Is it really worth it !

[James3]

Don't get me wrong I love taking the caravan to France but things are now getting silly as far as costs are concerned.

Yes if you are prepared to travel on the short Dover/Calais crossing or the tunnel at the cheaper times of the year you can still get reasonable deals. But for a lot of people who have to travel in the school holidays or even just outside the main holiday period costs are now getting silly. If you wish to take one of the western routes operated by Brittany ferries there costs added to fuel costs; toll costs and site fees etc plus the value of the euro make you question if it is really worth it compared to other holiday options. Just to highlight the costs I have just got a quote from Brittany ferries Plymouth/Santander plus car, caravan and 3 people in early July (£1094) add site fees, fuel cost etc and this would be an expensive holiday - do people really pay these costs to caravan ?

 

[DavidKlyne]

If caravanning is your thing then I suppose the answer is yes. However you can always control the costs by changing what you do. Perhaps it is taking a more inconvenient crossing which is cheaper, perhaps it is trying to use non toll roads and perhaps its changing where you go. I appreciate that the school holidays are a problem but if you are prepared to go towards the end of the holidays you can get some cheaper options. You are right in saying that the value of the Euro has changed things this year and basic things are a lot more expensive. However to overcome that your would have to start looking outside the Euro zone or stay at home.

David

 

[ValA.]

As David says, there are choices to be made - even in the more expensive periods such as school holidays. For example, you could have booked one of the Caravan Club/Norfolk Lines crossings for

 

[emmerson2]

I endorse everything that Val & David have said. If you choose to travel on the most expensive route, then that's what you have to pay!You cannot blame others for your personal choice.

Why not make the short crossing and the drive through France part of the holiday? As Val says, by going straight for the coast you miss out on an awful lot of beautiful country. Take a couple of days to drive down, enjoy your coastal break, then a couple of daya drive back. Enjoy proper France, rather than just being another Brit at the coast.

 

[James3]

I do agree with what David, Val A and Emmerson have said. I have been taking the van to France and other parts of Europe for the past 20 or so years so I do like travelling through the countries, very much part of the holiday. I suppose I am getting lazy in my old age and as I live in the West Country I always hate the drive to Dover or the SE. So my less stressful routes are always from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth. In the end its all about choice and I suppose I will just have to pay the extra. I always find that the ferry crossing is really part of the holiday (I like boats) and Brittany Ferries do provide a good service.

I just wanted to have a bit of a Victor meldrew moan about the increasing costs of caravanning abroad compared to other forms of european travel.

 

[emmerson2]

James, you're not the only Victor Meldrew on here!

We always cross on Norflok Line, and I must agree that the worst part of the holiday is the trip from GoC to Dover, and it's even worse coming back! At least on the outward trip you've got the holiday to look forward to!

Just go and enjoy, but say the price fast, it might not sound so much then!

 

[James3]

James, you're not the only Victor Meldrew on here!

We always cross on Norflok Line, and I must agree that the worst part of the holiday is the trip from GoC to Dover, and it's even worse coming back! At least on the outward trip you've got the holiday to look forward to!

Just go and enjoy, but say the price fast, it might not sound so much then!

Good advice and I shall close my eyes when booking on the internet !!

 

[ValA.]

We've crossed with Brittany Ferries, too, and I do agree about the level of service. You feel as if you are in France as soon as you get on the boat. However, aside from the cost, the main problem for us is that the sailings are so infrequent on the longer crossings. We nearly missed one sailing once, because of traffic problems on our long drive from home!!! So, in recent years we've always done the shorter crossings where if you miss one boat there's another along in a hour!

Still, the price difference more than compensates for the quality of the crossing - and we can get our first taste of France as soon as we get off the ferry at the other end. We can also pay for all the remainder of our holiday from the savings!!

 

[James3]

Another good point Val A. I must admit when I really think about it, it is more of my hate for towing to the Dover area and travelling around the M25/M20 etc. where I always seem to get held up, that is the problem. Before you say it I have tried other routes to Dover - still get held up.

