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'''Calais''' is a port town in the north west of [[France]] at on the [[English Channelchannel]]. with 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]].

You can get [[English channel|cross the English Channel]] to Dover for free if you find your lift before you board the ferry - tickets are paid for by vehicle and ''not by passenger''. The limit is two for a lorry (more if there's more seats) and several with a car. While looking for a lift, '''tell people about this possibilitythat extra passengers are free''', as many don't know about it.

It is definitely The best place to hang around in start hitchhiking is probably the parking lot near the ticket office. It is best to ask Ask people before they buy their tickets, since they have to declare the number of passengers when buying the ticket. This is good because you can show that you're not a drug smuggler, and can explain that there's no charge for extra passengers. The drawback is that many people parked here will just be waiting to pick up foot passengers due to arrive on a boat. Also, most drivers headed to England will have bought their tickets in advance and will not come through here.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:''' it 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.

You can easily change lifts in Experiences with waiting by the side of the harbour terminalroad are mixed; some people getting picked up after ten minutes, after ticket and passport control and before boarding others waiting the ferryentire day without success. Find a lift Ask around the parking lot before coming trying to thumb your way through. A good place to stand is next to Calais, and you might well have some time before the ferry leaves, especially so if you've come with a lorryspeed bumps that cars go over as they are approaching passport control. Use this time well, walk around Stand between the huge parkings (which is perfectly fine) two lanes and talk to as many people waiting for their ferries as you can. You'll often be able visible to get a better lift, especially one cars going past London if you're going north. There might be an issue if the number of passengers coming into the harbour isn't the same as coming onto straight to the ferry. 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 well as you enter the port), Seafrance ''might''. It might be a bad idea those going to let the vehicle that brought you into the port in the first place cross without youticket office. If somebody tries to give you shitKeep on your toes, you wonthough; this isn't be able the safest place to "prove" that you'll be crossing etcstand.

You can also get across by tunnel. Cars and lorries get loaded onto a train which takes them '''Hitchhiking with bikes across. The price is the same for each vehicle as well, no matter how many persons there are in the car. However, it Channel''' is very difficult to get possible! Some people reported finding a ride lift in vans and mobile homes after waiting about 1 hour with their bikes at the tunnel entrance itself, because the road has about 15 lanes coming directly from the motoway, the cars are going quite fast parking lot and next to the drivers will concentrate on finding their correct lane, so most of them won't see youspeed bumps. The staff is quite unfriendly and you will It could be sent away (remember though that this also applies if you try to hitch too far in the portan exceptional luck.. Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (which is probably doubtful). Also, as of 2011 there have been More positive reports of the eurotunnel company refusing people who are identified as hitchhikers by the drivers. Davide and Oti instead in September 2016 were identified as hitchhikers and had no problems. '''Just in case, tell your driver not needed to mention that you're hitchhikingrely on this possibility.'''

All You can easily change cars in allthe harbour terminal, after ticket and passport control and before boarding the ferry . 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 definitely the much perfectly fine) and talk to as many people waiting for their ferries as you can. You'll often be able to get a better optionlift, especially one going past London if you're going north. Changing rides after the first ticket check but however before getting on the ferry comes with slight risk ask you plan 'd be getting into a car that doesn't have you listed on handling thingstheir ticket. However, it[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] followed said strategy successfully in May 2011 - P&O don's best 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 find somebody to take let the vehicle that brought you across (or at least 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 terminal) beforehand. 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.

Apparently on some ferries (not all)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 trucks park so close that car. However, it's not possible is very difficult to open get a ride at the tunnel entrance itself, because the road has about 15 lanes coming directly from the doors. That would mean that you'd spend more than 1.5 hour closed into a box with a stranger motorway, the cars are going quite fast and most the drivers can only take one person legally - will concentrate on finding their correct lane, so if most of them won't see you mind this, think about the possibility beforehand. <!--my experience The staff is that quite unfriendly and you do get out and will be sent away (remember though that truckers can take more than one person this also applies if they have enough seats you try to hitch too far in their cabthe ferry port). Most people are being told that hitching by the tunnel entrance is illegal (which is probably doubtful). Also , as of 2011 there was a statement below that you can get resphave been reports of the eurotunnel company refusing people who are identified as hitchhikers by the drivers. should get outDavide and Oti September 2016 were identified as hitchhikers and had no problems, though, so this is not always the case. so it's 2:1 here''Just in case, ask your driver not to mention thatyou's why I strongly toned this downre hitchhiking.-->'''

All in all, the ferry is definitely the much better option, but however you plan on handling things, it's best to find somebody to take you across (or at least into the ferry terminal) before you get to Calais. If you do have to buy a foot passenger ticket, bear in mind that it has tripled in price in the last year (!) and is now 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 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.