South of France northern Spain in a tent Aug/Sep

elantan

Outbound Sailing
Vehicle and Passengers 385.00 GBP
Outside large 2 berth/4 berth cabin with ensuite facilities 1
140.00 GBP
Return Sailing
Vehicle and Passengers 409.00 GBP
Outside large 2 berth/4 berth cabin with ensuite facilities 1
140.00 GBP
Total 1074.00 GBP
Including non refundable deposit of
Which is due today 35.00 GBP
Payment is due on 2 Jun 2017 for the balance of 1039.00 GBP

just put the information into Britanny ferries website this was the latest quote

ok slightly cheaper £1074, still expensive i reckon

mgdavid

If you take the caravan you have free accomodation and hence can take cheaper ferry crossings and at cheaper time of day too.
You can go Poole-Cherbourg 2+2+caravan for about £550. It's only 4 hours so no need for a cabin.

elantan

OK I think I am a bit confused, when we last took a ferry as soon as we parked the car we had to leave the car deck, so taking a caravan would not give us free accommodation, is it different crossing the channel ?

The sailing that we picked was the only time of day available so we didn't have an option to go at a cheaper time of day ?

We also paid the equivalent of two cars when we took the caravan so it was anything but cheaper to take a caravan on a ferry ?

This was just the ferry price not the holiday price

martindow

elantan wrote: »

OK I think I am a bit confused, when we last took a ferry as soon as we parked the car we had to leave the car deck, so taking a caravan would not give us free accommodation, is it different crossing the channel ?

True but mgdavid was suggesting for a 4 hour crossing you just sit in chairs or go for a meal and don't need to pay for a cabin. On longer crossings or at night you may be obliged to pay for one but it is certainly not necessary for just a few hours.

mgdavid

^^^ this, and more;
I was taking into account that you are starting from Scotland, so a day to drive to the south coast port area, where you might wish to park up nearby overnight and take a cheaper early morning ferry.
Or cross in the evening and park up a few miles into France for the overnight kip. All depends on the ferry schedules.
My approach is to find a cheap affordable ferry crossing and fit the travel around it. Many motorhomers and caravaners do this.
It's also worth looking at Dover-Calais crossings as they run every hour in the summer so give greater opportunity for flexibility.

ETA - the costs in my post #13 are the ACTUAL COSTS obtained yesterday off the Brittany Ferries website, for a Friday crossing in August and a return on a Sunday in September, but *not* choosing the most expensive times of the day.

elantan

That makes more sense thanks ... will look at other ferry ports and see what I can come up with, I didn't think the difference would be that great but it's encouraging that they are


Thank you both

maman

I haven't checked the website myself but, from previous experience, it's always cheaper to get a ferry outside school holidays so returning in September will help. If you could go completely in September you'd probably save a lot.


I think the poster that mentioned saving on accommodation meant avoiding overnight ferries.


By taking a ferry to Northern Spain (Bilbao is another option) that will cut down on the driving and so fuel and autoroute tolls.

mgdavid

maman wrote: »

I haven't checked the website myself but, from previous experience, it's always cheaper to get a ferry outside school holidays so returning in September will help. If you could go completely in September you'd probably save a lot.


I think the poster that mentioned saving on accommodation meant avoiding overnight ferries.


By taking a ferry to Northern Spain (Bilbao is another option) that will cut down on the driving and so fuel and autoroute tolls.

Agree - although the OP hasn't been specific about children or ages, so in the example I quoted the return was on 3rd September which is still in school hols (at least down in these parts, Scotland may be different).

The Bilbao / Santander ferries are expensive! As I thought I'd shown in post #6 in pure cost terms it's usually cheaper to Dover-Calais and drive; the main advantage of the long ferry is time saved by not having to stop overnight, and also for people who don't much like driving.

agrinnall

Schools in Scotland will be back in mid-August so I doubt if any September date is viable if school-age children are involved.

Jackieboy

Northern Spain and south of France - how long are you going for?