Channel Crossing - any booking tips from seasoned crossers?

[John_B]

I'm planning a road trip in the Z3 down to southern Spain next year. Does any one have any tips or tricks, specifically relating to crossing onto the continent by car?

My preference would be EuroTunnel, I did it once a few years ago and loved that, although I'm not opposed to a Dover/Calais ferry which I have done a few times but years ago (Hoverspeed!!). Cherbourg/Le Havre/Bilbao/Santander are out of the question though - I get terribly sea sick and would rather be driving than trying to sleep on a ferry anyway.

Any good websites for booking or tracking prices, or any unwritten rules like the cheapest prices are <x> weeks/months before travel?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PYX]

In my experience Dover - Calais crossing and visa versa is most cost effective. Usually DFDS rather than P&O. DFDS give leeway either side of the booked crossing as well in case of delays etc.

 

[KASPar]

DFDS Newhaven-Dieppe ferry. 20% discount if 1 passenger is over 60, call the French office to book.

Use the Western Route as it's called, mostly toll free:
MAIN ROUTE
Calais - Abberville - rouen - Everuex - Druex - Chartes - N10 Tours - Poitiers - Angouleme - Bordeaux

From Bordeaux there are 2 options;
Winter - Bordeaux – Bayonne (toll) – Irun (toll) - Pamplona ( N121a or A15 depend on weather) - Zaragossa - Valencia - Benidorm
Summer - Bordeaux - N10 jn18 via Mont de Marsen - Orthez - Oloron - Somport tunnel - Huesca - Zaragossa - Valencia - Benidorm

If Dieppe is starting point go Tours part.

 

[AntStark]

Don’t forget to apply for your Crit’air stickers in advance.
Crit’air 3 cars are banned from Rouen and Paris from Jan25

 

[Z Victor 1]

Depends what you are doing John, if you're taking a leisurely scenic route through France that's nice. If you're just passing through ie; Calais , Rouen ,Chartres, Bordeaux it's pants! I've done various trips many times to my house in Spain. Drive that route through France if you want poor places/services for food,toilets and fuel. And they're all shut at night!!! There are self service garages for fuel, but often not working. My choice is to take the pleasant overnight ferry to Bilbao or Santander, never had any sea sickness on those crossings (big ferries) whereas I 've been seasick Dover to Calais. I always take the toll road to Zaragoza because it's a relaxed drive if I'm not going via Burgos and Madrid.

 

[Pingu]

There are many ways to make the crossing cheaper. Quidco / TopCashBack / Tesco Clubcard Points are just three that spring immediately to mind.

 

[B21]

Not a fan of ferries after spending 8 hours being in a vomit bucket from UK to St Malo….

But…

Have done the ‘grind’ through France..it’s lost its shine with speed cameras, traffic, aggressive driving etc etc..

Now done two UK-Spain trips last three years..planning to do do two more crossings in the next two years..

1 in 4 trips was ‘wobbly’ for a while..just lie down in the cabin and die..

Rest of the time silky smooth…

The worst part of a continental trip is the grind back through France….

So big thumbs up for UK-Spain via ferry…it’s not anymore expensive if you take hotel / fuel / tolls etc into account.

For me Spain is the last motoring nirvana ..

 

[John_B]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

We're going to burn down to Alicante and try to smash it with a single night stop. Maybe we'll risk the Bilbao or Santander ferry. But coming back we'll definitely be driving all the way to Calais and taking our time, doing it over 4/5/more days and planning in some interesting stops

 

[jonco]

The worst part of a continental trip is the grind back through France….

Totally agree. Did Malo, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, San Sebastian a few years ago and the thought of the drive back was not tempting. Opted for the Santander/ Plymouth ferry on return.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Last time we went to Biarritz in the Z3 rather than driving back up that route we changed our plans even though we had paid for our return crossing to Dover.We drove round to Santander and took the ferry to Plymouth!

 

[Nodzed]

The worst part of a continental trip is the grind back through France….

Agree, always seems a pleasant drive down and a complete chore back up, only worse part is the UK leg home after the European roads.