The start of the school holidays can feel like absolute chaos when you are travelling abroad as a family, especially if you are taking the Dover to Calais ferry route. We have now done this crossing multiple times during peak holiday periods and every year we learn something new that makes the journey easier.
This year’s crossing was much smoother for us, mostly because we planned ahead and avoided some of the mistakes we made previously. If you are travelling during the summer holidays, half term or any busy getaway weekend, these tips might help make your journey far less stressful.
1. Pack more snacks and drinks than you think you need
This is probably the biggest tip I can give any family travelling through Dover during peak times. Traffic queues can build quickly and you may end up sitting in stationary traffic far longer than expected.
Having plenty of snacks and drinks easily accessible in the car makes a huge difference, especially with children or teenagers. Think beyond crisps and sweets too. We packed:
- bottled water
- juice cartons
- cereal bars
- fruit
- sandwiches
- sweets for quick energy boosts
A snack box within easy reach is ideal because once you are stuck in traffic, there is not always an easy way to stop. We use these snack boxes from Amazon, they are really useful.
2. Stop for toilets before you reach Dover
One mistake we have made before is assuming we would get through the port quickly. During school holiday crossings, queues can become extremely long before you even reach check-in.
We now always make a final toilet stop before getting close to Dover. This removes the stress of needing facilities while sitting in traffic queues for extended periods.
If you are travelling with children, this step is essential. Even adults will appreciate it when the delays start building.
3. Ignore the sat nav if it sends you through Dover town
This tip saved us hours this year.
Last year our sat nav redirected us through Dover town because it thought it was avoiding congestion. It absolutely was not. We ended up stuck in almost five hours of traffic trying to reach the port.
This year we ignored the diversion completely and stayed on the main road heading directly into Dover Port. The difference was huge. We only experienced around 45 minutes of delays instead.
Even if your sat nav insists there is a “faster route”, be very cautious during school holiday crossings. The local roads around Dover can become heavily congested very quickly.
4. Expect to wait at least two hours
When planning your travel day, mentally prepare yourself for delays.
If everything runs smoothly then great, but during peak holiday travel you should assume you could be waiting two hours or more between traffic, border checks and ferry boarding.
Building this expectation into your plans makes the day feel far less stressful. Bring entertainment for the children, charge devices fully before you travel and make sure everyone has something comfortable for the wait.
It is much easier to stay relaxed when you have already accounted for the delays in your schedule. Our crossing was midday, we aimed to arrive at 9:30am, with all the delays and traffic we actually got to the ferry queue at 11:30am.
5. Your ferry departure time is not your arrival time
This catches many people out.
If your ferry leaves at midday, you cannot arrive at midday expecting to board immediately. Boarding will already be underway well before the departure time.
We usually start boarding around 30 minutes before boarding closes, and honestly during school holidays even earlier is better.
You need time for:
- traffic queues
- border control
- check-in
- waiting lanes
- boarding procedures
Giving yourself extra time massively reduces stress and helps avoid the panic of potentially missing your crossing. We used P&O Ferries this time around and it was a seamless journey from the passport / ticket check in to departure, thanks P&O.
6. Keep your travel day as relaxed as possible
One thing we have learned over the years is that ferry travel days work best when you can be flexible with them.
Wear comfortable clothes, have chargers and entertainment ready, download films before travelling and keep essentials close by in the car.
Once you are on the ferry and heading across to France, the stress of the queues quickly fades and the holiday excitement properly begins.
The Dover to Calais route is still one of the easiest and most flexible ways to travel to Europe as a family, especially if you are taking lots of luggage, road tripping or travelling with teenagers.
For more family travel inspiration and holiday tips, have a read through my article on keeping the children entertained whilst waiting for the ferry and let me know your best Dover ferry survival tips in the comments.
