UK Ferry Tickets

Crossing the channel on a ferry can be a wonderful experience or your worst nightmare, depending not on whether you like travelling via ferry or not but on whether you actually get on it successfully or not. A self drive holiday just isn’t the same without the car!

No matter what ferry provider you’re travelling with, they all have strict rules that you have to adhere to and abide by if you want to get your car onto dry land in your desired destination. If you fail to book your trip and turn up for it within those rules then they can refuse you passage. However, if you stick to the tips below and follow the rules then you won’t have a problem. You can just get on the ferry quickly and easily so your holiday will get off to a great start! 

1. Always make sure that you book well in advance because the car spots fill up very quickly. If you fail to book a spot then you might not even get on the ferry, let alone to your European destination.
2. Carefully measure the dimensions of your vehicle. Don’t estimate or go on what you’ve read on a car website. Measure your car and make sure that your readings are accurate. You’ll have to declare the dimensions to book a space on the ferry so if you get it wrong and your car takes up more space than you said it would then you’re not going anywhere!
3. Leave for the port early to make sure that you have enough time to get on the ferry itself. If you’re travelling with a car then there’s a very specific time that you are to board. Miss it and you will most likely be refused entry.
4. Don’t overload your car. Taking enough luggage for your holiday is essential but taking too much can elevate the weight of the car. This could be a reason for you not being able to board, especially if your belongings are sticking out of the car in all directions. As such, you should only take what you need and leave the kitchen sink at home.
5. Finally, don’t take extra fuel with you. You might be tempted to load up before you go but having petrol in jerricans is against regulations. The health and safety rules prohibit you from doing that. You don’t have to let this worry you though. Fill up your tank before you leave or fill up at the other port. There will always be service stations there, but they may be more expensive.

Going on holiday, especially a self drive holiday, should be a liberating experience, but it’ll be anything but if you don’t get it right. The tips are simple to follow so all you have to do is prepare in advance. Do that and you can relax on holiday without a care in the world.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008