Find the Cheapest Ferry and Eurotunnel Tickets

Looking for the cheapest ferry ticket across the Channel? Or perhaps you want to find a choice at a convenient time? Or want to know the difference between the Eurotunnel option and the ferries? Maybe you are looking for ways to get your ferry or Eurotunnel ticket free?

Deciding your best option when getting across the channel will depend on a number of factors - our guide gives you the chance to think them through, and find the best prices for both cross channel ferrys and the Eurotunnel using our ferry comparison service and eurotunnel comparison service.

So what are the factors that will influence your decision?

Where you are travelling from?

If you are within striking distance of Kent then either the Dover ferry crossings or Folkestone Eurotunnel will probably be your first option - however if you have a long drive from the North do consider routes from Newcastle and Hull to Holland. These can be particularly attractive if travelling to the heart of Europ, although less so if heading for South West France or Spain. Again if travelling from the West Country or South Wales the Portsmouth or Plymouth crossing are another option. The advantage with these routes is that you have the potential to sleep on the ferry overnight, enabling you to be fresh for your onweard journey the next day.

Price

The shorter crossing are almost always cheaper, although sometimes there are some great deals off season on the longer trips. The reason behind that is that the ferry companies know you are a captive audience on their ship for a number of hours, and so therfore you are likely to spend money with them! Ferries also thend to be cheaper on the Dover or Ramsgate sailings than Eurotunnel (unless you are prepared to take an unpopular middle of the night train) - but not always - check out your options using our price comparison service to get the best balance between price and convenience.

Also check our our Ferry and Eurotunnel Discount and Special Offers Page - if there are offers in the market currently we will be promoting them there.

When to book?

As with aircraft ferry prices operate with what is known as 'dynamic pricing'. This basically means its supply and demand will impact on the price you pay - so school holidays, and particularly public holidays see prices rise dramatically, and off season there are great ferry and eurotunnel bargains around. What is true is that the more flexible you are the better your chances of getting a great deal - consider going at times that others might view as inconvenient times (i.e. very early morning, or the middle of the day) ferry prices, particularly from Dover and the Kent ports can be much cheaper even at peak holiday times. Some routes that might take a half hour longer, such as those to Dunkirk also tend to be cheaper.

Protecting your holiday

Remember whichever route you travel you will need to make sure you have got adequate car insurance for the continent, breakdown cover abroad, holiday insurance, and if booking independently potentially supplier failure insurance. Inforamtionn is also available on long stay european car insurance.