Dover ~Calais or Plymouth~ Roscoff ?

[Allyson]

We are thinking of going to the Vendee area next Summer, not sure which route to take.

I know that Roscoff will be a shorter drive when we get off the ferry, but do we gain anything by using this crossing?

i.e. 6 hours on one ferry and the other is 1 hour 15 mins.

I know we would have to weigh up the tolls and the petrol, does anyone know how much the tolls are, if we take the Dover to Calais route?

We both drive so we could share the driving.

Our car is unleaded and LPG so we cannot use the tunnel.

Any feed back on this years prices would be of help, also any sites that you have stayed on that you can recommend for (2 adults & 1x16 & 1x11 child).

Thanks for any feed back.

 

[EvansofSprot]

French Autoroute Tolls are here: http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.php?lng=2

 

[Litespeed]

Hi allyson,

I think the biggest factor is where in the UK you live. I live in Cornwall, so therefore take the ferry everytime. You also have to bare in mind the traffic conjestion experienced on British roads, its much more likely than on the empty french roads.

So yes the actual crossing time is shorter, but by the time you get held up on the M5, M4, M25 etc etc, it usually better to take the ferry.

We always head straight for the restaurant, sit down, have a fantastic meal with a bottle of wine. Then straight to your cabin, 5 hours sleep and wake up refreshed for your drive to the Vendee.

Go by ferry, that way the holiday starts early!!

 

[Litespeed]

Hi allyson,

I think the biggest factor is where in the UK you live. I live in Cornwall, so therefore take the ferry everytime. You also have to bare in mind the traffic conjestion experienced on British roads, its much more likely than on the empty french roads.

So yes the actual crossing time is shorter, but by the time you get held up on the M5, M4, M25 etc etc, it usually better to take the ferry.

We always head straight for the restaurant, sit down, have a fantastic meal with a bottle of wine. Then straight to your cabin, 5 hours sleep and wake up refreshed for your drive to the Vendee.

Go by ferry, that way the holiday starts early!!

Plymouth - Roscoff Ferry !

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Allyson,

If you use www.viamichelin.com to plan your routes in France and change the "preferences" options to include a caravan, car type and estimated French fuel prices - you'll not only get a summary of the autoroute tolls for that journey, but also an indication of the fuel costs.

Robert

 

[BarneyCumbria]

why not sail dover-dunkerque, its only up the road from calais, only takes 15 mins longer, dunkerque is no way as busy as calais, and its so much cheaper. the caravan club quoted me

 

[Allyson]

Thank you for your comments.

We live in South Wales,so we have a few hours to travel to get to the ferry port before we even think of the other side, so we had considered the longer crossing and a cabin.

Barney we are in the Caravan club, so I could try these for a quote when the prices come out, but in the meantime can you please tell me what are Camping Cheques?

I thought Camping Cheques were cheques you bought before you went away to use on camping sites, instead of taking different currencies away with you.

 

[John_5130922]

Hi Allyson

Dover Calais P and O can be very cheap if you book at least 6 months ahead. I paid 180 quid this year booked in January (effectively caravan goes free) and both crossings were at civilised times

French motorways are fanatstic and if necessary you can overnight in the " aires "

Nick

 

[John_5130922]

Hi Allyson

Dover Calais P and O can be very cheap if you book at least 6 months ahead. I paid 180 quid this year booked in January (effectively caravan goes free) and both crossings were at civilised times

French motorways are fanatstic and if necessary you can overnight in the " aires "

Nick

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi Allyson

We [like Simon] live in Cornwall - only 40 miles from Plymouth. However we have never used Brittany Ferries to Roscoff - because of the excessive price. In the last 2 years we have always used Norfolk Line Dover/Dunkerque. Last year for Car/Caravan+2

 

[Allyson]

Hi Allyson

We [like Simon] live in Cornwall - only 40 miles from Plymouth. However we have never used Brittany Ferries to Roscoff - because of the excessive price. In the last 2 years we have always used Norfolk Line Dover/Dunkerque. Last year for Car/Caravan+2

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Allyson,

If you look on www.viamichelin.com it will give you some idea of costs for your car etc.

Cardiff to Dover is 235 miles

to Plymouth is 152 miles

Roscoff to Les Sable-d'Olonne is 266 miles Euro 59 approx fuel + tolls.

Calais to Sable-d'Olonne 417 miles toll + fuel Euro 144.

so you save 166 miles going to Plymouth ( return )

Roscoff to Sable you save 302 miles (return)

Total 468 miles + the saving on the tolls from Roscoff, it all depends on the ferry price which I'm sorry can't help you with.

you would need to re-check the figures I only did it quick., but seeing so my wife comes from the bwl thought I would try to help out.

Val & Frank

 

[BarneyCumbria]

go to www.campingcheque.co.uk you buy these cheques before you go, contact them for a sites directory to see which sites accept them, you can only use them in low season, and you say you are in wales, well as you can guess from my name i'm in cumbria, so i've got a 6 hour drive to get to dover, hope this helps

 

[Allyson]

Hi Allyson,

If you look on www.viamichelin.com it will give you some idea of costs for your car etc.

