Last Updated on July 21, 2026

A Short Hop on LeShuttle and You’re in France

I still find it quite remarkable that you can drive onto a train in the UK and be in France just 35 minutes later. When I fancy a trip abroad but only have a weekend or a couple of days to spare, I don’t want to spend half my time travelling. That’s why LeShuttle’s Flexiplus service from Folkestone to Calais is such a brilliant option.

Simply drive your car onto the train and, before you know it, you’re on French soil. Better still, LeShuttle Flexiplus includes priority boarding, so the whole journey is quick, seamless and completely stress-free, while giving you the freedom to explore France at your own pace.

We arrived at LeShuttle Folkestone with plenty of time to enjoy the Flexiplus lounge, located after Border Controls, before taking advantage of priority boarding. The lounge offers complimentary refreshments, with breakfast including rolls, pastries, cereals, porridge, yoghurt and fresh fruit, followed later by an excellent selection of sandwiches, wraps, freshly made salads, crisps and sweet treats. There are plenty of options, including children’s, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. You’re also given a grab-and-go bag to fill with snacks and drinks for the journey. I highly recommend the madeleines; after all, you’re off to France!

Boarding LeShuttle is super slick, with the team guiding you onto the train, where you simply stay in your car for the short journey across the Channel.

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

We arrived in Calais in no time and enjoyed an easy one-hour drive along well-maintained French roads to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a chic seaside town on France’s Opal Coast. Sometimes dubbed the ‘Monaco of the North’, the elegant resort has a distinctly glamorous feel. It’s also a favourite retreat of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, who have a holiday home here. Brigitte grew up in the town, where her family, the Trogneux, is well known for their long-established chocolate business.

Developed as a resort in the late 19th century, Le Touquet became a fashionable holiday destination for Parisians and British visitors because of its proximity to the Channel ports.

Today, it’s equally popular, with a stunning, wide sandy beach, eclectic Belle Époque and Art Deco architecture, and vast pine forests, perfect for walking, cycling, and horse riding.

The lively town centre in particular, Rue Saint-Jean, is packed with boutiques, cafés and restaurants, alongside a covered market and a busy calendar of events. Sitting at a pavement café with a beer or coffee in hand and the sun shining is one of those perfect cross-Channel moments.

Where to stay – Novotel Thalassa Le Touquet

We had the ideal Le Touquet beach experience, staying at the four-star Novotel Thalassa Le Touquet, which is set right on the beach and has a free outdoor car park. This contemporary hotel has a fabulous pool, spa and excellent wellness facilities for those looking to really chill out.

Our simply furnished, modern room had everything we needed, including a desk, a shower room, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Best of all was the balcony, looking out over the sand dunes to the sea. Waking to the sound of the waves, with the sea air drifting through the open doors, was simply blissful. After just one night, I’d already fallen for the joys of a distinctly French seaside escape.

Maison Mer is the hotel’s on-site restaurant, where we enjoyed a good breakfast. It serves local French cuisine, and if you’re staying on a Friday night, you can tuck into its popular seafood buffet.
Things to do in Le Touquet

The hotel has direct beach access, where soft sand and neat rows of colourful retro beach huts create the perfect seaside scene. There’s plenty to do, from sand yachting (char à voile) and kitesurfing to windsurfing, catamaran sailing and a children’s play area.

I loved walking along the promenade into town, admiring the eclectic architecture before strolling down Rue Saint-Jean, which is lined with chic boutiques, perfect if you’re in the mood for a spot of shopping! One of my favourite things to do in France, though, is to grab a coffee at a pavement café and watch the world go by.

Art lovers should also visit Villa Monéjan, Emmanuel Macron’s former holiday home, now a contemporary art gallery. As well as enjoying the exhibition, it’s quite fascinating to look around the house and imagine it as the place where the Macron family once spent their holidays. If you have the time and fancy exploring a little further, you could rent a bicycle and head into the surrounding pine forests.

There are plenty of bars to choose from, but when in Le Touquet, it’s especially nice to hang out beside the sea. Early evening, we headed to La Plage des Pirates, a beach bar right on the sand, for an apéritif while watching the sun set over the sea.

We enjoyed an excellent three-course meal at Le Village Suisse, a lovely family-run restaurant overlooking the pine park that serves refined French-Italian cuisine.

We headed back to the UK the following day after a relaxing morning on the beach and a final wander around town. En route to Calais, I recommend stopping at a French supermarket to stock up on local treats. Wine is considerably cheaper than in the UK, so we made the most of having the car.

The beauty of a LeShuttle Flexiplus ticket is its flexibility. Simply choose your travel day, then turn up at Le Shuttle and board the next available train. Services run so frequently that the journey feels wonderfully stress-free, and access to the lounge makes it even more enjoyable. If you’re travelling with friends and sharing one car, the additional cost is spread between you, making Flexiplus particularly good value for a weekend break. LeShuttle made it easy to make the most of our short break in Le Touquet, one of France’s most elegant seaside towns.

Folkestone terminal / Sat Nav: Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, Ashford Road, Folkestone CT18 8XX.

UK booking line: +44 (0) 3443 35 35 35
FlexiPlus booking line: +44 (0) 3443 35 33
Le Shuttle
Le Shuttle FlexiPlus
Novotel Thalassa Le Touquet, Front de Mer, Avenue Louison Bobet, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France.