Eurotunnel Booking question & WWYD? -NOW SORTED!

[zinderella]

I know this seems crazily early to be wanting to get things sorted but does anyone know how far in advance you can book the Eurotunnel?

For weeks I have been waiting to book for early next June, and their website only goes up to May2012. I phoned them, and unlike booking Eurostar, they do not have access to further future dates. And the cute sounding but largely unhelpful chap on the phone said *insert wonderful drowsy sounding french accent here* ' I cannot say, mebbee tomorrow, mebbee a few weeks, who knows?'

Now that my Clubcard vouchers have arrived, I'm super keen to get it all sorted.

BUT I still have one more decision to make, so here comes the What Would You Do bit?

Background: me, DH, DD9,DD6 3nights 4 days Sequoia Lodge

Plan A: Not wake up stupidly early, drive to Kent (from Somerset). Stay in Premier Inn (I have at least £30 voucher for Prem Inn - so saving quids), wake up stupidly early and catch first 'Le Shuttle' to Calais, drive all way to DLP, check in, get tickets, dump bags, head to Earl of Sanwich for lunch, get into Parcs by about 1.30 ish ??????

Plan B: Wake up in enough time to drive to Folkstone to catch a midday-ish Shuttle, drive down to a cheap (any suggestions?) motel nearish to DLP without being so close that it bumps upthe price. Arrive at motel 5.30 ish and find somewhere to eat! Wake early and go to Sequoia Lodge to dump bags, get tickets, find breakfast in either EoS or Annettes. Hit the parks by about 10 ish.

WWYD?

 

[ROBEAR84]

i know this seems crazily early to be wanting to get things sorted but does anyone know how far in advance you can book the eurotunnel?

For weeks i have been waiting to book for early next june, and their website only goes up to may2012. I phoned them, and unlike booking eurostar, they do not have access to further future dates. And the cute sounding but largely unhelpful chap on the phone said *insert wonderful drowsy sounding french accent here* ' i cannot say, mebbee tomorrow, mebbee a few weeks, who knows?'

Now that my clubcard vouchers have arrived, i'm super keen to get it all sorted.

not 100% sure i'm afraid but i think it's about 6 months. I got club card vouchers to go this year but we're not going now and i forgot to return them before they expired! Stupid me!


but i still have one more decision to make, so here comes the what would you do bit?

background: Me, dh, dd9,dd6 3nights 4 days sequoia lodge

plan a: Not wake up stupidly early, drive to kent (from somerset). Stay in premier inn (i have at least £30 voucher for prem inn - so saving quids), wake up stupidly early and catch first 'le shuttle' to calais, drive all way to dlp, check in, get tickets, dump bags, head to earl of sanwich for lunch, get into parcs by about 1.30 ish ??????

Plan b: Wake up in enough time to drive to folkstone to catch a midday-ish shuttle, drive down to a cheap (any suggestions?) motel nearish to dlp without being so close that it bumps upthe price. Arrive at motel 5.30 ish and find somewhere to eat! Wake early and go to sequoia lodge to dump bags, get tickets, find breakfast in either eos or annettes. Hit the parks by about 10 ish.

i would go the night before and stay in folkstone, when we went via eurostar last year we did this both directions (staying at the premier inn in ashford) i don't how old your children are but mine wouldn't sit in a car for 7 hours!

That said, we have been contemplating about driving overnight next year though! Then they will be asleep! (I hope!) Leaving at about 2am (with sleepy kids in their pjs!) driving to catch an early ferry and getting there mid morning ish!

We're going over the half term week next June and it can't come soon enough!

Wwyd?

 

[thehails]

don't know if I'm misunderstanding your question, but i've just gone onto euro tunnel site to look for booking next Aug and they have dates right up to the end of Aug 2012 on there which you can book.

hope that helps

 

[zinderella]

don't know if I'm misunderstanding your question, but i've just gone onto euro tunnel site to look for booking next Aug and they have dates right up to the end of Aug 2012 on there which you can book.

hope that helps

The drop down menu shows dates up until then, but when you try to actually book it it says:
[U0917]

FARE FOR THIS DATE AVAILABLE SOON

Thank you for your enquiry. Bookings for your selected dates are not on sale yet. Please try again later.

If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online booking module, please call our Contact Centre.

And I phoned them this very morning and they said dates are not yet released and they're not sure when.

UPDATE...just gone onto the site and tried to look at a date in JUly or Aug 2012 (just like TheHails mentionned and it lets you book!!!!! How come???????

 

[tennisfan]

Not sure about when you can book but I would go with plan A. I got the 6.04 train week before last & was at the SL at 11.30 & that is with a 30 minute stop

 

[thehails]

If you are using the main Euro site for just the crossing you can book up until end of Aug next year, I've just booked 3rd - 17th Aug 2012 for £138, I've also checked under the disney banner on there and its still letting me go right through to the payment stage.

