Summer ferry crossings to France

JoeyEmma

I'm wanting to go over to France in the summer (end of July beginning of August) for two weeks, taking a Clio with a roof box and 2 bikes on the back on the ferry. We are driving down south from Manchester and eventually will be going around Champagne, so its not that important which ferry ports we go and come from.

I've done some price comparisons and can get NorfolkLine for £83 return from Dover to Calais

Is it worth booking this or will we get cheaper? Is it like easyjet and the longer you leave it the more expensive things get?

I know some papers such as the Sun do offers on ferry crossings, but are they are only day crossings and would we be able to go in the height of summer?

Any tips on ferry crossings would be greatly appreciated.

dzug

It's unlikely to get cheaper. If it's one of their special offer tickets then it has to be booked by 13 January after which it will go up. Not quite Easyjet style, but yes last minute bookings bear a surcharge.

The Sun offers tend to be at quiet times and for day trips only.

kb36

£83 sounds like a really good price to me. We book several Dover to Calais crossings a year and rarely find anything cheaper! Yes - the cost of the crossing will increase the longer you leave it although I doubt they will get cheaper. Don't risk using day trip offers as ferry companies are red hot when it comes to portions of tickets remaining unused and WILL charge you the full cost of the actual trip you made!! No experience of Norfolkline but I expect service is similar to P&O or SeaFrance. Can recommend a great bed and breakfast in Chalons en Champagne( 1/2 from Reims) if you are interested.....?

ajbrynoffa

just had a look at speedferries for 7th august...for a high car which mine is....£65 return...dover to boulogne..

boatman

Better to go with Norfolk line, hare and the tortoise!!

xinran

Speedferries is also known as the Vomit Comet - which I can vouch for!! (Then again may people use it again and again)
In my opinion Norfolklines is better than P&O.
£83 is a very good price for high season.
As already mentioned costs will increase, and there are unlikely to be any offers in July and August as the ferry companies tend to get fully booked, without needing to offer any incentives.

JoeyEmma

kb36 wrote: »

£83 sounds like a really good price to me. We book several Dover to Calais crossings a year and rarely find anything cheaper! Yes - the cost of the crossing will increase the longer you leave it although I doubt they will get cheaper. Don't risk using day trip offers as ferry companies are red hot when it comes to portions of tickets remaining unused and WILL charge you the full cost of the actual trip you made!! No experience of Norfolkline but I expect service is similar to P&O or SeaFrance. Can recommend a great bed and breakfast in Chalons en Champagne( 1/2 from Reims) if you are interested.....?

That would be great! Thanks!

JoeyEmma

Slightly off topic, but do people know if campsites in France tend to have anywhere you can safely lock up bikes?

buyitall

There are often bike stands near the shop/bar areas, but they are meant to be for when you are actually using that facility. We tend to lock up the bikes to a nearby tree or similar - French campsites usually have designated pitches which are separated by hedges or trees so there is always somewhere to park up your bike).

John_3:16

We go to France most years. We tried the longer LD line last year Portsmouth Le Harve If you are comming from Manchester. would give you a over night crosing ready for the drive in France. If you go more west the roads have less tolls so could be cheaper to get there. Hopefully this year we will go and watch the tour, as well as the alps in a few weeks.

froggy27_2

I also think it's a good price as i've been looking to book also for this summer. But i think Norfolkline only do Dover to Dunkerque not calais... or I can't see it on their site.. but thanks for pointing it out.. think i might just use them!

I've double checked and i'm well impressed - if you can play with dates and times you can get a return in July/august for £43