However when you have a fairly restricted holiday period of say 2 weeks and want to go to the South or Mid France I suppose I will continue to pay the extra and use the best ferry routes for me (It is only about 1.5 hours to Poole easy driving and 2.5 to Plymouth) and I will use some toll road only to get to my destination a bit quicker. Oh for the days of being able to spend a month or more to really see the countries

 

[ValA.]

Hi James - we too have a long journey (290 miles) including the dreaded M25 and M20 - but haven't really suffered hold-ups that way except for the Dartford Crossing. We too have two weeks (OK twice a year) but now we always set off after Mr Val A finishes work on a Friday afternoon, about 3.00 ish. We book the crossing for around 10.00 pm, and manage to catch a ferry anywhere from 8.30 pm (unusual) to 1.30 am (unusual).

I suppose if you have to drive 'past' the other ports then Dover is a bit of a trek - but for us it's Hobson's Choice really, in view of the narrow miss with the Portsmouth crossing the last time we used it! We were only allowed on at the very last minute by a very sympathetic port official who had a sister living near us in the far north!

 

[James3]

Hi James - we too have a long journey (290 miles) including the dreaded M25 and M20 - but haven't really suffered hold-ups that way except for the Dartford Crossing. We too have two weeks (OK twice a year) but now we always set off after Mr Val A finishes work on a Friday afternoon, about 3.00 ish. We book the crossing for around 10.00 pm, and manage to catch a ferry anywhere from 8.30 pm (unusual) to 1.30 am (unusual).

I suppose if you have to drive 'past' the other ports then Dover is a bit of a trek - but for us it's Hobson's Choice really, in view of the narrow miss with the Portsmouth crossing the last time we used it! We were only allowed on at the very last minute by a very sympathetic port official who had a sister living near us in the far north!

I must admit we are all spoilt in the South when it comes to going to France etc. Friends of mine have to travel quite a way before getting to the ports. Last year they travelled from the north to Portsmouth virtually 400 miles and then travelled about 800 miles in France to the South and in fact travelled a total of 2600 miles for there 16 day break.

 

[DianneT]

Why not try a different country!! France is not the cheapest to visit. Germany is a lot more reasonable, food the cheapest in Europe, Fuel cheaper than France, Scenery is far better than France in my opinion. You can reach some very interesting and beautiful parts in just 6 1/2 hours from Calais or Dunkerque. Austria is another beautiful country you can reach in 2/3 days. Cheaper than Germany on most items including Diesel Food not a lot of difference to Germany. All in all both countries lot cheaper than UK or France. The German and Austrian people are much more friendly and welcoming than the French. Caravan sites in general are far more superior we have never stopped at a bad one in the past 6 years of visiting there.

 

[James3]

Why not try a different country!! France is not the cheapest to visit. Germany is a lot more reasonable, food the cheapest in Europe, Fuel cheaper than France, Scenery is far better than France in my opinion. You can reach some very interesting and beautiful parts in just 6 1/2 hours from Calais or Dunkerque. Austria is another beautiful country you can reach in 2/3 days. Cheaper than Germany on most items including Diesel Food not a lot of difference to Germany. All in all both countries lot cheaper than UK or France. The German and Austrian people are much more friendly and welcoming than the French. Caravan sites in general are far more superior we have never stopped at a bad one in the past 6 years of visiting there.

We have been to Germany but that was several years ago. I must agree the scenery, campsites and the people were excellent. Might consider this area and Austria for next year. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[LesleyRussell]

If you prefer Portsmouth - Condor Ferries still seem to be advertising their special offer through Camping Cheques and also Eurocamp Independent which runs from May to September next year. Sailing in and out Portsmouth / Cherbourg on a Sunday - around

 

[Gumbo]

Anyone know if DFDS from Newcastle are offering "Caravan goes Free" in 2010 I have e-mailed them but awaiting an answer.

thanks

 

[Woody3]

I am often puzzled why there is this dash for the S of France or to Spain, when there are plenty of other places far more worth a visit.

As Dianne says Germany has plenty to offer although (at least last year) I would have to argue about the relative cost of fuel (diesel.) The Rhine and Moselle are fabulous (as is the wine) and the shopping is fantastic albeit most Germany cities are very same-ish and they don't have the French-style hypermarkets. Southern Germany, the Tyrol in particular, is very relaxing.

