I have never driven in france so possibly going to Roscoff, as a little nervous of the drive from Calais as a first time driving there.
If i have any more questions i will PM you to save Hijacking the thread anymore.
Thanks will also look into the tesco vouchers!!
Hi again Batty
It's my pleasure.
On our first trip to France in 1994 we went to Roscoff for similar reasons to you. We had planned to stay nearer to the northern coast of Brittany but when we arrived at our planned destination at c6.00am, fresh off the night ferry we did not like the look of that site, I honestly can't remember what site it was!!
Anyway we are great fans of "Which?" mag and our "Holiday Which Guide to Normandy and Brittany" highly recommended Benodet so we decided to carry on there. We were tenters then and all & 7 of us and all our gear were crammed into a hired Nissan Serena. When we got to Benodet we spent ages looking around the different sites. Du Letty was one of the first we looked at but we didn't fancy it because the tide was right out. Later in the day we were looking out from the viewpoint at Pointe St Giles and saw DL with the tide now right in. That site looks good we said and the rest is history!!!
I would recommend the Plymouth Roscoff crossing if you can afford the extra cost. The journey to Plymouth is much easier than the one to Dover IMHO, NO M25!!! The distances to either Plymouth or Dover would be similar for you as they are for us.
The midweek, sailings which leave Plymouth early afternoon and return from Roscoff c8.00am are the cheaper ones and I mean a LOT cheaper. The downside is one reaches Roscoff c10.00pm (remember 1 hour time difference makes one's arrival even later) and one has to be at Roscoff about 7.30am to check-in on the way home.
The outward journey at those cheaper times means either a stop-off enroute or a late arrival at Du Letty. DL will allow late arrivals from that boat, it takes 2+hrs from Roscoff to Benodet, but you have to stay on a temporary pitch near the entrance and move in the morning.
Alternatively one can, and many do, overnight in the Roscoff ferry port car park. We were booked on that crossing and had planned to overnight at the Roscoff Port Car park on the outward journey in 2012 but we were delayed at Plymouth for a week by me injuring my eye.
CC's Red Pennant insurance very kindly booked us on an early morning crossing and paid the extra. I was not fit to tow and Cary was not too confident about towing to the port from the Plymouth Sound CC site, apart from in the early morning, as the journey included a lot of narrow country roads.
On the homeward journey in 2012 we stopped off for a few days at Camping Trologot in St Pol de Leon, which is only about 30 mins drive from the Roscoff ferry port. Alternatively again many travel up from Benodet the night before and overnight at the Roscoff Ferry port.
The most convenient ferry crossins are probably the night crossings as one then has the whole day to travel to Plymouth for the late night departure. One arrives at c6.00am with the day before one to travel down to Benodet, arrive early and set up in a leisurely way. In addition hopefully one can get some sleep on the ferry.
On the return journey for the night crossing one can leave Benodet in the afternoon for a leisurely drive to Roscoff for the boat. Again, hopefully, sleep on the boat and then arrive refreshed at Plymouth c6.00am with a whole day to drive home in the UK. Not surprisingly these, more convenient ferry crossing, are the most expensive.
In addition, to the higher fares have to be added the EXTRA cost of sleeping accommodation which is compulsory!! If you do take these crossings I would recommend a cabin as the reclining seats are, in my experience, dire - although they may have improved since I used them. The reclining seat lounges tend to be noisy although they're supposed to be dark and quiet and the seats are not comfortable. The one time we used the recliners I ended up sleeping on floor in front of our seats!!
We did, however, use those crossing, usually with cabins, when our kids were small. We managed to afford it and the well-rested kids and partially rested Parents were, we felt, worth it!!
Another VERY IMPORTANT point is that the Brittany Ferries fares do increase the nearer it gets to the summer peak, ie, the earlier you book the cheaper they will be.
Driving in France is MUCH easier than driving in the UK. If you want to PM me on another, previously mentioned website, I will be glad to send you details of my well-tried route from Roscoff to Benodet. It goes through the centre of Brittany and the high moorland of the Amorique National Park and is a beautiful scenic run whilst being on quiet but easily towable roads.
Anyway I'd better stop now. I just love talking about our Brittany hols. LOL.
