You should certainly be able to beat £200 to cross Dover to Dunkirk. Our was £63 - during our school summer hols- out July 24th, in August 29th. Try Caravan Club, ot Camping cheques.
------------- David
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This year we went to Lake Annecy we crossed Dover Dunkirk second week in August and it cost £116 return.
Last year we went Porstmouth - Bilbao at a cost of £900 two nights on the boat going and one night coming back, just under £100 in tolls and a 7 hour journey to get to the Costa Brava. That was with P&O.
The year before we went Brittany Ferries Plymouth - Santander at a cost of £1100 quicker crossing 18 hours and only 1 night each way then took 6 hours to drive down to Salou.
I think it is personal choice, I like you said prefer to get to Spain quicker. South of France though I would probably do a cheaper crossing and drive. This year on our way back home we crossed into Belgium and headed to Dunkirk that route which saved quite a bit on tolls.
Last year Practical Caravan did an article where a guy drove to the Costa Brava through France and then on the way back drove through Spain and travelled back on the ferry from Bilbao. He costed the journey, including fuel, tolls, ferry costs etc and there was only about £50 difference it made quite good reading.
Don't forget that if your thinking of staying near Santander that this is the green coast of Spain, probably called that as it has as much average rainfall in August as Birmingham!! or so I read somewhere!
The drive to south of France isn't too bad, 2 long days from Calais with lunch stops etc and thats towing.
I wouldn't want to be on a ferry last night or today, look at the met office shipping forcast, sea state off southern ireland = phenomonal = 14metre wave height!!!!
Also it really is quite a drive from Santander to south of france, up to 7.5hrs and its only 9.5 from the western ports which are so much cheaper.
LD lines fares are much better than Brittany.
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Many thanks for all your comments there are so many different options
Firstly I must say it seems I have been paying over the top for my ferry crossings, last year it was just short of £200 with www.ferrysavers.com I guess I need to be getting the pro code and booking in february. We go the first two week in August I suppose this is the busy period and they bang the prices up.
The other half wants to go down to the south of france now so I guess the only way would be to drive, looks like three days from Dunkirque?????
Normally I follow the satnav and just pay the tolls rather than finding a less expensive option. any suggestions on routes?
------------- Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.
If you go by long ferry to the Basque coast then why not stay on the Basque coast or further west or slightly inland or in the French Basque country? Save a lot of driving and it's a beautiful area.
If you like mountains, the Pyrenees are nearby - just as good as the Alps, some of us think, without all the tourists!
We paid £220 for the tunnel this year with the caravan with no vouchers etc at the end of July. We take the quickest route which is mostly toll road (relaxing, easy, quick, but costly) from Calais its just south all the way through Reims, Troyes, Dijon, then overnight at Macon municipal, next day its Lyon, then your there!! sat nav will get you there, ours always does, just avoid paris.
The first day is a long drive so an early train or ferry is a must...or go the day before and get a few hours drive in to make the trip to Macon area less painfull.
The way I look at it is that its just shy of 800miles so its 200 in the morning then lunch and 200 in the afternoon for 2 days, also it is so stress free on the french roads the miles just dissapear, I could never do that mileage over here when towing.
I'm used to long journeys so don't find it too bad, also we travel with friends which makes the time pass quicker, 3 days would be better for a lot of people, its up to you!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by leedsruss on 08/11/2010
Many thanks for all your comments there are so many different options
Firstly I must say it seems I have been paying over the top for my ferry crossings, last year it was just short of £200 with www.ferrysavers.com I guess I need to be getting the pro code and booking in february. We go the first two week in August I suppose this is the busy period and they bang the prices up.
The other half wants to go down to the south of france now so I guess the only way would be to drive, looks like three days from Dunkirque?????
Normally I follow the satnav and just pay the tolls rather than finding a less expensive option. any suggestions on routes?
We stopped using those companies years ago - once you could book on the internet and compare prices it became apparent that their 'offers' often weren't - and in fact you could pay way over the odds for a ferry! If you're in the Caravan Club then check out their prices, if you're not then check out the Camping Cheques website, and if neither come up with anything in your price bracket then wait for the NEC Caravan Show code, and keep looking on her for any other special offers which may come along. Someone, somewhere, generally finds them out!
We take the quickest route which is mostly toll road (relaxing, easy, quick, but costly) from Calais its just south all the way through Reims, Troyes, Dijon, then overnight at Macon municipal, next day its Lyon, then your there!! sat nav will get you there, ours always does, just avoid paris.
The first day is a long drive so an early train or ferry is a must...or go the day before and get a few hours drive in to make the trip to Macon area less painfull.
The way I look at it is that its just shy of 800miles so its 200 in the morning then lunch and 200 in the afternoon for 2 days, also it is so stress free on the french roads the miles just dissapear, I could never do that mileage over here when towing.
I'm used to long journeys so don't find it too bad, also we travel with friends which makes the time pass quicker, 3 days would be better for a lot of people, its up to you!!
I would agree there, the autoroutes are excellent, especially if you only have 2 weeks. You will not want to spend longer on the road than necessary.
Personally, we would not go that far for only 2 weeks, but we are all different.
My parents used to take the van to North Spain every year for about ten years. They always took the Santander Ferry.
One year we drove down through France and joined them at Playa Joel, Noja (about half an hour from Santander). Great site with beach access. They used to go westwards along the coast towards the Pico mountains. They really loved it - I think Santillana Del Mar was their favourite.
Don't forget that if your thinking of staying near Santander that this is the green coast of Spain, probably called that as it has as much average rainfall in August as Birmingham!! or so I read somewhere!
That's because they will often have hot sun and then a short sharp storm in the afternoon rather than the long grey damp days that Brum gets though.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you are not in a hurry why use expensive toll roads? Using the satvav just put Tolls in the avoidances but check the route befor setting off or you may be taking longer routes or taken through the centre of towns neither good when towing. The A75,A28 and the A20 get you a long way south on motorway type roads and no fees
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Topic: ferry or drive through France
