We are planning on driving to the Med this summer, probably somewhere between Agde and Argeles sur Mer, when we have finally chosen a campsite.
Anyway, which ferry crossing is best and which route down? We live in Berkshire so fairly central to all crossings.
Thank you,
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From where you are the cost effective among us would probably cross at Dover & take a route from Calais, Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Clermond Ferrand etc.
Going via Dover will mean driving 100 miles further than going via Portsmouth, it will be more tiresome around the M25 than going straight down the A34 from Newbury to Portsmouth but Dover will be cheaper. Your choice. The route in France depends on which of those crossings you select. Good luck.
Quote: Originally posted by Opensauce on 15/1/2018
From where you are the cost effective among us would probably cross at Dover & take a route from Calais, Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Clermond Ferrand etc.
I agree this is the route we take each year. Always tunnel for us from Folkestone but its personal preference I guess.
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If you have the time, then Newhaven-Dieppe and take the central almost none toll road route all the way down, with the bonus of Millau bridge, the savings on tolls will offset the ferry differential compared to using Dover and will also cover the bridge.
We are always on a tight budget, so it's Dover-Dunkerque every time for us, as we have a trailer, wish I had a Lanny 110 so I could do away with the trailer and save £100 on the ferry crossing.
We take the Eastern autoroute's and join the route du Soliel, after Dijon, we take a hit on the Tolls, but it's worth it for the mostly traffic free fast run, it's only Lyon that can be a pig, but to be fair it gives the driver the chance to take in the river views if it is particularly busy through Lyon.
Looked at cost's this year for June/July car + trailer and it's comming out as below.
DFDS Dover-Dunkerque £197
P&O. Dover-Calais. £177
DFDS Newhaven-Dieppe £244
Last time we went was 2015 cost then was £126 and back in 2014 was just £56!!!!!!!!! Grrrrrr!
Not sure whether to book now, or hang on for a better deal, although that is unlikely to happen, and the choice slots can soon get booked up now that there are less operators on the Dover crossings.
Of course there are cheaper times to cross, but from up North we need 6pm outgoing and 10am comming back.
And if the OP wants comfortable rather than cheap then I would drive from home in Berkshire to Portsmouth in an evening- perhaps after work- and take the Brittany Ferries overnight sailing with a cabin to Le Havre. No, not to Caen - that ship goes too fast , gets in too early, and you don't get a good night's sleep. The LeHavre ferry dawdles and lands at 0830 giving time for a good breakfast on board before starting off south. It's 560 miles to Agde from there. Take care.
Yep Berriow, different strokes for different folks, we get into Dunkerque at 7pm, check into the hotel for 7.30pm and head down to the restaurant at 8pm for a slap up meal in the Campanile restaurant.
Then it's back to bed, and wake up in the morning totally refreshed, ready for breakfast, before we head of for the 400 mile drive down to Chalon-Sur-Saone and do the same all over again!
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We have done home to Agde many many times, and always use the cheapest crossing, which is the short route from Dover to Calais, and these days (for us) a shared Eurotunnel Frequent Traveller Account. We're cheapskates, hate trying to sleep on an overnight ferry, and prefer a longer drive in France.
When we set off with the caravan from home in North Yorkshire we always use the non-toll route starting from Dover - then Calais, Abbeville, Rouen, Dreux, Evreux, Chartres, Orleans, Gien, Nevers, Moulins, St Pourcain sur Sioule, Gannat, Clermont Ferrand, Millau, Agde. We have overnight stops wherever we choose, depending on driving conditions, weather, fancy stopping somewhere interesting............... and have stopped at many different overnight sites.
These days we have a house in the Aude, so tend to do the route without a caravan, but still choose the same non-toll route (though we do vary it now each time we go up and down through France) and our overnight stops tend to be in similar areas to those we chose when travelling with the caravan.
Thank you for your replies, even though I was hoping for a majority view!! All helpful though, so thank you.
I think we will probably to the tunnel as haven’t crossed that way for a few years due to enjoying the ferry as well as being reluctant to go through Calais with the Landy and all the troubles there. I think it seems to have calmed down now though and sadly we no longer have the landy.
In answer to your question, Francais, we no longer have the landy as had to sell it due to my husband being ill. Having arthritis and driving that beast do not mix too well so we have upgraded to an Isuzu dmax automatic. Much more luxurious, air conditioning etc, but not as much fun.
We have driven to Barcelona in the landy though! And many trips around France and Ireland.
Yep, Issy, back in the day I had a SWB Series 3 with the 2.25lt Petrol engine, it was so thirsty I chose to ride the 20 mile round trip to work, on my bicycle!
Of course I was a lot younger back then, and the Landy, was the most fun car I have ever had, and the only car that I ever managed to sell for more than I paid for it.
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Topic: Which ferry crossing
