How far in advance do you you book the ferry?
Hello everyone.
My wife and I love touring the UK (even in the cold) in out new to us 7.5m motorhome 
Due to work commitments this year we are going to be holidaying solely in the UK.
BUT we will be going to France and beyond at the beginning of June 2020.
My questions are :-
How far in advance do people book their crossings?
Do you get the cheapest/best price to book the crossings as soon as they come out (much like a plane ticket) or does it not matter as its all pot luck as prices can fluctuate anyway through the booking season.
As we will be travelling from the North, we are not fussed which crossing we do.
I have read certain threads that mention that the initial cost of the Caen route can be offset by the ease of getting to the Portsmouth port (and even overnighting in the car park), and the shorter journey time from Caen onward.
(nb, we do not know where we want to go in France yet (I suppose we can pootle about where we want in 2 weeks ).
I am also trying to get my head around the camping vouchers.
As this will be our 1st time, I do not want to spend 14 days staying in Aires,(we want to break ourselves in gently) so will these vouchers be of any use to us? . or can we getting cheaper sites by not using them in the first place.
(It will be 2 adults, no dogs, travelling)
Thanks in advance
Comments
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I always book as soon as know when I want to go. I have found the thing that can affect prices slightly is the day you choose to travel. Some days are cheaper than others. I can't really be bothered with on line. I always phone the CC ferry booking service and they are always helpful. Hope this is of help. No doubt you will get many opinions which are more helpful thine mine. Enjoy
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Thanks Mitsi.
Do you know when they come out?
is it on a particular date(s) in the year, or is it a rolling 12 month calendar etc
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Brittany Ferries timetables only go up to and include 3rd November 2019 and we will need the next season's timetable to make our bookings. Other way round to you we are coming from France to UK and our site bookings already done and will be later in the year this year. Have a god trip and planning for next year.
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We choose which ferry depending on whether we want to go to east or west France. If using the Caen crossing them the camping vouchers reduce the price so much that they are worth having even if you don't use them.
I have checked prices when first deciding we want to go which would be four or five months before and when checking nearer the date found them to be the same. Why book months in advance for June? If you change your mind about the exact date you have to pay a £20 fee to change the booking.
As Mitzi says the price can be very different on a different day of the week, so unless you are constrained by work check several dates. This particularly applied on the Caen crossing where the afternoon ferry is much cheaper than the morning one. We then stay at Bella Riva which stays open to take in the ferry passengers.
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If we decide to go across the Channel in June this year I will book a crossing with Brittany Ferries sometime in May - overnight with a cabin from Plymouth as it suits us. Other routes and other timings are cheaper. Yes, I know !
If four camping vouchers seem to be a bargain when addd to the ferry fare I will take them - but not otherwise. We will take an ACSI Camping card and stay on campsites - some will be in that discount scheme, some will be not. We take the Club's Touring France /Touring Europe guides as well as the ACSI guide. Location, location is more important to us than price alone.
Decide where you are going before choosing a ferry route - or tor a June 2020 crossing you can collect enough Tesco vouchers to use the tunnel for free. Enjoy your planning.
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We travel from the North and and don't book particularly far in advance (Nb we are retired and can go as and when we want) but have never had a problem getting a booking. We tend to do the cheaper Dover - Calais crossing or use Tesco vouchers to assist with the cost of Eurotunnel.
When the cost of your holiday runs into many hundreds of £'s I don't worry about the difference of a few euros in site fees etc. Choose where you want to go and enjoy yourself. We're in Northern France/Belgium in May and Carcassonne in September.
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nb, we do not know where we want to go in France yet (I suppose we can pootle about where we want in 2 weeks
France is on the large side so probably a good idea to know where you want to end up as you can then decide on the best ferry. We have booked both as soon as timetables come out and just a month before crossing and also times in between.
It is impossible to be certain, especially in light of current uncertainties, but would advise, as AD suggested, that you make test bookings to get an idea of the options available to you but as pointed out that will not be for quite a while as timetables won’t be out.
Up till the end of June you can use vouchers and, on many more sites, an ACSI card but for us the booking of an ITX fare, ferry and vouchers, reduces of costs by hundreds of pounds when using BF from Plymouth to Roscoff.
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As said prices vary according to day and time whichever route. Booking via the club (we phone) we find is easy even at fairly short notice. Bear in mind Le Mans happens in mid-June so crossings may get busy around that time/area. Never used camping vouchers so can’t help there. We mostly use ACSI book and map bought beginning of year from Vicarious Books (also sold by the club I believe) plus any site we see we may like to stay at. Choosing an area to visit might help you decide where to cross from. Enjoy your planning.
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Thanks for all this info
looks like we have some homework to do first.
I never even knew about the ASCI card
Thanks for that
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We're going in April - and haven't booked anything yet. In fact we haven't even met up with our friends to share another year of Eurotunnel Frequent Traveller! Must get on with that this week as we have to be in southern France for the 6th or 7th April!
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If you go via Calais you can get a crossing to suit on most days, if via the Western routes with Brittany Ferries specific sailings can fill up and booking earlier i.e the new year is the best bet especially if you want a cabin. Essentially the shorter, the more frequent the crossing the more choice.
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