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'''Calais''' is a port town in the north west of [[France]] on the [[English channel]]. With 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 for Calais is [[Dunkerque]].Note: Dunkerque port is not in Dunkerque but a few miles out of. Also there is only a couple of ferries that leave per day from here which makes hitching difficult. == Hitching Out Hitchhiking out ==

Most people will already have bought their You can [[English channel|cross the English Channel]] to Dover for free if you find your lift before you board the ferry - tickets onlineare paid for by vehicle and ''not by passenger''. The number of passengers limit is on the ticket and the ticket inspectors sometimes go crazy two for a lorry (more if the number on the ticket doesnthere't match s more seats) and several with the number of a car. While looking for a lift, '''tell people that extra passengers in the carare free''', as many don't know about it.

Besides the ferries there is also the tunnel as a possibility The best place to get over. Cars and lorries get loaded onto a train which takes them over. The price start hitchhiking is also probably the same for each vehicle, not matter how many persons are in parking lot near the carticket office.HoweverAsk people before they buy their tickets, it is very difficult since they have to get a ride at declare the number of passengers when buying the tunnel entrance itself, ticket. This is good because the road has about 15 lanes coming directly from the motowayyou can show that you're not a drug smuggler, the cars are going quite fast and the drivers will concentrate on finding their correct lane, so most of them woncan explain that there't see yous no charge for extra passengers. Also the staff The drawback is quite unfriendly and you that many people parked here will just be sent away (remember though that this also applies if you try waiting to pick up foot passengers due to hitch too much into the portarrive on a boat. Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (which is probably doubtful)Also, most drivers headed to England will have bought their tickets in advance and will not come through here.

So Tip: wait INSIDE of the ticket office (the staff dont care) and ask people as they walk in if they are driving, and if they will take you. Most people will be foot passengers but some are drivers who are getting a last minute ticket. This is important as everyone must declare how many car passengers they have in advance, so of you hitch a car you will be adding to that number which will end up costing £10 at the gate. Catching people before they have brought their ticket therefore is essential. Usually telling people you “just want a lift onto the ferry, that’s all” works a treat.  Experiences with waiting by the side of the road are mixed; some people getting picked up after ten minutes, others waiting the entire day without success. Ask around the parking lot before trying to thumb your way through. A good place to stand is next to the speed bumps that cars go over as they are approaching passport control. Stand between the two lanes and you'll be visible to cars going straight to the ferry as well as those going to the ticket office. Keep on your toes, though; this isn't the safest place to stand. '''Hitchhiking with bikes across the Channel''' is possible! Some people reported finding a lift in vans and mobile homes after waiting about 1 hour with their bikes at the parking lot and next to the speed bumps. It could be an exceptional luck... More positive reports are needed to rely on this possibility. Lifts:You can easily change cars in the harbour terminal, after ticket and passport control and before boarding the ferry (you will usually have 40 minutes). Find a lift before coming to Calais, and you might well have some time before the ferry leaves, especially so if you've come with a lorry. Use this time well, walk around the huge parking areas (which is perfectly fine) and talk to as many people waiting for their ferries as you can. You'll often be able to get a better lift, especially one going past London if you're going north. Changing rides after the first ticket check but before getting on the ferry comes with slight risk ask you'd be getting into a car that doesn't have you listed on their ticket. However, [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] followed said strategy successfully in May 2011 - P&O don't check the tickets again as you enter the ferry (only as you enter the port), Seafrance ''might''. It might be a bad idea to let the vehicle that brought you into the port in the first place cross without you, in the case that somebody checks the number of passengers on the ticket while boarding the ferry. You can also switch cars while on the ferry and avoid this problem, you just won't have quite as much time to do so. Tip: the crossing takes about 1.5 hours. Walk around the ferry, go up onto the deck. Chat to people and find out where they are going. This is the best time to find a new lift.  You can also get across by the [[Channel Tunnel]]. Cars and lorries get loaded onto a train which takes them across. The price is the same for each vehicle as well, no matter how many persons there are in the car. However, it is very difficult to get a ride at the tunnel entrance itself, because the road has about 15 lanes coming directly from the motorway, the cars are going quite fast and the drivers will concentrate on finding their correct lane, so most of them won't see you. The staff is quite unfriendly and you will be sent away (remember though that this also applies if you try to hitch too far in the ferry port). Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (which is probably doubtful). Also, as of 2011 there have been reports of the eurotunnel company refusing people who are identified as hitchhikers by the drivers. Davide and Oti September 2016 were identified as hitchhikers and had no problems, though, so this is not always the case. '''Just in case, ask your driver not to mention that you're hitchhiking.'''  All in all, the ferry is definitely the much better option , but whatever optionhowever you plan on handling things, it is definitely better 's best to find somebody to manage its crossing 'take you across (or at least into the ferry terminal) before' arriving you get to Calais. If you do have to buy a foot passenger ticket, bear in Calaismind that it is 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 respectable and clean, even if you travel on a EU or 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 . The UK is '''not''' part of the [[Schengen Agreement]], so you might consider leaving the ferry as a foot-passenger to save your driver a potentially substantial delay! (Not This is not possible if you arrived using ''Norfolklines''.)  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 having none of it and being a hitchhiker definitely did me in.

