Picture this: fresh croissants, proper French coffee, and cobblestone streets—all before dinnertime. That’s the magic of hopping across the Channel for a quick escape. You don’t need a week off work or a massive savings account. A day trip or weekend in Calais fits most budgets, and I’m going to show you exactly how the numbers stack up.
Getting There: Ferry Costs Explained
Your biggest expense is the crossing itself. Let’s talk about real figures.
A standard return ticket for a car and passengers typically runs between £60 and £120. Prices shift based on when you travel. Midweek sailings cost less than Friday departures. School holidays push prices up. Book a random Tuesday in October? You’ll pay bottom rates.
Foot passengers get even better deals. Returns often sit around £25 to £40 per person. That’s cheaper than a train to Manchester.
Money-saving Tip:
Book 4-6 weeks ahead. Last-minute crossings cost significantly more. I’ve seen prices double for same-week bookings during busy periods.
Fuel and Driving Costs
Taking your car? Factor in petrol both ways.
From central Dover to the ferry terminal, you’re looking at minimal fuel. But most people drive from further afield. Here’s a rough guide:
- London to Dover: approximately 80 miles, around £15-20 in fuel
- Birmingham to Dover: approximately 180 miles, around £35-45 in fuel
- Manchester to Dover: approximately 260 miles, around £50-60 in fuel
Once you’re in Calais, you won’t need much petrol. The town centre sits minutes from the port. Even driving to nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer adds only 20 miles each way.
Quick Maths:
A couple driving from London might spend £40 on fuel total. Split that between two people, and you’re paying £20 each for door-to-door transport across an international border. Try getting that deal on flights.
Accommodation: From Budget to Boutique
Day trippers can skip this section entirely. But if you’re staying overnight, Calais offers decent options without ridiculous prices, making it easier to manage your budget for a Calais getaway.
Budget Hotels:
£45-65 per night gets you a clean, comfortable room near the town centre. Chains like Ibis and B&B Hotels operate here. Nothing fancy, but you’ll sleep well.
Mid-range Options:
Spend £80-110 and you’ll find boutique guesthouses with character. Some include breakfast. A few have sea views.
Airbnb Apartments:
Entire flats rent for £50-90 per night. Perfect if you want a kitchen to prepare some meals yourself.
Truth is, accommodation in Calais costs roughly 30% less than equivalent options in Kent. You might actually save money by staying in France rather than booking a hotel near Dover for an early crossing.
Food and Drink: The Good Stuff
This is where Calais shines. French food at French prices—not London-French prices.
Breakfast:
A proper café breakfast with croissant, pain au chocolat, and coffee runs €5-8. That’s about £4.50-7. Compare that to £12 for a mediocre hotel breakfast in England.
Lunch:
Restaurants offer “formulas” or set menus. Two courses typically cost €14-18. Three courses? €18-25. You’re eating properly for under £20.
Dinner:
Expect to spend €25-40 per person for a nice meal with wine. Seafood restaurants near the harbour serve incredibly fresh fish. Moules-frites remain a classic choice—big portions, reasonable prices.
Supermarket Shopping:
Many Brits cross specifically for this. French supermarkets sell wine, cheese, and charcuterie at prices that make British shops look like robbery. A decent bottle of wine costs €4-6. Camembert? €2-3. Stock up and your ferry ticket practically pays for itself.
Planning a day trip to France adventure? Budget €30-50 per person for food and drinks throughout the day. That covers breakfast, lunch, coffee stops, and maybe an afternoon beer.
Activities and Attractions
Calais won’t bankrupt you on entrance fees. Many attractions cost nothing at all.
Free Things to Do:
- Walk along the beach and seafront
- Explore the town centre architecture
- Visit the Rodin sculpture “The Burghers of Calais” in the main square
- Browse the Saturday morning market
- Wander through Parc Richelieu
Paid Attractions:
- Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode (Lace and Fashion Museum): €7
- Calais Lighthouse climb: €4
- Second World War bunker museum: €8
Most visitors spend €10-20 on activities. Some spend nothing. The pleasure comes from simply being somewhere different—hearing French conversations, smelling bakeries, feeling like you’ve properly escaped.
Sample Budget Breakdowns
Let me give you three scenarios with real numbers.
The Day Tripper (Per Person)
- Ferry foot passenger return: £32
- Breakfast: £6
- Lunch: £16
- Coffee and snacks: £8
- Market shopping: £25
- Total: £87
The Weekend Driver (Per Person, Two Sharing)
- Ferry car return (split): £45
- Fuel from London (split): £20
- One night hotel (split): £35
- Three meals out: £55
- Drinks and snacks: £20
- Supermarket haul: £40
- Total: £215
The Budget Backpacker (Solo)
- Ferry foot passenger return: £28 (off-peak)
- Hostel bed: £22
- Supermarket picnic lunch: £6
- One restaurant dinner: £18
- Coffee: £4
- Total: £78 for an overnight international trip
Hidden Costs to Watch
Nobody likes surprise expenses. Here’s what catches people out.
Toll Roads:
If you venture beyond Calais, French motorways charge tolls. Driving to Boulogne stays toll-free, but heading towards Paris racks up fees quickly.
Parking:
Town centre parking costs €1-2 per hour. Ferry terminal parking runs £8-15 per day if you’re a foot passenger leaving your car behind.
Currency Exchange:
Use a card with no foreign transaction fees. High street bureau rates eat into your budget. Revolut, Starling, and similar cards give you the real exchange rate.
Roaming Charges:
Check your mobile plan. Most UK providers include EU roaming, but some budget plans for Calais getaway don’t. Getting stung for data usage abroad feels awful.
Booking Smart: Practical Tips
Timing matters more than anything else. Here’s how to keep costs down.
Travel midweek if possible. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday crossings cost significantly less than weekend sailings. The difference can hit £40-50 for car passengers.
Early morning and late evening ferries often come cheaper too. A 6am departure might save you £20 compared to a comfortable 10am sailing.
Book refundable tickets if your plans might change. The small premium protects you from losing everything if something comes up. Ferryhopper’s Help Center covers everything about ticket changes and cancellations, so you’ll know exactly where you stand.
Consider whether you actually need your car. Foot passengers save substantially on ferry costs. Calais works perfectly well on foot—the centre is compact and walkable.
Is It Actually Worth It?
Look, I’ll be straight with you. A Calais trip won’t cost less than staying home. But compare it to other getaways and the value becomes obvious.
A weekend in Cornwall might run £300-400 with accommodation, fuel, and eating out. A Calais weekend costs similar money—sometimes less—and you’ve been to France. You’ve had genuine French food. You’ve practised your rusty GCSE French on patient shopkeepers.
The crossing itself becomes part of the adventure. Watching the white cliffs shrink behind you, feeling the sea air, arriving somewhere foreign. That experience has value beyond the numbers.
For day trippers, the math works even better. Under £100 gets you a full day abroad with good food and interesting sights. That’s less than many London theatre tickets.
Final Thoughts on Your Calais Budget
A Calais getaway fits almost any budget. Spend £78 as a solo backpacker or £400 as a couple wanting a comfortable weekend—the choice is yours.
The ferry crossing keeps things affordable. No airport taxes. No baggage fees. No security theatre eating two hours of your day. Just drive on, sail across, drive off.
Plan ahead, travel midweek when you can, and don’t go mad in the wine aisle. Your wallet will thank you. And you’ll come home with stories, souvenirs, and probably enough cheese to last a month.
France is right there. Twenty-one miles away. The budget breakdown for a Calais getaway proves you can afford it. So what’s stopping you?
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