France - Next Year
To save hijacking someone else’s thread, I thought I’d start one. We’re thinking of going over to France, next June. My thoughts were to take it at an easy pace, as I’ve allowed around a month. Initially, I thought about two overnight stops in this country (CL’s) before embarking from Dover. I’d book an overnight somewhere near Calais before heading south. It would of course be easier (in terms of time and distance) to go from one of the southern ports, but from what I can tell, be very expensive (?). (Thanks for your input BB&DD regarding this)
I’m not necessarily looking at traveling that far south in France, just want to ‘play it by ear’, but of course, recommendations will be taken into account. I really like the idea of not booking sites in advance. We took the van over once before quite a few years ago, booking everything in advance, but I don’t want the stress/planning of it all and being tied in.
Cheers...Freddy.
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It's hard to advise on cross channel routes until you decide where you are going - from your Avon location it makes sense to go via Calais if you going to Alsace, but not if you are heading for Brittany, so think of your destination first. The Club will have prices for all the cross channel routes in a couple of months time, and will tell you whether there are savings by taking four site night vouchers as well as the ferry fare.
But touring is very easy in June wherever you decide to make for - I suggest you get a copy of the latest ACSI Camping Card guide when it is published in the New Year for its listing of discount sites, and a copy of the Club's 2020 Touring France guide too.
You really can can go wherever you wish in France without site bookings in June.
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If you don't want to travel too far south then a circular tour of Normandy & Brittany has much to commend it. I would echo previous comments that, unless travelling east, the western channel routes would be better. Poole/Cherbourg looks the most logical, although Portsmouth/Caen would enable a visit to the Normandy beaches/Bayeux. Go one way way, come back the other.
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Ta👍 At this stage, Brittany is on the list, so I get what you’re saying about the crossing. I guess it’s the anticipated cost that’s putting me off. Coincidentally, we plan to rent a Gite next August, taking the daughter and grandchildren. I looked at the current prices for the crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo, around £700 return, just for a car and 4 passengers! That said, I’ll see what the club can offer, once the timetables are released in October.
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We sail Poole to Cherbourg this week and car caravan and cat and two persons booked through the club is around £350 return on daytime crossing. Think that's not bad at all.
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The one way fare from Portsmouth to Caen tomorrow for car+Caravan+two adults is £155 - without booking in advance. That's a typical June/September fare. You can book the return half when you are ready to come back. But August is a different story with different prices.
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Hi Freddy, good advice so far which I would fully agree with. So far as routes are concerned we use Plymouth mainly but have over the years used all the channel ports at one time or another.
Personally using Dover would be an absolute last option and only then if travelling East from Calais.
Booking an ITX fare, as euror has suggested, and using Brittany Ferries will give crossings that can be greatly discounted, we saved over £400 this June/July, and my suggestion would be that you look at going out on one route and back on another giving a more 'circular' route which may suit your needs.
Going via Plymouth out and Portsmouth back, or via versa, would give a wider range of options than a linear out and back route and both Plymouth and Portsmouth are reasonably close to you.
When I have checked the St Malo route has been the most expensive route to France.
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I have always thought that the St Malo crossings were the dearest. We always go the afternoon crossing to Ouistreham and stay overnight at Riva Bella and come back on the morning crossing. With the site vouchers in September when I costed it out for the first time ever it was the same price as Dover Calais but that is exceptional. When you think what you save in fuel and a night's site fees it doesn't seem that expensive to me.
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The municipal campsite at Bayeux is ideally situated for the landing beaches. Plus it's an easy walk into town for the cathedral and British Cemetery. If you got the Morning boat from Poole to Cherbourg or Portsmouth Caen it would be a good first stop before heading on. This year it is in the ACSI discount scheme at 18 €, a 3€ saving on the standard price.
Even with a cabin the Poole Cherbourg run isn't that bad on price. As the day boat was full we have ended up booking a night crossing.
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Freddy, we booked Portsmouth to Caen and return this year. The sailing would have been March with return 30th.April. The cost through the CAMC was £200 for Car, Caravan and 2 Adults. We had to cancel due to hospital appts and was actually able to change the booking to September 3rd. with return on 8th.October for no difference in price but a £25 admin charge. Unfortunately, once again we have been forced to cancel but the moral of the story is that sometimes prices from supposedly dearer routes are not that expensive.
