Expert: Alun Hill MCIJ - 5/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: A group of 4 seniors will be arriving Sept 2am at Gatwick.  We will have to travel to Dover, where our cruise leaves Sept.4   Is there a train within Gatwick, going directly to Dover?  Do you know of reasonable accommodation in Dover?  Thanks for your help
Gary

ANSWER: Hi- you would be best to stay overnight (or what's left of it!) in Gatwick - there are several hotels at the airport - look at:
http://www.booking.com/airport/gb/lgw.html?aid=316011
for the latest prices and online booking, please - I'll be happy to discuss your choice with you.

There is no direct train from London Gatwick Airport to Dover, but it's an easy journey.

Buy a ticket at the rail station (which is inside Gatwick Airport - there are lifts / elevators to the platforms) to "Dover Priory" and you then have 2 options, depending on the day and time of day - the ticket office at the time will tell you which option is best.

Option 1) catch the train to London Victoria - these run at least every 15 minutes, with a journey time of approx 30 minutes.

From the same London station, there are trains every hour to Dover, with a journey time of approx 2 hours.

Option 2) At certain time of the day, there are trains via Redhill or Tonbridge - the ticket office will help you decide at the time of travel - this is about a 2 hour journey.

You can then easily take a taxi to your chosen hotel in Dover - I've listed some hotels here:
http://www.booking.com/city/gb/dover.html?aid=316011

Incidentally, if you're returning to Gatwick, do buy "return" tickets ("round trips") as they'll be much cheaper!

Again, do please ask me if you require any further details, or if anything isn't totally clear.

Does this help, please?

Alun Hill MCIJ, Editor, http://IsLondonExpensive.com

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

QUESTION: Alun
Sory I was unclear in my original email.  We will be arriving Sept. 2 09.55, and plan to go directly from Gatwick to Dover.  The new question is--Can we readily book a van for the 4 of us right outside of the airport, or would we be better to pre=arrange it?  thank you

Answer
Ah, right!

Ok, yes you can rent a car / MPV (a "van" here is a commercial vehicle) but remember that petrol (gas) is over $10 a gallon, we drive on the left and you will probably want an automatic gearbox - so do book in advance.

I should add that a one-way hire is going to be quite expensive. I've just checked with Avis, and a suitable car with a sat-nav (recommended!) would be approx $260, for one way hire, so perhaps you would consider a taxi for the journey - less stressful and probably cheaper!

Do try completing the form at http://www.backfares.co.uk/ and see what the quote is.

Let me know if I can help again, of course, please!

Alun Hill MCIJ