A return to Switzerland – land of mountains, museums and moos! COMPLETED 12/4 - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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That's too bad you were delayed at the Chunnel. Hope the trip to Calais goes well. I was amazed how much you were able to get done at home, just prior to departing. Was Red Bull involved in any way with this?
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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Too bad about the delay (especially since I know it causes an issue on the other end).
And, how annoying that you got nothing back for the delays! Maybe Hazel did because they actually got stuck ON the train? Seems like either way, you're not getting where you need to be when you were scheduled to be, and they should compensate that....
I was wondering whether that was because they were stuck on the train. Considering we learnt that the delays were a lot worse at Calais, I wonder whether it's a case of they can't compensate everyone.
That's too bad you were delayed at the Chunnel. Hope the trip to Calais goes well. I was amazed how much you were able to get done at home, just prior to departing. Was Red Bull involved in any way with this?
I can honestly say - I've never tried it in my life. I was on water all day - honest!
Friday 30 August – part two: now where are we going to spend the night?
Mark got chatting to a Eurotunnel employee, and he told us the problem was something had come off a lorry in the tunnel earlier and had damaged the power lines. Mark commented that this seems to happen a lot, and we were told that it does, as ever since the big fire in the tunnel in the 1990s, the fire brigade said the freight wagons have to be open top, and every time something flies off, this happens. He also told us to be grateful we were on the UK side and not the French side. Because schools go back next week, it’s peak time, and he told us there were 5,000 cars waiting to get back. That would explain why I heard something earlier on the radio about three hour delays.
I kept myself busy by writing up this trip report, and the Northern Ireland one. Thank goodness I had so much to work on to keep me busy. I am not a good patient at sitting still and doing nothing!
Eventually, at around 7:10pm, they gave everyone the two minute warning, although in truth, we’d noticed everyone coming back to their vehicles a bit before then. I guess they were the same as us – keen to get going.
The guy you can see to the left of this shot is the employee Mark was talking to earlier
As we headed down for our train, my goodness, we could still the tailbacks on the freight service, with lorries lined up all the way down to the platforms. I was so glad we weren’t caught up in that.
We’d heard a report on the radio a few minutes earlier from someone who was listening to the same national radio station we were in Calais (BBC Radio 2 carries for a few miles into France), and they’d been five hours at the French Eurotunnel terminal.
We boarded, and were on the bottom again, and as we were parked right next door to the toilets, well heck it would be rude not to use the facilities, wouldn’t it? I headed in there, and made sure I was done before the train set off. Somehow, I don’t like the idea of using them while you’re moving.
Anyway, it turns out I needn’t have worried about that. We boarded at maybe 7:20pm, and were due to leave at 7:45pm. We were still sitting there at 8:15pm. Eventually, we left at 8:20pm. We couldn’t believe how long we’d just been left there, with no information at all. Even worse, France (and the rest of continental Europe) is an hour ahead of us, which meant that we wouldn’t now be arriving in France until almost 10:00pm.
Now that was bad enough, except the hotel we were due to spend the night at in Saint Quentin was an hour and three quarter’s drive away from Calais, which would put us getting there at nearly midnight. Oh and there’s more… the hotel we’re due to be staying at only has a reception that stays open until 11:00pm, and if you’re going to arrive late, then you have to call them. Great! This is not the start to this vacation that we wanted.
The journey wasn’t bad, although we both thought that we weren’t moving as fast as we usually do, but then again, given the issues today, that wasn’t a huge surprise. We finally got into Calais just after 10:00pm, a very weird experience for us, as we’ve never arrived here after dark.
As soon as I had a phone signal, I called the number given for the hotel we were supposed to be staying in. First, I couldn’t get through, as I’d forgotten to put a zero in front of the number. Then, when I finally did get through, I got an automated response, basically telling me to dial the number required, and then the line went dead. Well, I think that’s what it was saying anyway… my French isn’t that great. It could’ve been telling me it was the wrong number for all I knew, although I checked online from my phone, and the number I was calling was correct as far as I could see.
So now we had no way of getting in touch with the hotel to let them know that we’d be arriving late, and to ask them to wait for us. We had no option now but to look for another hotel along the way. In between my phone and the GPS, I managed to locate a place which was just off the toll road we were travelling on. I had no idea of price, but I figured we’d give it a go.
