twoflower

Later this year, we (two of us) will be touring UK and France by car. We've done it before, but this time we fancy crossing between the two countries as foot passengers on the Dover-Calais ferry. We've done the Eurostar before, and thought the ferry could make for a pleasant change. It means dropping one rental car off at Dover and picking up another one at Calais.

My question is about timing vis-a-vis Customs formalities, especially considering how these formalities may be lengthier now since Brexit. P&O Ferries' website stipulates that foot passengers must check in at least 60 minutes prior to sailing. Fine. That's clear enough. No problem there.

However, can anyone tell me: do Dover's check-in formalities cover French Customs entry formalities as well as UK exit formalities, or can we expect another lengthy process at Calais before we're free to pick up our rental car there? My reason for asking is that our preferred ferry sailing arrives in Calais at 11:45am, but Avis Rental Cars' Calais website says their hours are 9am-12pm and 2pm-6pm. In other words they close for siesta! (I'm all for embracing other countries' ways - it's one of the joys of travel - but this strikes me as astounding for a busy tourist port where international ferries are coming and going all day)!

Anyway, you can see our difficulty. If our ferry arrives at 11:45am and there are lengthy Customs formalties upon arrival, we'll likely not get to the rental car office by 12, and be stuck with a 2-hour wait - with bags - before getting our car. I'm hoping Avis will make arrangements for someone to be available to cover this - our booking is a good one for them, after all (30 days) - but I'd be interested to hear about recent experiences (since Brexit) of people on this forum regarding Channel Ferry entries from UK into France.

hetismij2

If you scroll down the page this explains everything.

http://www.doverport.co.uk/ferry/

hetismij2

Note you must show your passport at check in for the UK exit check and French formalities are done on the bus taking you to the ferry.

hetismij2

I should further add that Brexit hasn't happened yet. The UK remains a member of the EU and subject to EU law until 2019. There is a lot of negotiations between now and then, and a lot of panicking by HMRC and UK Border Control and by the Port of Dover, all trying to plan for something yet to be decided. They all have to be ready for whatever that is on the day the UK leaves to try and prevent total gridlock in and around Dover and other ports.

Heimdall

Nothing at all has changed, as the UK is still in the EU for another two years. Passport control is because the UK is not a Schengen treaty member, not because it is leaving the EU.

Odin

It's the summer holiday peak time (if that is when you are going) you need to worry about, getting stuck in traffic on the way to the ferry ports, both Dover and Calais and leaving enough time to drop off your rental cars. We don't have lengthy customs formalities when getting off the ferry but as the Avis rental location you've chosen is in Calais itself, I don't think you will make it in time. Can you get an earlier ferry or book Europcar who have a location right at the ferry terminal?
We found the P&O twitter page useful for updates on local traffic, ferry delays, strike action etc.
We enjoy the ferry trip as we get a rest before the long road trip ahead and have full English breakfast in the Brasserie - P&O is nicer than DFDS on this route, IMO.

twoflower

Thanks everyone. We hear so much in our remote corner of the world (NZ) about what Brexit means for travellers, it's easy to overlook that it's still 2 years away.

And thanks Odin for your helpful comments. Europcar had been our choice, partly for the reason you quoted - a depot at Calais ferry terminal. When our travel agent recommended Avis, we just accepted that they too must have a depot there - because our quote request had stipulated a ferry terminal pickup. Your advice has come just in time to stop us going Avis if that's what we decide. So, again, thanks.

On the other hand, an earlier ferry may be another answer to our dilemma. In fact, it's quite an appealing option. It raises another question though, which members on this forum may be able to help with. The next-earlier ferry departs Dover at 9:25am. We're definitely with Avis for our UK travels, and their rental car drop-off at Dover Eastern Docks opens at 8am. P&O Ferries stipulate check-in for foot passengers by 60 minutes prior to sailing. How realistic is it for us to expect to drop off the car at 8am, do the car return paperwork, and get to the check-in point by 8:25am?

janisj

>>We hear so much in our remote corner of the world (NZ) about what Brexit means for travellers, <<

Can't imagine what you are hearing since not one thing has been decided yet . . .

>>How realistic is it for us to expect to drop off the car at 8am, do the car return paperwork, and get to the check-in point by 8:25am?<<

Could be difficult. Anyone else trying to make the early ferry will be queueing at Avis at the same time. Where are you staying the night before? Perhaps change plans and turn the car in the evening before. You could stay in stay in Dover, Walmer or Deal that night and take a taxi to the ferry.

kerouac

I never do paperwork when returning a car. My rental car returns in France take about 5 seconds. I just hand them the keys, and that's it. Of course if I had damaged the car, that would be another matter.

sofarsogood

"We've done the Eurostar before, and thought the ferry could make for a pleasant change."

Few people travel as foot passengers nowadays, by many accounts it is not pleasurable at all.

Read this, especially the bit about getting to/from the ferry terminals.

http://www.seat61.com/London-Paris-ferry.htm

Heimdall

Even after Britain leaves the EU it won't have much effect on tourists. The impact will be on UK citizens and residents.

hetismij2

You can only use P&O as a foot passenger, and their ferries are fine. If you want to you can up grade to the private lounge, which offers free drinks, free WiFi, and on some ships has it's own private deck area. Definitely worth the money on busy ferry days.
We enjoy the ferry crossing. A welcome rest and chance to move about before the next leg of the journey. Of course we are always with a vehicle, not foot passengers, but there are a surprising number of foot passengers on the ferry always.

That link doesn't really apply sofarsogood, since OP will be arriving with a hire car, not by train.

Like kerouac we just drop off the keys when returning a car, no masses of paperwork involved.

Odin

<<How realistic is it for us to expect to drop off the car at 8am, do the car return paperwork, and get to the check-in point by 8:25am?>>

Avis have 24hour dropoff at the Eastern Docks location. You don't have to wait for the office to open so you can drop it off much earlier and have plenty of time to get the 8.25am ferry. You need to find out from Avis what the 24hr dropoff procedure is (where is it, where is key drop etc.) The paperwork will be emailed to you later. Make sure the damage report has accurately recorded all existing damage when you pick up the car, take photos. etc.

<<Few people travel as foot passengers nowadays, by many accounts it is not pleasurable at all.>> You could have fooled me, judging by the numbers of people on the ferry, foot passengers included. I don't find the ferry unpleasant either, since you hardly feel it moving, you get some fresh air if the weather is ok and get a decent enough breakfast in the Brasserie (which if you want this, you need to go there as soon as you board as it gets full), do a bit of shopping onboard, use their wifi, restrooms etc. If you have a road trip ahead, it is pleasant to have a bit of a rest onboard.
What few people do nowadays, is take the train/ferry combo to get from London to Paris.