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Hi

We took our van to Isle of Wight last Oct for half term week and it was absolutely fine - in fact very easy - and my husband is the biggest worrier about towing imagineable (only our 3rd trip with a caravan!)

We arrived early in Portsmouth but they just told us which numbered lane to sit in and we left the car and van in sight while we grabbed a coffee in the checking-in block.

Coming back the weather was bad so we turned up early for our ferry and managed to get on the earlier sailing (which they will do if they have room). Each time we were guided as to where to go and park on the ferry - it was really easy.

Take your tesco vouchers with you as lots of the places to visit take them!!

The IOW ferry was our first experience towing on a ferry and it was fine.  On the way home I drove past the lane they wanted me to go into but they were fine about it and just waved me onto another one.  It's a doddle don't bother with priority loading just make sure you get there in good time.

We did this for the first time this year with Red Funnel and it was a doddle.

We arrived early at Southampton and they put us on an earlier ferry. We went on an Easter deal via Red Funnel that was limited us to 5 nights. The site we went to (Waverley) were offerering extra nights free if we booked direct with them e.g. 14 nights for the price of 10 etc..We had to split the Easter break into 5 nights in The New Forest and 5 nights IOW.

We worked out that if we had payed for a single fare back via the ferry company then it would have been a similar price and we could have stayed for 14 nights in IOW instead of 5. Might be worth booking Ferry and Site independently.

The Waverley site was great with good views over East / West Cowes but due to the new pitch terracing they had solved one problem i.e. level pitches, but created another i.e. 4-5 ft drop over a wall (not good if you have young children!!!) unless you are lucky to book one of the first two rows of pitches.

We would definitely go back to the site again though as our children are older.  

Hope this helps

Andy  

Hi

Don't worry about anything, I live in gosport which is next to Portsmouth and have travelled to the IOW since I was a kid and still love it there. We went there again a couple of years ago for our summer holiday and still enjoyed it with the kids. It's amazing though all the time I have been there and I still discovered something new, its a model village at Godshil which is outstanding and so cheap to get in. Don't forget Blackgang chine and also go back in the evening when it's all lit up, they also do a Dinosaur fossil hunt which was fantastic. We stayed at Apuldurcombe Gardens which on first impression did not look much however this was one of those camps that grows on you. The family that run it certainly knew how to entertain familys in the evenings at the club house with some great games and competions, music etc.

Hope this helps

Adam

ferries to the Island are a doddle. either Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Southampton to Cowes or Lymington to Yarmouth ( The latter are Red Funnel and they will normally let you swap tickets).

Crossing times are roughly same from Pompey and Soton ( 50 mins) but the lymington one is far more interesting.

I have camped all over the island but i would recommend Shanklin as the best place to stay. Lots to do. Old town is lovely. Lovely sandy beach and a good Thai restaurant to boot.

Hope this is helpful

Keith