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[duggs]

Regarding the proposed Europe trip to Brugge this year.
Ferry wise..take a look at Norfolk Line, Dover to Dunkerque.

Crossing is slightly longer than Dover-Calais BUT its generally cheaper, the Ferries are nicer PLUS Dunkerque is a lot closer to Brugge, saving fuel..about 45 mins/1 hour away.

Means more cruising and boozing (for the non-drivers of course).
Calais can be very busy to get in and out of..Dunkerque is a doddle...well it is now that they've sign posted the terminal properly.

[Lazydocker]

Regarding the proposed Europe trip to Brugge this year.
Ferry wise..take a look at Norfolk Line, Dover to Dunkerque.

Crossing is slightly longer than Dover-Calais BUT its generally cheaper, the Ferries are nicer PLUS Dunkerque is a lot closer to Brugge, savinf fuel..about 45 mins/1 hour away.

Means more cruising and boozing (for the non-drivers of course).
Calais can be very busy to get in and out of..Dunkerque is a doddle...well it is now that they've sign posted the terminal properly.

We use NL every time... Unfortunately they've got new ships now with more facilities, unlike when they were predominantly freight, so are getting busier and slightly more expensive. Still cheaper than the others though

[TheBoy]

Dunkerque and Calais are virtually next door to each other, so either makes little difference in reality

[tunnie]

done the Ferry to Dunkerque, its a lot longer than Calais, and as mentioned they are next door to either other, few minutes at 80mph and you reached it. Also not a lot around the Dunkerque area, more booze super stores around Calais, and it has that big shopping centre

[TheBoy]

done the Ferry to Dunkerque, its a lot longer than Calais, and as mentioned they are next door to either other, few minutes at 80mph and you reached it. Also not a lot around the Dunkerque area, more booze super stores around Calais, and it has that big shopping centre

Booze around Calias **WAY** too expensive.  Go to local supermarkets around Lille etc, on way back from Brugge

[TheBoy]

done the Ferry to Dunkerque, its a lot longer than Calais, and as mentioned they are next door to either other, few minutes at 80mph and you reached it. Also not a lot around the Dunkerque area, more booze super stores around Calais, and it has that big shopping centre

Booze around Calias **WAY** too expensive.  Go to local supermarkets around Lille etc, on way back from Brugge

And Shitty Europe. Well, may as well be in a UK shopping centre. Very expensive, very English.

[Lazydocker]

done the Ferry to Dunkerque, its a lot longer than Calais, and as mentioned they are next door to either other, few minutes at 80mph and you reached it. Also not a lot around the Dunkerque area, more booze super stores around Calais, and it has that big shopping centre

Booze around Calias **WAY** too expensive.  Go to local supermarkets around Lille etc, on way back from Brugge

And Shitty Europe. Well, may as well be in a UK shopping centre. Very expensive, very English.

Very Crap!

Go to any supermarket not in the port area TBH

[duggs]

I'm T-total so booze isn't a consideration for me...I just like Dover-Dunkerque because I think its simpler,  less stressfull and saves money in terms of crossing and fuel.

That said, Dunkerque itself is a bit of a dump from what I've briefly seen....although Calais isn't exactly on my priority list for places to "vacation in" either.

Brugge, we love...especially visiting the sites at which "In Brugge" was filmed with Colin Farrell.
Sat in the same seat as he did last year in front of the statue thing....and followed the end chase sceen..How sad am I ??

[TheBoy]

I'm T-total so booze isn't a consideration for me...I just like Dover-Dunkerque because I think its simpler,  less stressfull and saves money in terms of crossing and fuel.

That said, Dunkerque itself is a bit of a dump from what I've briefly seen....although Calais isn't exactly on my priority list for places to "vacation in" either.

Brugge, we love...especially visiting the sites at which "In Brugge" was filmed with Colin Farrell.
Sat in the same seat as he did last year in front of the statue thing....and followed the end chase sceen..How sad am I ??

Dunkerque is a shithole, as is Calais.  But I fail to see what is less stressful about one as opposed to the other.  I'd say Calais is going to be significantly faster, due to shorter crossing time, and Dunkerque can't be more than 10-15m from Calais port (right side of Calais).  Obviously, if its significantly cheaper....

My own preference would be the tunnel, as despite being wrong side of Calais (but right side of Dover by a fair way), its about quarter of the time.  Obviously many others can't use it due to size and LPG restrictions.

[Lazydocker]

I'm T-total so booze isn't a consideration for me...I just like Dover-Dunkerque because I think its simpler,  less stressfull and saves money in terms of crossing and fuel.

That said, Dunkerque itself is a bit of a dump from what I've briefly seen....although Calais isn't exactly on my priority list for places to "vacation in" either.

Brugge, we love...especially visiting the sites at which "In Brugge" was filmed with Colin Farrell.
Sat in the same seat as he did last year in front of the statue thing....and followed the end chase sceen..How sad am I ??

Dunkerque is a shithole, as is Calais.  But I fail to see what is less stressful about one as opposed to the other.  I'd say Calais is going to be significantly faster, due to shorter crossing time, and Dunkerque can't be more than 10-15m from Calais port (right side of Calais).  Obviously, if its significantly cheaper....

My own preference would be the tunnel, as despite being wrong side of Calais (but right side of Dover by a fair way), its about quarter of the time.  Obviously many others can't use it due to size and LPG restrictions.

