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Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 28/9/2006

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I guess I must have been getting something wrong in the dimensions department. It's still over a hundred quid more than Dover/Calais. It's certainly more convenient for going out but I'm not so sure about arriving back in the UK at around midnight. That is certainly not good for me around where I live.

Will have to give it serious thought. Thanks for your persistance with me.LOL.

Cheers!

Vic

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That's what puts me off that route too. Getting to Dover or Portsmouth makes no odds from here, but its the timings of the return crossing that are all wrong for us, we would have a good 4-5 hour drive from the port, and with Dover-Calais we can get an early afternoon crossing and get hom in time for bed, with the LD line one it's either another overnighter (more expense as we need 2 rooms) or we get in at about 3 in the morning, a not very attractive prospect. I think we will use our Tesco vouchers and just use the Chunnel next year.

Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 29/9/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 28/9/2006

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I guess I must have been getting something wrong in the dimensions department. It's still over a hundred quid more than Dover/Calais. It's certainly more convenient for going out but I'm not so sure about arriving back in the UK at around midnight. That is certainly not good for me around where I live.

Will have to give it serious thought. Thanks for your persistance with me.LOL.

Cheers!

Vic

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That's what puts me off that route too. Getting to Dover or Portsmouth makes no odds from here, but its the timings of the return crossing that are all wrong for us, we would have a good 4-5 hour drive from the port, and with Dover-Calais we can get an early afternoon crossing and get hom in time for bed, with the LD line one it's either another overnighter (more expense as we need 2 rooms) or we get in at about 3 in the morning, a not very attractive prospect. I think we will use our Tesco vouchers and just use the Chunnel next year.

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As far as I can see, it's a calculation based on how much money you're willing to spend getting any distance from Dover. Let's say you were coming to the Loire from Calais, it'll cost you approximately £40 in tolls (if you choose to use the péage) with a 'van on the back, and it'll take around 7 hours. I have no idea what the fuel costs would be as that's subjective, but let's say £90 (2 fill ups). That's already a total of £130. If you land at Le Havre, the fuel costs would be less, and also toll costs are less. It's a 4-hour drive from there.

It's a no-brainer for us as we find Pompey a very easy port to get to/from, choosing to stay away from the SE UK as it's a bloody nightmare. I'd much prefer to spend a little extra, drive a little less on BOTH sides of the channel and get to where we're going having had a kip and a brekky on board. I never feel like falling asleep at the wheel after using Le Havre. I need to pull over after an hour of driving using Calais because of the stress of Kent! LOL!

I guess I'm trying to say that it all boils down to circumstance. What's right for some isn't always right for others. Such is life, eh?

Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 29/9/2006

As far as I can see, it's a calculation based on how much money you're willing to spend getting any distance from Dover. Let's say you were coming to the Loire from Calais, it'll cost you approximately £40 in tolls (if you choose to use the péage) with a 'van on the back, and it'll take around 7 hours. I have no idea what the fuel costs would be as that's subjective, but let's say £90 (2 fill ups). That's already a total of £130. If you land at Le Havre, the fuel costs would be less, and also toll costs are less. It's a 4-hour drive from there.

<FONT color=#0000ff>It's a no-brainer for us as we find Pompey a very easy port to get to/from, choosing to stay away from the SE UK as it's a bloody nightmare. I'd much prefer to spend a little extra, drive a little less on BOTH sides of the channel and get to where we're going having had a kip and a brekky on board. I never feel like falling asleep at the wheel after using Le Havre. I need to pull over after an hour of driving using Calais because of the stress of Kent! LOL!

<FONT color=#0000ff>I guess I'm trying to say that it all boils down to circumstance. What's right for some isn't always right for others. Such is life, eh?

Hi All, been reading the posts and we have got a price from LD Lines for car and caravan £223.00 for a week. However this is our first time abroad with the van (only been out a couple of times in UK newie's). Hubbie is concerned about the 9.30 pm landing in Portsmouth? What do you all do? Can you park the van in ferry terminal and sleep there ??? or use a local caravan park to Portsmouth ??

Also we are up for any suggestions on parks in the Normandy / Brittany areas. We have a two year old at the time of going in June and we enjoy bars/restaurants walking so prefably site with this on or you can walk to.

Thanks in advance

Helen D's OH; I travel Dover to Calais about 15 times a year on buisness normally booking a week away (car only). Eurotunnel is always the most expensive but if it's a one day trip they are often the cheapest. Their pricing policy is written by a lunatic. Norfolkline started driving the prices down and the introduction of their 2 super ferries has pushed the other operators to cut prices. Speedferries really blew the lid off it with £25 fares but for cars only. It's all about competition and the Dover route has plenty of it now. Other routes that don't have many operators are still free to charge whatever they can get. It really needs a Virgin or Easy Ferry (come on Branson and Stellios) to push the prices down.

Personally I always try to go Dover to anywhere except Calais - its the most dangerous place to drive in France with day trippers high on cheap booze and cheese prices. Don't shop in Calais! Drive a way to Lille which is much nicer.