Ferry to France, one way ticket ?

[ghost123uk]

Hi all, I know I could phone them up or summat, but bored and on here because it's raining AGAIN

Is it advisable / not advisable to buy a one way Dover to Calais ferry ticket as we have an open ended holiday "planned" (oxymoron ?) and then just turn up and buy a ticket back to Blighty "at the gate" or do you HAVE to book in advance ?

We have not been able to find an "open ended" ticket online.

Pro's and cons ? (assuming it is possible)

[82JEW75]

Website I looked at quickly (DFDS) implies you need to ring them for anything other than a simple ticket.

You can certainly amend bookings, change dates etc, though they may charge.

[windysurfer]

Website I looked at quickly (DFDS) implies you need to ring them for anything other than a simple ticket.

You can certainly amend bookings, change dates etc, though they may charge.

DFDS wanted £106 to change my ferry booking (after I arrived at the ferry port a day early ) The return ferry cost was only £69

Channel tunnel may be a better bet

[82JEW75]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the last ferry ticket I bought may have actually been a return, as it was cheaper than the one-way ticket?

Really can't remember, but I certainly had no intention of returning...

[The Bishop]

You can certainly buy a one way ticket. We went out with Stena and back with DFDS.

If it is a long trip, I suppose you could book the return when you are ready. And as suggested above, maybe the tunnel is more flexible just because there are more crossings.

I suppose the question is do you need to pre-book or just turn up. I'm not sure of the answer to that one.

If you were travelling on a one way ticket with nothing booked for the return, would you get done for importing the car?

[ghost123uk]

From a "Live chat" with DFDS Ferries =

You are now talking to Steve - How can I help you?

You said: Hi Steve, we are planning going to France in our VW camper from mid September, we do not have a fixed date to return, likely stay will be 4 weeks. Question = can we just arrive at the Ferry for the return journey and "pay at the gate" or do we HAVE to book it in advance ?

Steve: Hi - we can only confirm a reservation with fixed dates so i would recommend booking a one way journey.

Me thinking "What the blithering heck does that mean ? it doesn't answer my question at all"

Steve: You can make a reservation at the port but the rates are higher, for our best fares visit http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; in advance

Me thinking, "I am already there !! or I would not be on your "chat" thing !!"

You said: one way out = yes I understand - how much higher rate for paying at the terminal - is it a lot more, up to 50% more would not be a problem

Steve: It can be yes

Me thinking "What the blithering heck does that mean, A lot more, more than 50% more, what ?"

You said: Sorry Steve, "it can be yes" = ?

Steve: it depends on space and availability but yes it can be up to 50% higher

Me thinking "so if there is no space then I might not get on for xxx crossings ? and "up to 50% higher" could be 5% or 50% so not very useful info there !"

You said: OK, so I think you mean it would be much better to try and book the return from say an Internet Cafe in France a couple of days before we want to come home, yes ?

Me thinking "I might as well not bothered asking"

Steve: Yes, this is my reccommendation

Me thinking "Oh, is that what you were trying to say !!! (and you are rubbish at spelling !!)"

You said: OK, Thank you, we will do that then, Bye

So, took a while to get there !! Jeez, it was a simple enough question !! The answer to my first line should have been "YES" or "NO"

It looks like the best option is to find a computer a couple of days before we wish to return and book a one way ticket back. Or, try and do it on my "smart" (sic) phone - which I hate, and am not sure about using it in France re data charges ?

Shame they don't do an "open ended" return ticket, I would have thought that was quite a common request ?

Aside = I actually use an 8+ year old Nokia 5140 as a "phone" I like that, it has lots of advantages - I only use my fancy £400 HTC as a music server to the vans stereo when camping, it does go on the internet but is very fiddly for an old git like me

[82JEW75]

Shouldn't have a problem finding internet, plenty of WiFi around in France and there's always MacDo as a last resort...

[tetleysid]

If you are going Calais Dover or Dunkirk dover you ought to be OK. Just turn up at the ferry port, you might have to wait for a slot but theres so much traffic twixt these two transit ports I doubt you will have to wait too long

[tetleysid]

PS If you are looking for the warmth of the sun its feckin' hot here at the moment ... Charente Maritime


upload picture

[skysurfin09]

What ever you do, Do not just turn up at the Chunnel and buy a single ticket to return to England on spec. My error cost me £170..I would have got out of the queue and tried the ferry port but I was stuck in line of vehicles at the booth. I could have booked the ticket via my phone earlier in the day and saved pounds. I honestly thought the price that I'd seen online prior to leaving England would be good £90......Still trip was fantastic and can't wait for next year and it's off we go again.....Doris was perfect not a hitch all the way ...mind you I gave a couple of French types fits when getting flustered and sticking Doris into reverse instead of 1st [4times] in ten days.....

[ghost123uk]

What ever you do, Do not just turn up at the Chunnel and buy a single ticket to return to England on spec. My error cost me £170.

Good info