Your Choice of Transport with Great Flexibility at Great Prices

However you choose to make your way to the continent, we can offer you great flexibility with all aspects of your travel arrangements. Whether you are travelling alone, in a group of cars, a minibus or even by motorbike we have the knowledge and flexibility to arrange all of your individual transport needs.

At Great Escapes we have negotiated excellent rates with Eurotunnel, P&O and Brittany Ferries as well as Eurostar. Because we pass these savings on to our customers, you can rest assured that, whichever break you choose, your Great Escape will be excellent value for money and protected too thanks to our bonding with AITO and ABTA.

We work closely with P&O Ferries and Brittany Ferries to bring you great prices on crossings to 5 ports on the continent, from a short hop to Calais to a long cruise to Zeebrugge, or the northern French ports of Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo.

Dover - Calais
Frequency: 22 crossings per day
Crossing time: 75 minutes

Hull - Zeebrugge
Frequency: 1 crossing per day
Crossing time: 13 hours (overnight both ways)

P&O will transport you in on their well-equipped comfortable ferries offering great shopping, bars, restaurants, cafes, lounge areas and video arcades for the children. On request and at no extra cost we can book you on the brand new pride of the P&O Dover fleet, the Spirit of Britain, launched in January 2011.

Upgrades

Why not upgrade to the club lounge and choose priority boarding as a way of shortening your waiting time at the port? A great way to sit back, relax and get the very most from your crossing. For more information please contact us.

Pets

Pets are allowed to travel with P&O at a cost and provided they remain in the vehicle during the crossing. Please contact us for more details

Portsmouth - Caen
Frequency: up to 4 crossings per day including 1 Fastcraft
Crossing time: 3½ hours by Fastcraft, 5 hours for day crossings or 7 hours overnight

Portsmouth - Cherbourg
Frequency: up to 2 crossings per day by Fastcraft
Crossing time: 3 hours

Poole - Cherbourg
Frequency: up to 3 crossings per day including 1 Fastcraft
Crossing time: 2½ hours by Fastcraft, 4½ hours for day crossings or 6 hours overnight

Portsmouth - St. Malo
Frequency: 1 crossing per day (overnight outbound, day crossing inbound)
Crossing time: 11 hours overnight, 8½ hours return

Brittany Ferries will carry you across the Western Channel in style and comfort, allowing you to unwind and enjoy the experience. You can also book seats and cabins in advance, and have the flexibility to book itineraries through different ports if you wish.

Pets

Pets are allowed to travel with Brittany Ferries at a cost and provided they remain in the vehicle during the crossing. Please contact us for more details

For those who wish to cross the channel in the quickest time then Eurotunnel is the best option as you reach France in only 35 minutes, remaining with your vehicle for the duration of the crossing. There are 4 departures an hour during peak periods, allowing you the flexibility to travel whenever you wish. Take a car and up to 9 people, or a minibus at a supplement, and consider crossing at off-peak times for extra savings.

Customs and passport checks are made before you depart so you are free to be on your way as soon as you arrive on the other side. In France this is now done even before you reach the terminal building so you will have more time to relax and a shorter wait before boarding.

Upgrades

Choose Flexi Plus tickets for an upgrade on both legs of your journey. Benefit from dedicated check-in, priority boarding and use of the Flexi Plus lounge where you can enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and light refreshments as well as a free newspaper for your crossing. You can rest assured that as a priority customer you will be offered the next available departure if you happen to arrive at the terminal earlier or later than your scheduled crossing.

As a foot passenger Eurostar offers you a fast and efficient service to key cities in Northern France and Belgium from 3 stations in the UK, with check in possible up to 30 minutes before departure.

Paris
Journey time from: London St Pancras - 2 hours 15 minutes Ebbsfleet – 2 hours 05 minutes Ashford - 1 hour 55 minutes

Lille
Journey time from: London St Pancras – 1 hour 20 minutes Ebbsfleet - 1 hour 10 minutes Ashford – 58 minutes (infrequent service)

Disneyland Paris
Journey time from: London St Pancras – 2 hours 45 minutes Ebbsfleet – 2 hours 30 minutes (infrequent service) Ashford – 2 hours 05 minutes (infrequent service)

Brussels
Journey time from: London St Pancras – 1 hour 55 minutes Ebbsfleet – 1 hour 50 minutes Ashford – 1 hour 45 minutes

Sit back and relax on Eurostar and be transported to the centre of Paris in only 2 ¼ hours from London St Pancras, and with only a 40 minute check-in time you'll be able to make the most of your short break. Brussels, Lille and Disneyland® Resort Paris are also served by Eurostar, and many more destinations are easily reached with connecting trains, such as Reims or the cities of Flanders.

Upgrades

Choose Standard Premier tickets for an upgrade on one or both legs of your Eurostar journey. You will enjoy exclusive standard premier carriages, large comfortable reclining seats plus a light meal and drink served to your seat.