AM I going to have to swim the Channel in Aug 08? Looking like the only way we'll get to Brittany!

[miljee]

Am amazed at the ridiculousness of the prices! I mean, I'm talking 680 quid to get a Mondeo estate from Portsmouth or Poole to Brittany rtn in August!OK, OK, I know it SI August but still. I want a quote to ferry us there, not to buy the sodding ferry! And the accommodation for a week is only costing around 700 quid! AND the Condor Ferries website won't tell me about availability so I daren't book the accommodation IN CASE the 2 don't tally. I'm beginning to see why people say soddit and book through Keycamp- then haemorrhage cash!

Oh, and it'll be a 4 odd hour drive at the other end! Unless we end up going via Calais in which case it'll take marginally longer then forever to get there.. with 2 x DSs, 7 and 9. Mmm. And Australian Uncle Glenn in tow.

Sorry, just wanted a bit of a rant. And I want someone else so fill in the 'get quote' details on the ferry sites as I've typed it in about 500 times today!

I was looking at this a couple of weeks ago, and was also shocked at the prices. We are doing Centerparcs, and have decided to to the new one in Eastern France, primarily because it is only going to cost us £100-150 for the tunnel, rather than £500 for a ferry.

Generally speaking, it's much more cost effective to go on the ferry as foot passengers, and then hire a car at the other end.

It is madness! We are were thinking of going to Brittany in June, we found a stunning house to rent for only £250 per week and it is huge so a real bargin but the return ferry fare is nearly £350! . I think it will be the UK for us again this year.

try LD lines cheaper than brittany ferries

apparently you canuse Airmiles now to pay for Brittany ferries... might be worth checking out. We always did the overnight sail cos it's fab but were quoted over £700 for it last year! Went vi Calais and the long drive was ok - not as fab as the overnight sailing but it wasn't as bad as we'd expected.

Going as foot passengers a family of 4 only came out at about £120 cheaper I think. We were looking at prices last week but aren't thinking of going until next year. (The saving starts now!)

As we live in Brittany we've used Brittany Ferries more times than I wish to remember, also with our 2nd year of having holidaymakers to the gite we know the schedules pretty well. A couple of tips - try booking the "fast ferry" crossings from Portsmouth to either Caen or Cherbourg, there is a bit of extra driving depending where in Brittany you are heading, but its usually worth the hassle (we are as far south as you can get, near Vannes & it only adds about an hour & a half onto the journey time) Also, this is very weird, but the fares change day to day! I've no idea why, but if you get a cheaper quote one day, book it! Finally, if you are staying in accommodation which advertises with BF, you are entitled to dicount on top (most of our guests get around 20% but it depends on the crossing again) We have tried doing the Calais run to save money, but unless you live really near to Dover its not worth it as you end up spending so much on tolls at this side to get to Calais! Anyway, hope that helps a bit, good luck!