Here you can read our recent experience on using Le Shuttle for our Disneyland Paris trip 29th July 2024- 1st of August 2024
Having not long returned from our Disneyland Paris holiday and whilst it is fresh in my mind I wanted to write a quick post about our experience.
Table of Contents
Using Tesco club card points to pay for Le Shuttle
We shop at Tesco’s and I had read online that you can use your rewards vouchers towards Le Shuttle so we left the points to accumulate and managed to save enough to pay the majority of the balance and use my card to pay for the rest. We transferred the points into a voucher code on Tesco website and used this at the checkout to pay for the journey.
When using your Clubcard points with Le shuttle please bare in mind that if you have used your points and have booked a refundable option ( see below) and need to cancel, you will NOT get your voucher points back.
Booking
Booking was very easy to do, I think the most difficult part for us was working out our timings inline with when we wanted to arrive at Disney. We didn’t use the facilities on the way there but we did on our return travel which was toilets, duty free, another fast food restaurant and a WHSmith’s.
As your journey gets closer, Le Shuttle will send you a message asking you to add details of everyone who will be in the car as well as their passport information. Don’t worry you only have to do this once for departure as there is a tick box to confirm all the information is the same for your return journey to save you doing it all again.
Le Shuttle options
- Short stay saver – This is the option we chose
- Standard
- Standard refundable
- Short stay Flexi Plus
Short stay Saver would be used if your thinking of taking a short break 5 days or less where you will be returning. There is no refunds on this service.
Standard is for any duration and can be used for single or return trips. There is no refunds on this service.
Standard refundable is for any duration and can be used for single or return trips and your ticket is fully refundable. (You will not get your Clubcard points back if you cancel this)
Short stay Flexi Plus is for short breaks 5 days or less where you will be returning, fully refundable tickets, priority boarding, access to exclusive lounge where refreshments are all included and the freedom to turn up and board anytime on your booked travel day. (You will not get your Clubcard points back if you need to cancel this)
Boarding Le Shuttle
Make sure you arrive 60 minutes before your train is due to leave
When you arrive at Le Shuttle Folkstone and check in, you are given a ticket to hang on your inside mirror with a code on which allows the workers there to navigate you into the correct loading space depending on your boarding time.
Once you are through and if you have time you can pop in to use the facilities , have a look at the duty free or just stretch your legs before you board. We didn’t bother doing this on the way there but we did on the way back.
Driving onto the train was again easy as you were navigated on and led through by workers and were told to stop, they ask you wind all your windows down half way, open your sunroof, turn off your engine and pop your hand break on.
There are toilets on the train which we didn’t use and the total trip was 35 minutes. Before you know it you are arriving and being guided off the train. There is a duty free shop just as you leave Le shuttle in Calais that has a Primark but we missed the turning not realising how soon it was.
Things you will need when driving to France
- Valid driving licence
- Red warning triangle
- High vis jackets
- First aid kit
- UK Magnet or sticker for the back of your car
- Headlamp converters
- Spare bulb
You can buy kits from places like Halfords that include the bulk of these in.
Skip Tax
It is also worth mentioning the Skip Tax app whilst your in France. Download it and register before you go and in the Le Shuttle services BEFORE you leave France, there is a Pablo kiosk at the back where you will NEED to go and scan a barcode. This needs to be done whilst your still in France otherwise you miss out.
Read my post about how to use SKIP TAX HERE.
Overall, our experience was excellent from booking to arriving and leaving. Not stressful what so ever.
Travel Insurance is a must
We went through Top Cash back and found a very good level of cover. This is always worth taking out to protect yourself on holiday as well as your holiday should anything unfortunate happen.
VE103 Or V5C Certificate
You will need to contact your insurance company if you have a hire vehicle before you leave to obtain a VE103 certificate. If you own your own car then you will need to take the log book with you
Disneyland Paris ultimate survival guide 2024
We had the most amazing, wonderful time in Disney. If you are reading this and are also planning a magical trip then I think you will find my next blog post very informative.
Click the photo below and it will take you directly to my blog post where you will find very useful and money saving tips.
Thanks Jo very informative. Glad you had a great experience