Hi everyone,

I'll be driving my Octavia all the way back to blighty from Poland next week and I'm wondering if there is anywhere I can sleep in my car without being disturbed by lorries or hooligans? I have a 6am sailing so is it possible or even allowed to sleep at the ferry port? Do I just go through passport control and join the queue and get some shut-eye for a few hours? Think I'll put the back seats down and bring a duvet and earplugs:))...thanks. Steve

Been through Dunkirk on the odd occasion, a bit out in the sticks, shouldn't have a problem crashing out in the car pretty quiet there, if you get there earlier it may be worth looking to get on the earlier sailing.

Could see you waking up and finding yourself with passengers lol

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Wouldn't park up and sleep in car anywhere outside of docs for the channel crossings personally. I use Dunkerque frequently been just under a week since last time and will be back there in another week or so. DFDS allow on the eco ticket for you to get on the crossing before or the one after your booked one for no charge (terms and conditions say "may be a charge") I have never been charged in 100+ crossings. If you book the flexi ticket through them you get you get 72 hours around your booked crossing time when you can jump on any crossing provided there is space (so you can book the cheapest crossing you can find as flexi if its cheaper than eco at time you want, comes in very handy ) Weekdays and weekends there is also a 0400 crossing so if your there 0200 you'd be able to check into that one at no cost in theory. Earlier than that on weekdays there is a 0200 crossing and weekends your stuck with the 2359 Fri night then gap to 0400. On Sun mornings its poor last saling Sat nights 2000 nothing until 0600 Sun after it. Weekdays would be my preference as it's basically every 2 hours.

At the port you do not go through customs etc immediately as you would in say Dover, you instead check in first, then go through French customs (who will be asleep I dont even slow down) followed by UK customs (who will be awake doing their job).

Also in case you can find a better timing for your crossing Calais is only 30 min further drive and you get ferries at same price with DFDS also to Dover but ferry is 30min quicker so evens out. Also MyFerryLink (previously Sea France) does Calais to Dover and can be incredibly cheap (also only 90 min crossing)! MyFerryLink ferries are still very French inside, food is crap and "WiFi Coming Soon" (coming for a long bloody time I can tell you", but does the job and plenty of places to sleep.

On the Dunkerque ferries the best place to sleep is the seating area upstairs from the cafe outside the CIP lounge as they have not installed stupid arm rests to stop you laying down there yet. Also as there is WiFi on both of the ferries that shuttle that route, one its open and free the other the VIP password if your outside the lounge you will pick it up "ZQ27X4P9"

Get there early, go through it all, park your car up in the wait area and then set an alarm clock on the phone for 30 mins before sailing and have a snooze.

You can also get some effective sleep if the crossing is quiet too, as it's 2 hours.

Thanks for your amusing replies! I booked a few months ago on aferry.com or sth like that and I'm on the 0600 Sunday sailing, hence sleeping for about 5 or 6 hours. I'm leaving Poland at about midday on the Saturday so the journey 'only' takes about 12 hours with a couple of half-hour breaks.

We're returning from Klaipeda, Lithuania next week and will be at Dunkirk for the ferry on Thursday. We'll be staying in a hotel the night before though as we're too old to be sleeping in the car and will enjoy a few home comforts.

That's great - I'm just saving money so I'm quite prepared to rough it to be honest. I've got a family function at lunchtime on Sunday which is why I'm travelling so early in the morning to get back to Dover. I'll post my experience when I get back in case anyone else is interested in the 'facilities' at Dunkerque.

Well there is a basic cafe, with a hatch that won't be open at 6am and a couple of vending machines.

They also have toilets. hehe

Used Dunkerque a bit.  There often seems to be people sparked out there in an unused lane.  The "authorities" have always seemed much more laid back than other ports, without being any less efficient.

You probably know about the several budget hotels on the approach to the port, I'm far too old to try kipping in a vehicle anymore, so that would be my option.

Ports and their environs can be the haunt of desparate people, so I would avoid making myself vulnerable in the immediate vicinity.

There are obviously lots of quiet roads a few miles distant - the route from St Omer is one.

An addenda.

Just remembered, last time I took my mum over to France, we joined up with my Sis and BiL.  We went for a walk along the beech north of Dunkerque, somewhere near Bray Dunes and that was very quiet.  If you could find somewhere along the D60, it may be what you are looking for