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Calais
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{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
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'''Calais''' is a port town in the north west of [[France]] on the [[English channel]]. At just 34 km from the British port of [[Dover]], ''Calais'' is the closest port to mainland [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and one of the busiest cross-channel ports on continental [[Europe]]. Regular ferry services operate from '''Calais''' to [[Dover]] (''P&O'' and ''Seafrance'', each with over 20 crossings per day). The best alternative to Calais is [[Dunkerque]].Note: Dunkerque port is not in Dunkerque but a few miles out. Also there are only a couple of ferries that leave per day from there which makes hitching difficult. == Hitching Hitchhiking Out ==
<map lat='50.95' lng='1.848' zoom='11' view='3' float='right'/>
=== North-West towards [[Dover]], [[England]] ===
If you look respectable, are from a respectable country, [[USA]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], do have to name buy a fewfoot passenger ticket, you are unlikely to have any problems entering the UK, even as a hitchhiker. Show a passport from [[Somalia]], [[Pakistan]] or [[Iran]], to name a few bear in mind that are somewhat less respectable in the eyes of the UK government, expect lots of hassle, including being denied entryit costs 39 euros.
There are UK passport controls in Calais and if you do not have the proper papers (depending on your nationality even if you do have the right papers), you will encounter a lot of hassle, including being denied entry. Worse, the friendly driver who gave you a ride might also face delays and even fines. As with any border crossing, it helps a lot if you look respectableand clean, '''even''' if you come from the travel on a EU or respectable countries, similarly accepted passport and have money (or better, a credit card) to support yourself. '''UK border control will very often ask for the address where you're staying''', so have an address in mind beforehand! Any hostel, friend's house, or random address from google maps should do. Just be prepared to answer a lot of questions. "I'm gonna sleep wherever I find a nice spot to pitch my tent" is unfortunately not an acceptable answer.
Upon arrival in Dover, UK customs also have a tendency to check far more cars than any other EU country. The UK is '''not''' part of the [[DunkerqueSchengen Agreement]] , so you might be an alternative consider leaving the ferry as a foot-passenger to cross the Channel. save your driver a potentially substantial delay! (This is not possible if you arrived using ''Norfolklines'' sails .) Personal experience: I tried in August 2011 to hitch a ride onto the P&O ferry to [[Dover]], and I had no problem getting a ride. I checked the US Dept. of State webpage beforehand to see what was required for entry into the UK, and it says only a valid passport. However, the Home Office agents denied me (a US citizen with a valid passport) because I didn't have set travel plans with addresses/reservations where I would be staying (including for that very night), a ticket out of the country, proof of employment, or bank statements. I''m not sure what of that would have sufficed, but does not carry foot-passengers'having none of it and being a hitchhiker definitely did me in. === South towards Paris === If you're coming from the ferries and you don' t manage to get a ride to [[Paris]] then get ANY ride from the boat and sailings are less frequent, only every two hoursget off at the first service station to change there. Option 1 A1 highway Train to Audruicq walk 5 km to La Montoire there is SMALL Aire de Zutkerque rest stop Option 2 A16 highway Hitchike to Escalles town and walk 7 km to Hauteville there is Total fuel station on A16 highway (walking there from Calais is 15 km)
=== South, East towards everywhere ===
To get out of the ferry terminal, the best trick is to follow the signs for the motorway to Lille and eventually you'll get to a big roundabout with the road leading uphill with a bay where vehicles can stop next to the "no pedestrians" signs that all the other hitchers have written all about :) stand by the signs and you'll get a brave trucker to stop for you. Almost all car traffic heads south Paris way, and it's a nightmare getting back onto the motorway if you come off there, so try to flag down someone with a sign saying D or PL. Standing at the roundabout itself is quite tragic as you will be watching migrants trying to get into England constantly running up and down trying to sneak into a truck. If you're going far and/or don't care about speed so much, there's a huge ''lorry park'' on the motorway a few kilometres from Calais from where you can easily get direct lifts to many places all over Europe ([[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[England]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Spain]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] and [[Turkey]] should easily be possible). Be aware that a truck is legally only allowed to have one driver and one passenger (except if there's more seats), so it's a lot harder to find a ride for two people hitching together. If you are just hitching into [[Belgium]] you're probably better off finding a ride while on the ferry, to a petrol station in [[Belgium]]. Turkish lorry drivers are often very kind and help you searching for a lift. You often ask one of them and he talks to all his fellow countrymen – you often ask all of them by asking one, and end up having dinner with them :-). Their German is often better than their English but they really try to do their best to communicate.
There is also a service station with free showers.
* [http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_dover_-_calais_timetable_timetable_DOCA.htm P&O ferries timetable Calais–Dover]
== Trashwiki & Nomadwiki ==
[[trash:Calais]] [[nomad:Calais]]
{{IsIn|Nord-Pas de Calais}}
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Nord-Pas de Calais]]