To be dreading this holiday to France?

[thinkingmakesitso]

In September I stupidly and quite rashly booked a holiday with Brittany holidays for me and my dc. They mentioned they'd always wanted to sleep on a ferry and before I knew it I'd booked it.

Now it's next week and I'm dreading it because:

1. I'm shattered after a very hectic year. I break up Wednesday (teacher), the house is a shit hole, and I'll have to get straight into packing mode and I just can't be arsed.
2. I live 6 hours from the port so have arranged to stay the night at my parents' on the way. I find them quite stressful and I haven't been to theirs for about 8 years as they keep their house like somewhere Kim and Aggie would be needed. God knows why I thought this would be a good place to stop off.

3.I drive up an down the M1 every day and enjoy driving, but I've never driven abroad before and am getting really nervous about getting onto the ferry and driving in France - having Googled it seems they have lots of complex regulations and I will need to but hi-vis jackets for us all etc etc. Luckily we are staying only about 40km from the port, but still...

1. We are staying in a chalet on a camp site, so I will have no respite from the constant thinking about food, and clearing up. Dc are 11 & 9, so can do their bit, but I just wish we were going AI somewhere. I think it's going to be expensive over there, so I won't want to rely on restaurants too much. I'll be constantly whittling about money while there...

The area looks stunning, and I'm sure it'll all be worth it, but I feel a sense of dread rather than excitement atm... ok, not really an AIBU, but AIBU to think I shouldn't have booked it, or can anyone persuade me otherwise?

if anyone can convince me that that too will be amazing that would be great Buy a box of Maltesers (each?) and off you go.

I live in Brittany, I think there are more British here than Breton at the moment. The weather is lovely, it's very hot, the beaches are amazing and Lidl is available in every town

It will be fantastic! Try to relax and enjoy. A ferry sleep is all part of the fun. Have a wonderful time!

Of course! Return To The Forbidden Planet!!! Probably 30 years since I saw it! Prepare to be entertained - I think (from memory) everyone loved it.

I'd forgotten about return to the forbidden planet. It's not that, though it sounds identical. it's just billed as I described. Definitely going to buy a load of treats for us. I'm sure it'll be great and is at least getting us away from the dreaded Fortnite, though after this thread I actually want to stay in researching Brittany in more depth.

LTB you are obviously incompatible.

We've done these type of holidays a few times. Once you get going it seems to just be fine. Take it a step at a time. Google lots of nice places to stop - there's loads of info online about nice service stations and ones to avoid. We took two toddlers and a whinging teenager from Wales to Dover to Brittany to Paris and back (on a budget). If we can do it you can!
We loved it and have so many memories of the funny bits, crazy and daft bits and the wonderful bits. I so wish we were going this year!

Please don't worry about driving onto the ferry. The handlers (or whatever you call them) are used to complete prats driving, and all you have to do is drive in a straight line to the car in front of you, there is very little manouvring.

I can remember my DCs when they were the age of yours, and we went on a ferry for the first time, they were so excited, they loved it. Now they're in their twenties and they still talk fondly of those holidays. I'm off on one in a month and I can't wait! As long as you embrace the ferry as part of your holiday, you'll have a great time, good luck!

I think you’re suffering from a case of pre holiday jitters OP. A few years back I took my dd’s travelling around Thailand for a month (then aged 5 and 11) as a lone parent. A few days before I could have happily binned the whole idea off, I was so stressed out about it all and the logistics. Long story short, it was absolutely fine, if little things cropped up I dealt with them. You’ll have a great time.

Please don't worry about driving onto the ferry. The handlers (or whatever you call them) are used to complete prats driving, and all you have to do is drive in a straight line to the car in front of you, there is very little manoeuvring.

Thanks for this (I know it's off topic) but I've fancied The Isle of White for a while but am scared of the manoeuvring. I'm seriously rubbish at it (like it will take me half an hour to get out of a car parking space if people are parked either side of me). Might be tempted to give it a go.

We did what sounds like an identical holiday four weeks ago. It was wonderful - driving super easy in France and the ferry went v smoothly. We are from the on site takeaway more than we should have because lazy, but hey, it’s a holiday. Enjoy!

Just sounds like a normal hol to me?

Just ban the phrases “what’s for lunch” and “what’s for dinner”. Buy loads of bread cheese cold meats fruit and veg and just graze.
Is that not what self catering holidays are for?

As a parent I hate the run up to a holiday. All the negative things that could happen run through my head to the point that I just don't want to go.
However, we've been on about 6/7 Eurocamp holidays and they're bloody fantastic, just what a frazzled and overworked mum needs.
I find it much easier than flying, passport control is a doddle and there's no baggage allowance limit.
Brittany is beautiful and the people are lovely.
The campsites are very child friendly and your kids will soon make friends giving you time to recharge your batteries.
I'm very jealous, you'll have a fantastic time.