Check out all possible routes with the club before making a decision. You may be surprised.
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We stayed for a couple of nights at the Municipal at Bayeux last year. Not sure you'll be able to see the Tapestry as I think it's coming to the UK for a visit next year.
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Our crossing this year, June/July Plymouth/Roscoff, overnight Thursday with a cabin and return on a Sunday was £355.20.
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We're about to dock at Calais. Spent last night at Black Horse, so 20 min drove to ferry this morning. Hold up at Dartford crossing yesterday bu no worry about missing ferry. Return fare, booked through the Club, £187 , including club lounge. 5 weeks and only first night booked.
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are you guys heading to LeSud, by any chance?
have you 'selected' your destination?
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Opposite to TG and DD we sail end of October Cherbourg to Poole and return Portsmouth to St Malo Mid December wanted a change of route to usual Caen/Portsmouth/Caen again just over £380.00 with BF club voyage discount car and caravan. We know it will be darker and cooler but only time we can get over this year due to other commitments and hope to get over next September to Devon and Cornwall so will be Roscoff/Pymouth/Roscoff route a long time since we have been on that route possibly 30 years so a few changes.
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Alright, don't rub it in.
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DD, not sure if its a deal I doubt it as I booked them both separately.
We didn't know when we were going to come back so only booked an outbound. However on looking at our holiday insurance it stated that a return booking had to made prior to your departure. Since we don't know what is going to happen on the 31st Oct we decided it would be advisable to do as required
We tend to use whichever ferry suits us best for where we are going, this time Western France, then down to Spain. Given where we live all the docks are a fair drive but we do like an overnight crossing, again due to the distance we have to travel. Cost does come into it but only once we decide where we are going.
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enjoy..
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No point using the “southern” ferries unless you want to stay in Brittany, Normandy or Atlantic Coast. The ferries are expensive, tedious and quite ancient. The tunnel will give you much more flexibility.
In terms of sites, as you are going in June make sure you join ACSI which will give you quality sites at discount rates. You could do worse than use them exclusively. There are a few ACSI sites quite close to Calais but you should be a bit more ambitious and do a few hours before stopping.
Most first timers head to the Loire or Dordogne and there is plenty to see in those regions. If you like it hot then you could venture down to Provence. I would avoid the Mediterranean as it’s gets crowded and many sites will be fully booked.
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Hi we went the first time in June and there is nothing to worry about. We didnt book any sites just rolled with it, we did find there are some bank holidays in june that we didnt know about, so i would look into that and have something booked around those times, but there are plenty of sites available in the asci guide.
We did find the standard of sites nowhere as good as uk ones and there is no 3m rule.
also the roads are quieter but we spent about £200 on tolls covering 2000 miles. We used the automatic tag which made life easier.
enjoy your trip
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I can't agree. For us from the Midlands we can leave home at 6 pm, catch an overnight ferry and be on the road from Ouistreham by 8 am the next day. That means we can easily reach the northern parts of the Massif Central (for example) that evening. On return, catching the overnight ferry drops us in Portsmouth in the early morning so we're home long before lunchtime.
If we go via the tunnel we need to allow virtually a day to get there, with the awful M25 experience, then trek across the boring Pas de Calais / Picardy regions (and possibly have to circumnavigate Paris which is never fun) to get somewhere interesting. That loses at least an extra day either end as we have to repeat the exercise to get home.
Of course if you live in Kent this argument doesn't hold quite so much water.
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Hi Charlie, "No 3 metre rule"....indeed not. Thank goodness. Look at us.
And "sites nowhere near as good as UK ones" Well we were happy enough here with a choice of two swimming pools, fresh croissants delivered to the caravan door you 8 am., meals available on request, cold beer in the rustic bar while we watched the footie, and even a lake for fishing had we been so minded. And free wi fI of course.
It's Moulin de Mellet near Agen. Well recommended for you next year.
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Looks a nice spot. When we went, we stayed at one campsite not that far from you, Moulin De Campech (Villefranche Du Queyran). At this stage I don’t have a clue where we want to go, although we’d like to start by spending some time in Normandy/Brittany. How’s the weather?
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