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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Ferry holidays are amazing. So easy with 4 DC and we can take everything we need without the airport hassle.

We had a fantastic holiday in Normandy last time we went, soaking up everything from the D-Day landings to Monet'a gardens and the retro glamour of Deauville's promenade. We had wonderful self-catering accommodation with Pierre et Vacances and bought everything we needed from Carrefour supermarket.

Brittany Ferries are also brilliant for Spain. We've done Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao and back so many times. The 24hrs on the ferry is a holiday in itself. The evening entertainment in great for both kids and adults. Stay up late, them a cabin overnight means they sleep well the next day if you want to drive further into Spain. If not, you have great beaches just 30 minutes drive away. Perfect!
Ferries are so much cheaper than flying for 6 of us, so we have great breaks and save money.

Been camping in Brittany for last few years and going again soon! My favourite memory would be DS (aged 2) trying to say merci beaucoup and being rewarded with a balloon by a lovely man in a shop.
We always take the shortest ferry ride rather than an overnight one as DP gets seasick and that's always been fine.

My top tip for packing is get DP to do it so you have someone to blame if you forget anything! My real tip would be to triple check the important things like passport, medication etc and know that anything else can be bought or improvised if forgotten.

My dream holiday: ferry to France, few hours drive and a campsite near a beach. I love just looking round little towns and the daily trip to the boulangerie for breakfast, the patisserie for cakes and the mache for food.

We absolutely love our camping holidays in France. The overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo signals the start of the holiday; we love going out on deck and watching Britain get further and further away, then we head to the bar so our 4-year old can tire herself out at the kids disco.
Once in Southern Brittany, we love finding new beaches - so many to choose from. We have learnt to try and pack as light as possible, it helps to avoid arguments when packing the car!
In the warm summer evenings, we love sitting outside our tent with a glass of wine or Breton cider, enjoying the peace and quiet.

We have driven to France by ferry or tunnel at least once a year for 35 years.
The memorable experiences are the unplanned ones.
Missing the ferry and holing up overnight with 2 tinies in a smart hotel and being treated to Michelin starred food.
Being helped by a local garage owner when our car broke down. He and his friends gave us amazing hospitality.
Being forced through dreadful weather into an unpreposessing village restaurant in the middle of nowhere to find it packed to the gunwhales at lunchtime. Chairs were drawn up, cushions for little DD and the meal of the day brought in courses with no discussion or menu. It was delicious of course.
Buying wine from a vineyard and entering a tumbledown barn to meet the owner , a bilingual raconteur , who regaled us with first hand stories of his contacts for hours.
Oysters in a cafe in Cancale; DS tucking in from his high chair.
Drying wet baby garments over a gas hob during another unexpectedly wet holiday!
Lighting a fire and toasting bread on arrival at a fire after a very long drive, instant relaxation.
Many, many more.

The ferry was a welcome break from driving and the kids loved it. We camped in Southern Brittany. We loved the mix of nationalities on the campsite. The highlight of going to France for us are the wonderful food markets and restaurants.

DH and I lived in France, and loved holidays in the south- Montpelier was our favorite! French restaurants are fine with children, but don't actually cater for them, so bring a sippy cup and child cutlery!

We went on the Etretat brittany ferry last year and have booked again this year. Portsmouth to Le Havre overnight. Billed as a budget version but has everything you need. Fab to arrive at 8am ready to get on with the holiday. Last year we went to Carnac in South brittany, this year we're off to the Loire.

We love using the ferry - we’ve had some great Normandy holidays in a caravan - there’s so much to see and do!

We really want to take our caravan and do a trip down to the Milau Viaduct (staying overnight along the journey) and then having a week there before doing the same gradual trip back.

travelling to Montpellier with cheap red wine on the train.... mmmmm!

Haven't been for a long, long time although we did a family camping trip many years ago to the South of France which was great fun and a hit with everyone. If I had any tips it would be to be prepared for the heat - this can get quite ridiculous from early morning onwards in the height of Summer in a tent! So...out of tent early and be organised! :)

We liked the overnight ferries, because we could relax. Our favourite place was Paris, but Puy de fou was very enjoyable and fun for all the family.

Disneyland Paris every time. We did the ferry this year rather than the tunnel and it was very nice and easy and the children enjoyed being able to explore.
Disneyland Paris is just amazing anyway, but for families with a child with disability, it is just incredible.

Having visited the beautiful town of Benodet in Brittany I would certainly like to go back. On that occasion we did the longer drive, Eurptunner and then 10 hrs in the car with a baby....never again! Portsmouth next time for sure

I love the adventure of a ferry! So much more of an experience than flying.

My family's best ever holidays have been in France, it's our favourite place. Toss up between Disneyland Paris, La Rochelle, or watching a Tour de France stage finish in Amiens

Not so much a "holiday" but a ferry trip over to Normandy etc. with an overnight stop before coming back the next day is a great and fairly cheap weekend away for the whole family if you can find the frequent deals that are offered.

Favourite thing about holidaying in France was enjoyng the food! It was lovely to sit outdoors enjoying croissants and coffee for breakfast at a traditional French cafe!

I haven't been to France since I was a child, we always used to stay at a campsite which was always so much fun, it might be a good place to go back to this year for our holiday.

We travelled the southern coast road in France which is absolutely beautiful, my little only was only 8 months at the time but there a lots of restaurants along the way and perfect beaches to stop at. I would highly recommend taking a drive for the scenery alone.

The first time my family ever went abroad it was to Northern France. We had rented a gite but we couldn't find it anywhere (these were the days before Sat-Nav). We stopped in a little village and were trying to get directions when this lovely, older French lady said "follow me". She drove us all the way there and it was not a short journey! I never forgot this wonderful introduction to France.

Living close to the ferry port makes this a no brainer for me - so much easier to travel on the ferry. The children love being on the ferry and are always excited. Our best trip was where we continued the 'boating theme' on the French inland waterways - simply fantastic cruising at our own pace

Only been to France by air before and that was Paris what a great city and amazing food. I am going to France by ferry at the end of November and looking forward to the Christmas markets and the whole ferry experience

Where did you go in France? Chamonix

What did you enjoy most about your holiday there? The village was so quiet and peaceful.
How was your family’s experience on the ferry? We travelled by plane (Even though i went France with school before on ferry and it was fine)
What are your top tips for packing for a family holiday? Plan ahead. Make lists, double check everything and take activities to curb kids boredom. We're off to Disney, Paris this year too :)

I really enjoyed Paris - the weather was nice, not too hot, the cafes and food were good and there was plenty to see and do.

One of my first ever holidays abroad was to Paris and it instilled in me a love of travel that I still have to this day. I was so awed by how beautiful it was, from the Eiffel Towel all lit up at night to climbing Notre Dam. Not to mention how delicious the food was. Unfortunately I haven't been back since but I am planning a romantic trip with my husband to Paris because he has never been and I want him to experience just how beautiful it is.
We have been to the South of France camping as a family and although totally different to Paris that was also stunning. I was surprised with just how popular camping was in the South of France and I loved the fact that my kids made friends with children from all over Europe on the trip and of course the weather was a lot better than we would have gotten in the UK.

We went to Paris before we had kids, but we flew, we didn't go by ferry. I'd love to go back and see more of France and I think the ferry would probably be the easiest way of doing that now.

My favourite thing about Paris was a tiny little vegetarian restaurant that we found. It was just the downstairs room of someone's little house really and the chef stood in front of us in the kitchen area and talked to us as he prepared the food. It was wonderful. DS1 and his girlfriend are going to Paris soon and I wish I could remember where the restaurant is, although it might not be there any more.