France - Next Year

It's hard to advise on cross channel routes until you decide where you are going - from your Avon location it makes sense to go via Calais if you going to Alsace, but not if you are heading for Brittany, so think of your destination first. The Club will have prices for all the cross channel routes in a couple of months time, and will tell you whether there are savings by taking four site night vouchers as well as the ferry fare. 

But touring is very easy in June wherever you decide to make for - I suggest you get a copy of the latest ACSI Camping Card guide when it is published in the New Year for its listing of discount sites, and a copy of the Club's 2020 Touring France guide too.

You really can can go wherever you wish in France without site bookings in June. 

If you don't want to travel too far south then a circular tour of Normandy & Brittany has much to commend it. I would echo previous comments that, unless travelling east, the western channel routes would be better. Poole/Cherbourg looks the most logical, although Portsmouth/Caen would enable a visit to the Normandy beaches/Bayeux. Go one way way, come back the other.

Ta👍 At this stage, Brittany is on the list, so I get what you’re saying about the crossing. I guess it’s the anticipated cost that’s putting me off. Coincidentally, we plan to rent a Gite next August, taking the daughter and grandchildren. I looked at the current prices for the crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo, around £700 return, just for a car and 4 passengers! That said, I’ll see what the club can offer, once the timetables are released in October.

We sail Poole to Cherbourg this week and car caravan and cat and two persons booked through the club is around £350 return on daytime crossing. Think that's not bad at all.

I agree 👍 If I could get something close to that, then that would be my choice.

Thanks. I guess where we go might well be influenced by the weather? I would though like to visit the landing beaches and associated places of interest.

The one way fare from Portsmouth to Caen tomorrow for car+Caravan+two adults is £155 - without booking in advance. That's a typical June/September fare. You can book the return half when you are ready to come back. But August is a different story with different prices.

Hi Freddy, good advice so far which I would fully agree with. So far as routes are concerned we use Plymouth mainly but have over the years used all the channel ports at one time or another.

Personally using Dover would be an absolute last option and only then if travelling East from Calais.

Booking an ITX fare, as euror has suggested, and using Brittany Ferries will give crossings that can be greatly discounted, we saved over £400 this June/July, and my suggestion would be that you look at going out on one route and back on another giving a more 'circular' route which may suit your needs.

Going via Plymouth out and Portsmouth back, or via versa, would give a wider range of options than a linear out and back route and both Plymouth and Portsmouth are reasonably close to you.

When I have checked the St Malo route has been the most expensive route to France.

I have always thought that the St Malo crossings were the dearest. We always go the afternoon crossing to Ouistreham and stay overnight at Riva Bella and come back on the morning crossing. With the site vouchers in September when I costed it out for the first time ever it was the same price as Dover Calais but that is exceptional. When you think what you save in fuel and a night's site fees it doesn't seem that expensive to me.

The municipal campsite at Bayeux is ideally situated for the landing beaches. Plus it's an easy walk into town for the cathedral and British Cemetery. If you got the Morning boat from Poole to Cherbourg or Portsmouth Caen it would be a good first stop before heading on. This year it is in the ACSI discount scheme at 18 €, a 3€ saving on the standard price.

Even with a cabin the Poole Cherbourg run isn't that bad on price. As the day boat was full we have ended up booking a night crossing.