Tunnel's out for me but I prefer the ferry for the chance to stretch and have a walk as I do 95% of the driving (100% with the Pikey wagon) and Dover-Dunkerque has a special meaning to us as I proposed on the ferry, at sunset, coming into Dunkerque

That said, I may well have the new car by then and might not have gotten around to LPGing it :-/ :-/

[TheBoy]

I'm T-total so booze isn't a consideration for me...I just like Dover-Dunkerque because I think its simpler,  less stressfull and saves money in terms of crossing and fuel.

That said, Dunkerque itself is a bit of a dump from what I've briefly seen....although Calais isn't exactly on my priority list for places to "vacation in" either.

Brugge, we love...especially visiting the sites at which "In Brugge" was filmed with Colin Farrell.
Sat in the same seat as he did last year in front of the statue thing....and followed the end chase sceen..How sad am I ??

Dunkerque is a shithole, as is Calais.  But I fail to see what is less stressful about one as opposed to the other.  I'd say Calais is going to be significantly faster, due to shorter crossing time, and Dunkerque can't be more than 10-15m from Calais port (right side of Calais).  Obviously, if its significantly cheaper....

My own preference would be the tunnel, as despite being wrong side of Calais (but right side of Dover by a fair way), its about quarter of the time.  Obviously many others can't use it due to size and LPG restrictions.

Tunnel's out for me but I prefer the ferry for the chance to stretch and have a walk as I do 95% of the driving (100% with the Pikey wagon) and Dover-Dunkerque has a special meaning to us as I proposed on the ferry, at sunset, coming into Dunkerque

That said, I may well have the new car by then and might not have gotten around to LPGing it :-/ :-/

Tunnel is out for a lot of people - no pikeys and no LPG. I like their style.

Oh, and some people are scared of the tunnel.

[cruisetopoland]

Just an idea.... it's further from Brugge than Dunkerque, but what about Harwich-Hoek of Holland on the overnight?

It goes at 2345hrs (so all could go after work) and gets in at 0700 so you could get to Brugge 9ish.
You have a cabin on ferry for about £23 which would be cheaper than another night in a Belgian hotel.

Then go back Dunkerque-Dover?

Just an idea-makes it more interesting?

[Lazydocker]

Just an idea.... it's further from Brugge than Dunkerque, but what about Harwich-Hoek of Holland on the overnight?

It goes at 2345hrs (so all could go after work) and gets in at 0700 so you could get to Brugge 9ish.
You have a cabin on ferry for about £23 which would be cheaper than another night in a Belgian hotel.

Then go back Dunkerque-Dover?

Just an idea-makes it more interesting?

Good idea, in theory, but the crossing's normally too expensive

It's only about £40 return on Norfolk Line normally

[cruisetopoland]

Just an idea.... it's further from Brugge than Dunkerque, but what about Harwich-Hoek of Holland on the overnight?

It goes at 2345hrs (so all could go after work) and gets in at 0700 so you could get to Brugge 9ish.
You have a cabin on ferry for about £23 which would be cheaper than another night in a Belgian hotel.

Then go back Dunkerque-Dover?

Just an idea-makes it more interesting?

Good idea, in theory, but the crossing's normally too expensive

It's only about £40 return on Norfolk Line normally

Just a thought-we looked at all and Dover Dunkerque was £40 as you say, but Harwich-Hoek was £95 on a few days, using the google searched discount codes... we paid £230 inc 2 cabins both ways at Christmas...

Best thing is that you go overnight which frees the next day up!

We're going again in June, not sure which route 

[hotel21]

Foot passenger from Rosyth then either thumbing for a lift at Zeebrugge or a bus into Brugge for me...

[duggs]

The only reason i mentioned "less stressful" is because of my experiance of Calais over Dunkerque.
Because SO many ferry companies use Calais, when i last travelled through, the traffic was a nightmare and security and passport checks took an age.

Dunkerque only have Norfolkline so on every occasion we've used it, 4 times now, its been straight in and straight out.

If the weather is nice and you want a beach...take a look at De Haan, 30 mins from Brugge and miles of lovely sandy beaches. De Haan is only 80 odd miles due east of us here in Felixstowe. How come they get all the sand and all we get is the soddin' stones ??

[TheBoy]

Never really suffered at Calias (apart from missing the boat, due to car breaking down). That said, first port to suffer when the farmers want to protest...

[duggs]

He he he he....NOT the Fishermen then ??

Hell...What do i know ?

[TheBoy]

He he he he....NOT the Fishermen then ??

Hell...What do i know ?

Probably a damn site more than me

Just never had crossing troubles to/from France. Invariably have troubles getting home from France - having to sleep in car due to hotel prob, breaking down, plane breaking and having to emergency land.....

[Gaffers]

So is Europe going ahead or has it died a silent death?

I am looking at booking a week away with the missus in Europe and was looking to coincide it with any OOF invasion....

[pedroMV6]

I don't even know what this thread is all about - apart from crossing a shed load of water to get to Yerp...........

[GazzaB]

So is the Europe meet still a go?

I dont have the worry of a ferry crossing, just a quick blast down from Germany for me. 

[Lazydocker]

I think it was shelved for the moment due to other commitments :-/

[PhilRich]

So is the Europe meet still a go?

I dont have the worry of a ferry crossing, just a quick blast down from Germany for me. 

I remember another bloke saying that, in 1939 I think it was