Why do cheap UK-France ferry day-trips exist but France-UK do not?
Popping over to Dover for British goods or fish and chips used to be a nice day out for one reader until recently - blame duty-free
Cheap day returns from Dover to Calais are available but not in the other direction
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One advantage of living close to Calais is the ability to pop over for British goods or fish and chips in a day.
Before one crisis or another, there were cheap day return ferry fares available to Dover, but recently I have discovered they no longer exist – only three-day or full-price tickets.
Dover to Calais direction get better deal
In the last few weeks, I have noticed more and more English customers in the Calais supermarkets stocking up on wine and cheese.
I asked one couple how they had got over and, to my surprise, they told me about a £39 day ticket from DFDS.
On checking the tariff for the Calais to Dover direction, however, the same day return would be no less than four times dearer.
Read more: Best time to buy ferry and plane tickets - 7 French travel updates
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What is going on?
I emailed DFDS and they finally admitted I could only travel in that direction if I was prepared to pay 75% more, by buying two single tickets.
Irish Ferries are following the same policy. By choosing the right day and juggling off-peak sailings at unattractive times, it is just about possible to obtain a few lower fares from P&O, which could possibly make a day trip viable, but well short of the day offer from other firms.
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To sum up, cheap day returns from France are pas disponible but in the other direction it is most definitely ‘welcome aboard!’. What is going on?
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Malcolm GALE,
Pas-de-Calais
Editor’s note: DFDS said its day trip offer is to encourage people to travel and spend in the duty-free shops onboard and ashore at Calais and Dunkirk.
It is currently only available from the UK because customers have a larger duty-free allowance for entry into the UK than those travelling back into France.
“The duty-free spend offsets the lower ticket revenues generated from providing a £39 fare,” it said.
Customers travelling from France can still take advantage of three-day and five-day short break fares, which offer a saving on the standard return fare.
Your view
Have you noticed changes in ferry services or fares? Let us know via news@connexionfrance.com
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