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 to Bordeaux. Rented canoes (big Canadian ones, very stable) and had a fabulous time going down the river - the company picked us up at the bottom so we only had to go the easy way :-)

We went to a family activity holiday chateau in Normandy and sailed with Brittany Ferries. It was great for the kids as they had fun and made friends and us adults were able to relax for a while

We had a fantastic SC holiday to Trinitie Sur La Mer - The beach was wonderful and the locals super friendly. Plenty for the kids to do

I have used Brittany ferries many times over the last 14 years to travel to France, with young children and now teenagers. Its a simple relaxing way to go and means you can take what you need with you in the car and bring back lots of lovely wine and cheese. For us the holiday began when we got on the boat. On board there are various places to eat, they offer reasonably priced good food. We have done over night ferries and had a cabin, these are spacious and comfortable with a shower and toilet. On the Ferry there are also large comfortable seats ideal for a daytime ferry. There are usually play areas for children and a cinema. We drove to the Charente Maritime region staying in St Georges de didonne, La Rochelle and Royan a lovely area, very family friendly with beautiful beaches and lots of activities, for adults lots of lovely seafood restaurants. When packing for travelling by ferry pack a bag with a set of clothes for each family member, medication (sea sick pills if needed) and a baby changing bag, also make sure the buggy is handy not like us under a mountain of stuff

When I was younger I went to Disneyland Paris with school. It is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. At a time when I had recently lost my step mum, it definitely made me feel like a kid again after all the drama. It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed spending it with my friends at the time.

Ive actually never been to france, eventhough its quite close and i have been to other countries. I have enjoyed reading others experiences of france

Went to Normandy - just loved the food and the markets

Love our trips to France. We usually travel light , it is so much easier. Our last trip was near Bordeaux.

The South of France - get there by ferry and then you can travel around easily. The train runs Nice to Cannes and Grasse, even Monaco and runs every half an hour. You can even get a week train pass for under @20.
So we had lots of rose, great food and sunshine as we travelled around, Antibes was a dream ;)

There is something magic about going to sleep (even in a chair) on a rocky boat and waking up in different place. Plymouth to Santander, we even got to see dolphins playing at the bow!

Get a early ferry from dover been to most places in france within 2 hours of calais or dunkrik, can be there by midday and the days yours. GReat being in the car as you can take as much luggage as you want.

we visited Paris.it was amazing. Loved to travell by Ferries.My top tip for packing for family holidays is to pack essentials and do list of items you would like to take with you.

We rented a site in Normandy in a village. We had no sooner arrived than some of the village children came knocking on the door to invite the children to play. Our daughters taught our son what to ask for at the bakers in French as no English spoken.

I have always wanted to stay in a gite. I've only been to cities in France before and not on the ferry but would love to go to Brittany.

Always had great experiences with Brittany ferries, can’t reccomend enough for families, couples all types of families . Big thumbs up to these guys.

I have been to France on a ferry and I found it a very relaxed easy experience despite having kids with me! I always make the kids carry a small rucksack of their own with the things they need for the journey in it or else I end up carrying far too much heavy stuff and I always had to stop and look in the bag every time the kids wanted anything. This teaches them to look after their own stuff and keep tabs on it!

We live very close to poole ferry terminal so the crossing for us to Cherbourg is fantastic, we booked a fabulous farmhouse via booking.com just a couple of miles from cherbourg in a place called Octeville and we spent a week exploring the Normandy coast including the dday landing beaches, museums and cemetery's, we visited the Bayeux Tapestry and we found a lovely town with restaurants and shops called le cap, travelling on the Barfleur ferry was relaxing and very enjoyable , cant wait to do it all again.

We've only been to France once. Never again. The ski instructor was horrible and made a member of our party cry by yelling at her on the slopes and saying she was unteachable. One of the shopkeepers was rude. Everyone else seemed ok so maybe they were just two rotten apples but we're not going back.

We have been on a couple of holidays in france, we have done Paris with our little princess,and we have spent a weekend in villefrance in the south

The food was amazing,the different experiences perfect for our family on both occasions.
We had a great experience on the ferry, the staff were fab , great for the family and easy to use and travel with.

As a child we would travel to Brittany for a camping holiday for two weeks each summer. I loved it and have the best memories of my childhood in France. We didn't book a cabin but would find reclining chairs to sit on, and roamed the ferry with my siblings. We loved loved the ice machine in the cafe. I never w have a two year old and am planning a camping trip for us this summer on the ferry. I can't wait!

We haven't been to France on the ferry as a family yet.. but look forward to doing so in the coming years! My little boy would absolutely love it - the problem for me would be keeping track of him as imagine he would want to explore every inch of the boat! :)
I did go to France on the ferry on a school trp & it was brilliant - it really makes the journey feel part of the holiday itself!
We have visited Paris & done all the touristy bits which was really fun.
We also visited Monsegur many years ago & stayed in a windmill in November (!) which was.. an experience!! Still beautiful, albeit a bit chilly!
Good preparation & planning are key to an enjoyable holiday for everyone - make sure passports are in date before booking anything & take the time to print out any documentation needed & store it safely. Put aside a couple of hours to pack in peace & get yourself sorted before chivvying everyone else along! Pack plenty of snacks, comics & sticker books to keep little ones entertained :)

If you are worried about sea sickness, the best medicine we found was Joy Rides. It worked much better than Stugeron for us, and my youngest who is normally terribly travel sick was not ill at all. Wish we'd done a bit of sea travel sooner!

Paris is a great destination especially for the kids as close to disney.

I think Children love the freedom of ferries. They can move about- much better than being confined to a plane seat! My tips for packing for children are lots of layers, a few familiar toys and snacks. We went to Disneyland Paris which was fantastic for children

Before my husband past away we went to France at least twice a year we liked Portsmouth best and we found sailing overnight easiest with the kids. We love the laid back atmosphere and wonderful shops. I have been once with the kids on my own but found it quite a difficult trip on my own. My top tip is back comic and activities as a surprise for the kids.