Tunnel v ferry

[rugbyken]

Gotta say if your only travelling for three weeks the premium for crossing to Spain is probably worthwhile but in all conciense at that time of year the weather in Spain is prob too hot for comfort better to take a shorter ferry and go to Croatia Italy Greece less time driving more time enjoying

 

[Wully]

Think you maybe right ken I’ve got exactly 4 weeks I want to make the most of it Croatia sounds nice. Think I might bite bullet and do the Bilbao thing cheapest I found with dates that suited was £1250 with no cabin somthing about 3 recycling chairs both ways anybody done it that way might just pay the premium for cabins on another crossing this is doing ma head in don’t mind paying extra because van is bigger just get the feeling that Brittany ferries are a rip off because of no competition on that route.

 

[Herman]

If I take tunnel I have worked it out too take an extra 3 days driving each way on top of the 500 mile each way hike down from Scotland that’s a whole lot of driving just too get too intended destination. Ferry gives me an extra week in area I want to visit but can’t get my head round price aaaahhhh

We use the tunnel every time and the only thing bad about it is it's in an inexcessable corner of the country because of London.

 

[Herman]

How does it give you another week, when you are on the ferry for basically 2 days as against 4 days driving down and back up through France. It is not like driving down UK or should I say England which is the worst part of the entire journey.

100% agree with this, stress levels are through the roof driving down the M6 and M25 and the when you hit the quiet roads of France the holiday begins, your grip on the steering wheel relaxes and foot lifts off the accel pedal.

 

[Pauljenny]

If you are taking the long ferry, Wully, treat it as part of your holiday, book a 4 berth outside cabin and enjoy a little comfort, for a change. It might even be worth joining their club, and getting the discount and freebies.
Look at th weather forecast...
There's going to be roofs being blown off , all over the place.
Fill your boots and spend some of the bawbees that you'll have earned.

 

[Makzine]

We use the tunnel every time and the only thing bad about it is it's in an inexcessable corner of the country because of London.

I’d just like to point out that it’s not my fault London is in the way for the rest of you :wave:

 

[Tezza33]

There's going to be roofs being blown off , all over the place.

Now you have got Wully all excited, mention roofs being blown off and he sees a business opportunity :dance:

 

[Deleted member 9849]

100% agree with this, stress levels are through the roof driving down the M6 and M25 and the when you hit the quiet roads of France the holiday begins, your grip on the steering wheel relaxes and foot lifts off the accel pedal.

I think it's nice travelling through France during the good weather but driving south through the country to Spain or Portugal in January is not a pleasant experience in my opinion.It gets dark at around 5pm and does get very cold in central France at that time of year.Also the majority of aires are closed for the winter with the water switched off.
I have done both the France route and also the long Portsmouth ferry to N.Spain so next February it's Portsmouth to Santander with a pet friendly cabin for us.

 

[jagmanx]

Italy

Gotta say if your only travelling for three weeks the premium for crossing to Spain is probably worthwhile but in all conciense at that time of year the weather in Spain is prob too hot for comfort better to take a shorter ferry and go to Croatia Italy Greece less time driving more time enjoying

Is very hot in the summer...
But as you say a shorter drive
Calais to Chamonix 600 miles so certainly 2 days but maybe take 4 (or more) and enjoy

 

[5andy]

To cut to the chase, if you really want to go to Spain, you only have 4 weeks and you value every day, I would take the ferry. Let’s face it Wully you can afford it! They have a monopoly, but they get the trade. We had to pay extra end September as we left booking late as we were unsure of dates. We love France, but the thought of driving though it, just to get to Spain, after driving though the UK, is mind numbing. You’ll arrive in Spain raring to go and with a lot of options where to go. There is a wealth of POIs along the coast in lovely places, many of them free and with services, and lots of interest to be had if you choose to go inland. You can cover a fair bit of ground with the best part of 4 weeks, even taking it easy. Oh and get a cabin. We once did the seat thing between Rosyth and Zeebrugge, never again!

 

[antiquesam]

As Brittany have a monopoly on the Western Channel they are bound to be expensive, and you have to pay for the luxury of the waiters in the bar having trays that light up. Newhaven to Dieppe may be another option.

 

[rugbyken]

Think you maybe right ken I’ve got exactly 4 weeks I want to make the most of it Croatia sounds nice. Think I might bite bullet and do the Bilbao thing cheapest I found with dates that suited was £1250 with no cabin somthing about 3 recycling chairs both ways anybody done it that way might just pay the premium for cabins on another crossing this is doing ma head in don’t mind paying extra because van is bigger just get the feeling that Brittany ferries are a rip off because of no competition on that route.

how do these recycling chairs work? do you travel down in one and get of the other end a young englishman ? if you travel there and back on reclining chairs you’ll need that, jan won’t even do the st malo crossing 8 hrs without a cabin so couple of hundred small cost in the scheme of things,


£1400 over four weeks between three of you less than £120 a week pp,

 

[Wully]

After weighing up all my options.Took the advice of the wise men who have traveled to this part of the world booked ferry and a dog friendly cabin each way bit more than I was originally quoted but seemingly the dog friendly cabins are a premium and was lucky too get one so I’ve been told.looking forward to this trip full month of July no work. Im gonna use the loyalty scheme that at £200 then get a a saving of just over £400 on this one trip seemingly I can add this on as late as the day before travel so as to have a membership from July for one year instead of starting it now which would be a waste of six months membership £1780 aaahhhhhhh but as ken said split it three ways over a month it’s not that bad and gives us an extra week where we wanted to bee. Now sandy and ken gonna realy nip you’re heeds about ideas and places to visit

 

[phillybarbour]

Tunnel for us every time, ticket with Tesco clubpoints and the journey through France is great. If time was critical it might be different.

 

[jagmanx]

Mmm

how do these recycling chairs work? do you travel down in one and get of the other end a young englishman ? if you travel there and back on reclining chairs you’ll need that, jan won’t even do the st malo crossing 8 hrs without a cabin so couple of hundred small cost in the scheme of things,


£1400 over four weeks between three of you less than £120 a week pp,

Yes worth averaging out

So Seabridge to Canada about £7000 (both ways including Flights)
£7000 over 25 weeks £280 a week A bargain
:dance: :mad1: :wacko:

 

[Caz]

I think it's nice travelling through France during the good weather but driving south through the country to Spain or Portugal in January is not a pleasant experience in my opinion.It gets dark at around 5pm and does get very cold in central France at that time of year.Also the majority of aires are closed for the winter with the water switched off.
I have done both the France route and also the long Portsmouth ferry to N.Spain so next February it's Portsmouth to Santander with a pet friendly cabin for us.

Is the drive down really that bad? I don't want to do the long ferry because of the dog.

 

[alcam]

Is the drive down really that bad? I don't want to do the long ferry because of the dog.

Same here . Going in January so will probably do more miles per day but there are still nice places to stop , even in bad weather

 

[5andy]

No problem mate. Having a few beers on n the Plaza de
Corredera, Cordoba at the moment.

 

[5andy]

....although don’t know if you want my advice. Just received letter saying I’ve been fined for speeding somewhere beside Santiago de Compostela!

 

[yeoblade]

We did it last May, Though paying that much was painful, couldn't get a dog friendly cabin so had to have the kennels option.
Worse was the trip, rounded Roscoff and it got a bit choppy and this missus was unwell, infact she would have kept me up all night if I hadn't had earplugs to hand:heart:
She took a plane home, not wanting a repeat of that . (It was actually fine coming back)
We only had 2 weeks hols so driving wasn't an option to visit that region.