Ferry to southern england

rachel_green

Are there any sites where I can compare the price of the ferry to england.

We are flexible to travel in either July, August or September. We can travel from Belfast or Southern Ireland. We need to take the car (I won't fly!). We want to go to Reading and possibly Southampton so traveling from Dublin or rosslare would probably be best. Two adults and a toddler travelling.

Any tips appreciated.

WaywardDriver

rachel_green wrote: »

Are there any sites where I can compare the price of the ferry to england.

We are flexible to travel in either July, August or September. We can travel from Belfast or Southern Ireland. We need to take the car (I won't fly!). We want to go to Reading and possibly Southampton so traveling from Dublin or rosslare would probably be best. Two adults and a toddler travelling.

Any tips appreciated.

Look at www.stenaline.co.uk and compare prices and timings for Belfast-Cairnryan, Belfast-Liverpool, Dublin-Holyhead, Rosslare-Fishguard. Pros and cons of each. Cairnryan-Reading is 420 miles, Holyhead-Reading 275 plus the 105 to Dublin so not much in it.
Have done Cairnryan-Southampton leaving Belfast 7:30am, arriving Oxford 5pm for overnight stop, or could continue on to Southampton arriving around 7pm but might be too much with toddler.
Ferry prices can be expensive although there are early savers and Tesco Clubcard points can be used.

warmhands.coldheart

^^^ Would agree with above. A case of Pro's and Cons to both... Personally I'd say Rosslare-Fishguard/Pembroke.... Splits the Car travel into more manageable chunks with the young one and trust me, you don't want to be driving for 7+ hours with a Toddler in the car...

Tips.

Bring snacks, water/drinks, Toys and.... TOP TIP... invest in one of those in-car dvd players and some appropriate DVD's..... Keeps them amused for ages....

engineer_amy

if you are looking a quick comparison, use www.aferry.co.uk has all the routes and operators. I have used it to compare prices in the past, but then go to the ferry company website directly to book.

Mistral001

I am not sure if there are any comparison sites, but remember if there are, as with most if not all comparison sites, you might pay more than if you book direct because of the commissions that are paid by the company to the comparison site.

WaywardDriver

engineer_amy wrote: »

if you are looking a quick comparison, use www.aferry.co.uk has all the routes and operators. I have used it to compare prices in the past, but then go to the ferry company website directly to book.

Suggest costs to some extent irrelevant - more important to consider timings and driving distances with toddler on board and whether adults can share driving.
Many years ago I tried different tactics with 2 young children and found it was best to get the driving over as quickly as possible with minimum of stops. Taking my time and making frequent stops only prolonged the whole process. But everyone's different.

Milko

I done this route a few times last year & I'm about to do it all again this year (work purposes using a LWB van) & personally I prefer the Cairnryan route with longer drive than the overnight or all day Liverpool boat but then its each to their own. The Liverpool route also nearly always works out more expensive even after fuel for longer drive.

WaywardDriver

Milko wrote: »

I done this route a few times last year & I'm about to do it all again this year (work purposes using a LWB van) & personally I prefer the Cairnryan route with longer drive than the overnight or all day Liverpool boat but then its each to their own. The Liverpool route also nearly always works out more expensive even after fuel for longer drive.

Same for me. Meant to suggest using route planner at www.rac.co.uk for distances and travelling times.

qwert_yuiop

Milko wrote: »

I did this route a few times last year & I'm about to do it all again this year (work purposes using a LWB van) & personally I prefer the Cairnryan route with longer drive than the overnight or all day Liverpool boat but then its each to their own. The Liverpool route also nearly always works out more expensive even after fuel for longer drive.

I like the Dublin Holyhead route, which is quite quick if you take the fast ferry and stick to the a55 along the Welsh coast to Chester rather than the scenic a5 through the mountains to Shrewsbury. After either, you're on to the motorway system.

Golden_Anemone

I drove to Cornwall a few years ago with my disabled sister rather than a toddler. We went Dublin Holyhead and drove to Chester then down the Motorway. Had an overnight stop at Premier Inn in Bristol on way down and Chester on way back - more for my sister's sake than mine. It's a long drive but the roads are so good you cover a lot of distance quickly.

eamon

I would be inclined to get the overnight Belfast/Birkenhead ferry. Pay for the cabin. Its a 4hour drive to Reading. The roads will be busy they always are when you go south of Preston. Other routes mean more driving.