Cardiff to Dover is 235 miles

to Plymouth is 152 miles

Roscoff to Les Sable-d'Olonne is 266 miles Euro 59 approx fuel + tolls.

Calais to Sable-d'Olonne 417 miles toll + fuel Euro 144.

so you save 166 miles going to Plymouth ( return )

Roscoff to Sable you save 302 miles (return)

Total 468 miles + the saving on the tolls from Roscoff, it all depends on the ferry price which I'm sorry can't help you with.

you would need to re-check the figures I only did it quick., but seeing so my wife comes from the bwl thought I would try to help out.

Val & Frank

Hi to you both,

Thanks for the info,it looks like the Plymouth to Roscoff ferry if the price is right. Did this journey when we did a package holiday in a tent and stayed in Benodet.

Ps what does bwl mean?

 

[Allyson]

go to www.campingcheque.co.uk you buy these cheques before you go, contact them for a sites directory to see which sites accept them, you can only use them in low season, and you say you are in wales, well as you can guess from my name i'm in cumbria, so i've got a 6 hour drive to get to dover, hope this helps

We did the 6 hours up to Cumbria end of June, so I know what the extra distance must feel like. Do you drive to the port in one day?

I will also look at this website regarding the cheques.

Lots of good of differnt options coming up.

What about booking your own campsite, does anybody recommended this?

Or know of someone who books sites only, without the ferry?

Sorry so many questions just thinking how much we could save for the purchasing all those extra bottles of red wine. LOL

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi to you both,

Thanks for the info,it looks like the Plymouth to Roscoff ferry if the price is right. Did this journey when we did a package holiday in a tent and stayed in Benodet.

Ps what does bwl mean?

Allyson

bwl is short for Ynysybwl just up the road from Cardiff !!1

Val & Frank

 

[Kate3]

We have been to the Vendee twice so far and after a great hol this year intend to revisit in 2007. Living in Cheshire we have chosen to use the Dover Calais route and have found it an easy journey once in France. The crossing is considerably cheaper even when you take the tolls into consideration. As stated you must bear in mind the crossing time. We tend to depart on a Friday after work, stop near Oxford overnight, cross to Calais the following day and have a nights rest at a great site just 10 mins from the port. Including stops for lunch, comfort and child relief it takes approx 7 or 8 hrs depending on where in the Vendee you are going. A new road cross country saved us about 1.5 hrs this year. Coming home Vendee Calias one day, overnight near the port and straight home. That last day usually means us departing site about 8am and arriving home about 3pm (using tunnel so add about an hour for the ferry). We will be checking the longer routes but from here the journey to the port is about as long as that to Dover (but you avoid the M25)but due to timings and costs I suspect we will be back to what we know works. Just as an extra the Caraven Club are excellent on ferries and sites and this year it was cheaper to book with them than direct. Hope this all helps. Kate

 

[BarneyCumbria]

We did the 6 hours up to Cumbria end of June, so I know what the extra distance must feel like. Do you drive to the port in one day?

I will also look at this website regarding the cheques.

Lots of good of differnt options coming up.

What about booking your own campsite, does anybody recommended this?

Or know of someone who books sites only, without the ferry?

Sorry so many questions just thinking how much we could save for the purchasing all those extra bottles of red wine. LOL

we'll drive the lot in one go. our ferry is 4am from dover, so we'll set off from millom (south west cumbria)about 7 or 8pm the night before, and drive through the night, hopefully get to dover approx 1 or 2am giving us plenty of time for roadworks etc, but with driving through the night its usually very quiet. get off the ferry at dunkerque at 6.30am their time then drive the 45mins to camping memling or the 1hr 15mins to camping blaarmeersen, (both in belgium) haven't decided yet. where did you go to in cumbria in june?

 

[Allyson]

We have been to the Vendee twice so far and after a great hol this year intend to revisit in 2007. Living in Cheshire we have chosen to use the Dover Calais route and have found it an easy journey once in France. The crossing is considerably cheaper even when you take the tolls into consideration. As stated you must bear in mind the crossing time. We tend to depart on a Friday after work, stop near Oxford overnight, cross to Calais the following day and have a nights rest at a great site just 10 mins from the port. Including stops for lunch, comfort and child relief it takes approx 7 or 8 hrs depending on where in the Vendee you are going. A new road cross country saved us about 1.5 hrs this year. Coming home Vendee Calias one day, overnight near the port and straight home. That last day usually means us departing site about 8am and arriving home about 3pm (using tunnel so add about an hour for the ferry). We will be checking the longer routes but from here the journey to the port is about as long as that to Dover (but you avoid the M25)but due to timings and costs I suspect we will be back to what we know works. Just as an extra the Caraven Club are excellent on ferries and sites and this year it was cheaper to book with them than direct. Hope this all helps. Kate

Hi Kate

Thanks for the infomation, we are just awaiting the ferry prices now. I think that are out at the end of next month.

Will let you know how I get on.

 

[Karen_5115459]

Hi Kate

Thanks for the infomation, we are just awaiting the ferry prices now. I think that are out at the end of next month.

Will let you know how I get on.

Go on the brittany ferries website for a quote 2007 schedule now on line. We always use Brittany Ferries for the very selfish reason 10 minutes off the ferry and we are home.