Ferry Booked

[Pauline]

We've got the ferry booked for our holiday to France!

Portsmouth to St. Malo - 9 hour crossing, so we can have a mini cruise at the same time

[yamaha]

admin said:

We've got the ferry booked for our holiday to France!

Portsmouth to St. Malo - 9 hour crossing, so we can have a mini cruise at the same time

I was looking at the St. Malo crossing - we have a big Microlight meeting at Blois, SW of Orleans in September, and St. Malo would be the nearest port to Onzain, a great campsite with an airfield attached - I loved it - Sue was bored!! About 8 machines from our club at Westonzoyland made the crossing, and we were there to greet them - that was in 2005.

I was thinking of going solo last year on the bike - but the weather was grotty, and not many UK planes made it.

This year, I hope, will be better!! Not sure if a 9 hour crossing is better than the long drive - 'spose it must be, really.

Was it a cheaper crossing for you, using those Camping Cheques - and how does it equate to fuel saved, I wonder?

Seeing you LOVE walking, you could borrow my 500 Walks book if you like - or did you get one?

Mike

[Pauline]

yamaha said:

This year, I hope, will be better!! Not sure if a 9 hour crossing is better than the long drive - 'spose it must be, really.

Was it a cheaper crossing for you, using those Camping Cheques - and how does it equate to fuel saved, I wonder?

Seeing you LOVE walking, you could borrow my 500 Walks book if you like - or did you get one?

Mike

The problem when you only have two weeks for your holiday (as opposed to the more mature folk who can have as long as they want! ) you don't really want to spend two days of it travelling from Calais, so that's why we choose the longer crossing.

Not sure how it equates to fuel/wear and tear saving, haven't worked it out but it keeps the stress levels down!

We got the crossing, a two berth cabin with shower and toilet each way, plus camping vouchers for two weeks (3 and 4 star sites) for just under £600.

You could probably save money using small sites and arranging your own crossing out of normal hours but we are tied to normal day times due to work hours and don't want to arrive shattered! and again because it's our main holiday, we like the luxury of a site with a nice swimming pool and spacious pitches where we can just chill out and relax. Not bothered about bars etc (unless it's World Cup time!)

Would love to borrow your book, (it won't get any use otherwise ), Graham has been to the 'Works' but they didn't have any, he also tried various book shops and the library. Or perhaps you could scan and email some from the Ile D'Oleron area? which is where we will be heading.

[viv]

Hi Pauline
I think you will have a lovely stay on those luxury sites and will look forward to hearing about 'France in the Romahome'.

[johns1]

Hi Pauline,
???Could you just explain how the camping vouchers work. Have you actually booked the sites or do you just use them when you arrive at a suitable site.
Thanks

[Pauline]

johns1 said:

Hi Pauline,
???Could you just explain how the camping vouchers work. Have you actually booked the sites or do you just use them when you arrive at a suitable site.
Thanks

Hi John,

The site must have agreed to participate in the Touring Cheque scheme, you get a booklet listing all the sites. We just turn up at the site as they are always so quiet with plenty of pitches available, you could book ahead if you wanted to though.

The vouchers are usually only valid out of season - before 30 June or after 31 August but there are a few sites which do take them in July and August. They are valid for two years. You don't have to book the ferry with them, you can make your own way there and just order the Cheques.

The website will give you more info: www.touringcheque.co.uk/about.htm

[Graham]

johns1 said:

Hi Pauline,
???Could you just explain how the camping vouchers work. Have you actually booked the sites or do you just use them when you arrive at a suitable site.
Thanks

Hi John

Just to add to what Pauline has said, the reason we like them is because we don't have to book the site, we can turn up and stay for as long as we like and go when we please, so it makes us really flexible.

Regards
Graham

[viv]

Hi Pauline

Do the site fees work out cheaper with the vouchers?

[Pauline]

viv said:

Hi Pauline

Do the site fees work out cheaper with the vouchers?

Yes they do Viv, the most we have ever saved is 50% but usually it's between 20 - 25% it varies from campsite to campsite.

The voucher gets you a pitch with electric for two people. We are always able to calculate what we would have paid had we gone independently by checking the site rates in the reception. We always make a saving.

[viv]

Hi Pauline
I am rather keen on going to France but have no experience of camping abroad. Are the site fees similar to here and is there a guide book that you use so you can travel around rather than staying in one place?? Once I have had my heights phobia dealt with I would like to travel to my sister's house in S of France, she lives in Valleraugue which means via the Alps I think.

[yamaha]

Viv - go for it!! You won't be anywhere near the Alps - there may be a few hills, but not mountains!!

Camping in France is an eyeopener. I feel the French do camping better than any other nation, and the prices will delight you! It makes you realize how much we are being ripped off camping in England.

The Michelin "Camping France" is an excellent book to get - it lists practically all the sites. Most towns will have a Municipal Site - these are great value for money, the Michelin will list them.

Personally, we have never booked a site abroad - France in particular have so many - we always just drive till we've had enough, then decide to find a site - I don't think we've ever been more than about 5 miles from one, there are so many!

Mike

[wendy]

Well said, Mike, I couldn't have put it better. We find the municipal sites are really good - very clean and excellent value for money. As well as the Michelin guide we also use the Caravan Club Caravan Europe vol1 - this has loads of sites and comments from previous visitors which are sometimes quite helpful. We never book anywhere there will always be another site just up the road if one is full. We never booked when we went in August - if you are happy to be inland rather than right next to the beach you should be alright.

[viv]

Thanks all

I am determined to get across that channel and just have to persuade Terry that it is a good idea. Next question, how easy is it to get used to driving on other side of road in little van?

[Pauline]

viv said:

Hi Pauline
I am rather keen on going to France but have no experience of camping abroad. Are the site fees similar to here and is there a guide book that you use so you can travel around rather than staying in one place?? Once I have had my heights phobia dealt with I would like to travel to my sister's house in S of France, she lives in Valleraugue which means via the Alps I think.

You would be fine Viv, go for it!

As Mike and Wendy have said there are loads of very cheap sites well signposted from main routes and if you can travel for as long as you want, when you want, then you wouldn't need anything like the Touring Cheques we use for our annual holiday, you could just stop off along the way wherever you choose.

and in reply to your other question re driving on the 'wrong side' it's quiet easy and it's hard to go wrong as roundabouts just guide you the right way. The only time we have ever had a problem is probably turning left or right into a quiet country lane, it's easy to forget when there is no other traffic to follow, but it's only been the odd time and the road markings soon remind you!!

I would rather drive on a French motorway that an English one, you wouldn't believe how quiet they are out of season, you can go for miles with only a few cars on the road and no traffic jams!