Ferries to France

mazza245

We are travelling to Portugal via a ferry at the end of February, returning at the end of April. It will be a long and difficult journey as we live in the north of England, so we have a day's journey just to get to the south coast of England alone! Obviously, we want to do it as cheaply as possible and not particularly good sailors.

The Plymouth-Santander ferry doesn't start until April, so that's out. We did that last time and it wasn't so bad - it certainly cut down the driving time.

I wondered if anyone has any advice as to whether Dover-Calais (which is the cheapest and shortest trip by sea but the longest driving time presumably) would be best or there are all the possibilities of Bologne/Dieppe (all more expensive ferries) or St Malo from Weymouth which is most money. Obviously, if we went Dover - Calais we would have to pay for one more night in a hotel plus subsistence but as it would cost approx £150 cheaper for the ferry, would it be better?

We honestly can't decide but we do need to get this booked. I also wondered if anyone had any codes which would reduce the price of the Condor Ferry (Weymouth to St Malo). Presumably, at about 200 miles less driving, it would be a bit more comfortable but you have to pay for that.

Altogether, it is about 310 miles from here to Weymouth, or 340 miles to Dover, plus 1200 miles from St Malo to the Algarve. From Calais to the Algarve it would be about 1,400 miles. All this will be expensive for tolls, petrol, hotels, etc. I am tempted to go for the cheapest ferry and hang the consequences but of course, I'm not doing the driving. Has anyone any advice please?

ferryenthusiast

P&O operate from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Spain. I know a few people who use this service rather than the long drive down.

dzug1

The P&O service operates year round - it's good but pricy.

Fast ferries (eg Condor) are more prone to weather disruption than ordinary ones, and are more vomit-inducing in rougher conditions when they are still running.

Tarry

Would it be better to cheaper to fly there seeing as it's a long journey? It might be easier?

mazza245

We always fly but for various reasons we want to drive down this time. The Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry, unfortunately, is not only pricey but it takes three days!!!!:eek: I couldn't cope with that.

It's interesting what dzug1 says about the Condor ferry being vomit-inducing, we wondered about that. I thought it might have gone over the waves or through them - I suppose they are saying that it bounces through all of them - urgh! I just thought that it only takes five hours but five hours of hell......!!

I think we are going to have to go for one of the shorter ferry trips (which are cheaper to boot) and just spend the difference on another night in a hotel.

Thanks for your replies anyway.

knightstyle

We go from NE England to SW France regularly. Find the best ferry is Newhaven-Dieppe, To save money check out which motorways in France are free and buy fuel at supermarkets.

dzug1

Surely the Bilbao ferry doesn't take 3 days? Not whole ones anyway. I thought it left in the evening and arrived in the morning 36 hours later? Or it did last time I took it.

ferryenthusiast

dzug1 wrote: »

Surely the Bilbao ferry doesn't take 3 days? Not whole ones anyway. I thought it left in the evening and arrived in the morning 36 hours later? Or it did last time I took it.

Correct, it is a 36 hour sailing southbound and 28 hours northbound. The extra going south is so that they arrive at 8am following two nights at sea.

Most people I know who go to Portugal or Spain for a holiday have found there is not much in the price once you take in the cost of fuel, overnight stops and the shorter ferry crossing. Rather than a method of transport, they see it more as part of the holiday.

Most of the time P&O are cheaper than Brittany Ferries. Incidently Brittany Ferries are amending their Spainish service this year and running a triangle service from Portsmouth to Spain and then back to Plymouth and vice versa.

spiro

dzug1 wrote: »

Surely the Bilbao ferry doesn't take 3 days? Not whole ones anyway. I thought it left in the evening and arrived in the morning 36 hours later? Or it did last time I took it.

Outbound it leaves at 21:15 and arrives at 08:00 (34 hrs later), Return leaves at 13:15 and arrives at 17:15 (28hrs later).

harryhound

The Bay of Biscay in February might not be part of the holiday, for people who are not good sailors!
Beg, borrow or steal the Michelin atlas of France if driving.
(Can't comment on Sat Nav, as I haven't used one on the Continent)
The free motorways have their distances printed in a different colour.
.
(These are the motorways built along the Belgium/German frontier (as the one the other side of the border is free anyway) OR where the EU lesser developed region fund has been used to finance its construction. (A28.....A20....??))

Sometimes the old Route National ("N" numbered) dual carriageway can be almost as fast and a lot more interesting BUT there will be no signs for it until you have ignored all the signposts directing you to the toll road.
The "N" road is more likely to offer access to cheap supermarket fuel.
It is a bit like travelling down to London by M1 or A1 - I enjoy the travel, enjoy planning it, enjoy knowing where I am, enjoy the overnight stops, enjoy having two drivers, enjoy the serendipity of having a spare day in hand if needed and make it part of the holiday; but I think the OP probably regards it as an evil to be minimised?