Does such a site exist? I have looked at the usual sites but all seem to want you to choose a route to be able to give prices. Location wise we can pretty much choose Plymouth/Poole/Portsmouth if necessary and that then opens up 5/6 ports across the channel. Is my only option searching each route independently and getting my excel skills sorted?
I'd ideally just give the dates I wanted and the car/trailer/passenger requirements and then be given prices for all possible routes from those ports(and/or nearby ports)
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The caravan club has a facility to search for all crossings except Dover. Then it lists the results in price order. You don't need to be towing or have a motorhome to book a crossing through them, but you do need to be a member. Their prices are cheaper though.
Brittany ferries search results will show the prices for the route you've requested and will also put up suggestions for alternatives, eg- they might suggest Portsmouth to Le havre instead of Caen.
Quote: Originally posted by jakehake on 17/8/2016
Does such a site exist? I have looked at the usual sites but all seem to want you to choose a route to be able to give prices. Location wise we can pretty much choose Plymouth/Poole/Portsmouth if necessary and that then opens up 5/6 ports across the channel. Is my only option searching each route independently and getting my excel skills sorted?
I'd ideally just give the dates I wanted and the car/trailer/passenger requirements and then be given prices for all possible routes from those ports(and/or nearby ports)
I agree! It's a pain having to check a range of sites and very confusing too. We are like you and could travel from a number of crossing points. Price is our main driver.
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I just checked this on a Dover Calais crossing and it threw in Dunkirk and The Chunnel for comparison. Checked again for Portsmouth Le Havre and it did Caen and Newhaven Dieppe too. Not a huge choice but might help to get through a them more quickly.
Quote: Originally posted by TEFKAS on 17/8/2016aferry.co.uk
I just checked this on a Dover Calais crossing and it threw in Dunkirk and The Chunnel for comparison. Checked again for Portsmouth Le Havre and it did Caen and Newhaven Dieppe too. Not a huge choice but might help to get through a them more quickly.
You won't get cheaper ferries booking through an agency - or if you do then it will only be a few pence. Gone are the days of bargain offers, and the cheapest deals these days come through the Caravan Club ITX fares (which includes sites, or three Camping Cheques - telephne only) and the additional cost of the cheques will bring down the ferry by much more than their cost.
For example (an only an example)
Ferry price alone £500
Ferry price including 3 Camping Cheques (worth about £45.00) £350
Try the Caravan Club for more accurate prices for the dates and times you want.
It isn't about getting cheaper prices sorry, it's about seeing the different time options and prices for different routes. A couple of sites mentioned do indeed offer the next closest options like aferry so that maybe is the option. Also Brittany aren't the only service as Condor offer Poole and Portsmouth routes too but don't have them timetabled yet hence using Brittany site isn't the only option.
Problem with using 3rd party sites is accuracy. You don't know how up to date the pricing or even if it is correct. For the time it takes you are better off just checking ferry operator websites.
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As it is not about cheaper prices then I suppose best not to mention that my price for an ITX next May/June with camping cheques s £330 less than booking direct with BF.
I would always advise anyone to never assume and do their homework but, so far as I am aware, that will involve looking at all the operators sites to get the timings and then comparing with what deals you can get and, as said,if you are a Caravan Club member their travel service site does make it reasonably easy to compare. I always follow up online comparisons with a phone call and this can give better deals still-for example only needing to buy three cheques to get an ITX fare over the phone as opposed to seven online.