Long term (6-8 weeks) parking at French channel ports?

shmoo

shmoo

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This year we stayed in UK on summer cruise, becuase of new dog. Next year we want to get back to western France. Dog is chipped and passported and we fully understand the procedures under the 'PETS' scheme. We think the only way it will work for us is for me to single hand the boat to one of the nearer French channel ports, while the admiral drives the mutt across on Le Shuttle. We park up for a few weeks and go cruising and pick up the car for the return journey.

Question is: does anyone know of anywhere we can park a car (fairly) near one of the French channel ports for 4-8 weeks (depending on what sort of a summer we get next year!) We would prefer to make definite arrangements rather than turn up and look round.
 
Some years ago now, but we did something similar at Morlaix. I rang up the captainerie first to check it would be OK and it was fine. I don't know where would suit you best but there are locked bassins all along the N French coast eg Boulogne, Dieppe, Fecamp, Carentan.
 
No you were right first time. Admiral will take car through tunnel, as only one were you can turn up and go and they let you and mutt ride together in car. Good to have conformation that someone else has done something similar - it's not unknown for our schemes to turn out completely mad!
 
Do you need the car in France? If not, then the Admiral and the Mutt can join you on the outward trip. There is only one small potential problem - dogs (and hence boats carrying dogs) are not allowed into St Peter Port (local 'Rule'). However, you are OK in the outer harbour and can land the dog for its constitutional as required in the dinghy.

For the return to the UK, the Mutt must travel on a ferry (with approved, French administered jabs and worm pills as I'm sure you understand) in an 'approved' transport box. If you can get to Boulogne or Calais, the Admiral can take the Mutt on the ferry while you single hand it to Dover.

A friend of mine did this last year and it worked well.
 
A friend of mine did this last year and it worked well.
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I would be pleased to know the carrier they used and where they got the approved box. My research turned up only one, from Dieppe to Newhaven as I recall, that took pets with foot passengers, and then only too per trip and you needed to provide an approved cage. The two spaces get booked up, the agent said. Also I am not too sure of Mutt's reaction to being left on a noisy scary car deck, which where I understand the cages are stowed.

You are quite right in supposing we don't need the car while in France but it was the only way we could think of doing it.
 
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Your thread made me think as we intend to cruise to the Med with our 9 year old Mutt in a couple of years (if she is still with her). She's already well travelled as been to Ozzie and back. Had pet passport for that but didn't follow through on return. Anyone aware of any hassles travelling between European countries with said Mutt and PET passport? Note you can travel as foot passenger Zeebruge to Hull too.

We'll probably fly back to get car for return with Mutt . Imagine will need to spend Winter's in the UK (to earn some cash!).
 
shmoo said:
My research turned up only one, from Dieppe to Newhaven as I recall, that took pets with foot passengers, and then only too per trip and you needed to provide an approved cage. The two spaces get booked up, the agent said. Also I am not too sure of Mutt's reaction to being left on a noisy scary car deck, which where I understand the cages are stowed.

.
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Sorry for the delay in responding. I have been trying to contact my friend (who did this last year) but no response. However, a quick Google shows that SeaFrance take dogs on the Dover Calais route.

I think dogs do travel in their transport cases in a special area on the car deck but it worked OK for my friend last year.
 
Bro-in-law's girlfriend brings dog across to UK to go shopping; there and back in a day from Calais to Dover. Have never heard of the 'cage' being used. As the dog is small (Black Scottie) does this make a difference?
 
NPMR said:
Bro-in-law's girlfriend brings dog across to UK to go shopping; there and back in a day from Calais to Dover. Have never heard of the 'cage' being used. As the dog is small (Black Scottie) does this make a difference?
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This sounds encouraging. Does the dog stay in the car?
 
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