Mumsnet users share their holiday experiences in France with Brittany Ferries

[EllieMumsnet]

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Travelling by ferry can be a much more hassle free way to go on holiday with the family...as let’s be honest a 20kg per person limit on luggage is almost impossible when you have little ones. Brittany Ferries allows you to both travel by ferry and holiday in France and they would love you to share your top holiday experiences of travelling to France.

Here is what Brittany Ferries have to say “If having young children has put you off taking a holiday abroad, then think again, think family-friendly France. Sailing from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth we offer more choice of sailings than anyone else and our on-board service is designed with little ones in mind. What’s more, we can also arrange your holiday accommodation too. Our choice of sail & stay holidays are perfect for young families with a chalet camping holiday offering fun for all with lots to see and do both on and off site. And, as all our holidays include return sailings with your car, booking that all important family holiday is simple too.”

Where did you go in France? What did you enjoy most about your holiday there? How was your family’s experience on the ferry? What are your top tips for packing for a family holiday?

Share your dream destinations and holiday by ferry experiences on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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we went across in the ferry to north brittany and use to hire a caravan at Domaine des Ormes Campsite. we went a few years in a row as we loved it! 6 different restaurants, bicycles to explore, water park, horse riding and so many more activities!

24 hours in Paris- my fiance proposed, it was truly magical.

Definitely booking a cabin and sailing at night is easier with young children and then hoping for a smooth sailing. So far we have been lucky with no bad experiences.
Normandy is my favourite place in France and well worth a visit.

i went to Brittany on the ferry about 3 years ago! i loved it! Great experience on the ferry and the food in Brittany was delicious! looking to go back soon! x

be well stocked with wet wipes, activities and fruit. enjoy the holiday and immerse yourself

Sailing from Portsmouth is fabulous! It's not too far from home, we can board at a reasonable time, eat a late lunch or dinner on board and even the children get a good nights sleep in the cabin. We then stop off for breakfast (either when we arrive in St Malo or on the road en route to Landudec) and get a full first day of the holiday. We love Brittany, and have had some fabulous holidays there. The beach at Pointe du Raz (Lands End) is simply beautiful!

I went to Paris and loved all the restaurants. People always told me that eating in Paris was expensive but if you use the set menus they are often great value

We love crossing the channel by ferry- far easier than flying!
Last time we went would have been to Disneyland Paris , (A whole new area for sharing tips!) I guess our favourite part was the fireworks over the castle once darkness fell.
We did the Dover to Calais route which isn't worth getting a cabin for and the children enjoyed exploring the boat - supervised by Granny!
My top tip for packing would be to make the most of the unrestricted luggage restrictions so you can allow for weather varying if going out of season, but don't overdo it so you still have room to bring home some wine :) !

I've never been to France with my children. The only time I've been to France was on a day trip 'booze cruise' years ago, so I don't think I'm qualified to offer advice. LOL.

When i was little i used to go on brittany ferries to france with my parents. We would drive from Burnley Lancashire all the way to Portsmouth and go across to france. Me and my sisters loved it. We would play for so long on the decks doing cartwheels and handstands which would sometimes be quite hard with the sea being choppy combined with the wind! We loved the indoor play areas and would spend ages trying to guess what sea life was under the boat! We loved exploring the boat and the cabins and mini gift shops as well as choosing what food we would like to eat on the trip.

In france we did the park holidays in a huge tent and would go to La Baule.

We would pack loads of games and plenty of paper to write about our adventures.

Id love to do these holidays with my children but its much harder as i dont drive.

We went into Paris which was amazing, the good thing about the ferry is that it makes the journey part of the experience. The kids loved it the moment they saw it

The dcs enjoyed the ferry as much as the holiday. It's worth getting a cabin for the day time return journey for access to showers, a place to leave bags and a full length bed after an early morning start.

As a family we've only dome France once and it was for the cliche of Disneyland Paris. We loved it but are planning to do a proper France holiday this year so going to be looking on here for some inspiration :)

I’ve been to Loire Valley twice (and going again this year), vendee once and Disneyland 4 times! Love them all. Loire valley has so many chateux - I recommend Château D’Ussy and Chinon castle. Disneyland is magic, we’re goung twice this year. Catching ferry and driving is so quick and inexpensive.

My top tip - the services at Somme are fab - always aim to stop there!!

Always take the ferry as it allows a nice break from the driving!

I took my husband to Mont St Michel for his birthday one year BC (before children). I think we took the Portsmouth - Cherbourg ferry, and then drove along the north coast for a couple of hours to reach our destination. Mont St Michel is so close to the UK, but easily one of the most picturesque and memorable places I have ever been to. As we went in the height of winter, our experience on the ferry was very blustery when we ventured outside; but we had fun nonetheless... there is something really old-school and romantic about arriving somewhere by ferry! I would love to go back with our toddler and new-born (due in April) but these days we would have to pack everything but the kitchen sink! My plan for future family trips to France is to replace suitcase space used to store wipes and nappies with local cheese and wine (once the former are all used up, of course).

We went to the Loire Valley and enjoyed the slower pace of life in France as well as the nice cheeses and wine

Book a gite, they're so family friendly, amazing fun for all the family!

I've only been on a ferry once when I was a child, don't remember much about it unfortunately. Paris is a lovely place to visit. Plenty of things to see and do as adults and you have the obvious option of disneyland for the kids. I'd love to head back to Paris :)

I would love to go to France by car, especially as we live on the south coast so getting to the ferry is minutes away, but I am too fearful of driving on the 'wrong side' of the road and all the signs looking confusing. I have fond memories of times in France on other holidays, in particular we went on a cruise several years ago that stopped in Cannes and it was utterly beautiful, manic, glam, expensive but it looked like a wonderful place to spend more time, if only the budget allowed for it!!

I love that we can take the dogs so many places in France. They are a big part of our family and are welcome in towns, cafes, lots of shops etc.
My tip is to bring things like tea bags and robinsons juice as you can't get them in France or they are very expensive. We generally take a few days worth of food so you don't have to go shopping whilst tired xx

Top tip stock up on food and drinks take the iPad so the kids can watch cartoons and play games and finally get an overnight ferry And plan your stop offs along the way so everyone gets some rest

We went Dover to Calais and drove to Disneyland Paris, it was a brilliant way to travel as we could take as much as the car could carry. We packed the car full of food so we saved money that way, we could get out of the car and have a leg stretch, have a bit of breakfast and it's only 90 mins. The motorways are brilliant so nice to drive, much better than UK roads.

Pre kids we had an amazing weekend in Paris - open top bus tour and 3 hours in a wine bar doing a tasting

We went as a family on an overnight cruise to France, I took some snacks for the kids and some drinks for the adults. it was nice to not worry about how many clothes to take.I loved the on board entertainment for the kids and so did they!!