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[tunnie]

The French Traffic Police are often to be found hanging around by the first motorway toll booths on the A26 out of Calais.  They like to pick on the British registered cars as it's easy pickings!! 

lol true! hence as soon as i get to calais i put "no tolls" in satnav, never see an gendarmes,much better routes and scenery and fuel is cheaper, and it isnt much longer timewise!!

Be doing the same 

If you do that it will avoid the Austrian roads too

Anyway... For where you're going I'd go Dover-Dunkirk and then through Belgium

Done that crossing found it too long. Calais run is quicker & cheaper, distance to Dunkirk easily made up in car.

Aiming for Luxembourg City as an over night stop, so out of ferry that no tolls option will be ticked 

[Martian]

Keep seeing those breathalysers in Halfords, £5.99 for 2. That said not sure if trade card gets a discount, but was wondering how much they are on the ferry? 

I'm not spending much time on road in France, but want to be legal as soon as I drive off the boat.

I doubt the accuracy is up to much, but it is a legal requirement to carry one regardless (along with a Hi-Viz, triangle, and lamp kit).

The legal limit in France is almost half what ours is at 50mg per 100ml of blood, which equates to about half a pint of kangaroo piss strength lager.
If you are just over the 50mg, it's an instant €135 fine along with 6 points and you won't be allowed to move until under the limit.
Anything over 80mg will more than likely see you in jail (the frogs have quite severe views on drink/drive), along with a huge fine.

If you happen to be involved in an accident while over the limit, you're f***ed.

[Rog]

I go over quite often. Sometimes to Holland, Belgium, or Germany, sometimes just for a days shopping and wine-stock-up.

Bit strange that everyone talks about the ferry. Never use it, always the Chunnel, cheaper, quicker, more convenient.

Dover - Dunkirk ? If it was cheaper then fine, but it's not, and dunkirk is only about 30 minutes North of Calais. Went over just before Xmas. Over on friday and back on saturday evening. Train £51 total return. Buy enough beer and wine and you get that back in savings. If you smoke ( I don't) and go to Belgium, 45 minutes from Calais, get it back very easily.

[tunnie]

Keep seeing those breathalysers in Halfords, £5.99 for 2. That said not sure if trade card gets a discount, but was wondering how much they are on the ferry? 

I'm not spending much time on road in France, but want to be legal as soon as I drive off the boat.

I doubt the accuracy is up to much, but it is a legal requirement to carry one regardless (along with a Hi-Viz, triangle, and lamp kit).

The legal limit in France is almost half what ours is at 50mg per 100ml of blood, which equates to about half a pint of kangaroo piss strength lager.
If you are just over the 50mg, it's an instant €135 fine along with 6 points and you won't be allowed to move until under the limit.
Anything over 80mg will more than likely see you in jail (the frogs have quite severe views on drink/drive), along with a huge fine.

If you happen to be involved in an accident while over the limit, you're f***ed.

Don't worry won't drink and drive 

I go over quite often. Sometimes to Holland, Belgium, or Germany, sometimes just for a days shopping and wine-stock-up.

Bit strange that everyone talks about the ferry. Never use it, always the Chunnel, cheaper, quicker, more convenient.

Dover - Dunkirk ? If it was cheaper then fine, but it's not, and dunkirk is only about 30 minutes North of Calais. Went over just before Xmas. Over on friday and back on saturday evening. Train £51 total return. Buy enough beer and wine and you get that back in savings. If you smoke ( I don't) and go to Belgium, 45 minutes from Calais, get it back very easily.

Cannot take my 2.2 down the tunnel.

Besides, I prefer the ferry. Stretch my legs, get some fresh air. Watch White cliffs get smaller and smaller , then get greasy breakie.

Time all that's done, it's docking and I'm fresh for Europe blast

[acope]

The toll roads are good if you want to get down south QUICK..I generally take the old RN`s, not quite as fast but good direct roads, straight as an arrow generally, and alot better scenery.
You just cant beat those avenues of trees that line the side of them, magic..

[bored bigyin54]

just dont drink . dont need it then

[Lazydocker]

In the grand scheme of things Dover-Dunkirk takes the same time as Dover-Calais... Quicker load and unload, 2 Hrs on the boat but 30mins further along the way you are heading

As for the tunnel... Apart from the fact you can't take LPG powered vehicles, I hate it. The ferry is part of the holiday for me, especially as I do all the driving, and can be had for as little as £19 (occasionally £10) each way when booked in advance, which is what your quoted tunnel price was plus they are generally more flexible if you want an earlier/later boat

[Lazydocker]

The French Traffic Police are often to be found hanging around by the first motorway toll booths on the A26 out of Calais.  They like to pick on the British registered cars as it's easy pickings!! 

lol true! hence as soon as i get to calais i put "no tolls" in satnav, never see an gendarmes,much better routes and scenery and fuel is cheaper, and it isnt much longer timewise!!

Be doing the same 

If you do that it will avoid the Austrian roads too

Anyway... For where you're going I'd go Dover-Dunkirk and then through Belgium

Done that crossing found it too long. Calais run is quicker & cheaper, distance to Dunkirk easily made up in car.

Aiming for Luxembourg City as an over night stop, so out of ferry that no tolls option will be ticked 

Take some time to plan the route... Best way is via Belgium, not down through France

[albitz]

It also prevents you having to come into contact with the French.

[Lazydocker]

Dover - Dunkirk ? If it was cheaper then fine, but it's not, and dunkirk is only about 30 minutes North of Calais. Went over just before Xmas. Over on friday and back on saturday evening. Train £51 total return. Buy enough beer and wine and you get that back in savings. If you smoke ( I don't) and go to Belgium, 45 minutes from Calais, get it back very easily.

Depends where you want to go... I don't see the point in going over to Calais... Might as well just go to the local supermarket as it's over priced and too touristy! If I go to Cheese land I want to go to some smaller places (normally) and always to Belgium, which is 15 mins from Dunkirk

Of course, if you like using the tunnel then it's no issue But I can't stand it and will never use it again unless I have no choice, bunch of lying, money grabbing, tossers 

[Lazydocker]

It also prevents you having to come into contact with the French.

Not completely... Have to start through France and easiest route is a little run down the East side of France too

[albitz]

I would rather go westerly from the UK and go around most of the globe to avoid that situation.

[tunnie]

just dont drink . dont need it then

Sadly, thats not Frenchies thinking. Its a requirement to have one, even if you are T-total.

Given they are in more trouble than we are, you'd think the French would do all they can to increase tourist numbers.

In the grand scheme of things Dover-Dunkirk takes the same time as Dover-Calais... Quicker load and unload, 2 Hrs on the boat but 30mins further along the way you are heading

Yeah thats what Google is suggesting, but tbh, I'll just follow SatNav after the Ferry, with no-tolls option ticked.

Just checking, its 25 mins ish to Dunkirk from Calais, so guess as you say its all much the same. Got a discount code for DFD Seaways, their Ferries tend to be lot newer than P&O.

[TheBoy]

Ok ok, I take the hint and will get out my wallet     

The moths haven't eaten it then?

[tunnie]

Ok ok, I take the hint and will get out my wallet     

The moths haven't eaten it then?

Luckily, they don't care for the taste of plastic