Calais with kids?

shown73

If you do decide on Boulogne, but are travelling via Calais, take the twisty coast road instead of the boring motorway, much nicer. You could even stop off at Cap Gris Nez, have a walk on the cliffs, see the old fortifications, gaze accross at England, gasp in envy at the fabulous, near empty, beaches! Take a picnic, perhaps, bought locally of course...

BillTrac

depends where you live. How about Cherbourg? Go from Portsmouth. I don't know if the fast ferry has stopped for the winter now as that is a 2 and a 1/2 hour crossing, normmal ferry 5 hours which isn't practical for a day trip.. And if you are driving take a trip along the coast. There is a WW2 museum with military vehicles etc. And it is a really relaxing drive. Get out into the villages and see the proper France. And there is a supermarket on the road out to stock up on lovely fresh bread, hot chicken or pizza etc.

Again depends where you are travelling from. And to be honest if you end up using Eurostar a trip into Paris for the day isn't difficult. Ok it will be a long day but certainly worth it. Train into Gare d'Nor metro around, then train back. Won't even need the car. Park at Ashford or Ebbsfleet

InaPickle

Depending on where you are setting off from, and how you plan on getting there, Lille rocks! I lived near there for a year and loved it every time I went. Calais was bombed to the ground during WW2 and so it's nasty 60s architecture - I wouldn't recommend it.

Equally, France is really good for auberges de jeunesse (youth hostels) where you could rent a dormitory room for everyone at a reasonable price for the night and make it an overnight stay so you could stay long enough to make it worth the while of going.

Hope that helps!

ailuro2

We had a day trip to Calais when DD was about 5 or 6, it's got a little Dotto train - the little bus with carriages that takes you a trip of the town. It's actually a very pretty place, much nicer than I'd though. We had croque monsieur for lunch in a little cafe overlooking a garden square type place.

No need for a car, imho.:D

creased-leach

Another vote for Bolougne. If you're departing from Dover, take the Speedferry straight to Bolougne and you can leave the car in the UK. Nausicaa is fab, and a really easy walk from the terminal, then spend the rest of the day mooching around the lovely town- although Nausicaa would fill most of the day.

bylromarha

Thanks for all suggestions so far.

have looked at Boulogne and the only company I can see that would do a trip last week of october (half term) is ldlines and they want £59 for foot passengers or £44 if I drive across??!!!

Any other companies do this route out of dover? Direct ferries seem to imply they are the only company as Speedferry has gone into administration

Tarry

Would it be far for you to drive than from Calais? I belive that LD lines are the only ferry company at present to sail to Boulogne as most others sail to Calais.