right, i know i'm totally chopping and changing and annoying...but it's normandy now!

[Heathcliffscathy]

we've booked into the normandy barriere for four nights for a ridiculously (we think) low bed and breakfast rate (about half the published lowest rate for a superior room. anyone stayed....don't please don't bang on about the amazing kids club as it's not on when we're there, but they do do babysitting and cots and highchairs and have a pool so......anywhere else recommended in between there and the ferry (calais, dieppe?) we'd like to do a night each way on the way there and back....child friendly, with nice food....but much more rustic than the normandy.

and any advice on ferries???

tia

Do you want cheap?

We went across with Norfolk Lines last August for under £100 (for four passengers and MPV)! It's basic but fine (and cheap). But they do take you to Dunkerque, so it's quite a drive to Normandy (depending where you're going, I suppose - we were on the Cotentin). We stayed over on the way down (near Montreuil) but came back in one hit (very very long day!). Had a fab holiday, but if we were going to the Cotentin again we'd bite the rather expensive bullet and get Brittany Ferries to Cherbourg.

HTH

Southampton Le Havre is closest to Deauville. Long crossing though, they may do a sea cat thing which is quicker

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Seems to be portsmouth Le Havre now
here

Used to go from soton in my YOOF

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or Pompey to Caen

Yes but I AM VERY OLD!

coD WILL YOU PLS GET ON MSN

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Are you a total imbecile? Install it YOURSELF YOU CRAZED FISH

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JUST GO TO MSN.CO.UK AND CLICK ON INSTALL

Don't be such a pathetic woman

portmouth caen is easy about 4 hours I think. You can get a fast ferry from poole but that takes you to cherbourg which is a bit of a drive.

ahem.

right.

so my best bet is to take the quickest crossing and drive given that it is only 2 1/2 hours calais to deauville????

is it???

WE took the Tunnel, then drove to Montreuil where we stayed overnight at the chateau de montreuil which was amazingly kid friendly - special kiddie menus, high tea sittings, great pool and gardens. We had a week in the Barriere and really liked it. We tended to eat out of the hotel in the evening as I found the prices to be completely OTT, and I refused to pay £20 per head for a kiddies meal. The hotel can arrange babysitters, or there are loads of great brasseries in town. We discovered a fabulous traiteur in the market, and did picnic type lunches from there. Have a good trip.

thanks milge!