Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“These just might not be
too
disappointing,” he said.
Incidentally, all his suggestions turned out to be splendid.
The whole trip was planned to take two and a half weeks. My confidence levels were
so high that I even added a couple of days at the end to allow for second viewings.
Taking Jack through my grand plan was predictably fraught.
“Your estimations are completely unrealistic,” he announced. “And the Internet route-
finder programme you've chosen is
hopelessly
inaccurate. We don't have a cat-in-hell's
chance of finding any of these properties!”
On that last point I admitted the programme I had used was a little antiquated and as a
compromise I agreed to use a different one.
“Good grief, why do I end up having to do
everything
,” he muttered as he created his
own itinerary and duplicated almost all that I had done.
I didn't mind, though. I was quite happy because we were now jointly culpable if my
faultless strategy went a little awry.
I then focused on the logistics involved in setting off from base camp and crossing the
Channel. We were driving so the Eurotunnel was the perfect solution. It's quick, taking just
over half an hour, the dogs stay in the car with us and we're perfectly isolated from other
people. This is important for Jack, because it means that he doesn't have to communicate
unnecessarily.
Those of us who have travelled abroad to the EU (European Union) with their pets
will know that there is a legal requirement to have the animal micro-chipped/tattooed, vac-
cinated and issued with a matching pet passport carrying vaccination certificates. This al-
lows people in the UK to take their dogs and cats (and ferrets) to other countries and return
with them to the UK without the need for quarantine, provided all the rules and procedures
have been met. I have never understood the
Defra
(Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs) obsession with ferrets; nevertheless they do fall into this same category. The
rules are intended to keep the UK free from rabies and certain other exotic diseases. All of
which makes terrifically good sense … in theory.
Using the Eurotunnel to depart from the UK is, unless one is completely unlucky, a
total breeze. Animal passengers are logged in at the time of booking and the traveller is
given a cheery paw-print sticker at the ticket booth. This is stuck to the inside of the wind-
screen, thus labelling us as livestock carriers. Quite why we have to be identified in this
way remains a mystery. Perhaps it's to prove that the dogs have paid their fare. Whatever
the logic, it alerts the usually blue-faced and freezing-cold traffic and train attendants to our
situation as they direct us onto our allotted train.
Once out of the country, getting back in can be trickier unless your paperwork is in
sparkling form. There is a 'pet passport' office on the French side of the Eurotunnel com-
plex where the animal must be presented, identified and all documents checked. At Cal-
ais this office is usually manned by the French. Fanatics about paperwork and detail, they
