A Day in Dover

Overview

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When putting together my trip to Dover, I mentioned our plans to several people in our little home village in England. They invariably smiled broadly at me and said, "So, you're spending the weekend in France, eh?" This question confused me the first time I heard it. You see, I was going to Dover to see Dover. The reason the question was asked, however, is that Dover is the place where you can catch the ferry---or where you can go through the tunnel under the English channel---if you want to get you AND your car over to the continent. On a clear day, you can actually see France on the distant horizon... a glimmer of land less than a marathon's run away. ...Read More

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Holiday Inn Ashford-Central

Hotel | "Ashford-Central Holiday Inn"

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We wanted to see Dover and Canterbury in one weekend. I looked at lodging in both places, but I ended up deciding to stay outside of either city, fairly in between the two, on the road back to London. I found a good, affordable option in the Ashford-Central Holiday Inn near the M20.A night here puts you in a good position to visit all of South East England, Dover and Canterbury included. Plus, it won't break the bank for a family.What was the hotel like? This is a chain hotel, and it offers chain hotel quality. After staying in a dismal, more expensive room in a lesser known brand hotel closer to London, I happily embraced the green and white sign that's as familiar...Read More

We wanted to see Dover and Canterbury in one weekend. I looked at lodging in both places, but I ended up deciding to stay outside of either city, fairly in between the two, on the road back to London. I found a good, affordable option in the Ashford-Central Holiday Inn near the M20.

A night here puts you in a good position to visit all of South East England, Dover and Canterbury included. Plus, it won't break the bank for a family.

What was the hotel like? This is a chain hotel, and it offers chain hotel quality. After staying in a dismal, more expensive room in a lesser known brand hotel closer to London, I happily embraced the green and white sign that's as familiar to modern holiday makers on a budget as the Golden Arches is to cheap hamburger lovers.

Does this mean our room was pretty generic? You bet'cha. But it was also clean. The staff was competent. The room was plenty big. We weren't charged extra for the single bed that was already made-up for our son when we checked-in. There was also a fold-out sofa bed that could be used for bigger families. Parking was free. Internet was available. We got a paper in the morning. The tiles in the shower didn't scare me. There was a "pillow menu" that my son used to get an extra pillow with feathers from housekeeping. And the whole she-bang was just £69 through the internet for the evening. After fleeing a place where none of these niceties applied, the Holiday Inn's "generic" qualities felt like heaven. A basic three star kinda place.

Food? There is a restaurant on-site, but we didn't try it. Instead we drove into Ashford and took advantage of a large cinema complex that offered evening entertainment and several dining options. This is where the front desk clerk sent us when I asked for a "nice" place for dinner. I can't fault the boy. He was probably no older than 19. We have different definitions for "nice." His suggestions was an American chain pizza joint that caters to family dining. It wasn't exactly posh, but hey. It was good enough.... A Frankie and Benny's. There's also a chain pub directly across the street from the hotel if you want a place that's closer. Breakfast was not included in our rate, so we didn't get it.

How long did it take to get here from Dover? The drive was easy and took about 45 minutes. If you drew lines on a map from Ashford to Canterbury to Dover and back to Ashford, you would see a triangle.

I would stay here again.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 10, 2007

Holiday Inn Ashford-Central
Canterbury Road
Ashford, United Kingdom TN24 8QQ
+44-870-4009001

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Penny Farthing Guest House

Hotel | "Pennyfarthing Guest House"

Quote:

The second time I ever went to Dover, I was really only looking for a place to sleep as we were taking the ferry to France in the morning. An English bed-and-breakfast can be a wonderful alternative to a hotel... especially if you're on a budget. They vary widely in quality and price, so you need to do your research to find a good one for you. After reading several positive reviews, I settled on the Pennyfarthing Guest House because it is located only five minutes from the ports, and it offers reasonably priced family rooms. As we drove down Maison Dieu Road where this B&B is located, we couldn't help but notice Dover Castle lit up on its white hill with a full moon d...Read More

The second time I ever went to Dover, I was really only looking for a place to sleep as we were taking the ferry to France in the morning. An English bed-and-breakfast can be a wonderful alternative to a hotel... especially if you're on a budget. They vary widely in quality and price, so you need to do your research to find a good one for you. After reading several positive reviews, I settled on the Pennyfarthing Guest House because it is located only five minutes from the ports, and it offers reasonably priced family rooms.

As we drove down Maison Dieu Road where this B&B is located, we couldn't help but notice Dover Castle lit up on its white hill with a full moon dangling in the sky above it.

