Hi. So we now have a site booked at Soulac sur mer first 2 weeks august. I did this ferry crossing as a child approx. 30 years ago. Being peak season I am expecting huge queues to cross on sat 3august. Does anyone know if it is possible to turn up after last sailing Friday night and stay port side overnight for the first ferry? Car and caravan by the way. Cheers
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I understand your problem, but the first ferry from Royan is at 0715 and will still mean you are kicking your heels at Soulac until you can get into your campsite at 1300.
Might it be be better to stay overnight at a campsite an hour or two inland from Royan and use a ferry later in the morning ? They are big boats these days and even if the first one is full they run every 45 minutes, so not long to wait.
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Cheers Netherton; that was the original plan but have heard stories of waits of 6 hours on that particular Saturday. Just wondering if anyone has done that crossing early august...
Probably your most accurate answer will be if you ask the Royan Tourist Office about peak time weekend summer ferry delays, then calculate time and mileage via Bordeaux as an alternative.
Hi, 1)Between the Merry-go-round and the high-ropes at the end of the on the beachfront at Saint George de Didonne (on the left hand side) is a motorhome area for parking overnight. It was 6euros per night. You may be able to park the caravan there and park the car in the parking bays opposite.
2)We have also seen caravans park overnight on the route from the high ropes back to the 'pine cone roundabout'which is past the high ropes at the end of the beach. There are no toilets, except beach toilets and you have to take your rubbish away too.
3) You could go to 'Ideal camping'(Sainte George de Didonne) on the Rue du Suzac for one night and then leave early for the ferry.
4)Personally, the 3rd of August is going to be a 'Black Saturday'. You may find it easier to stop inland around/from the Green Venice to Rochfort area in a cheap stop over and then come down to get the ferry on Sunday morning; as the traffic coming into Royan will be epic on that day (3/8/19).I can't advise on campsites for Vaux -sur Mer as I don't know that part of town. Check Via Michelin for the traffic in the afternoon and then plan according to the traffic jams.
------------- sueze
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So in St George at the moment at Bois Soliel
Moving on Sunday and probably taking the chance to head up to the ferry and wait
Question though ? Is the ferry a straight roll on roll off,there’s no reversing on or off at all ?
Ok so we stopped a night on the way down on an autoroute aire and managed to avoid being gassed 🙄. Last night on a site near royan. Got to the ferry this morning, 3 hour queue each side of water... just a quick note to say there is no way staying port side would be possible.
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It's a big ferry, artic lorries use it, a caravan should be no problem.
The ferry 30 years ago moored alongside the dock and cars drove across it sideways, that boat has gone. They now have a proper roll on roll off ferry with proper ramps and everything.
Go upstairs to the passenger area and they're serving tea and food.
France has advanced in 30 years, perhaps our expectations haven't.
When I used it I paid at reception and drove straight on, you probably have to wait if the ferry is the other side of the river. It is a wide river.
I don't think they have a schedule, they seem to cross either when the ferry is full or after a given waiting time.
If you are taking route past Poitiers on your way down then cheaper overall & probably just as quick to take N10 which is toll free dual carriageway to Bordeaux then drive up the peninsula.