Costs of Crossing the Channel

I think the general view is that the ferries are cheaper. I did read somewhere that eurotunnel was keeping domestic vehicle costs high to encourage more freight. No idea if true.

I did read somewhere that eurotunnel was keeping domestic vehicle costs high to encourage more freight.

I find that difficult to believe, they are different trains for a start and at the times I use they have rarely been full.

peedee

Our St Malo BF return sailing has increased by 3.5% like for like on 2023 prices.

That is good compared to the 15 percent increase of Le Shuttle price. I have been looking at some other cost (it is another wet miserable day here) and I might start a thread on those later. Some are not what you would expect!

peedee

Peedee,

costs have gone up across the board and the later you book the greater the price rise. To give you an idea, last year we booked early as usual and travelled on Newhaven-Dieppe for what would have been about £220 return with the over 60's discount. I met somebody on the campsite who had paid £700 return on the same crossing.

As a comparison on prices, I posted this a couple of weeks ago:-

Looking at late August out, late Sept back we are 2 adults with car and caravan.

Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Roscoff crossing - night out with cabin, midday back = £520 inc friends and family disc’

Brittany Ferries - Poole to Cherbourg crossing - 08:30 out and 18:15 back = £423 inc friends and family disc’

DFDS - Newhaven to Dieppe crossing - 09:30 out and 12:00 back = £263 - 20% over 60’s disc = £210

Eurotunnel - Folkstone to Calais - Typically £520 return

Colin

By comparison flights are so cheap.

The single fare with WizzAir from London to the Mediterranean at Nice is only £18 p.p in May. It’s the reason why younger people like my own children always fly and rent rather than outlay something like £50,000 for a big car/ caravan or a motorhome.

And if I were starting again that’s exactly what I would do.

I always book the tunnel as early as possible, typically 9 months ahead for more or less the same crossing dates and times each year.  I’ve just looked at the costs over the last few years:

The percentage cost increase between 2019 and 2020 was +33% (this significant increase was probably because I was unable to book early due to uncertainty over Covid19 travel restrictions)

Between 2020 and 2021 the increase was +5.6%

Between 2021 and 2022 the decrease was -16%

Between 2022 and 2023 the increase was +13%

Between 2023 and 2024 then crease was +6%

In simple terms the % increase in tunnel costs for us between now and pre-Covid19 is just under 42%.

Last May, I paid £275, Newhaven - Dieppe for 2 adults, this August I have paid £253 for 3 adults + 1 child.....

Happy with that.....

I booked van+car on Newhaven/Dieppe about a month ago which cost around60%  of any Dover/Folkestone crossings available then. I see Irish Ferries have now joined the fray and are costing about what I have paid. I wonder how they would fare now?

if anyone is looking to book P&O Dover /Calais it is much cheaper to book direct just now than via the club.