Changes

== To Calais ==Hitchhikers can '''Dover''' is a busy port in East Kent, in the South of [[England]]. For hitchhikers this is likely the best possibility to cross the [[English channel for free because drivers only pay for their vehicle and ]], though you're even better off if you can get a certain number of passengers, up ride to France before you get to Dover. Because it is the closest port to seven continental Europe on mainland Britain with a car and two with a lorryjust 21 miles from the [[France|French]] port of [[Calais]], Dover is the same holds true for busiest cross-Channel port in the [[Channel TunnelUnited Kingdom|UK]], with 18 million passengers every year and thousands of lorries (trucks) each day. Regular ferry services operate from Dover to Calais (''P&O'') and [[Dunkerque]](''DFDS Seaways''). For timetables, check the external links at the end of this article.

'''To get a lift to France, you may prefer to stop at [[Maidstone Services]] on ==Crossing the M20, where you have the possibility to talk to truckdrivers that might be crossing.''' Many more trucks stop at [[Ashford TruckstopEnglish channel]] on the M20, but there is security here and if they see you asking for lifts they will tell you (to leave.France)==

==== 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 they already have their ticket, they will need to amend it (for free) and add another passenger. A foot passenger ticket will cost you have reached Dover without about €40. * The border police do not like hitchhikers. It's completely legal to hitchhike, but makes them suspicious. Whether you catch a ride across for the Channeltunnel or the ferry, '''ask the driver politely not to mention that you have a few options,'re hitchhiking'''. Explain the situation so that the driver realizes you aren't doing anything wrong. <ul><li>* If you can try want to take the tunnel/ferry, It's best to get find a ride lift before Dover, at [[Maidstone Services]] on the M20 or [[Medway Services]] on the road leading M2. Don't go to the port. Difficult as there is no [[hard shoulderMaidstone Services|Ashford Truckstop]] ; hitchhiking seems to be very hard there and very few breaks in hitchhikers aren't allowed near the flow drivers, many of traffic allowing whom can't take anyone to stopanyway.</li>(This is correct as of Feb 2018; if things have changed, let us know!) <li>you can try hitching after the last round-about. Unfortunately it* '''It's illegal very difficult to hitch on port property (i.e. after find drivers for the tunnel, who're able to pick you up'Port of Dover Authority'' sign) and although you might get away with it sometimes, because they had to book the police is known to enforce this rule ticket and send you away.</li><li>you can try your luck inside give all their ID-details for the Travel Centre or on the car park in front booking before and it's impossible to add another passenger spontaniously, a lot of it. The problem drivers told me (Feb 2018; If this is that both are nowadays very quiet as most people book onjust a non-sense-line. If you speak to people legend, please tell us and change it here, !) Edit: you might have can get a lift through the tunnel! We met a lorry driver at Clackett Lane services who was going to convince them that they don't pay anything extra for taking you across and possibly that you are not an illegal immigranttunnel.</li><li>you are allowed And he was able to stand change passenger number at the rail of first barrier :)was easy! Then on the train with all the last roundabout leading into truckers * The ferry, as opposed to the porttunnel, ihas the advantage of having 1.e5 hours to find a ride to your next destination. before '''Do your best to find the next ride on the port propertyferry''' - even if it's for a short distance (though many people will be going far!) since hitchhiking out of [[Calais]] isn't fun. YouMany drivers don'll be standing at the height t speak a lot of English, but try all your languages (or a truck driver who can see you clearly map) and something might work. Polish, Romanian, Russian and German are particularly useful. You can pull aside just in front of the Port Police building after the roundaboutalso ask people when they're queuing up to leave upon arrival, but it might be risky to wait so long.</li><li>* If you might try standing at one 're changing rides, it's a good idea to bring your backpack to the ferry instead of leaving it in the normal bus stops on the main seaside road with a sign vehicle. But keep in mind that says France.</li> <li>if you're really stuck not allowed to leave it unattended and if you do, they will panic and look for you can also try at the Western Docks. If you don't want to be hauling it around, maybe ask someone who isn't moving around much to keep an eye on it, there is a truck park where drivers carrying certain types of goods or pick it up from outside the EU have car upon arrival (requires more logistics with the old and new drivers). * Ferries from Dover go to stop to complete some paperworkboth Dunkerque and Calais.</li><li>If you are feeling rich trying to hitch down to Paris or further south then make sure your ride is going to Calais as you will find it difficult to find a lift otherwise. However, if you are desperatehitching to Belgium, a one-way foot ticket Germany etc. then you should get the ferry to Calais will cost about £14</li></ul>Dunkerque.

