Driving to France / continent a thing of the past?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

I've done it twice before in the good times (EU) and hated it then 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63074703

This cements I'll never attempt it ever again 

Not sure why anyone would now risk it

 

[LEEDSLADGONE SOUTH]

Don’t go via Dover.  Didn’t have too many issues ( comparatively) going via Newhaven last summer 

[JonM]

You've not been to an airport recently then? 

Someone I know had their flight from Heathrow to the US delayed by a day this week due to no baggage handlers, and when they did arrive in the US, there was a problem on the runway because the baggage had all been loaded at the back of the plane, and the pilot was worried about "stability issues" if the passengers got off before the luggage...

[Gerrumonside ref]

Did a Somme trip earlier in the year with a few others.

Used the car loading train service.

Was smooth enough.

[JohnM]

Give it a go. It's no different to how it used to be when we were in the Common Market prior to the EU. I'm currently in the Netherlands on the last week of a one month holiday here and in Germany. Took the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. The only hold-up, 30 mins, was queuing to get through Dutch passport control at the Hook of Holland, which was undermanned. EU and non EU passport holders shared the same queues. 

Dutch customs were picking vehicles at random to check, maybe 1 in 25 or fewer.

We had longer delays than that on the Autobahn network owing to lots of roadworks, accidents, traffic levels. Got help up at one point by almost an hour cos road was closed owing to a relatively minor accident.

Son and family went to France high summer, Dover to Dunkirk, no hold ups.

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

3 hours ago, JonM said:

You've not been to an airport recently then? 

 

Yep we flew from Luton in the summer to Spain....it was genuinely one of the easiest times I've ever had in that airport 

[amm]

Just back from a week in Brittany, but we went via Plymouth/Roscoff. A few minutes longer at the checks going but even quicker than normal coming back.

When these new checks come in I imagine it’ll be bedlam even away from Dover. Let’s hope it’s not as bad as expected. We’ve a Depeche Mode tour to follow next year, so we’ll get there whatever.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

So why has there been all these headines if you've all had decent journeys ? 

Is it just Dover?

[gingerjon]

12 hours ago, JohnM said:

Give it a go. It's no different to how it used to be when we were in the Common Market prior to the EU

 

A nice way of saying we deliberately turned the clock back 50 years.

[Ackroman]

Went from Hull to Rotterdam last May. Maybe half an hour longer to queue, so turn up well before departure.

Getting through Hull will be quicker as well once the road is upgraded.

win win!

[Gerrumonside ref]

9 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

So why has there been all these headines if you've all had decent journeys ? 

Is it just Dover?

We went in April to the Somme region so maybe things have changed since then.

The way back took far longer as it clashed with fans returning from the Champions League final in Paris via car and train transporter.

On the whole it was slick though and problem free - not sure if that’s because certain aspects of Brexit hadn’t kicked in though.

[Robin Evans]

15 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Did a Somme trip earlier in the year with a few others.

Used the car loading train service.

Was smooth enough.

We went to the Baie de Somme in June using the tunnel. It perhaps took two minutes longer plus the time to upload my covid screening details.

[JohnM]

15 hours ago, gingerjon said:

A nice way of saying we deliberately turned the clock back 50 years.

Only if you are obsessed by complaining about our leaving.

[JohnM]

22 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

So why has there been all these headines if you've all had decent journeys ? 

Is it just Dover?

The main delay was as a result of a perfect storm: people getting away immediately schools had shut for summer, channel tunnel technical problems, UK border force and French passport control undermanning.

[Madrileño]

On 29/09/2022 at 18:59, JohnM said:

Give it a go. It's no different to how it used to be when we were in the Common Market prior to the EU. 

 

In fairness, only people in their 70s or above can remember what that was like, driving in those days. Road traffic since then has increased roughly tenfold!

The vast majority of people have never even used the term "Common Market" so it is impossible for us to envisage what you are talking about. 

[JohnM]

To put it another way. Like shopping at the Trafford Centre, avoid weekends, bank holidays, the start and finish of school holidays, Dover-Calais. Make sure your paperwork is in order, that you know what you can take with you (meat and dairy products not allowed) , evidence that your stay is temporary and that you have funds to support you whilst you are there, EHIC or its successor. Make sure your passport is stamped both on entry and exit. 

In other words, exactly the same situation as US, Canada, India, Australia, NZ, Nigerian, Egyptian, Brazilian etc visitors . They seem to manage to go to the Holy Roman Empire and live to tell the tale.

[Chanter]

We did the Normandy coast in April. Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries. Check in going was 2 hours, coming back about 1 and q half. No concerns from me but the other half said never again

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

5 hours ago, Chanter said:

 No concerns from me but the other half said never again

He/she/they is a wise woman/man/human 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

13 hours ago, JohnM said:

To put it another way. Like shopping at the Trafford Centre, avoid weekends, bank holidays, the start and finish of school holidays, Dover-Calais.

Wish we'd avoided it last weekend....God it's a weird place in parts