There is another option which I did not see mentioned: Megabus. My husband and I took the Eurostar from Paris three years ago and that is the way I would prefer to make the trip. However, this past September we made the trip from London with a friend who is claustrophobic and did not want to chance the tunnel. I was interested in seeing Dover so we were willing to take the ferry.

I investigated the train-ferry-train possibilities and discovered some of the problems mentioned earlier involving transit from the train station to the docks at Dover and from the docks to the train station at Calais. My husband had read about Megabus, looked it up, and we decided to try that. For September 20th, the tickets were £18 apiece. It was an easy but looong journey, not unpleasant, but it is a bus not the train. It was a beautiful day: the Channel was very calm so the crossing itself was nice. We left the apartment in London about 7:00 a.m and arrived at the apartment in Paris about 8:00 p.m. versus probably four hours door-to-door via the Eurostar. For that particular trip, it worked out very well: we got to see the cliffs at Dover, the ferry ride was nice, it was cheap, and we avoided the tunnel. If we do it again, we will have to discuss this issue with the tunnel again; the trip was fine but it took up the entire day! Mrs ImaginaryJazz

For those who are claustrophobic , I am mildly so, and was a bit nervous about the tunnel part of the Eurostar trip. What I found was it was only about 20 minutes long, and it was just like travelling at night ( its dark out in tunnel right) . It was ok. I have done it 4 times now. I find the ear popping as you go through the little tunnels more annoying.


As for the "Eurostar" versus "Chunnel" debate I call it the Eurostar because that is what it is.. that is the name you are looking for in the trian stations ( there is no signs for a "Chunnel" folks) the name on your ticket, etc.

I do find the "I'm American" and "most of us here are American" therefore we will do what we want , really really rude though ,, so might makes right?? And how do you know how many of us are not American, we don't all wave our flags on every post.. sensing some arrogance. Unfortunately I find those types of Americans are never embarrassed by being arrogant..

Chunnel - Eurostar - Much Ado About Nothing - you call it what you want and allow me to do the same - au contraire I find your take very rude.

Like when some Brit says they are going to the Big Apple I do not recoil and reprimand them - I just let them say what they want and I wish everyone would be so kind.

Again much ado about nothing. Nothing except folks who want to be pendantic.

well as a brit i am not in the least bit offended by Pal's use of the term "Chunnel" nor, for that matter, by the non-use of it by others.

so long as we're all clear about what we're talking about, what's the problem?

so true annhig, so true.

I find the attitude that "we are American " and " since most of us on this forum are American we can do/say what we like" offensive, not the actual slangy term "Chunnel" itself( that just strikes me as someone who doesn't really know what its called)
Thankfully only some people have that attitude.

Well why should I not be able to use the word I use and most Americans use?

OK wrong to say because an American forum and mostly Americans here - I agree - but let me use what is natural to me and many other Yanks (another term used by Brits to refer to Americans that we do not use much ourselves but don't upbraid Brits for using.

Please tell me that!

again this is much ado about nothing and when the word Chunnel pops up - a lot of time by others here - just let it go - what difference does it make - except for folks who just want to 'set others straight' - you call it what you want and let me and others call it what I want.

But if it is a lot of fuss about nothing, why do you do it?

There is often a conflict between the local name for something, or the way something is described locally, and how it is done in another country or culture. If you are in Italy, you ask for directions for Firenze, not for Florence, even if Florence is the word you use back home in England.

When in London, use the full name for places to avoid confusion. Liverpool Street Station is a long way from Liverpool Station.

As Justine says, you won't find signs directing you to the Chunnel in London or Paris, and need to know the name used locally.

When travelling in Italy, we were surprised to board an eastbound train with the destination Monaco. We then discovered that Monaco is the Italian for Munich (or Munchen, if you prefer). In the other direction, the same train terminated at Mailand, which is the German for Milan or Milano in Italian.

Palen do as you please i agree its not worth WWIII. I just find a diservice to those who are less experienced travellers and come on these types of forums and maybe really do not realize the correct term is "Eurostar" and are going to wander into Gare Du Nord looking for the "Chunnel" .

PS I do not call Americans "Yanks", or British people "Limeys" or French people "frogs" etc, but thats just me.

I always take the Eurostar to Paris - takes 2 hours 15 minutes from London to the centre of Paris. I then travel all round France by their excellent rail services.

I have gone by ferries years ago but not now - the Eurostar is much more convenient and practical.

Really if doing the ferry London to Paris it is an all-day marathon thing - but to break up the trip into two days or so can be great - again stopping in Canterbury or Dover and on the other side you can take buses from Calais to the Belgian border and go on easily to Bruges.

But if just going London to Paris no the Eurostar trains makes the only sense and also will usually be much cheaper.

I took the Dover-Calais ferry on a sunny September morning last year. I enjoyed it immensely. The boats are well- maintained and you can get a decent cup of coffee. The journey lasts about an hour and a half and the boarding and disembarking process is well-organised (I was driving). It was nice to see Calais emerge from the morning mist. On good day, you can look back and see the white cliffs of Dover from Calais.

For motorists taking the Channel ferries is great over the Euro Tunnel train where you see nothing at all and I too have fond fond memories of taking boats to England - with the song The White Cliffs of Dover playing in my head.

Ah yes! "The White Cliffs of Dover." But we bought the fast train tickets. Oh well, perhaps another time.

Ah yes! "The White Cliffs of Dover." But we bought the fast train tickets. Oh well, perhaps another time.

mrubio - as you are starting from Paris I'm pretty sure that's the right decision.

and it'll probably be too foggy to see the cliffs anyway!

Ah yes! "The White Cliffs of Dover." But we bought the fast train tickets. Oh well, perhaps another time.>

Well when the train emerges on the French side turn around and you may get a brief glimpse of the White Cliffs on Dover across the Channel - unless of course the Channel is fogged in!

>>Well when the train emerges on the French side turn around and you may get a brief glimpse of the White Cliffs on Dover across the Channel - unless of course the Channel is fogged in!<<

That was a joke, right?

no it was not a joke - can't you see from the Frethun station area the White Cliffs far in the distance.