When we go we always choose to go down the day before and stay near - you can get some good cheap hotels even a few miles away, we use accor group quite often and they very often have good offers, that way you are into the parks really early the next morning.

hope you manage to get it sorted and booked soon



edit - just seen your update

 

[suzybear6]

I just tried to do a dummy booking for that 1/2 term week in June next year with Eurotunnel, and I'm gettting that same message about the dates not being available to book yet

I want to know how much it's going to be so I can sort out Tesco vouchers

Luv Suzy

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

The 2 times we have been, we have travelled to Folkstone, and stayed in the Holiday Inn Express (I highly recommend this hotel, less than 5 minutes from the tunnel, £50 for a family room including a hot breakfast and free parking!).

We set off very early, and are checked in to our hotel and in the parks by lunchtime, and not too tired to enjoy the rest of the day.

I obviously don't know what your children are like, but I know that my children need that break up of the journey.

 

[zinderella]

I'm liking the replies guys!!! I was veering towards Plan A, as I can get cheaper accommodation this end. I guess even if we do catch the 6.00am shuttle, the kids can always go back to sleep in the car, and being at disney will boost them up again anyhow!!
I liked Plan B *** we would be really fresh for the parks, but I just hadn't thought about the monstrous amount of driving on that first day.....unless of course we drive up the day before the day before Disney, stay with bestmate in Kent who lives 40-50 mins drive from the terminal....could this be plan c......aaaggghhhh!!!

 

[zinderella]

I just tried to do a dummy booking for that 1/2 term week in June next year with Eurotunnel, and I'm gettting that same message about the dates not being available to book yet

I want to know how much it's going to be so I can sort out Tesco vouchers

Luv Suzy

Hey Suzy, just spoke to a lovely lady at Eurotunnel who explained they have not actually released June dates yet but try in October, OP have been able to book July and Aug coz they have released the dates especially for the Olympics! and those have been prioritied. We should be able to book soon tho!

 

[Florida2012]

We have gone a few times over the last few years and have driven every year.

When we we we stay near or around Dover at a Premier Inn which usually costs about £30-40 (though if you keep an eye on Premier Inn they usually do a "cheap" deal) we'd then get to the Park about 11am

One time we woke here (Dunstable) and drove all the way down, which I'll have to say AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!

I'd imagine it would be cheaper/easier to book this side than Paris (or maybe I'm scared of non-major brands!! Lol)

 

[suzybear6]

Hey Suzy, just spoke to a lovely lady at Eurotunnel who explained they have not actually released June dates yet but try in October, OP have been able to book July and Aug coz they have released the dates especially for the Olympics! and those have been prioritied. We should be able to book soon tho!

Aha, thanks Zinderella...that exaplains it!

I'm hoping to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to pay for it, so I need to get it sorted before some of my vouchers go out of date.

Luv Suzy

 

[KirstyLilian]

We've got premier Inn booked for the night before, and eurotunnel booked for 7 am...I'm travelling with a toddler...so needed to break the trip up too...booked the hotel for £19 so decided that was a good way to break things up. Breakfast I don't think is included, but we'll probably have a 'picnic' on the train to keep occupied anyway..!

 

[GO2209]

My experience of budget hotels (especially the chains like campanile, formula1 etc) is not great. Premier Inn, Holiday Inn Express and co in the uk are much, much better.

Saying that, we are driving to Disney in December and managed to get a night at Elysee d'Europe for 70odd euros. Not exactly budget, but good value for its location.

G.

 

[suzybear6]

For one night stays in France we usually use the B&B chain

http://www.hotel-bb.com/reservation-hotel/lang/en/home/hotel_search

The ones we have stayed in have been clean and functional and the big draw is that they have family rooms big enough for 2 adults and 2 children

Luv Suzy

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

Aha, thanks Zinderella...that exaplains it!

I'm hoping to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to pay for it, so I need to get it sorted before some of my vouchers go out of date.

Luv Suzy

If you haven't exchanged the vouchers yet, you can do that, and then you still have 6 months to spend them.

 

[zinderella]

If you haven't exchanged the vouchers yet, you can do that, and then you still have 6 months to spend them.

Yes that's what I did too as some of mine were about to go off!

 

[suzybear6]

Ahh yes I suppose I could do that, just a bit of a pain as then I'll have to do them in 2 goes as at that point I won't know exactly how many tokens I am going to need as I won't know what the cost will be.

Oh and while I'm here can I ask a question of those who have used Tesco clubcard vouchers/tokens to pay for the Eurotunnel? How do I actually book and pay using the tokens? Can you do it online or do I have to ring them to book?

Thanks

Luv Suzy

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

You ring them to book, and then you post off your vouchers. Once they have received your vouchers you get confirmation, but they give you a while (over a week I think) before they cancel your reservation.

If you don't have enough vouchers, you can part pay with them. I did this, as I would have had to exchange more vouchers than the amount that the tunnel fare was, and you do not get any change from the vouchers. So I exchanged as much as I could without going over the amount due, and then topped up with my debit card (I think it was about £5, not much!).

HTH

 

[suzybear6]

Thanks Toria, that's just what I needed to know

I'm hoping to have enough vouchers to cover most of the cost of 2 trips on the Eurotunnel...one for our DLRP and one for our summer holiday in the South of France

Luv Suzy (off to Tescos to spend some money! lol)