Ferry Bookings

dave2951
dave2951 Forum Participant Posts: 9

Just spent a good hour attempting to book my Ferry Crossing to france half of that time was on this site looking at booking Newhaven to Dieppe. Despite numerous attempts with different dates each time the search came up blank. In the end rang the Club to be told oh we have problems with that one you need to ring direct. Would it not be easier if this booking mode was removed or a note attached so to avoid customers spending time on this, very frustrating.

Comments

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited May 2018 #2

    Not used that route for some years and have`nt seen much comment about it, last time I looked the sailing times were`nt good for us. I admire your patience trying to book!

  • dave2951
    dave2951 Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited May 2018 #3

    Ended up booking Portsmouth to Caen. around £200 more.

     

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #4

    Why?  Didn't you try the DFDS website instead of trying through the Club?  Or did you decide on a different route anyway?  I just got a quote for a motorhome outwards and return (on a Sunday) for £75.00 each way, which seems a very very good price.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #5

    the Dieppe crossing is always a pretty good price....

    still a long way for us to go but for anyone on the south or south east, worth a try, I'd say.

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited May 2018 #6

    I was just thinking the same thing about checking for best price on the web before using the club. The other point is, if you book direct and not through an agent, which is all the club is, you can normally change your booking free and at weekends if your planes change. The club will charge you a £25 amendment fee and you can only contact them weekdays nine to five. Not much of a service there!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #7

    Even better there is a 20% discount for booking direct on the Newhaven /Dieppe ferries for people over 60 - just phone DFDS booking line on Freephone 0800 917 1201 and ask for an over 60 booking. So easy that way. 

  • Kenf
    Kenf Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited May 2018 #8

    Speaking of ferry bookings... last three summers' trips across from Dover I was unable to book early evening 4-7pm crossings in Nov/Dec for the following July as they were all full for those times!! So took a 6am crossing the following morning, but then hanging about in Dover overnight, up at 4a.m. etc. etc. and after 5 hrs got nowhere! This time rang the Club in February and got a July 5pm crossing for two outfits no problem. Does the Club reserve/block book spaces with ferry companies and so checks online direct with ferry company websites show the crossings full... when they actually aren't??

    From my own experience I would recommend getting straight across evening time and pitching up an hour so down the road for the night. That way you're up and off immediately the following morning, without early start & waiting in Dover, time crossing, etc. etc. You can be 100 miles nearer your destination before an early morning ferry docks and you've only been up a couple of hours instead of five!

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #9

    Leave work Friday afternoon, hitch up, drive to Dover for the late ferry (10pm or later) and park up at the Aire de Souchez one hour from Calais on the A26. Did it year after year with tha Caravan and two children. Slept like logs and straight on to the Autoroute next morning.