Both our inwards and outwards transfers were on Luxuria coaches and operated in much the same way as always. They included the usual (annoying) en-route 45 minute break for the drivers but, overall, were better than is often the case. Stop 24 (Folkestone) was, again, as usual, overcrowded and mildly chaotic, but we’re used to that.

We had a Channel 4 film crew on board in Dover on the outward leg, making Series 2 of “Britain’s Busiest Port”. We were interviewed, so may be on TV sometime soon. Our excitement at our new found stardom is manageable!

Both crossings were by DFDS (outward: Calais, return: Dunkerque), a first for us. DFDS provide a meal voucher for coach passengers (as an incentive for coach companies to use them, I suppose). We’d done a little research and made our way quickly to the restaurant and were eating our meal within 5 minutes. As we left the restaurant, 40 minutes later, some people were still in the queue for the food counter. Frankly, the food wasn’t worth our 10 minute wait, let alone 45 minutes.

On the way back, we binned the food voucher and went to their Club Lounge, the least expensive of all the cross-channel operators (£18pp) and received waiter served hot sandwiches and drinks with easy access to very good patisserie, teas and coffees and a very comfortable, quiet, sofa filled environment.

We’d be very happy to travel DFDS again, but only in the lounge!

Both days were long, 11 hours out & 12 hours back. The coaches are comfortable, drinks & snacks service on-board and comfort stops are frequent, so overall it’s not as bad as it sounds!  If you decide to go a long way by coach it’s only to be expected.

We stopped in both direction at Basel (Switzerland) services where prices would make an oligarch shudder (e.g. £12 for a ham & cheese baguette).