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 Topic: Ferry / Tunnel costs
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
14/2/2025 at 2:46pm
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We've swapped back to Portsmouth - Caen (Cherbourg on the way back) this year. Costs were similar to shuttle plus tolls, fuel and stopovers, but as we're heading to the Dordogne eventually this time (via St Nazaire, ile d'oleron and Bordeaux) we will have plenty of long days' travelling ahead anyway, so wanted to cut out the big drive that we normally get on our second day.
With a caravan, it's also worth bearing in mind that one night stopovers are more effort (setting up etc) than a moho, so getting into Caen and being closer to a destination can be preferable.
We've done the car-only trip using hotels for stopovers and then a week in a nice static on a campsite but found we were spending a lot of money on eating out, plus other than the campsite week, it wasn't particularly relaxing. There's nothing like sitting out in a nice spot, with your fridge, bed and bathroom 6ft away from you !
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14/2/2025 at 5:44pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Since retiring from Hampshire to Scotland, I find that travel to Europe is doubly expensive. It's not only the cost of the ferry, but even getting to the port and then the cost of a tin box cabin for the overnight crossing. I could stay in a good hotel, breakfast included, for a lot less.
I've given up European travel with my van and instead, I fly and rent an apartment or stay in a hotel. This June, we're planning to go to Mainz for Johannesfest. It's along weekend of music, food, wine and fun to celebrate
Johannes Gutenberg, a German inventor and craftsman who invented the movable-type printing press.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
15/2/2025 at 12:51am
Location: Perigord Noir
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Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 14/2/2025
Since retiring from Hampshire to Scotland, I find that travel to Europe is doubly expensive. It's not only the cost of the ferry, but even getting to the port and then the cost of a tin box cabin for the overnight crossing..
But adding a good 550 miles plus to your journey to the ferry was never going to come cheap assuming still using Portsmouth.
Even going Newcastle - Rotterdam your adding well over 200 miles to the port.
Moving to Scotland was never going to come cheap if you want to take motorhome to Europe compared to living in Hampshire,
Post last edited on 15/02/2025 01:02:52
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15/2/2025 at 8:16am
Location: West - North Yorkshi
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Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 11/2/2025
With the fare to Dieppe at £127 it hardly seems a price fixing monopoly to me,
It has been mentioned that the cost of the Newhaven/Dieppe route for tourist traffic is subsidised by the Dieppe/Normandie Tourist Office, which is also why they offer this additional 20% discount for over 60s and why you have to phone a French number to benefit.
AI says it isn't but who believes AI anyway?
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15/2/2025 at 8:33am
Location: South Northamptonshi
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Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 15/2/2025
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 11/2/2025
With the fare to Dieppe at £127 it hardly seems a price fixing monopoly to me,
It has been mentioned that the cost of the Newhaven/Dieppe route for tourist traffic is subsidised by the Dieppe/Normandie Tourist Office, which is also why they offer this additional 20% discount for over 60s and why you have to phone a French number to benefit.
AI says it isn't but who believes AI anyway?
I have heard that too. I hope that sufficient numbers of people who use that route stay and spend locally. I'm afraid that we just beetle on through...
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
15/2/2025 at 11:10am
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 15/2/2025
But adding a good 550 miles plus to your journey to the ferry was never going to come cheap assuming still using Portsmouth.
Even going Newcastle - Rotterdam your adding well over 200 miles to the port.
Moving to Scotland was never going to come cheap if you want to take motorhome to Europe compared to living in Hampshire,
Post last edited on 15/02/2025 01:02:52
I was always fully aware of that, and I've made the crossing from both Newcastle and Hull in the past. I never used the Portsmouth crossing, always preferring the Dunkirk route.
On the other hand, travelling through Scotland and N.England is a lot easier.
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15/2/2025 at 12:17pm
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Another vote for Newhaven Dieppe very friendly and helpful staff and so much cheaper than others (with the 20% OAP)
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15/2/2025 at 1:57pm
Location: London
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I always factor in the road miles(fuel costs)/drive time when looking at channel crossings. I might save on a Dover crossing over a Portsmouth crossing fare, but that's near wiped out by additional fuel/food/stopover costs, and the hours of extra driving time are a big disincentive too!
Balancing TOTAL crossing costs is more complex than simply opting for cheapest ferry fare.
Newhaven-Dieppe fares are very appealing, and not a lot of difference in road miles for me, BUT sailing times don't work as well as Portsmouth times for me.
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15/2/2025 at 3:31pm
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Nobody I know pays cross channel ferry fares for car and caravan these days. Every one of my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours uses a budget airline if they are going overseas these days. They fly and rent. Every one of them.
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
15/2/2025 at 4:46pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Not many 'Budget' airlines are cheap or fly to places you might like to go, but for short / medium breaks flying can be a good way to go.
In recent months we've flown to Norway from our nearest airport at Aberdeen with the Norwegian carrier, Wideroe. Their service is first class. On our last flight, we were sitting near the rear of the aircraft and I could hear a clicking noise behind me. Looking round, I was surprised to see the two flight attendants sitting knitting. That's the first time that's happened.
I don't think there are direct sea routes to Norway.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
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15/2/2025 at 6:10pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 15/2/2025
Nobody I know pays cross channel ferry fares for car and caravan these days. Every one of my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours uses a budget airline if they are going overseas these days. They fly and rent. Every one of them.
Yet to actually take my caravan to France, but every year we (a crowd of friends) look at our options (for camping - Hotels/renting are totally out of the question for our destination of Le mans 24 Hour motor race! - you'd have to book 2-3 years, or more, in advance to find a vacancy within reasonable distance of the circuit, we did it many years ago and DON'T want to do it again!), and see if the caravan makes sense (both financial and accommodation wise). It makes some sense with shower, toilet and full kitchen on board, but inevitably the costs don't work out well compared with a tent! We also look at hiring a MH and taking that.
So YES, taking the caravan to France is a possibility! If I were going with a partner on an ordinary holiday, as opposed to a group of mates to a motor race, I wouldn't think twice about doing it, and the cost would be less of an obstacle!
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via mobile 12/2/2025 at 12:47pm
