Ferries to France

The good doctor

A friend of my retired to France recently and I have a standing invitation to visit which I'm going to do in September.
My nearest ferry port is Portsmouth and so I plan to get the fast cat across to Cherbourg and then drive on down to Charente (sp?) as this is the shortest drive. I have seen that the Dover to Calais crossing is half the price but there's a lot more driving and therefore petrol, anyway I wonder do prices fluctaute much or is there a possibility I could get a cheaper fare nearer the time ?

Anyone any experince of channel crossings.

Thanks

John

dizzydane

I've only used the crossing at Dover. Last year I drove over and prices went up by 40% in the 3 months I took to book it.

Why don't you do a test by searching prices for next weekend and see if there's much of a difference in the quote you currently have? Also crossing at non-peak times is cheaper...

Good Luck!

DrDavros

I assume you're familar with www.ferrysavers.co.uk (good for Dover routes, not sure re. Portsmouth).

dag_on_a_bike

In my experience prices fluctuate like you wouldn't believe.

I always check all of the routes and the tunnel too. No-one is a clear winner. Get yourself on their email lists too as offers are always coming up.

I try & get over to France 3 or 4 times a year, or more if possible, and always shop around and always find a variation in prices, sometimes quite noticeably too.

Portsmouth is only 55 miles from me and Folkestone/Dover 130+ miles but I tend to prefer Folkestone or Dover to avoid the much longer crossings from Portsmouth.

+1 for off peak too. Very early morning suits me just fine and can make a big difference o the price.

Portsmouth to Charente or Dover to Charente - about 30 miles different, that's all so the UK leg might swing it for you.

MattC59

The good doctor wrote:

A friend of my retired to France recently and I have a standing invitation to visit which I'm going to do in September.
My nearest ferry port is Portsmouth and so I plan to get the fast cat across to Cherbourg and then drive on down to Charente (sp?) as this is the shortest drive. I have seen that the Dover to Calais crossing is half the price but there's a lot more driving and therefore petrol, anyway I wonder do prices fluctaute much or is there a possibility I could get a cheaper fare nearer the time ?

Anyone any experince of channel crossings.

Thanks

John

I've done that run on several occasions. IMO, the Portsmouth to Caen ferry is the best one, but Portsmouth to Cherbourg is as good. Either way, this is a better route than the Dover Calais route. You'll save some cash on the ferry, but you end up piling it on in Fuel and toll charges. If I remember correctly, the Calais to Larceau (just south of Congnac) drive is about 10 hours. The Caen to Larceau drive is about 6 hours.

There are basically two routes down to that part of France; you can head south via Le Mans and Tours, then follow the A10 for the rest of the way, or, you can head south west via Rennes and Nantes, joining the A10 at Niort. On the map, the route via Le Mans looks quickest, but it's not. Last time I did that drive, the Rennes route shaved about an hour off the journey time.

Just look out for the speed cameras !! They're the little black and yellow boxes in the central reservation. That said, the first time I did the journey, I cruised down there at about 110mph, arrived to be greeted by, "did you see the speed cameras ?", spent the next couple of months worrying about a huge fine, but never heard anything

The good doctor

Thanks for the replies. I need to book now to ensure I do go otherwise something is bound to crop up and this is too good an offer to miss out on. Have booked the fast cat from Portsmouth to Cherbourg but I recoup some of the fare from less fuel and tolls and its only 25 mils to Portsmouth but 120 to Dover so that swings it for me.

Happy days

John

gregster10217

If you shop at Tesco, and have some spare 'reward' vouchers, they can be exchanged for Le Tunnel crossings. We do this every year when off to France, although they've just reduced their exchange value to x3, from x4, but means that our crossing is taken care of and more cash to spend on the holiday.
We looked at the Portsmouth route, but it's quicker to drive from Calais for us, but then we're only 40 minutes from the tunnel to start. Depends if you like having a rest on a ferry after a long drive from home (if that's applicable) or, like us, want to get on with it the other side.

Ollieda

Yep, prices fluctuate like mad! Shop around is the best bet.

Also booking less popular times is a good idea. Most holiday goes like to take the night ferry so they can sleep the crossing then arrive with a full day ahead of them - not many people like the last crossing of the day as it means they get to france in the dark and its a rush to the hotel so this crossing is often cheaper.

There used to be a website around that matched people up for car sharing. i.e. 1 person in a 4 seater car could offer the 3 spare seats to foot passengers for the crossing (you would just meet them at the port, they would sit in the car as you drove in, then you would meet up at the end of the crossing, you drive them out into france then drop them off and they go on there way) 4 people spliting the cost of a car ticket is a lot cheaper than 1 person in a car and 3 people on foot!

ddraver

Have a look on google maps and work out if it's quicker to go via Dover or portsmouth...

For example, It is far far quicker for me to drive from Leiden (NL) to Dunkirk/Calais and go over to Dover and down to Cornwall (home) that to get the ferry from Rotterdam/Hook van Holland to Harwhich and do the same trip - basically it's going at 80mph on the motorway or about 20kts on the boat

tlw1

Speed cameras - never heard a thing despite some silly speeds
French police - urm different story, wife woke up once to see an angry policeman with a gun looking down at her (roof was off car)

DIESELDOG

matthew h wrote:

Speed cameras - never heard a thing despite some silly speeds
French police - urm different story, wife woke up once to see an angry policeman with a gun looking down at her (roof was off car)

You were that good she fell asleep huh??

C'est la vie mon amie...

Love n hugs

DD

Don't pull me up on my french, I suck at it okays?