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It depends a lot on where you live and what your priorities are. In 3 trips to France I have booked the mid channel routes because Portsmouth/Southampton - Cherbourg/Le Havre etc were the best when weighing up all factors of cost and convenience.

This was travelling from Leicester, Hull and Shropshire. One of these trips we actually got diverted to Dover - Boulogne in both directions due to strikes and I found it was much more tiring as the ferry trip is too short to have a proper rest. And there is the long trip round London. 

Even when we lived in Hull I found the North Sea crossing was way too expensive in comparison.

I have been reading this one with interest.

We are going to Loire in August and have booked the le tunnel via the Tesco vouchers. We have never been to France as a family before, & last time I went was by metal bird, so I was looking at the cheapest option really. Looks like the consensous of opinion says I was right.

We are doing a night time journey as we have a disabled daughter who requires feeding via a tube every 3 hours during the day so at night it means I can just get on with the driving. We should be in the campsite area WAY before book in time so it gives us plenty of time to mooch around etc.

I like pixie's idea though and I did see some small 4 man dome tents in B&M Bargins last week for £12 so I may grab a couple of them just in case we do decide to stop overnight, probably more on the way back.
may be useful while we are there too. We do want to go to disneyland so that will be a few hours drive from Blos area and we may stay overnight on that day if I am too knackered to drive back and we can find a site.

Looking forward to it.

You might want to consider some of the hotel chains France has like Hotel B&B or Etap. They are always just off the main routes and specialise in family rooms for about 36 euros per night ensuite.  Whatever yo choose enjoy your trip. You will love camping in France.

Carol

     Hi Paul.................Carol  is giving good advice here given your circumstances .. A ..Hotel BB  room at 36 euros a night is great value .....their web pages are in English  and like Travel Lodge over here  which they are similar  to.....you can book on line . There are others all about the same price...... big time saver when all you are looking for is a  comfortable "stopover somewhere "...bed for the night .   

Can someone tell me how safe the car parks of these hotels are?  I would have loved to have stopped over in one but OH (ex police) said what would happen if someone stole the FC etc. etc. etc. It's a little late now for us, as we've got a caravan and the stop over suddenly became so much easier, but there may be someone who is equally as wary as my OH.

Hi Pennine Plodder.

The carparks of the hotels I have used all had rolling gates that are activated by a pin number. There is a seperate pedestrian gate for checking in and they activate the gate to let you in then you get the pin number to come and go in your car. The number is changed daily after check out at 10 am and if you are staying more than 1 night you are given the new number.

I have used Hotel B&B, Etap and Kyriad and they all have these rolling gates. I also used Mercure once and they use barriers.

I have stayed in them many times with the Picasso loaded up to the windows with camping gear, luggage etc and never had the car touched.

Carol

      Left my car in a street in Rouen near the station...went to Paris by train for a couple of days .....it was fine .....you are more likely to get your car broken into in a  car park here ....Hotel secured car parks should be fine .