Lo and behold, as we came off, we saw a Campanile, another hotel in the chain that we were supposed to be staying at tonight. Mark suggested going in there to see if we could change the reservation or they could let the other one know that we’d be late. In I went. The first door opened up fine, but the second door was locked, with no-one on reception. By now, it was 10:50pm, but I have to say, I was shocked by this.
Fortunately, the hotel I’d found online was actually just next door, so I walked over there, while Mark followed me in the car. The same thing happened, and the sign outside said that the reception was only open until 9:00pm. There was an automated machine outside, but that was out of action.
Now, by this point, I really was thinking that we’d be sleeping in the car tonight, which Mark had jokily suggested coming off the toll road. Fortunately, a guy came to the door, and I was able to see if they had a room. They did, but it was only a twin room. Good grief, if it’s a choice of that or sleeping in the car, I know which I’ll take so I did… It only cost us €39 (c. $51)and, the second we entered the room, we could see why. But you know what? It was somewhere to spend the night, so heck we’d live with it.
It wasn’t exactly big…
We headed straight to bed almost straight away, although I don’t think either of us slept for a while. The walls were pretty much paper thin, so we heard anyone who was moving around outside. Then again, it was that or sleeping in the car, so this was definitely preferable. However, it wasn’t the start we’d wanted to our vacation. Hopefully things could only improve from here on in…
The weather today was cloudy with temperatures in the mid 60s by the time we left. During the day, it was sunny and in the mid 70s. The best thing today was the fact we were on vacation, despite everything else… The worst thing today was the delays at the Eurotunnel. Today we tried staying at the Premiere Classe Bethune And the result was it wasn’t great, but it was better than sleeping in the car. The most magical moment today was finally leaving Folkestone on the Eurotunnel, as it meant we were finally on our way.
Next: what do you mean – it’s not open for breakfast?
We got nothing like that at all. I wouldn't even know who to contact at Eurotunnel - I guess their customer service people?
I don't know it was organized by the guard guy on the train. When I get home ill have a lookat the email address that sentmeour offer of compensatin and send it to you.
Sorry you had such a bad first night but I'm glad you at least found a bed for the night. Hoping things look up from tomorrow.
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Scottish Hogmanay (with a stolen Picture)
Last edited by Thomhazel; 09-09-2013 at 08:34 AM..
Gosh, sorry for the delay on the chunnel and not being able to make it to your scheduled hotel and having to find another! I hope things only improve from here on out!
Oh my word. Another trip starting out not so well. That room looks... interesting. Yes, it's better than staying in the car, but just barely! It looked clean enough though? I know the rest of your trip gets better, but hopefully sooner than later!
That was really a long delay. I would have been a nervous wreck by the time the train left. The Hotels should all have a plan "B" just in case guest has circumstances out of their control and will not be able to make it on time!!!! That tiny little room would have to do for us too, I will not sleep in a car.
What an ordeal getting across the channel and then being so late for your reservation. I can't imagine US hotels locking up as early as 9:00. So glad you all did find a place to stay this first night. Hopefully, the trip just gets better from here.
I don't know it was organized by the guard guy on the train. When I get home ill have a lookat the email address that sentmeour offer of compensatin and send it to you.
Oh my word. Another trip starting out not so well. That room looks... interesting. Yes, it's better than staying in the car, but just barely! It looked clean enough though? I know the rest of your trip gets better, but hopefully sooner than later!
It was clean, which in a situation like that, is all you can really hope for.
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Hope the trip to Calais goes well. I was amazed how much you were able to get done at home, just prior to departing. 
Was Red Bull involved in any way with this? 
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Seems like either way, you're not getting where you need to be when you were scheduled to be, and they should compensate that....
- I've never tried it in my life. I was on water all day - honest! 
He also told us to be grateful we were on the UK side and not the French side. Because schools go back next week, it’s peak time, and he told us there were 5,000 cars waiting to get back. That would explain why I heard something earlier on the radio about three hour delays. 
I headed in there, and made sure I was done before the train set off. Somehow, I don’t like the idea of using them while you’re moving. 
Oh and there’s more… the hotel we’re due to be staying at only has a reception that stays open until 11:00pm, and if you’re going to arrive late, then you have to call them. Great! 
Then, when I finally did get through, I got an automated response, basically telling me to dial the number required, and then the line went dead. Well, I think that’s what it was saying anyway… my French isn’t that great. 
. The Hotels should all have a plan "B" just in case guest has circumstances out of their control and will not be able to make it on time!!!!
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