Differences between "here" and 'there'
Comments
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Husky, I haven't done it but in your shoes I would seriously consider the Tunnel in view of taking your dog. David hasn't crossed with a dog but I wonder which crossing others use from choice with dogs?
It's not only dogs, the tunnel has many advantages for the disabled and of course it is always a smooth crossing for those with an inherent fear of sea sickness.
Ferries do give a welcome break from driving and a chance to have a meal and relax.
peedee
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Dogs stress levels take priority, we chose to have a dog so we tailor our travels to make it best for her, she loves it in the car but I'm sure a ferry crossing might not be best for her. Always drive past the ferry port of Hull to Folkestone and within
35 minutes the train ride is over, and we are on our way.If we didn't have our dog I am sure we would include a ferry crossing from Hull as part of the holiday, so its down to what we think best for two adults and one dog.
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Huskydog - if your dog is a good traveller then you'll find the ferries slightly cheaper (though if you have Tesco vouchers you can use them to obtain cheaper tunnel crossings). However, if she's nervous when left in the car, or in unfamiliar surroundings
then the tunnel is best as the dog will just sit in the back of the car, with you, as usual.I would think your wife's mobility problems might be a consideration too - it's a shorter crossing using the tunnel and you're up and off in France in less time. However, for us who live further afield, the ferry provides a welcome break and a meal and
comfort stop - though we do tend to take our own food on board as we don't enjoy ferry cuisine.We usually use the ferry but came back using Eurotunnel last time, as we got a very good price booking it in France, and we've used the tunnel a couple of times in the past.
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As you are in Kent,andwith OH with mobility problems and a dog i think the tunnel is best/if not cheapest drive on,35mins later drive off no lifts to negotiate (queues) no alarms going off on car decks to unsettle dog,we always used tunnel( after it opened) but as we have got older and now use coach companies,they tend to use ferries,except last year to Italy when the train took the strain,as If we go "over there" again will be our chosen form of travel
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It is some years since we went abroad with the caravan so I hope that I may be allowed to give my comments. With our dogs we used the short ferry crossing, the tunnel and the overnight ferry from Portsmouth. We prefered the long crossing as the dogs stayed
in the caravan with all their own things around them and at the time they would normally be asleep.We never used the Hull crossing with dogs, but loved using it without the dogs.
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Update
After chatting about this over the weekend,we have decided that 2017 will be the year the Huskydog travels overseas.
this week i will printing off the Passport forms and getting photo's
We have decided the Normandy will be our first trip ,and have even picked out the site "camping de la Foret", it's an aera that would be off interest to me
I know to some it might seem a bit of a cop out just to travel such a short distance , but it's a start
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Update
After chatting about this over the weekend,we have decided that 2017 will be the year the Huskydog travels overseas.
this week i will printing off the Passport forms and getting photo's
We have decided the Normandy will be our first trip ,and have even picked out the site "camping de la Foret", it's an aera that would be off interest to me
I know to some it might seem a bit of a cop out just to travel such a short distance , but it's a start
...A good start and it will have give you a flavour
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That's great news HD - and not at all a cop-out to not travel far. It's what many people do for the first time.
If it's La Foret at Jumieges, then it's an ACSI Card site, at 17 euros per night between the following dates: 01/04 - 08/07 and 26/08 - 31/10. It seems a bit difficult to calculate their tariffs, even if you check particular dates as it's not clear what sort of pitch is being offered, so once you've got a quote check against the ACSI Card price for 2017 to see if it offers you a saving, once you've taken off the additional cost of the ACSI Card and book. It may not be worth it for one week, but in 2018 when you go touring for three months (!!!!) it will certainly offer you savings.
I hope everything is straightforward in your planning, you have a great time, and the weather is wonderful.
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Great news Husky and it sounds like a good plan! Now you have the fun of planning and preparing for your trip next year.
With regards to some of the debate that's occurred on this discussion, just a reminder to people that although we may all have varying opinions, which is fine to express, please respect the views and opinions of other contributors and keep discussions free
from arguments. Many thanks and thanks to all those who have constructively shared their thoughts and advice.0 -
Update
After chatting about this over the weekend,we have decided that 2017 will be the year the Huskydog travels overseas.
this week i will printing off the Passport forms and getting photo's
We have decided the Normandy will be our first trip ,and have even picked out the site "camping de la Foret", it's an aera that would be off interest to me
I know to some it might seem a bit of a cop out just to travel such a short distance , but it's a start
Write your comments here...Just crossing the channel will give you a good insight into what continental campsites and holidays are about. You don't have to travel all the way to the Med.
Be prepared to find a lack of formality, nice welcomes when you arrive on site. siting your van whichever way you want on your pitch, generally free wifi and few people hiding away in their outfit watching TV.
Some people prefer this type of holiday, some people prefer the formality of a Uk type caravanning holiday. There is no right or wrong.. Just go and enjoy yourself.
