F-Body Europe

What options are avaialble to get over to England? I might possibly make a trip up that way for Mini parts if I can reasonably drive my car up there. How do you get the cost and pay to get across? I have heard of the chunnel, train and boat, but have no idea how to go about it.

I think I might be able to help on this one since I've done it many times, many different ways (and I'm not just talking about trips to England )

First question is whether you want to bring anything back or visit lots of places when you're there. If you do then you'll want to take a car, if not and you can get to an airport which a budget airline uses then it's probably more convenient to fly.

There are 2 options to cross the channel (unless you own a white Lotus which was used in a James Bond film). Ferry or Channel Tunnel. The differences between these 2 options are price and time. If you can take an early morning or late evening train then the Channel Tunnel can cost as little as £49 which is about €55 if booked well in advance. Ferries are much cheaper. I use Norfolkline from Dover to Dunkirk but you can choose Sealink or P&O Ferries depending on times/prices. I paid £27 1-way last month but there are all sorts of deals, just visit one of the websites.

The Ferry will take more than 2 hours by the time you've unboarded, the Chunnel takes 35 minutes plus around 10 minutes to unboard. The Chunnel is from Calais to Folkstone so if you're heading to London you'll have a 15 minute head start on the M20 than people arriving at Dover port.

You cannot take vehicles with LPG through the Chunnel (I think) and Ferries are sometimes at the mercy of the sea. If the swell is up then expect delays.

Hope this helps.

That helps a lot! Do you have the websites? How often do you go?

www.eurotunnel.com
www.norfolkline.com
www.stenaline.co.uk
www.poferries.com
www.ferrysavers.co.uk
www.ferryoffers.co.uk
www.eurodrive.co.uk
- type "cheap ferry" into Google and take your pick.

You can also check the travel office at the British unit on Ramstein. I haven't been in a few years, but when I was going over there, they had some better deals than on the web. I don't know if that is still the case.

Good idea KC10. I will try to find them.

They are in the building right across the street from the library. The British unit is downstairs and the Canadian unit is up stairs. Go in the door and turn right and the travel office is on the left. The Brit and Canuck PXs are also the cheapest place to get booze on base.

Thats what I have always heard. I just have never gone over there.

Thanks for the directions. You rock!