The world has finally started to travel again, a little. After four months of being told to stay at home, we can finally start exploring again. Some of us are doing staycations, giving a much-needed boost to our local hospitality, leisure and tourism industry which has suffered an almighty knock. However, we wanted to see if we could go a little further.
Coronavirus has shaken up the world in so many ways and left countless people mourning the loss of family, friends and livelihoods. We feel bad complaining about our cancelled holidays given how many people are so, so much worse off but we take travelling and planning our holidays seriously. Probably too seriously, so for us, the lockdown was testing. In a world without the virus, we would have travelled to Tanzania for a safari before relaxing on the quintessential tropical island of Zanzibar. We also had trips booked the serene terraces of Pamukkale in Turkey, a road trip in Albania exploring the country’s hidden gems as it welcomes tourists after decades of communist rule, and then a visit to Milan and Lake Como in June.
Uncharacteristically, July was open for us and our itch to travel was starting to get insatiable. The world is still in the grips of this pandemic though, so we thought it may be safer to drive somewhere rather than to catch a plane just while we wait and see how the world copes with the resumption of international travel. Living in London we can easily catch the Channel Tunnel and get to France within two or three hours, and from there we planned to head on to Switzerland for an unforgettable week.
If you’re in the UK and contemplating driving to Europe, we would say “do it in a heartbeat”.
I last travelled by Eurotunnel, the incredible 50km underwater high-speed car-carrying train tunnel through the English Channel, when I was around 9 but this was the first time I drove myself.
It is worth noting that the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais is a more expensive option than the ferry from Dover to Calais, which is slower. While Eurotunnel makes the crossing in just over half an hour, the ferry takes around an hour and a half. Usually, July is peak season but given the reduction in the number of Brits making the journey to Calais and Europeans heading here, both are currently operating a reduced service. It is worth consulting the timetables and fares for both to see what suits you best. Unsure of how social distancing would be operated on the ferry and considering our timings, the Eurotunnel worked best for us.
Travel to mainland France does not require you to fill in any forms or carry out any testing, isolation or produce any certificates or declarations that you are COVID-free at present. You should always check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website before travelling anywhere but especially over the next few months as travel policy is dynamic and subject to change.
Driving up to the Eurotunnel gates, cameras check for your number plate and a machine before the barrier provides you with a piece of card which you must hang from your rear-view mirror for the duration of the journey. The card has important information about what to do, including how to board and what to do once you are onboard the shuttle. It also has a large letter printed which corresponds with the shuttle you should take. You should arrive at least an hour before your journey, and if an earlier shuttle has space and you have arrived in time, you may be bumped up so your holiday starts even sooner. Signs will tell you where to go based on your letter and staff also guide you towards the right shuttle. Staff wear masks and do not come into close contact with you at any time.
Next, you pass through the French customs and passport check area. There is no UK Customs exit check but your data is shared by the French authorities when you hand over your passport. The checks in Folkestone mean that when the train reaches Calais you can simply drive off. Be aware that French customs officers carry guns and have powers to detain you if they feel necessary. That probably won’t make any difference to your journey but just know that it may not be the best time for funny business. Again, no forms, test certificates or declarations are required and once you pass customs you are free to get on with your journey to Le Republic.
Before you get to the train, there is a small motorway services-style building which is open. The toilets and duty-free shop are still operating but you will have to wear a face mask in the building, in line with both French and British rules. Coffee shops and other eating areas are shut. We didn’t see anyone exercising their dog in the pet playground when we went but if you are travelling with your family pet, which is allowed on Le Shuttle if they are booked in, you may want to do so. Using the toilets here is also a good idea as they are your second-last chance before the train.
Airport-style boards indicate whether cars with your letter code should head to the train to board. Once you head to the boarding area, you have to queue in your cars for the boarding process to begin. There are some more toilets here and this is genuinely your final chance for a comfort break before France. You cannot leave your car from this point onwards for at least the next 45 minutes.
Once your lane gets given the green light, you can start to make your way towards the train. Le Shuttle isn’t what you would call beautiful but it is well-suited to its job. Depending on your car’s height and width you will already have been sorted into the double-decker and single-deck areas. If you are on the double-deck section of the train as we were, you follow the cones and lights towards your platform and drive down a ramp and parallel to the train for a few metres. Staff are positioned here to tell you whether you should go on the lower or upper deck. This is a slightly tricky manoeuvre depending on the length and turning circle of your car so go slow. Once you have boarded the train, you must continue to drive forwards.
The lanes are narrow and some steering may be required to get around staircases and emergency exits but it is essentially a tunnel with a tunnel. Another staff member will now come and usher you forwards until you are almost bumper to bumper with the car in front. A door between the different carriages of the train is closed. As I mentioned before from this point onwards you cannot leave the car until you reach France.
Turn your engine off and relax. In a few minutes, you’ll be hurtling under one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world through a remarkable feat of engineering. Don’t forget to download something to watch on the way there or bring a game to play as you relax for the next half-hour or so. You will be asked to lower your windows slightly to allow for air circulation and to be able to hear the tannoy announcements which include all the safety information, given in both English and French. A small rolling screen on the roof of the train also gives updates on the train’s progress in both languages. The remarkable thing about the train is you will hardly feel like you have set off or are moving at all. Looking through the window you may get a glimpse of passing trees or railway paraphernalia before you are plunged into the darkness of the tunnel.
After the short hop to Calais the doors between each carriage will open automatically and cars will start to move. Follow them and carry on until you reach another train platform, head up the ramp and onto the road. Remember to drive on the right-hand side as you are now in France.
The procedure is similar on your way back to the UK except that you must pass through both French and British customs and passport control. On your way back into the UK, before reaching the border, you must fill out a detailed form about your entry into the UK. The form will ask you for details about where you will be staying and which country or countries you have passed through. You must fill out the form even if the UK does not require you quarantine on your return.
Stay tuned to Chalofy on our Instagram page where we will be sharing more with you about what to do in Switzerland as well as our seven-day road trip itinerary through France and Switzerland.
Bon Vacances.
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