Disputed information=== In Dover ===There are several possibilities in Dover: ''"=====Along the trucks park in the ferry so close that it's not possible to open the doors. That means that you'll spend more than 1.5 hour closed in a box A20:=====This road is swarming with a stranger and the driver can only take one person legally - and they check your IDs etc drivers on their way to the entrance so none of them will take the risk of a fine there. I don't know if it is like this on every ferry and all the time, but it's not recommended to go with any trucks on a ferry!"'''''-EDIT -'''This experience must be an exception...many hitchhikers have taken trucks without problem and get out easily.Your sign should say ''FRANCE'-EDIT-'(or ''as far as i have seen everybody is required to get out of their cars and go upstairs and then staff lock the parking area, so nobody stays in their cars/trucks while at sea. also, truckdrivers have their own rest area on the FRANCE (ferry with free )''), not 'tea/coffee + shower facilities'FERRY''. lots of truckdrivers know each other, so it's a good place otherwise people will be offering you rides to ask around for rides and informationthe ferry port.

Near * '''Natural Halts''' Waiting at places where cars have to stop because of traffic lights or where traffic naturally periodically comes to a halt. What worked for [[CalaisTzuiop9c]]in October 2019 was to 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'', there 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 a huge lorry park with great possibilities wait for hitchhikers 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 continue their journey once stand at the crossing 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 done!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

 [[Tzuiop9c]]: It is useful took me five hours to be aware that ferries from get out of Dover go . If I did it again I would not bother with the busstops. People have an even higher threshold to both Dunkirque take people because of concerns about legality, confusion and Calaismaking it on time. At all busstops traffic was moving quite quickly. Try places where traffic comes to a halt naturally. My sign said: ''Just on ferry. (Doesn't cost more)''.  ==== On the ferry==== * If you are trying 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 hitch down 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 Paris or further south then make sure change your ride is 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 will find it difficult 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 <!-- (Me and my two friends did this: we asked if there were any things to find do on the ferry like video games, or a casino, a lift otherwiseplace where to eat or drink something etc. However)--> 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 hitching 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 Belgiumstay for £15 per night(breakfast usually provided). But its reception is located at Russell street, Germany etcin the The Castle Inn/Dover Backpackers. then * If the ferry terminal is closed, go to the train station instead, it is not too far from the ferry terminal and even if it's locked, you should get can ask the ferry staff to Dunkirqueopen it for you. There are also several pubs in the city centre that are open up till 2:00, if you want a drink.

Here you can try to get a lift onto the M20 and follow the motorways up and over. Another option is to get onto the coastal road (A259) all the way to brightonBrighton. From my expereince experience I would seriously advise skipping the romantic idea of the coastal road and keep yourself on the motorway. After folkstone its Folkstone it's largely local traffic, a long walk out of the town and you sit there wishing you had of kept to the bright lights of the motor way!! However of course it led to a rich expereinceexperience!  == Extra information ==* When on the ferry try to find the Commercial Drivers Restaurant on one of the floors. From there you can get a 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 ferry, after the passport check, you can try to change rides in order to get on an earlier boat. Just walk around asking people that have an earlier leaving time than yours. Since you passed passport check they should not be afraid to take you. You can see it on the paper that is usually on their car or truck windows. This can save you a lot of time. * You can also change rides inside the ferry, especially when it has arrived in the port and people are getting to their cars and waiting to exit. Just go around looking at number plates and asking around. * Although the ticket buying place in the ferry terminal closes during the night, you can still find the arrivals building open all night long in case you need somewhere to sleep.