinny1275
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 11:02 AM |
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Most of the ferry companies seem to charge per person on top of the vehicle - tunnel may be cheaper once you take this into account - again, you end
up at the wrong end of the UK when you get here then! Hook of Holland - Harwich or Rotterdam - Hull might be quicker / cheaper in the long run.
the Wellington at Darley, just round the corner from MNR is pretty cheap accomodation, amazing full English breakfasts as well! just what you need for
a long drive home with a van and trailer!
HTH
Vince
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Agriv8
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 11:03 AM |
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Back to earth woth a bump.
get a quote from
http://www.norfolkline.com/ferry/
As they are usually cheep ( and go from dunkirk - closer to you i suspect )
Used them at least 3 times ( oh they are predominantly freight / wagons ) but dont let this put you off.
regards
Agriv8
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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Gergely
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 11:22 AM |
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Thanks all!
We want to take the kit ourselves, therefore the transport company option is not good. Also, we have a free trailer and a company car with a fuel
card.
I have checked P&O, Norfolk Line and Eurotunnel, and strangely enough, Eurotunnel is the cheapest, quickest and most flexible. It still costs
around 120 EUR, but that's acceptable...
It will be the Eurotunnel then it seems...
Thanks!
Gergely
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clutch_kick
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 11:36 AM |
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So will it be the first MNR to go on the Euro Tunnel ??? lol
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RK
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 12:51 PM |
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I haven't done this since way before the tunnel was built, but I always like ferries - stress-free. I grew up on an island.
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andyps
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 01:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bob C
I remember going on eurostar. There were loads of day return deals UK-france & back in a day, really cheap. There was nothing going the other way.
Says something about rip- off britain dunnit...
At the time I think day return was < £20 but a return over a week was ~£80. Yes they WERE on the lookout for folk buying 2 day returns a week a
part & only using half....
It wasn't just rip off Britain - the same thing happened from the other direction. I used to cross quite regularly for work and would buy a day
return here and get someone from the French office to get me a day return for coming back. Trouble was once they realised what was happening the rules
changed and if you only went one way they reserved the right to charge your credit card for the difference between the day return and normal single
fare - and you could only book with a credit card.
Still a good way to cross though for the speed and flexibility, but generally too expensive now I pay myself rather than on a company expense account!
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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LBMEFM
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| posted on 14/5/08 at 07:00 PM |
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With out a doubt the cheapest way is Dunkirk to Dover on Norfolk Line in the eary hours.
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