Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
Advice form those in the know - Ferry or Chunnel
So I am driving down to Castel Ty Nadan site in the summer from SE London I have two options:
1. Chunnel then drive - seems to be about 8-9h drive?
2. Portsmouth-Caen ferry - several hours on ferry, no control on sea condition feckin expensive
So do I do the ferry with a shorter drive or the longer drive maybe starting at 1am and driving though or even starting the afternoon before the arrival date and laying over in the tin tent en route
I've not calculated the additional peage & fuel costs for the return trip to Calais from Brittany so not sure how it all works out - even then a lot of driving for the kids to suffer.
That said, ferry could be uncomfortable, may not sleep well, a bad crossing will really screw up several hours drive the other side
So - advice gratefully accepted from those of you in the know MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
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27th Mar 2014 2:44 pm
2DISCO3ORNOT
Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209
Hi Dubs, we do the Belgium or Sth France trip a lot and for us its the Tunnel everytime, we like to take a really early train on the Sunday, the peage is normally deserted that way. Ferry's got too expensive when you include the kids meals aboard etc.
27th Mar 2014 2:47 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13912
Tunnel.
27th Mar 2014 2:48 pm
dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
So do you mean REALLY early (like 2am) or do you take your time then stay overnight somewhere?
Thanks for the 2 tunnel votes so far MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
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27th Mar 2014 2:55 pm
maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
Well - I did Portsmouth - St Malo last year. This year, going via the Chunnel !!!
Ferry was (as you say) - fecking expensive @£650. This year we're using Tesco vouchers so crossing is free (sort of).
The money saved is way more than the extra diesel and we are going to enjoy the journey down by stopping off in Honfleur for 3 days.
Come on Rodney, you know it makes sense
27th Mar 2014 3:01 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72789
Tunnel through Clubcard points. 1/3 the price.
Haven't done ferries for what must be decades now, no intentions of going back.
27th Mar 2014 3:02 pm
2DISCO3ORNOT
Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209
We're SW London, normally try to get to the Tunnel for 0700ish you're in France by 8 on the Sunday morning, 8-9 hours drive your there in time for supper, you could do earlier I think the trains kick off at about 0600
Never had a queue on the peage on the Sunday and its normally UK holiday time
27th Mar 2014 3:02 pm
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
Being a SE London type (like you) it is almost always the tunnel - less than one hour from home to the tunnel, 35 minutes through to France so allowing for loading and unloading from our home to driving in France is just two hours LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
27th Mar 2014 3:49 pm
Popelka
Member Since: 31 May 2008
Location: Praha (Prague)
Posts: 2430
we travel Prague/Brackley(northants) 3x a year, we plan ferry into England as it gives us a break out of the car after 8-10hrs across Europe, but on the return we try to get early start so chunnel.
depends on what your priorities are
ChrisExperience is a difficult teacher, because she gives the test first and then the lesson afterwards!!!!
27th Mar 2014 5:20 pm
paulmeryan
Member Since: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 742
Chuferry then. Chunnel out and ferry back.VR6 > 330D Touring > D3 HSE > !?XC90?!
27th Mar 2014 5:24 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72789
Or the other way round, furrychuff!
Thing that puts me off the ferry is after 35 minutes it feels like you've only just left Blighty, with the tunnel you're trying to remember to drive on the wrong side.
27th Mar 2014 5:34 pm
justin trevett
Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 79
Tunnel every time for me 1997 BMW R1100GS
2007 Disco 3
LML Star 125 2t
27th Mar 2014 5:57 pm
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9402
Been to Normandy and around at least 8 or 9 times, done the tunnel, short ferry and long ferry.
To be honest, I prefer the long ferry from Portsmouth, as the kids think it's great fun, brakes up the journey and the holiday starts when we turn up the night before in the hotel
Tunnel and short crossing to Calais are OK, but then you have a huge drive afterwards, which is a pain after the long drive to Kent from the S.west.
Iggy/Ieuan
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27th Mar 2014 6:01 pm
DN D3 Decade
Member Since: 24 Jun 2006
Location: W.London.
Posts: 2294
If you care about your car, tunnel .If not, the ferry,and risk being directed to park 3" from the side of the next vehicle, and watch the occupants use your doors to rebound theirs off of. plus, French roads are generally very good, you can really make sure the turbo is working properly
Last edited by DN on 27th Mar 2014 6:25 pm. Edited 2 times in total
27th Mar 2014 6:09 pm
Mr Kington
Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 1549
Tunnel every time. Save your Tesco vouchers, triple the bad boys and then most of it is paid for. (well ours cost £12.00 extra) as it costs more for an over sized vehicle.
So quick, and we always do the crossing around 9 pm. In France for 10.30 pm and then drive through the night until 02.30 ish. sleep for a few hours and then carry on.
Kids sleep the whole way so makes it a lot less painful.James favourite hobby is writing in the third person.
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plus, French roads are generally very good, you can really make sure the turbo is working properly 