Ferry Booked!!!! Du Letty Booked!!!! 2 weeks in august !!
First trip for our daughter abroad and our first Caravan trip abroad!!
Congratulations and well done "Batt" - I can still remember that it was a bit scary first time abroad with the caravan - although as said before you are braver than me as we had a good few years of car only, then car+trailer before we finally became caravanners and towed abroad. That first caravan year mind mind you we did go a bit mad and visited Euro Disney and Paris and then drove on through France and Germany and as far as nr Interlaken in Switzerland!!!!
I'm SURE you'll have a LOVELY time. As most other folk on here will say DON'T worry about driving in France it is EASIER than in the UK. In all my years I can only recall once when drove on the wrong side of the road by mistake - I was pulling out of Camping Porte Pleasance in Benodet and something must have distracted me - Cary soon reminded me and I corrected without any harm!!!!
Oh and sorry one other point I would recommend good travel and breakdown insurance that covers you and your family and the car AND caravan - not all cover the caravan fully. We now always use Red Pennant the Caravan Club's inclusive package. It's a bit more expensive than some but, as "regularers" on here know, I've had to use call upon such services a few times over the years and RP has proved FAR SUPERIOR to the competitors I've sometimes tried.
In connection with medical cover get free EHIC cards for you and your family which give reciprocal health treatment, from the French health service if you should be unfortunate enough to need it. With the EHIC it's almost FREE but you have to, pay some fees, as the French themselves do! Make sure you get the EHIC through the FREE UK Gov site - there are "con" websites which offer to do it for a fee but you don't need to pay for EHICs. They're free to all British citizens and cover for health treatment throughout the EU. In addition most travel insurers waive their excess if you have medical treatment whilst away and use a EHIC.
I won't go any more now but REMEMBER if you have any other specific queries PM on me on that other site and I'll be glad to help if I can. That offer still includes full details of "my very own recommended route" from Roscoff to Du Letty.
I wish you and your family a SUPER holiday. You may well be one of our "Stand-ins/Proxies" at Du Letty this year as some serious and unresolved issues mean that we can't book our holidays yet and we're unsure where and when we'll end up when we do!!
You may have to buy THAT drink another year!!
Any I will conclude with "bon voyage, bon vacance."
Us too 13 August onwards for two weeks ... can't wait especially sat here now looking out on the snow! Look out for us as we're fairly noticeable we have a folding camper - a trigano randger - so you can't miss us when we're setting up.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Now, Now folks calm down, calm down!! Think of those of us, like me (mainly joking!!) who can't book yet. Especially as, jws harris, 13/08/13 is MY 60th birthday!! (I don't know if that should a happy or crying smiley - probably both. However, who knows I may be there for you all to sing me "Bonne Anniversaire"??!!! Whatever happens I intend NOT to be away somewhere in our caravan and not sitting here typing on my computer!!!
Well done VW man for getting the pitch you want, no mean achievement at DL!!!
I've just been looking through my diary and notice that you'll all be there for the BIG Benodet Assumption Day Fireworks on 15 August - NOT to be missed. It was cancelled last year due to high winds but cancellation is VERY rare. We were VERY disappointed at last year's cancellation as I always say it is the best firework display ANYWHERE!!
Remember PM me on that other, blue site, if you need any help and if you've not already done so google tim and cary caravan and read my journal and, also, my DL reviews on UKC (Nos 1 (2003?) and 42 (2011) - I think) as all those contain tips as to good things to do whilst at Du Letty.
As I said before - "bonne voyages, bonne vacannces" to all you "Du Lettyers". If I'm not there in the flesh I'll be there in spirit!!!
Ended up on les mouettes 6 pitch 4 . No problem as its a fantastic location!!!!
Really enjoyed it two weeks of sun except one day when it rained for a few hours and helped a fellow brit erect his tent after a 8 hr drive from calais
------------- Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to carry on in spite of it.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: 2013 thinking of du Letty
(mainly joking!!) who can't book yet. Especially as, jws harris, 13/08/13 is MY 60th birthday!! (I don't know if that should a happy or crying smiley - probably both. However, who knows I may be there for you all to sing me "Bonne Anniversaire"??!!! Whatever happens I intend NOT to be away somewhere in our caravan and not sitting here typing on my computer!!!
