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{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
'''Calais''' is a port town in the north west of [[France]] at 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 channel ports on continental [[Europe]]. Regular ferry services operate from '''Calais ''' to [[Dover ]] (''P&O'' and ''Seafrance'', each with over 20 crossings per day).
== Over to Hitching Out=====West towards [[Dover]], [[England ]]===Try to get a ride before getting on the ferry, as hitchhikers can get over for free because drivers only pay for their vehicle and up to nine persons go for free with a car and two with a lorry. <map lat='50.950' lng='1.848' zoom='12' view='0' float='right'/>If you are searching for a lift you often have to tell people about this possibility first – otherwise they often don't take you with them just because they think it's too complicated or they'll have to pay. The best way to do so, is by waiting in front of the ticket office. When buying a ticket, the driver has to produce a passport or ID card of every person in the car, so you should be going with him into the office.
Most people will already have bought their tickets online. The number of passengers is on the ticket and the ticket inspectors sometimes go crazy if the number on the ticket doesn't match with the number of passengers in the car.
So the ferry is definitely the much better option.
[[Dunkerque]] could be a alternative to get over (''norfolklinesNorfolklines'' to [[Dover]], same or nearly same conditions than Calais–Dover'''Calais''' – [[Dover]]), '''Calais ''' is busier though. == Lorry Park with great possibilities ==Near Calais on the motorway, few kilometres from the ferryport, there is a huge lorry park 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 be easily possible).
===North, South, East towards everywhere===
Near Calais on the motorway, few kilometres from the ferryport, there is a huge ''lorry park'' 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 be easily possible).
Be aware that a truck is legally only allowed to have one driver and one passenger, 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 gas 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, 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.
== Useful links Links==
* [http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_dover_-_calais_timetable_timetable_DOCA.htm P&O ferries timetable Calais–Dover]
[[Category:France]]
[[de:Calais]]