Going through stained glass doors, we entered the lobby of the Pennyfarthing where a reception area is located. An old-fashioned bicycle like the one found on the B & B's sign was leaning against a wall. We rang a bell for the proprietor, and she emerged from a door marked "private", all smiles and welcome. A delightful lady, she showed us upstairs to our spacious room while explaining that she sees a lot of other Americans who flood into Dover from cruise ships. She also mentioned that the B & B closes for part of the winter. We settled the bill so that we could get up and go to our ferry without worry in the morning. We also had the opportunity to add breakfast, but since this wasn't served until 7:30 AM, we knew we'd have to skip this. Then she left us with two keys: one to the house and one to our room.

What was the room like? The carpet is all flowers. The lamps have lace shades. The bathroom has an avocado toilet and sink by the shower. The drapes are heavy. The wood is dark. The tiny TV has bunny ears to help with the reception of just three channels. YET it all worked here. I mean, this decor would be extremely outdated in a hotel, but in this high-ceilinged Victorian townhouse with its friendly English hostess? I liked it. There was an element of "comfy home" to be had. Plus, the beds were really comfortable and all was clean. (There was one double for the parents and two singles to accommodate kids.)

My husband started the kettle to make us tea while my son scarfed down the complimentary biscuits. I noticed a sign that said you could order a basic ham and cheese sandwich or get a coke for a small fee before 9 PM from the kitchen.

While it was plenty warm, I found extra blankets and pillows in a wardrobe. We settled into our beds and watched a late-night talk show, content and cozy.

Cost? You can get a single here for as low as £20. Our bill for the family room with 3 guests was £52 in November 2007.

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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 26, 2007

Penny Farthing Guest House
109 Maison Dieu Road
Dover, England CT16 1RT
+44 1304 20 55 63

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Dover Castle

Attraction

Quote:

As evidenced by the Roman lighthouse you'll see on the grounds, Dover Castle's location has been important to the island of Great Britain since before the history of an actual country called England really got going. When William the Conqueror started his reign, one of the first orders of business was to make sure this place could be better defended. After all, on a clear day it is possible to see all the way across the channel to France. Dover Castle would get to prove its worth as a stronghold in time of siege during the reign of King John in the 13th century. Despite heavy bombardment, the castle did not fall. Fast forward to the time of Napolean and ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 10, 2007

Dover Castle
Harold's Road
Dover, Kent
01304 211067

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The city of Canterbury

Attraction

Canterbury Cathedral Photo - Canterbury, England

Quote:

Canterbury is a lovely city that makes most people think immediately of the book by Chaucer that they had to read in school. Hundreds of years of pilgrims are no bit of fiction though. When a holy man, Thomas a Becket was murdered almost a thousand years ago by knights for defying the king in the UNESCO World Heritage site Canterbury Cathedral, something strange began to happen. The faithful who came to pay homage to the slain saint were healed when they prayed here. This, of course, pulled in the crowds! Becket's body was set up in a place of honor, and the people poured in from across Christendom. So hundreds of years later, we made our own pilgrimage to see th...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 10, 2007

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The White Cliffs of Dover

Attraction

White Cliffs of Dover Photo - London, England

Quote:

I read in a guidebook that you can only see the White Cliffs of Dover if you are looking at them from a boat. While I am sure you might get the best view from this vantage point, rest assured that you can see these chalk wonders from the land and still feel impressed by the beauty of them. In fact, the National Trust maintains a small tract of wildlands to preserve these unique works of Mother Nature, so off we went to see them!The National Trust site at Langdon Cliffs is a mile's walk from Castle Hill... or follow the clearly marked signs posted on the A20. There is a small fee of £2.50 for parking a car. National Trust members have this fee waived at the gate, an...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 10, 2007

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Dover Ferries

Attraction

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One of the most common reasons for English people to go to Dover is to take their cars on the ferry to travel to the continent. This can be a really economical way to do it. Conversely, you can put your car on a train that will go through the Eurotunnel. (This is a faster option. Just 35 minutes to France!) But when I made my reservations, I found the ferry was a third the price. I didn't mind spending the extra time on a boat if I saved money. I also researched the various ports to find the best deal. In the end, we boarded at the port in Dover on the Norfolk Line to disembark right under two hours in Dunkirque, France.What was the procedure ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 27, 2007

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A Day in Dover

A Day in Dover

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Holiday Inn Ashford-Central

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