London -> Dover: Best Way

[indigosails]

Staying in London on our own pre-cruise, which means we have to get to Dover on our own. Taxi? Train? Rent-a-car?

 

Any hints? Thanks.

[LHT28]

All of the above plus the National Bus & private transfer

[John Bull]

It's around 75 miles.

 

For this journey, don't simply hail a London taxi unless you've got money to burn

 

Private transfer

eg http://www.folkestonetaxi.com/

Will cost around £100 for a sedan. Some folk use this option for sightseeing stops on the way (at extra cost) such as Leeds Castle or Canterbury. A direct transfer will take around 90 mins.

 

Train

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Wide choice of central London stations - Charing X, St Pancras, Victoria, Waterloo East, London Bridge. Destination is Dover Priory. Journey time 1.5 to 2 hours, cost around £32 pp. Pre-booking isn't essential but may save you some money. Add a £10 taxi fare to the ship.

 

Coach

http://coach.nationalexpress.com/

From London (Victoria coach station), unless a bus stop en-route at Elephant & Castle is more convenient to your hotel

Destination is "Dover". Don't select the "cruise terminal" option, it doesn't apply to your ship & will show "no availability"

Journey time 2.5 - 3 hours, cost up to £14, though fun-fares are often available from as little as £1. Pre-booking is pretty essential

Allow for £10 taxi taxi fare to the ship. But coach drivers will often drop passengers at the cruise terminal as a favour - and for a favour ;). Half the saved taxi fare would seem an honourable tip.

 

Some cruise lines offer a coach transfer from the Victoria area, though its not a lot different from the Nat Express service - except for the price :rolleyes:

 

Take your hotel location into account in your choice

 

JB :)

[indigosails]

Thank you very much.

[Giantfan13]

A lot also depends on the number of people traveling, and the amount of luggage you are carrying.

 

On the train, you have to haul your luggage to the train, stow it and then haul it off. For the National Express bus, you have to get it to Victoia Coach Station but then the bus driver takes it and stows it for you. There are certain limitations for the weight and size of the luggage, but unless it is really heavy or large it should be no problem.

If you are a group and prefer door to door service a private transfer is good. They will pick you up right at your hotel and deliver you to the cruise terminal.

 

If cost is a factor, then do the National Express bus. We travels with their 'fun fares' for 5 pounds pp each way for a total, round trip of 20 pounds,and the ride was very pleasant.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[indigosails]

Thanks Len. We are four in our late 60s, and the thought of schlepping our bags to the train station from the hotel....I think we'll hire a private taxi. Although I wrote to them, haven't heard back....

[sunluva7]

Thanks Len. We are four in our late 60s, and the thought of schlepping our bags to the train station from the hotel....I think we'll hire a private taxi. Although I wrote to them, haven't heard back....

 

We had the same feeling - didn't want the hassle of luggage handling. We hired a private transfer to bring us frm Heathrow to Dover one day pre-cruise, with a stop at Leeds Castle. It's more expensive, but there are five of us to share the cost.:)

[indigosails]

We had the same feeling - didn't want the hassle of luggage handling. We hired a private transfer to bring us frm Heathrow to Dover one day pre-cruise, with a stop at Leeds Castle. It's more expensive, but there are five of us to share the cost.:)

 

When we were younger we had more brawn than money and we would have thought nothing of wheeling our big cruise bags through city streets to the train station.

 

Did you arrange for your taxi beforehand or did your hotel take care of it for you?

[sunluva7]

When we were younger we had more brawn than money and we would have thought nothing of wheeling our big cruise bags through city streets to the train station.

 

Did you arrange for your taxi beforehand or did your hotel take care of it for you?

 

We arranged it ourselves in advance. We are cruising while the Olympics are happening in London and did not want to take a chance on no availability if we waited too long.

[indigosails]

We arranged it ourselves in advance. We are cruising while the Olympics are happening in London and did not want to take a chance on no availability if we waited too long.

 

 

Smart girl. We'll be there in September.