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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find it best on a road-trip including a ferry to take it at night and book a cabin cheap! would love to go to paris

Great to hop over then drive on down to Paris.

Mum is scared of flying so the ferry is the very best way for us to get there. Taking the little ones to Disneyland Paris was a dream come true. We didn't stay in a Disney hotel but found a great deal at the hotel Kyriad just outside the Disney Village with a free shuttle to the park, worked perfect for us.

Visit the convent in Rue du Bac in Paris to see the beautiful preserved body of St Catherine Laboure. To be that close to a saint who is famous for receiving the Miraculous Medal from the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her was a very moving experience.

Traveling there by car and ferry was extremely relaxing and made the trip even more relaxing and memorable. The friendliness of staff makes all the difference as well.

I love going to Brittany from Plymouth with Brittany Ferries. It's so convenient to take everything in the car, be straight back on the road when we arrive, and get a lovely cabin to use on the journey over!

I remember going there on a school trip when I was around 10 or 11. Very exciting and I still remember some of the famous places we visited (Bayeux, Notre Dame etc).

I’d like to say a big thank you to Brittany Ferries for their efforts to make journeys easier for kids with asd. When we booked to sail from Portsmouth, we entered details of DS’s ASD. They rang us, asked what would help, and arranged for us to be at the front of the boat to minimise our time waiting to embark and disembark. The best and most thoughtful service we’ve ever had from a transport provider. The airlines could take a leaf from their book!

We went to Carcassonne in France, beautiful place and a really relaxed place to take children. My tip is to keep them occupied with plenty of games and pack early so that you have enough time to remember things you may have missed.

For goodness sake invest in a decent sat-nav!! I seriously would have left my Husband if our car didn't have one - I didn't even think of it before. We went though so many little villages and little roads!! A map seriously wouldn't have got us there!!

Ive sailed Dover to Calais a few times, It was a pleasant experience,, it didnt take as long as I thought it was going to take, the kids loved it and were looking for Dolphins lol. I just packed the essentials but cause we like trying everything continental, we drove through France to Belgium and the sights were amazing on the roads, on the way back we went shopping in Calais for presents.

I have literally just discovered Brittany Ferries holidays this year! We are going to Southern Brittany in May half term on the Plymouth to Roscoff ferry and it's amazing value. We love France and can't wait to take the children abroad.

I've only ever been to Paris by eurostar (which is my favourite city break) but my husband used to get the ferry across to holiday parks in north France and he said they were the best holidays of his life and can't wait to take me to experience them! x

We like to go to centre parcs in france because the price is a lot lower than in the uk but the sites are just as good :)

An overnight cabin stay is not only essential for me having driven down fron Hartlepool but also adds to the fun for the kids, being able to watch the changing vista.

Book the best cabin you afford - make all the difference to get some sleep, and sometimes extras like a TV, Best not to overpack - most things can be bought if it's an emergency. All of France has something to offer, depends what you are after, what your hobbies are,

Where did you go in France?: Pyrenees

What did you enjoy most about your holiday there? The watersports and enjoying the great outdoors!

How was your family’s experience on the ferry? We ferried some of the way and drove the rest, the ferry experience was wonderful. Very pleasant.

What are your top tips for packing for a family holiday? We used vacuum packing for bulky clothes, and cross-packed incase someones luggage was way-laid!

We are lucky enough to have a campervan and have spent several weeks touring France throughout the years. The campsites are excellent and usually well placed for the local towns. We loved the local markets and the beautiful scenery.

Make sure you visit a vineyard. They are breathtaking

We've had several holidays in France, it's quicker to get to than most UK holidays destinations if you're in the South. Would recommend the French Centre Parcs, much cheaper than the ones in the UK, and if you go at the end of the Summer holiday or May half term it's off peak too.

Our son was only 6 months old the first time we went abroad and we took an overnight ferry crossing on the way out- at least we all got a few hours sleep in the cabin before our very early landing!
Using our car + ferry, then staying in a gite was so convenient for us, we could take everything we needed with no luggage restrictions!
Can't wait to take him back for more adventures this summer :)

I have only been in Paris in France but I would love to explore more of the country

Disneyland Paris has been one of my favourite family experiences in France - the kids loved meeting all the characters, and the rides were fun for us adults too!

We went to Normandy to see Mont Saint Michael which was stunning! Got there via tunnel in a camper van and stayed in a campsite which had a swimming pool and was fab. Would definitely recommend.

We got a fantastic deal at Ibis hotel. Place Paul Delouvrier
Paris, Île-de-France. Book well in advance. Canal walking part way into the center of Paris . Fantastic & would love to go back.

The one and only time I took a holiday to France was by motorcycle. Myself and a group of friends in the vigour of youth decided to head to Paris from our home town of Aberdeen on a whim. It was fantastic. We had never travelled that far on our bikes and it was an experience we'll never forget.

I went on the ferry to visit my grandmother who lives in south western France. The bunk beds on the ferry were very exciting to me as a small child, as was looking out the window at the waves (we sailed from ireland to brittany so it was an overnight journey). I also loved exploring the boat on my own. The best part of the holiday was the weather - spending all day every day outdoors in the sun and the (outdoor) swimming pool. And the food... great food. When packing for a long car journey, I'd recommend plenty of snacks and a cool box to keep cold drinks (not fizzy drinks though). I loved having a picnic en route rather than eating service station foo. Also plenty of tissues, wipes, plastic bags and spare clothes in an easily accessible compartment when travelling.