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Dover
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{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
==== In Dover General Information====<map lat='51.12625978268193' lng='1.3254833221435547' zoom='16' view='0' float='right' />
* Drivers pay per vehicle, so bringing an additional passenger will not change the costs. If you they already have reached Dover without a ride across the Channeltheir ticket, you have a few options,<ul><li>you can try they will need to get a ride on the road leading to the port. Difficult as there is no [[hard shoulder]] amend it (for free) and very few breaks in the flow of traffic allowing anyone to stopadd another passenger.</li><li>A foot passenger ticket will cost you can try hitching after the last round-about€40. * The border police do not like hitchhikers. Unfortunately itIt's illegal completely legal to hitch on port property (ihitchhike, but makes them suspicious.e. after Whether you catch a ride for the tunnel or the ferry, ''Port of Dover Authority'' sign) and although you might get away with it sometimes, ask the police is known driver politely not to enforce this rule and send mention that you away're hitchhiking'''.</li><li>you can try your luck inside Explain the Travel Centre or on situation so that the car park in front of it. The problem is that both are nowadays very quiet as most people book on-line. If you speak to people here, driver realizes you might have to convince them that they donaren't pay doing anything extra for taking you across and possibly that you are not an illegal immigrantwrong.</li><li>* If you are allowed want to take the tunnel/ferry, It's best to stand find a lift before Dover, at [[Maidstone Services]] on the rail of M20 or [[Medway Services]] on the last roundabout leading into the port, iM2.e. before Don't go to the port property. [[Maidstone Services|Ashford Truckstop]]* 'You'll be standing at MAY try to get a lift through the height of tunnel! We met a truck lorry driver at Clackett Lane services who can see you clearly and can pull aside just in front of the Port Police building after the roundaboutwas going to tunnel.</li><li>you might try standing And he was able to change passenger number at one of the normal bus stops first barrier. Then on the main seaside road train with all the truckers * The ferry, as opposed to the tunnel, has the advantage of having 1.5 hours to find a sign that says Franceride to your next destination.</li> <li>'''Do your best to find the next ride on the ferry''' - even if youit're really stuck you can also try at the Western Docks, there is s for a truck park where short distance (though many people will be going far!) since hitchhiking out of [[Calais]] isn't fun. Many drivers carrying certain types don't speak a lot of goods English, but try all your languages (or from outside the EU have a map) and something might work. Polish, Romanian, Russian and German are particularly useful. You can also ask people when they're queuing up to stop leave upon arrival, but it might be risky to complete some paperworkwait so long.</li><li>* If you are feeling rich or you are desperate're changing rides, it's a one-way foot ticket good idea to bring your backpack to Calais will cost about £14</li></ul> Now onply P&O operates with foot passengers and a one way ticket costs 30£. A two way ticket (return) for the same day costs 13£ferry instead of leaving it in the vehicle. But be careful, when keep in mind that you go 're not allowed to buy the ticket go without backpacks because leave it unattended and if you do, they wonwill panic and look for you. If you don't sell you the ticketwant to be hauling it around, because they'll say you wonmaybe ask someone who isn't come back. Act like you are going for moving around much to keep an eye on it, or pick it up from the ride car upon arrival (requires more logistics with the ferry (i with 2 friends did this : we asked if there old and new drivers). * Ferries from Dover go to both Dunkerque and Calais. If you are any things trying to hitch down to do on the ferry like videogames, Paris or casino, further south then make sure your ride is going to Calais as you will find it difficult to find a place where to eat or drink something etclift otherwise.) Also when you go on the busHowever, if the person who sold you the ticket is thereare hitching to Belgium, try to give your backpacks to someone else until Germany etc. then you are on should get the bus, from there you won't have any problems no moreferry to Dunkerque. Good luck !
This road is swarming with drivers on their way to the ferry. Your sign should say ''FRANCE'' (or ''FRANCE (ferry)''), not ''FERRY'', otherwise people will be offering you rides to the ferry port. * '''Natural Halts''' Waiting at places where cars have to stop because of traffic lights or where traffic naturally periodically comes to a halt. You may wait at a pedestrian crossing at a point on the A20 where traffic naturally comes to a halt. One such spot is [https://goo.gl/maps/3gCJTpxM1vX4zW6G9 at Marine Rd Pedestrian Crossing] (51.125312, 1.323558).* '''Busstops''' ''Megger Factory'' (probably bad/senseless), ''Hammond's Garage'', which is opposite the BP at Limekiln Street an average spot at best. Drivers are often mildly disoriented when they exit the roundabout and have to decide too quickly to stop at the bus-stop. Some drivers do however go to the BP and what you could do is wait for them at the exit of the BP. ''Leisure Centre'' seems alright. * '''Petrol Stations''': October 2019: Unfortunately I was not allowed to talk to drivers at either of the two BPs in Dover (Limekiln Street (51°07'06.1"N 1°18'25.0"E) and Folkestone Rd). * '''The Ferry Port''': There's no point since you won't be allowed on the premises of the port (confirmed 2017). But Tzuiop9c was able to stand at the very entrance (at the roundabout) of the premises for thirty minutes without being bothered (several employees drove past with bothering to tell him to go away.) But this spot is problematic since drivers are concentrating on finding the right lane and lorry drivers don't have to stop there. * Burger King / the St James Retail and Leisure Centre == Other directions == On the ferry==== * If you can find a Commercial Driver, who takes you on the ferry, you probably receive a free-dinner-ticket ( + 2 free drinks) for the Commercial Drivers Restaurant (top floor), when you entered the ferry with the truck/lorry, because they thought you're driver, too. When you're on the ferry without a Commercial Driver at least you can get a free drink (hot chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drink), however if you wish to buy food it will cost you.* Commercial drivers also have better rates for currency exchange, so if you're hitching a truck, maybe the driver will agree to change your money for you. ==== If you are super stuck ====*check the [[English channel]] page for more options on how to hitchhike across the channel.* If hitchhiking doesn't work, carpooling can come in really handy. There are People on Blablacar going every evening to Calais. I paid 5 GBP for the ride. Much better than* A two way ticket (return) for the same day costs GBP 18 (as opposed to GBP 30 for a one-way ticket). But be careful, when you go to buy the ticket go without backpacks because they won't sell you the ticket, because they'll say you won't come back. Act like you are going for the ride with the ferry. Also when you go on the bus, if the person who sold you the ticket is there, try to give your backpacks to someone else until you are on the bus, from there you won't have any problems no more. * If all fails you might have to stay for the night. The cheapest place to do so (as far as I'm aware) is the First and Last Pub. Although named a Pub, there are bunks inside for customers to stay for £15 per night(breakfast usually provided). But its reception is located at Russell street, in the The Castle Inn/Dover Backpackers. == Hitchiking Out ==
=== North towards [[Canterbury]] along the A2 ===
=== North and North East towards [[Folkestone]] and [[London]] along the M20 ===
One option is to walk out of the terminal building, through the carparkcar park, and follow the road signs pointing cars towards the M20. Unfortunately there isn't really a safe place to pull over until the first bus stop, about 500m away. By this stage traffic is often going quite quickly, and some of it is now local traffic, but it is mostly port traffic, and you should be able to convince someone to stop. A sign would be useful (such as 'M20').*I waited over an hour here, and walked If you walk further to you will find a better spot, but only found the next bus stop, another 500m 500 m or so further down the road. Conditions were no better, but I got a ride in about 5 minutes -Nomad Kat
=== West towards [[Brighton]] ===
== Wild camping ==