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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Would you go by ferry or fly to France?

19 replies

ohIdoliketobebesidethe · 17/04/2009 21:26

We are off with friends to Brittany in June. They are travelling by Ferry = total of 6 hours driving (2 our end then 4 in France) plus 8 hours on Ferry. If we fly it will be 1hr drive, 90min flight then 1 hr drive.

Our friends are trying to persuade us that the Ferry is a destination in and of itself and that the kids entertainment is great and that that was the best bit of their holiday last year.

We have 3 children dd 4yrs, dd 2yrs (just)and ds who will be 10 months. The girls are fine in the car in front of the TV but baby is not too keen on his car seat which is too curvy for his back.

Do you agree that the Ferry is great fun or will it be 8 hrs of agaony on top of extra driving?

The price difference is not that significant for us.

Thanks for you help.

OP posts:

EdwardCullensWife · 17/04/2009 21:31

A 1.5 hour flight will be significantly longer once you add all the extra time faffing about. We've just flown back from Sardinia. Got to the airport at 8.30am and didn't arrive home till gone 4pm.

scienceteacher · 17/04/2009 21:34

I would take the ferry just because you end up with your own car, so don't have mega logistics with suitcases.

An 8-hour ferry is very long. Are you sure? Is it overnight?

SazzlesA · 17/04/2009 21:34

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SazzlesA · 17/04/2009 21:37

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Original poster

ohIdoliketobebesidethe · 17/04/2009 21:43

Sazzles-A

Interesting, thanks. The drive from Calais to the part of Brittany we want is more like 7 hours, which we are not keen on.

I hate Ryanair as much as the next person (they are the only company that is proud about how much it hates its customers, at least since Ratners).

However the flight is with Air France and from the world's best airport - London City (no queues).

The key question for me is can the ferry be fun?

OP posts:

strawberrycornetto · 17/04/2009 21:44

We had this dilemma last year. We flew in the end and it was fine. DS was 8 months and DD almost 4. We had a much longer potential drive though. We managed ok with luggage but then we flew BA not Ryanair! I have heard good things about longer ferry crossings.

SazzlesA · 17/04/2009 21:47

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Hulababy · 17/04/2009 21:49

Fly

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 17/04/2009 21:55

I'd go by Eurostar. It's quicker then a ferry, eco friendly and you can take your car. What's not to like?

Latchley · 18/04/2009 15:58

We live in Cornwall so flying always involves a minimum 2 hour drive to an airport, but Plymouth ferry port is only half an hour. As a result I much prefer the ferry.
We always book a cabin, even if travelling during the day; and on the return trip we always cram our car with loads of wonderful, cheap (even with the awful euro exchange rate) French wines and cheeses, and huge tresses of amazing garlic, and those syrups that French kids drink instead of squash.... mmm, can't wait to go back this summer!

Hassled · 18/04/2009 16:01

I second Eurostar - much more flexibility re times of crossing and even with the extra driving once in France it will still work out quicker. And more pleasant - some ferries are pretty ropey.

Leslaki · 19/04/2009 22:00

If it's the overnight ferry and you book a canbin then yes it's the best start toa holiday ever!!! We always used to do it - drive to Portsmouth, go to beach, out fr dinner then on the ferry. Dum stiff in cabin and ket DCs rampage round ferry before going to bar - they would dance to live band (from age 1 and upwards) while mummy quaffed wine! Then into cabin and a full nights sleep. then early start, brakfast of fresh croissants just outside St malo for breakfast and at restauarant campsite for lunch!!! Fab!

BirdyArms · 19/04/2009 22:08

Can you get a fast ferry crossing? I think quite a few routes you can choose between eg 7 hours and 3. If you friends have similar aged kids I think that the ferry will be OK, I wouldn't say that the kids entertainment is great for such little ones but at least they can run about a bit. Food is good on Brittany Ferries.

We are going to I guess a similar part of Brittany and are doing the fast Poole-Cherbourg ferry crossing because the friends that we are going with are not keen on the ferry part. Then 5 hour drive which I am more worried about.

We did overnight on the way home a couple of years ago with 18mth old ds1 who didn't sleep a wink so I wouldn't recommend that.

hatwoman · 19/04/2009 22:14

we've been to brittany about 4 times now - by overnight ferry every time - it works brilliantly - just like leslaki says - as far as dds are concerned the holiday has already started. one particularly good thing is the complete lack of lugging stuff around - you pack up the car at home and don't even think about your stuff til you arrive at your final destination. you can take the kitchen sink, if you want. or just settle for filling the car with games, outdoor toys, scooters etc.

LobstersLass · 19/04/2009 22:15

We went to France with Brittany Ferries a couple of years ago on an overnight crossing.

It was fab. I'd highly recommend it.

hatwoman · 19/04/2009 22:19

also less messing about and waiting with ferries. you say the flight will mean 1hr drive, 90 min flight then 1 hr drive. but you've missed out 20-40 minutes queueing at check in, 20 mins to get through passport and security, 20 minutes trying to find some half decent but ludicrously expensive snacks, 15 minutes walking to the gate, 15 mins waiting to board, 15 minutes waiting to take off....the ferry is so much simpler

DadInsteadofMum · 20/04/2009 13:28

Both

I drive on the ferry, car loaded to the roof with everything the kids could want (inc bikes).

Family follows by plane, I have a drive without kids, kids have short journey. Car upacked by time family arrive so family can start holiday instantly, not arrive tired and grumpy.

AnnasBananas · 20/04/2009 14:20

We are also going to Brittany in Aug and have just booked the Eurotunnel using our Tesco club card points for a free crossing.

We have a six hour drive from Calais to Brittany where we are going, but we would rather take a 35 min crossing and then drive the other side and stop every two hours or so for leg-stretch and for the children to have a wee!

Plus we can take as much as we can CRAM into our estate including bikes for the kids.

Zola78 · 05/05/2009 17:23

We are in the exact same dilema but we have now decided to drive. Our littlest one (we have 3!) is only 15 months and hates car journeys at the best of times so as much I like the romantic idea of ferry crossings and driving across. I'm not sure we'll be able to that until their older.

As for the expense it's only costing us an extra £130 to fly. When driving you have to consider the cost of the ferry, toll roads (which are pricey), petrol and food and drinks. We were going to have to stay in a hotel part of the way if we drove as we are going to the south of france. Our eldest boys (4 & 3) have never been on an eroplane and are loking forward to it so hopefully it won't be that stressful.

Good luck with your decision.

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