Don't go to France and take food with you (unless your kids are mad about baked beans or other such British stuff). Part of the fun of being abroad is the lovely supermarkets and markets and trying new things.

And as for the boat, we take the overnight ferry from Hull to the Continent quite a bit and it is ace. And really easy drive on drive off.

I'm actually excited for you OP and a tiny bit jealous.

Staycations are the answer. Or 100 miles travel, max.
France is lovely though and that's why French people like to go on holiday there.

It sounds lovely = we took our dc on overnight ferry every year, even as babies. They loved it - an adventure.

I hate driving but drove down to the S of France once with no trouble. Have a look at the map and try to go cross-country if you do not fancy big city ringroads (peripheriques) - even the country roads are a bit like our A roads. I really think you will be fine.

Your dc are a great age for this sort of holiday. When we did this with ours the children all joined a multi national pack who all played together. You can sit outside with a good book while they run feral.

I’m feeling quite nostalgic!

You'll be fine. We booked a similar trip driving from North Yorkshire to the south of France.
I was dreading it and it was brilliant. Even the. Huge drive with a toddler in tow.
We didn't cook many meals, just ate bread, meat, snacks and ice cream with the odd meal out and frozen pizza. It felt totally relaxing.

Seriously Bottle they know what they're doing and even if you bottle it (pun intended) they will just help you get in the right place, I go on a ferry regularly, I've seen people break down, reverse instead of drive forward, etc etc. They will be used to far worse than you! Go for it!

Check the bedding provided if you haven't don ever that already. We've been caught out with not enough blankets on French campsites in chalets or their tents. Never again!

Amazed pp are suggesting you take lots of food with you. The supermarche is brilliant fun. Wine is cheap, cheese is awesome, jams amazing etc etc. We pack with enough space to load up on sirop, Brittany special foods, tinned fish, mustards and vinaigrette that you can't get in the uk.

There's almost never a kettle. Always a filter coffee machine (take your own filters) and an oyster knife though.

Take teabags. They're expensive there.

The fruit and veg is amazing at this time of year in Brittany. Definitely go to a market if you can, even if it's just to mooch around.

Op, maybe tell us whereabouts in Brittany you are going and there will be lots of advice on places to go, shops etc.

We have a touring caravan, after a string of hols in Cornwall when kids were early primary, we took the plunge and went to France. A colleague of mine had been with his caravan many times and I wanted to try it. DH only agreed I think to get it out of my system.

Well that was about 11 years ago, and we have been back most years, apart from a couple of long haul hols and a year we needed to stay in UK. We would have gone this year but have had a family tragedy and a wait for the funeral.

Our first trip was to Sarzeau in south Brittany and we have been back there, plus also been to the Loire, Dordogne, Royan, Paris and Vendee areas. As others have said, the roads are much quieter than in UK, even motorways. The only problem we have seen is that some motorway service stations are heaving on summer Saturdays, but given that you are doing an overnight ferry I am guessing you wont have far to drive at other end. We get around that problem by travelling midweek, as having a tourer we are more flexible. I have towed in France, and driven without the caravan on, though tend to let DH do the manoeuvring onto tunnel or ferry.

We have done most ferry routes, including a short overnight from Newhaven to Dieppe and a long day from Roscoff to Plymouth, plus the tunnel.

Your site will most likely have a shop and/or a delivery of fresh bread (baguettes, pain au chocolate, croissant etc) in the mornings. Supermarkets are brilliant, the patisserie is to die for, but also lots of lovely fish, meat, cheeses, salad etc, not to mention wine! Moules Frites (Mussels and chips!) is a staple in Brittany restaurants, along with other seafood, my two have loved MF since our first trip, when they were 7 and 9.

Most towns have a market once a week, selling all types of food plus maybe clothes and local products. They will normally have food stalls too, selling hot meals plus crepes and other snacky produce.

I am getting quite jealous and really wish we were heading there ourselves, our neighbours left yesterday to go. But it doesn't work for us this year.

If you can hire bikes for your DC, I'd recommend it. Last time we went our youngest was only 6, but happily pedalled around the campsite for hours with her older siblings who were then 8 and 10.

I wish we were going to a French campsite this year. We've done it twice but I didn't drive, DH did.

You will be pleasantly surprised, I'm sure.

We do Brittany Ferries overnight every year. I am a nervous driver but one year had to do all the driving when DH hurt his back and it was dine. When you get off at the other end, just follow everyone else! We self-cater and I just buy pizza, quiche, lasagne and stick it in the oven. Campsites often have takeaways. Enjoy your trip.

fine