=== South towards Paris ===If you look respectable, are 're coming from the ferries and you don't manage to get a respectable country, ride to [[USA]], [[Australia]], [[New ZealandParis]], then get ANY ride from the boat and get off at the first service station to change there. It's very difficult to name get a few, you ride from Calais as most people at intersections/on-ramps are unlikely to have any problems entering not leaving the UK, even as a hitchhikertown. Show a passport from [[Somalia]], [[Pakistan]] I spent maybe 6 or [[Iran]], 7 hours trying to name get a few that are somewhat less respectable in ride with no luck (July 2017). I got the eyes of train to Étaples and had much better luck the UK government, expect lots of hassle, including being denied entryfollowing day.

If you think you will fall in the latter category, you might consider spending the money to buy a foot-passenger The first service station after Calais is 60km (!) away. Some cars stop there (returnnot too many) ticket yourself and it seems more people are going to avoid causing trouble for your driver, although that does not in any way reduce the risk that you're denied entry either in France or upon arrival in Doverdirection of [[Reims]] than towards [[Paris]]. Note theres not foot-passenger ferries during There is another service station some 20km further down the nightsame highway (20km before [[Arras]]), till 6-7am but it is much smaller and much more quiet. (Lots of trucks there, but the terminal building is closed for nighttruckers are all sleeping). Be advised that employees at such small places will most likely speak no English.

As with any border crossingIf your driver is extremely kind, it helps or if you look respectablefind someone living in Arras who might be willing to make the extra effort, there is another service station at ''Wancourt'even''' if you come , some 10km away from Arras on the EU or respectable countriesA1 highway in the direction of Paris. (There is a bridge so that cars can change direction if your driver is not actually going towards Paris, and although your driver will have money (or betterto drop you off some 300m before the station in order to be able to turn around, a credit card) otherwise there's no turning point closer to support yourselfthe station.)

[[Dunkerque]] might Mostly trucks stop here, almost all of them to sleep, but there should be an alternative a few cars and it is highly likely that any cars stopping here are on their way to cross the ChannelParis. ''Norfolklines'' sails There is a place to [[Dover]]get some food and a toilet, but other than that it'''but does s not carry foot-passengers''' and sailings are less frequent, only every two hoursa massive service station.

Near Calais on To get out of the motorwayferry terminal, few kilometres from the ferryport, there best trick is to follow the signs for the motorway to Lille and eventually you'll get to a huge ''lorry park'' from big roundabout with the road leading uphill with a bay where you vehicles can easily get direct lifts stop next to many places the "no pedestrians" signs that all over Europe ([[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[England]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Spain]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Austria]] the other hitchers have written all about :) stand by the signs and [[Turkey]] should be easily possible).Be aware that you'll get a truck is legally only allowed brave trucker to have one driver stop for you. Almost all car traffic heads south Paris way, and one passenger, so it's a lot harder nightmare getting back onto the motorway if you come off there, so try to find flag down someone with a ride for two people hitching togethersign saying D or PL.If Standing at the roundabout itself is quite tragic as you are just hitching will be watching migrants trying to get into [[Belgium]] you're probably better off finding a ride while on the ferry, England constantly running up and down trying to sneak into a petrol station in [[Belgium]]truck.

[[User:Alexanderanderson|Alexanderanderson]] says: It is now (2016) very difficult to get picked up at this roundabout, due to the refugee situation. I waited an unbelievable 16 hours, and heard somebody else, more recently, got moved on by police. It also hard to get any truckers to pick you up in any of the lorry parks around. Would advise to get to a petrol station, or better yet to not stop in Calais at all and just get through in any direction before finding another ride. If you're coming off the ferry, get your ride out the other side when you're on there or waiting to board. If you're going far and/or don't care about speed so much, there 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.

The best trick is to walk out == Extra information == * When on the ferry terminal, and follow try to find the signs for Commercial Drivers Restaurant on one of the motorway to Lille and eventually floors. If you can get in, you'll be on get a big roundabout with free drink (hot chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drink), however if you wish to buy food it will cost you. * Whilst waiting in the queue for your time to board the road leading uphill with ferry, after the passport check, you can try to change rides in order to get onto an earlier boat or to a bay better destination. Just walk around asking people that vehicles have an earlier leaving time than yours. Since you passed the passport check, they should not be afraid to take you. You can stop see the departure time on next to the "no people" signs paper that all the other hitchers have written all over :) stand by the signs and is usually on their car or truck windows. This can save you'll get a brave trucker stop for youlot of time. Almost all car traffic head south Paris wise* You can also change rides inside the ferry, especially when it has arrived in the port and its a nightmare people are getting back to their cars and waiting to exit. Just go around looking at number plates and asking around. Hurry, though, you don't want to be left on foot when all the motorway if you come off there, so try to flag someone with a sign saying D or PLcars are leaving.

[[frtrash:Calais]]