to prefer to drive from Calais to Brittany than do the overnight crossing, shudder..

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We did the overnight crossing from Portsmouth to St. Malo several years ago.
It was hideous.
This year we've decided to drive from Calais to Brittany. We're off to Chateau Des Ormes in Dol De Bretagne, Brittany. Google maps says it's beyween 4.5-6.5 hour drive, depending on the route we take.
Some people have said we are mad.
Some people have suggested it will take longer than 6 hours.
But after spending all night in a tiny cabin with no windows, with a rough sea, and sea sickness tablets which didn't work (puking my guts up all night), I think dh and I would prefer to be in our car on the open toll road, rather than a bloody boat.
AIBU?

YANBU. It is a longer drive than you expect, though. Nicer to stay the night somewhere en route, ime, but then I'd rather enjoy two more huge Breton meals than start & finish my holiday knackered!

seasickness is vile so I dont blame you doing what you can to avoid it

I live further south just over an hour from La Rochelle I usually fly when I go to and from the UK, but from Caen and St Malo is it approximately 4 and a half hours drive to me probably less but my parents are very very slow drivers so you could get to the coast in the same time where the weather is better

We all much prefer the drive to long ferry crossing. Very much a personal thing though, down to how everyone in the family travels and what works for you. If you have done an overnight crossing and hated it, give the drive a go. We usually drive to either south of France or Italy, Tuscany or the lakes and have driven to Rome with all of our 5 dcs over the years, and we keep long stops to a minimum as we prefer to get there sooner. We've done the drive to Brittany a few times and haven't needed to stop overnight, just rest and food but our dcs travel very well and like the drive, love driving through the Alps. We find the drive passes quickly and it is helped by the fact that DH is the most stress free driver but I know it's not for everyone.

I do like Brittany, but we've also found the weather unpredictable...what I love about the drive going south, it is almost invariably grey and dismal arriving at Calais, and it's the change in the air as you drive down, getting sunnier and hotter as you go.

I also prefer a shorter crossing. Not a fan of ferries - and they are sooo expensive for theovernight crossing.

we are going to the Charente in July/Aug - us and my parents, and sis. We are going a few days before them - and are doing the Eurotunnel. We have a hotel (well, an Etap) booked for the Friday evening and then we will continue the drive on the Saturday. Nice and relaxed - get to see a bit of another city first. Cost wise, probably about the same.

My parents and sis are taking the overnight ferry Portsmouth - Le Havre (I think!). It is costing them over £400 - but yes, it will reduce their drive on their day of arrival.

I actually enjoy the driving in france though. And at least you are under your own steam. You aren't waiting for the ferry captain to drive faster - or if it is cancelled then you are at their mercy.

Tunnel every time. Our is £188 return in peak summer season. Takes half an hour. Easy.

However;

One year we stayedi n Brittany -and caught the Portsmouth - Cherbourg fast ferry. It was quite pricy though - over £300 return. It did only take about 4hours though. We all felt a bit [sick] though.

Still a bit of a drive though down the peninsular into Brittany. But that could be an option for you?

My parents are just back from Brittany - 2 weeks, 2 days without rain

YANBU avoiding the long crossing, I hate it too and usually go Friday night and stay in Ibis Tunnel Sous La Manche which is 5 mins from tunnel then drive down to SW on Saturday.

The roads are much better in France than trip to Portsmouth. And food in service stations is edible.

We are going to Brittany this year and have made exactly the opposite decision!! We are sailing Portsmouth to Le Havre overnight. I have never had any problems with overnight ferries before so there you go.

DH considered the Dover Calais route originally but on balance we decided that would be two days very long drives (North West to Folkestone, then Calais to Dinan) with five adults in the car. By the time we had factored in overnight stays at Folkestone and tolls and extra petrol we didn't think the ferry was that much more.

Year before last we did Dover -Calais and then drove down to the Dordogne, admittedly with an overnight stop, and it was damned hard work. I kind of like the idea of getting off the boat and making our way in a leisurely fashion Westg.

We went down to teh Vendee....7hr drive from Calais!. I would drive during the day, but I would definetely book an overnight at the Premier Inn or similar to make an early start on the ferry and split up any driving.

YANBU. If you get sea sickness, why put yourself through it? 6hrs drive is not that long with a big break for lunch.

God no,I'm a terrible sailor! When we go to France,we always drive. Brittany is pretty quick but we've done south of France several times. Always drive overnight,really clear roads.

we're coming at the start of August. Anyone know if the rain is going to be gone by then or we might just keep driving until we find some

until we find some sunshine, I mean!

We've done what you're proposing and it was really good. The toll roads are so fast it passes very quickly. I also get sea sick and we live in Kent so getting to channel ports easy for us. I also prefer drive and cheap ferry over expensive overnight ferry.

I've done the Portsmouth-St Malo ferry a few times, always worked really well for us, but then we don't get seasickness.

I'm shocked that someone spent 2 weeks in Brittany with no rain! I'm also in southern Brittany and the weather has not been much fun so far this summer.

I second the Vendee rec, it's not much farther than Brittany but the weather tends to be much better.

Sorry dreaming I didn't explain that well, they were there for 2 weeks and had only 2 days without rain. Rest of the time it was constant. The benefits of going on holiday in term time

I think that you need to tell "some people" to fuck off and mind their own buisness.

Seriously, it's your holiday. Give it a go, approach it with a sense of adventure and several breaks, and if it's hell, cross that type of journey off your list, like you've done with the overnight ferry.

ah alana thanks, that makes more sense!

I was seriously jealous that anyone around here was getting all the sun

dreamingbohemian, do you know if there's any sun heading your way in Brittany? preferably for August when we're there?

I've done that journey, it is fine, it's only five hours or so.

Great campsite, too.

I can't wait. Rain or shine, it will get us away. If we stay here we'll just end up doing jobs around the house.

I hope so OP! The next week is, hmm, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain....

But you know, last summer was glorious, so just hoping it will kick in at some point!

On the plus side -- it doesn't really rain all day, there's usually some bits of sun here and there, so it's not really gloomy.

The evenings are usually still nice, some sun and it stays light until late.

I've done rainy summers in London and rainy summers here, and they definitely feel a bit better down here. That could be the cider influence though

I refuse to set foot on a ferry, so we always take the Le Shuttle train from Folkestone to Calais. So no, IMO YANBU! The car ferry is expensive anyway, so even though you'll pay more for petrol, tolls, etc by driving I think we still saved money because the ferry would've been £400 and the train was only £148.

The only time ive felt sick on a crossing is the SeaCat Poole to st malo,we took the long crossing back and much preferred it. Hated the SeaCat, smelt of puke. Hardly and space. I love the little cabins on the ferry and sleep like a log. But if you feel sick YANBU.

YANBU, we do this - holidaying every year in the Vendee at half-term, we always take the Eurotunnel. We stay overnight near Folkestone, catch the early train hen have a leisurely drive down :)

Boat journey would be a nightmare!

Are they not doing the catamaran crossings from Poole to Cherbourg and Caen this year? Short crossing - three hours ? and leaves you much nearer your destination.