Expert: Alun Hill MCIJ - 2/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: am looking for transportation from dover to gatwick airport. i was going to rent a car from hertz 5-5-08, but they r closed due to bank holiday.  what a great web site.  i live in florida & this w/be my first time to uk.  from gatwick, am flying on to shannon, renting a car for a week & flying home to orlando from dublin.  i know u must get lots & lots of questions, but is there something or some place that you would definitely recommend.  thought i would stay in b&b's to dublin.   i know this is asking for a lot, but any help would greatly be appreciated.  thanks so much.  diane

ANSWER: Diane - I love questions and am very happy to help!

Firstly, are you really sure that you want to drive from Dover to Gatwick?

I'll assume that you're arriving at the Cruise or ferry terminal at Dover but must, politely, warn you that although the journey from there to Gatwick isn't far (at 80 miles), the roads are very busy, we drive on the left (!) and you may have difficulty getting an automatic gearbox, as they're quite rare in the UK. Please don't be offended by my assumptions, will you!

With all that hassle and cost, you may well be advised to take the train. Taxis from the Ferry / cruise terminal will take you to Dover Priory railway station where you can take a train to Gatwick Airport which runs at least once an hour, with one change, for about USD45.  There's even usually an "at seat" service of drinks and light refreshments, so you can relax and watch the scenery go by!

With the price of petrol here at about USD9, plus the car rental cost, plus the one way hire charge, plus the hassle at each end ....

(You can pay for the train by credit card, so you won't need any UK pounds, either!)

The train station at Gatwick is inside the airport, so up the escalator or  lift (elevator) and you're in the terminal!

For Dublin, where the currency is the Euro, this site:
http://www.travel-library.com/b&b/europe/ireland/dublin/
has a good list of b and b's, but the welcome from anywhere in Ireland is the best in the world, so you'll be very comfortable wherever you go.

Do book early for May, though, as the (mostly small) places do get well booked up and even the larger hotels can be full.

Remember that b and b's tend to be out of the city centre, so do make sure you get directions - and a good map when you arrive at Shannon. Also check there's parking if you're staying nearer the centre of Dublin.

Either way, I'm sure you'll love Dublin (My mum was from really closer to there, so I'm biased, though!).

The really nice and good people at the Irish Tourist Board will help you too - the USA portion of their website is at http://www.discoverireland.com/us/

Do let me know where I can help further please - and enjoy your stay!

Alun Hill
http://www.ShortEuropeBreaks.co.uk


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi - I was also advised that u can take a bus to Gatwick airport for about $80. Would you still recommend the train over the bus - we have to drag our luggage with us.  Thanks again.  Diane

Answer
I did look at this but you would need to take two buses (actually quite nice coaches).

You'd need to get to Dover's Lancester Road coach station, get a coach into London Victoria, changing there to another coach down to Gatwick.

Additionally, because of the traffic and the number of stops made, the total journey is in excess of 6 hours, including an average wait of over an hour at London's Victoria Coach Terminal, which, although it was recently modernised, is not a very nice place to be, especially on a busy UK holiday day.


To give you an example, the 0855 coach wouldn't get you to Gatwick until 1535.

One other option would be to get a taxi - you would really be best to book this in advance, and I've listed the local firms in Dover below.

Do give them a ring, specifying that you are travelling on a "Bank Holiday Monday" and they'll give you a quote over the phone.
     
Central Taxis Ltd  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 204 040
  
Star Taxis  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 202 027   

Dover Heritage Taxis  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 201 915
  
Heritage Cars Of Dover  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 204 420
  
Victory Cars  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 227 777
   
A1 Cars  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 211 111
  
A2B Cars  - maps.google.com - +44 1304 203333
  
Star Cruise Group  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 201 010
  
A 2 B Cars  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 225 588
  
Dw Becks  - www.taxinumber.com - +44 1304 825 973

Again, do come back if I can help further, please.

Alun Hill MCIJ
http://www.ShortEuropeBreaks.co.uk