K
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Never forget the first time I went to France with hubby, we live in Gloucestershire and I really had my dense head on and said "will we be there in a couple of hours?" and hubby said "Times that by 2!" I was morose! But I love the tunnel adn hate the
ferry as get seasick! We've just put off two weeks to France! Decided to do two weeks in UK first, only ever done a week at a time, we get so tired decided that a 4 hour journey to Norfolk and we're there is about all we are up to but got BIG plans to do France
with the dogs one day! Been told by so many friends its fab for dogs and for caravanning. Its on my very soon to do list! Enjoy!0 -
Husky, it doesn't matter about how far you travel, there is much to see within easy reach of the channel ports. We have French friends in the Champagne area, they live in a village on the river Vesle near Rheims. This area is easily reachable for a short
holiday. Rheims and Laon (further north) have beautiful cathedrals and although many villages were rebuilt after WW1 they are atrractive. There are free visits to champagne houses and you can find local small producers. Lots of local history too and nice rolling
countryside if you leave the main roads and start to explore. Hope you enjoy your visit to Normandy!0 -
To quote from Kennine's post: Be prepared to find a lack of formality, nice welcomes when you arrive on site. siting your van whichever way you want on your pitch, generally free wifi and few people hiding away in their outfit watching TV.
When we hosted a Caravan Club First Timers tour, many of the people queried that there was no regulation of which way you pitched - and we had all the 'but what about the six metre rule' questions!!
You may well find that almost everyone pitches sideways on, with awning and car to the front - but as you're in a motorhome, probably it's easier to drive on straight on, or reverse in. We did site one motorhome owner on a slightly sloping corner pitch, when the best level was diagonally across the pitch just where you would drive in. Eventually we persuaded him he could pitch that way if he wanted. He was convinced that the site owner/manager would arrive and ask him to move! He wasn't aaked to move - and now he's a regular traveller to France, and has done much longer trips!
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Hi Husky. St Luke chapter15, verse 7.
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HD, cop out?, not a bit of it. I'd say you are approaching it smartly, giving the whole thing time to bed in, grow your confidence-plan
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Don’t fret about getting passports yet, HD, you’ve yet to obtain your m/h.
It’ll be good to become familiar with the differences (I know you’ve already asked about these, but being told is quite different from learning by experience) before you launch into even more unfamiliar territory. Do as much research as you can (it is, after
all, where most of the fun comes from) but save driving on the other side until you get there.0 -
Looks like iv'e got a lot of reading and homework to do !!
But it's great to know i got good support and advice here on CT....
There might be some really stupid questions as the time gets nearer
Write your comments here... There are no stupid questions, Husky. Don't know whether it's been mentioned but one big difference you will find is that you pay at the end of your stay, so if you don't like the site for any reason you don't have to worry about losing some of your fees. Just move to another site.You'll simply get a Gallic shrug of the shoulders and a bill for the number of nights you have stayed. Keep asking those questions.
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I like it in Europe, I like it as a holiday destination with 5* accommodation. I can't compare the 2 unfavourably either way. I would if I tugged around it or drove around it for weeks/months on end in a mini-bus, it wouldn't be a holiday to me then. It'd
be a bind. Just same old same old. Scrabbling around in a dust bowl just ain't my style-I accept some like it, brave & foolhardy would be my take on it. It really does take all sorts0 -
I have been following the other thread in UK sites, very interesting. We don't often use CC sites as we go over the water for our main holidays. However we do use them coming and going to the ferry and in the low season when prices are much more reasonable.
What are the differances between here and there, well as we all know there its much cheaper in the low season and we don't have to pre-book. That I think is the main differance, site facilities can vary from site to site pretty much as in the UK, however I
would say when its bad over there its really bad, but more times than not I would say there are way more sites to choose from and the good sites are very good. Weather plays a big part of any holiday, your chances of getting good weather I think improves when
going over the water, but not always as we found out last September in France. Thankfully Spain isn't far away and it was nice. Now that is the differance, just a day or two drive and you will find good weather. Some of the CC sites are featureless, while
others are delightful. We have also found this to be the case abroad, sites abroad tend to be nearer towns/cities/villages and tend to have more things to keep folk on site, like pools, restaurants and decent supermarkets. Would I only camp abroad NO, we like
to try differant places that for us is what camping is all about, stop if you like it go if you don't. Not always an option in the UK, but it can be done with a little effort.0 -
I like it in Europe, I like it as a holiday destination with 5* accommodation. I can't compare the 2 unfavourably either way. I would if I tugged around it or drove around it for weeks/months on end in a mini-bus, it wouldn't be a holiday to me then. It'd be a bind. Just same old same old. Scrabbling around in a dust bowl just ain't my style-I accept some like it, brave & foolhardy would be my take on it. It really does take all sorts
You would have just appeared to endeavour to compare unfavourably. Scrabbling around in an overcrowded island with pewter skys, quagmire pitches... I accept some like it....
You can't beat a bit of good old emotive bias.
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, but i feel i can't keep putting it off......................
. Don't get your passport too soon or it will run out sooner than you want! 