Run down through Germany on the free autobahn, into Austria, and then the Brenner Highway (the only chargeable bit) into the Dolomites or Italian Lakes. Wonderful.

But two places that most people miss are, for us, a must.

The Voges and Alsasce (if that's how you spell it) are wonderful. The wine (both sides of the Rhine) is magic, and you get the French shopping and the German friendliness. Switzerland is also within range.

The other - and probably the most overlooked country in Europe within holiday driving range - is Luxembourg. The eastern border with Germany along the River Sure from Echternach to Wasserbillig is fabulous. Fuel is almost the cheapest in Europe - still well below 1_/L for diesel.

We've only been to the S of F once and that was when we did the Route des Grand Alpes. That was enough.

 

[wendy_5127095]

I am often puzzled why there is this dash for the S of France or to Spain, when there are plenty of other places far more worth a visit.

As Dianne says Germany has plenty to offer although (at least last year) I would have to argue about the relative cost of fuel (diesel.) The Rhine and Moselle are fabulous (as is the wine) and the shopping is fantastic albeit most Germany cities are very same-ish and they don't have the French-style hypermarkets. Southern Germany, the Tyrol in particular, is very relaxing.

Run down through Germany on the free autobahn, into Austria, and then the Brenner Highway (the only chargeable bit) into the Dolomites or Italian Lakes. Wonderful.

But two places that most people miss are, for us, a must.

The Voges and Alsasce (if that's how you spell it) are wonderful. The wine (both sides of the Rhine) is magic, and you get the French shopping and the German friendliness. Switzerland is also within range.

The other - and probably the most overlooked country in Europe within holiday driving range - is Luxembourg. The eastern border with Germany along the River Sure from Echternach to Wasserbillig is fabulous. Fuel is almost the cheapest in Europe - still well below 1_/L for diesel.

We've only been to the S of F once and that was when we did the Route des Grand Alpes. That was enough.

We had been thinking of going to France for a few years but the cost of the ferries put us off. Thanks to Val we booked the Norfolk Line offer and are looking forward to the experience, have not got a clue where to go but i guess we have time to look into it. Not too bothered where we go and for the price of the ferry it was too good an opportunity to miss.

 

[wendy_5127095]

Sorry put the following post in Woody's comment box, please bear with me my first post on the forum.

We had been thinking of going to France for a few years but the cost of the ferries put us off. Thanks to Val we booked the Norfolk Line offer and are looking forward to the experience, have not got a clue where to go but i guess we have time to look into it. Not too bothered where we go and for the price of the ferry it was too good an opportunity to miss.

 

[ValA.]

I'm glad to hear that you found my post useful, Wendy - and welcome to these forums. I do like to find the bargains, because we try to holiday on an absolute budget - and generally manage to! I usually start the search for bargain ferries about September, just after we come back from France.

This year the Norfolk Line crossings have been really cheap - much cheaper than normal.

I hope you enjoy France as much as we do! When are you going, and do you have an ideas where you might prefer?

 

[wendy_5127095]

Thanks Val, we are going on the Tues 27th July and come back thurs 12th August,son would not allow us to sail on Friday the 13th. We are open to suggestions on places to go but i know OH would like to visit somewhere on the coast while there.

 

[Robtel]

Regarding the cost of ferry crossing, following a tip from others on this forum I am going to use our Tesco points and cross via the tunnel next year -

 

[ValA.]

I think it depends on the time of year, as well as the time of day. We usually go around the M25 late evening on a Friday, in late May, and again in late August (usually the Friday before a bank holiday) and it's never been that bad. We've been held up in the queues for the Dartford Crossing, but nothing more than that.

We did, once, have to stop for an accident on the M20 - and were stuck in traffic for a couple of hours, but then just drove straight on to the next available ferry and were actually in France not much later than our booked ferry would have got us there.

 

[Gumbo]

Got an e-mail from DFDS today currently no plans for Caravan goes free in 2010. I like the word currently I suppose they are waiting to see the booking numbers.