Ferries

[Redmurty]

What's the trick with the ferries, is it best to book early or book as late as possible to get the best deal ?

Looking to go to France in September and the chunnel looks to be quite a lot cheaper at the moment. I am doing math as to wether it is cheaper to do ferry and cut some mileage or go a long route and save ferry cost cheers spud

[Willy_Eckerslike]

Prices only get higher nearer to the sailing date, there's no point waiting for a better price.

[Redmurty]

Cheers mate Spud

[moto al]

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imagesCA765SXK.jpg (7.79 KiB) Viewed 1115 times

[siddhartha]

Travelled to Italy in June with a friend - we met up in Germany. He took chunnel - a flexible ticket that was lot cheaper than ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden - but you can get good ferry deals.

For ferry prices - try a company called Nutt Travel - www.nutttravel.com - as their ferry prices can be considerably cheaper than buying direct from say DFDS out of Newcastle.

[skorpion]

Hi Redmurty

As a rule book as early as you can.

By September the cost of fares tends to drop off somewhat as you'll be out of the 'peak' season.

Tunnel v ferry?

Depends which part of France you're going to: France is a big (and bum-numbingly boring) country to ride/drive thru' so, IMHO...

The tunnel (or a short ferry crossing) is great for anywhere down as far as Paris or eastern or south/eastern France.

France's Atlantic coast is best dealt with a relaxing overnight crossing to St Malo.

South/western France: save your sanity and take the long crossing to Northern Spain and then treat yourself to a short, but picturesque, ride eastwards over the mountains and into France.

But, which ever route you take... ENJOY!!!

[phillh]

If you do a long ferry trip eg Portsmouth - St Malo, consider a cabin. Its only around £19 and means you can lock all your kit up safely and dont have to wander around in leathers for 9hrs.

[2 wheeled tourist]

The earlier you book, it should, be cheaper

[boristhebold]

France is so big that the few quid you save on a short crossing is more than made up for in either fuel and tolls on the boring but quick autoroute OR taking slower roads but having to have a stopover. Avoid both by doing an overnighter. Plymouth Santander is perfect, a good meal, sleep and day on board a luxury ferry and then get dumped in NE Spain/SW France, ride the Pyrenees and a slow ride North homebound. Perfect

[macvisual]

Another thumbs up for 'Nutt Travel', they are based in N-Ireland and very competitive prices re ferries etc, we booked a September sailing with them from Newcastle to Amsterdam etc....

If you call 'Nutt Travel' ask for Chris, very helpful/polite, superb service!