Eurostar Beats the Ferry

Eurostar is definitely our preferred means of crossing the English Channel. We have had to make the road trip from Italy to England (via France) a number of times over the last few years and, during this time, we have tried all the ferry operators and, of course, Eurostar. Without doubt Eurostar and the tunnel is the more expensive of the options but, for us, it makes for a more pleasant experience.

The cost of the ticket need not be so prohibitive if you are prepared to travel by night (which we prefer anyway) and if you can book online and several months ahead. This can easily save you hundreds of pounds so is well worth considering. Even if you have a young family, it may be worth spending part of the night in a local motel so that the kids are not exhausted.

The journey by Eurostar is generally simplicity itself. You arrive at check-in with your passport and ticket (the ticket is printed out from the email which is sent to you after you've booked online) and you are allocated a boarding pass. Being disabled, mine is a special one. This directs you through Customs and onto a huge asphalt 'car park' which has various cordons marked on it - one of which will correspond to the number on your pass.

When the red light at the end of your cordon turns to green, the barrier rises and you are guided onto the Eurostar train. Disabled passengers are automatically sent to the front of each carriage and other cars are driven on behind you. About ten minutes after loading, the train starts and heads into the tunnel.

The disability issue is an important one for me. I find climbing stairs and walking generally very difficult. On a ferry I have to squeeze out of the car and climb up a steep steel staircase - the same one which is used by all the other passengers who invariably get grumpy at my tardiness. On Eurostar, I just stay in the car.

Another advantage of going by Eurostar is that we can take our pets with us without hassle. Our dogs are not used to being alone and they can stay with us on the car if we go by train. If we take the ferry, we are supposed to put them in an unattended, dark cage in the hold. Even on a short crossing, this would cause them serious upset.

A few minutes after emerging from the other end of the tunnel, the train stops, the doors open and you drive off. Next thing you know, you are on the motorway and heading to your destination. That's why we prefer to go by Eurostar.