Cheaper Eurotunnel or pay a vast price for Brittany Ferries? What would you rather do?

[onesandwichshort]

Which is worse, paying the Ferries, or driving an extra five or so hours to use the tunnel?

We are in southern England, so an hour from the main Brittany Ferries ports, and going on holiday to Western France, so that should be the easy way. But it's £650!!!! Is it worth shelling out the extra money to avoid 4 more hours in the car, or should we just go for the tunnel?

It's my first year of having to go away in the school holidays so I have scored a massive fail on booking these things cheap and early. I have learned my lesson for next year though...

Even if you book earlier Brittany Ferries are very expensive. I was shocked when I was booking ferries a couple of years ago. We went Dover-Calais and drove to the West. A long drive but worth it to avoid those high prices.

We have decided to fly to Nantes this year and hire a car. Got flights for four of us for £340 when they came out in Sept.

Take the LD lines ferry to Le Havre less than half the cost of Brittany Ferries. Truckers ferry so take your own food.

We also live in southern England (Hampshire) so not that far from ferry ports and just a little further to the tunnel. Last year we booked a holiday in the Loire Valley, only 4 or 5 hours from the Le Harve but 8ish hours from the tunnel. Like you, we thought it would be a good idea to book a ferry well ahead of time and save ourselves potentially an extra 4+ hours in the car with 2 small children. So that's what we did. However, what we didn't realise was that we had booked a fastcat, which cuts the crossing time down to a few hours ( I can't remember exactly how many) but unfortunately has nothing for children to do other that a film showing (only one passenger level comprising of seating, a restaurant and 2 big screens) Were my two interested in sitting down? Er no! Not only that but because it goes a lot faster it is very unforgiving in choppier seas, and I spent the entire journey there and the entire journey back trying not to vomit . (I have never been sick on a regular ferry) Poor DH chased them around for 2 hours and then drive for another 5! Needless to say this year we are taking the tunnel!

Don't forget to factor in the French motorway tolls as well as food and fuel. Calais to Caen is 24 euros in tolls, and you sound as though you're going further than that, so it will cost you at least 50 euros.

Also check whether you will be travelling on one of the big French holiday weekends. That motorway westward into Brittany is nose to tail on those awful Saturdays in July/August :( Link here for the French road agency calendar to check.

Just to add re: tolls and petrol last year we rendezvoused with my parents and they took the tunnel. We sat down together and compared notes on tolls, petrol and tunnel/ferry cost and found that even though they travelled several hundred miles further in France than we did, my parents ended up spending less! Of course this will all depend on how much the ferry costs.

Thanks everyone, esp Cyd - that calendar ought to be doled out with every single French holiday booking. We are going on August so might well miss a day of our holiday and try and drive in on a Sunday instead.

DIASP - I've also heard that about the fast crossing before, which is a shame as they are doing a cheap deal for £320 return on that. I will now go and investigate LD liens.

You'll be alright on the fastcat if you're ok with it being a little choppy, and remember to pack something in your 'hand luggage' to entertain little ones!

we threw up on cat with most of the other passengers - i would never to that again. brittany ferries was always part of our holiday - bar, magic show etc. there used to be ferries to cherbourg as well which i think are cheaper.

agree def don't travel on a sat in august as traffic is awful.

4 hours extra in the car might not sound a lot, but with kids and different driving conditions it could prove very tiring

I've done both (also from the west country) and the best by far is the long haul ferry - the slow one. Book a cabin. It takes 5 hours BUT you can doze and there is tons for the children to do, including a cinema. The fastcat is bearable IF you travel Commodore class (an extra 60 for our family of 5) - comfy seats, nice room that doesn't smell of vom and drinks bought to you.
The tunnel is cheaper but driving driving driving is very boring and draining.

I would always choose the Eurotunnel, its over and done with very quickly and then make the drive down leisurely, stopping off at service stations on the way for a break. Some of them have very nice play areas :).

We did the Seacat once, Dover to Calais. On the way over it was lovely. On the way back it was a nightmare. We knew it was going to be rough because they told us not to leave our seats even before we left harbour!

Fastcat isn't called the Vomit Comet for nothing .

It's worth remembering that French motorway services are NOTHING like UK ones. They are far less frequent (although the food is generally better quality) so if you are travelling with DCs (or anyone really) of an age where they will suddenly need a wee then it can be quite stressful .

I second LD though - my mum recently discovered them and they are much cheaper.

Maybe its the route we take then, PastGrace, as we've always found them plentiful and as you say, better than this country!

Have to say that I find there are LOADS of places to stop on French motorways. Even if not full service stations there are always nice little places with loos and picnic tables every few kms.

And would always choose Eurotunnel over the ferries.

the loos in the picnic areas are something to behold

Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. Had a bad experience stopping at one of those picnic area loos so only go to the full services... Will have to give them another go. Maybe.

Have to agree there is a bit of variation in the quality of the loos...sometimes easier for the DCs to do a 'garden wee'... (they are both very little...)
Would say in August it's definitely better to try and take a picnic too- the service stations get a bit manic...
Gorgeous one on the motorway through the Somme...

Tunnel DC threw up on fellow cat passenger last year

(or slow ferry)

We drove through the tunnel to the Vendee last yr, it was so much easier and then stayed in a booked Travel lodge type place in Abbeville which broke the journey as we had driven from Manchester to the Tunnel.

There was a service station at the Channel tunnel where u could chnage money, use toilets and have something to eat before you went in your slot for the tunnel. Last time we went on a ferry we had to wait till 3 am after getting to Portsmouth at 9 as the ship had a clutch problem. Don't mind ferries but it can get very boring whereas the tunnel is 30 mins or so and bingo you are in France

The ferry is part of your holiday! Your not wasting a day! If you want a high quality service chose Brittany Ferries it's far better. Theres so much for the kids to do! Plus fabulous French food buffet. BF are the best!😀

I have a discount code for Brittany Ferries if you want one.