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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]]. 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 ==
<map lat='50.95' lng='1.848' zoom='11' view='3' float='right'/>
=== North-West towards [[Dover]], [[England]] ===
==== Important for Non-EU Nationals (including US citizens) ====
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.
=== South, East towards everywhere ===
[[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.
There is also a service station with free showers.
== Links ==
* [http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_dover_-_calais_timetable_timetable_DOCA.htm P&O ferries timetable Calais–Dover]
{{IsIn|Nord-Pas de Calais}}
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