Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 28/9/2006
I guess I must have been getting something wrong in the dimensions department. It's still over a hundred quid more than Dover/Calais. It's certainly more convenient for going out but I'm not so sure about arriving back in the UK at around midnight. That is certainly not good for me around where I live.
Will have to give it serious thought. Thanks for your persistance with me.LOL.
Cheers!
Vic
That's what puts me off that route too. Getting to Dover or Portsmouth makes no odds from here, but its the timings of the return crossing that are all wrong for us, we would have a good 4-5 hour drive from the port, and with Dover-Calais we can get an early afternoon crossing and get hom in time for bed, with the LD line one it's either another overnighter (more expense as we need 2 rooms) or we get in at about 3 in the morning, a not very attractive prospect. I think we will use our Tesco vouchers and just use the Chunnel next year.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 29/9/2006
Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 28/9/2006
I guess I must have been getting something wrong in the dimensions department. It's still over a hundred quid more than Dover/Calais. It's certainly more convenient for going out but I'm not so sure about arriving back in the UK at around midnight. That is certainly not good for me around where I live.
Will have to give it serious thought. Thanks for your persistance with me.LOL.
Cheers!
Vic
That's what puts me off that route too. Getting to Dover or Portsmouth makes no odds from here, but its the timings of the return crossing that are all wrong for us, we would have a good 4-5 hour drive from the port, and with Dover-Calais we can get an early afternoon crossing and get hom in time for bed, with the LD line one it's either another overnighter (more expense as we need 2 rooms) or we get in at about 3 in the morning, a not very attractive prospect. I think we will use our Tesco vouchers and just use the Chunnel next year.
That's certainly emerging as the most cost and timings effective option for us as well. Either that or a P&O tugboat!
I think that what Brittany Ferries are wanting to charge is prohibitive. I've checked all their routes and can't seem to get anything under £500.00 and that's before I've paid for insurance and site fees. Funny really 'cos last year they seemed very reasonable......
Vic
We went with LD Lines this year arriving back in the UK about 9.30pm.We stopped at Rookesbury Park CC overnight having made a booking some months before.They have a separate area for late arivals,so 10.15 is not a problem.There's no warden at this time of night,so we just parked up and paid the warden in the morning.
As far as I can see, it's a calculation based on how much money you're willing to spend getting any distance from Dover. Let's say you were coming to the Loire from Calais, it'll cost you approximately £40 in tolls (if you choose to use the péage) with a 'van on the back, and it'll take around 7 hours. I have no idea what the fuel costs would be as that's subjective, but let's say £90 (2 fill ups). That's already a total of £130. If you land at Le Havre, the fuel costs would be less, and also toll costs are less. It's a 4-hour drive from there.
It's a no-brainer for us as we find Pompey a very easy port to get to/from, choosing to stay away from the SE UK as it's a bloody nightmare. I'd much prefer to spend a little extra, drive a little less on BOTH sides of the channel and get to where we're going having had a kip and a brekky on board. I never feel like falling asleep at the wheel after using Le Havre. I need to pull over after an hour of driving using Calais because of the stress of Kent! LOL!
I guess I'm trying to say that it all boils down to circumstance. What's right for some isn't always right for others. Such is life, eh?
As far as I can see, it's a calculation based on how much money you're willing to spend getting any distance from Dover. Let's say you were coming to the Loire from Calais, it'll cost you approximately £40 in tolls (if you choose to use the péage) with a 'van on the back, and it'll take around 7 hours. I have no idea what the fuel costs would be as that's subjective, but let's say £90 (2 fill ups). That's already a total of £130. If you land at Le Havre, the fuel costs would be less, and also toll costs are less. It's a 4-hour drive from there.
<FONT color=#0000ff>It's a no-brainer for us as we find Pompey a very easy port to get to/from, choosing to stay away from the SE UK as it's a bloody nightmare. I'd much prefer to spend a little extra, drive a little less on BOTH sides of the channel and get to where we're going having had a kip and a brekky on board. I never feel like falling asleep at the wheel after using Le Havre. I need to pull over after an hour of driving using Calais because of the stress of Kent! LOL!
<FONT color=#0000ff>I guess I'm trying to say that it all boils down to circumstance. What's right for some isn't always right for others. Such is life, eh?
Couldn't agree more Floydfan, we've always used Portsmouth when going to either the Vendee or Southern Brittany. I've always argued that Dover/Calais was going out of our way, but when there's several hundred quid involved one has to put the brakes on and think twice before jumping in. If it was a matter of only fifty or sixty quid, it'd be no contest but several hundred........well that's a different matter!
That kind of saving represents for me about 50% of my spending money and being on a limited income these days means that I have to examine every angle very carefully. I'd far rather have that kind of dough in my "sky" thank you than dropping it in the anonymous coffers of a ferry operator.
For those who can afford it good luck, I was one of those once but now things have to mapped out a bit more carefully.
Hi we have just booked with LD Lines for next year. We have paid £216.00 which was great compared to paying for £126 for a short crossing. It will as Floydfan says cost us less in petrol and tolls, not to mention an overnight stop. Have used most routes across the channel. Last time we did Portsmouth Caen it cost us over £400, hence going the shorter route last year. But at £216 it makes sense to have the shorter drive once in France.
I'm surprised that no one appears to have mentioned the benefits of booking the ferry through the Caravan Club. I've checked out their website just this morning - and can get the same price as Vic (£177 - Dover/Calais) for car/caravan/but including seven Camping Cheques which are worth £70 odd. (We use them anyway - so that makes the ferry cost just a little over £100). However, there are usually even bigger savings on the longer crossings, which can more than save the cost of the Camping Cheques even if you don't use them!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hi All, been reading the posts and we have got a price from LD Lines for car and caravan £223.00 for a week. However this is our first time abroad with the van (only been out a couple of times in UK newie's). Hubbie is concerned about the 9.30 pm landing in Portsmouth? What do you all do? Can you park the van in ferry terminal and sleep there ??? or use a local caravan park to Portsmouth ??
Also we are up for any suggestions on parks in the Normandy / Brittany areas. We have a two year old at the time of going in June and we enjoy bars/restaurants walking so prefably site with this on or you can walk to.
We are intending to drive back to Mid-Wales. Will take in excess of 4 hours, but it will be dark & our 3 kids will sleep for most if not all of the journey. The traffic will be so much easier as well. We find it sooooo much less stressful driving at night. Once at home, we just crash into bed, sleep in the next morning and unpack everything before lunch.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Helen D's OH; I travel Dover to Calais about 15 times a year on buisness normally booking a week away (car only). Eurotunnel is always the most expensive but if it's a one day trip they are often the cheapest. Their pricing policy is written by a lunatic. Norfolkline started driving the prices down and the introduction of their 2 super ferries has pushed the other operators to cut prices. Speedferries really blew the lid off it with £25 fares but for cars only. It's all about competition and the Dover route has plenty of it now. Other routes that don't have many operators are still free to charge whatever they can get. It really needs a Virgin or Easy Ferry (come on Branson and Stellios) to push the prices down.
Personally I always try to go Dover to anywhere except Calais - its the most dangerous place to drive in France with day trippers high on cheap booze and cheese prices. Don't shop in Calais! Drive a way to Lille which is much nicer.
------------- HelenD
--------------
We must be experts - we are out standing in our chosen fields!
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: booking a ferry
