Ferries / Eurostar suggestions
Discussion
My wife is 3 months pregnant and she is adamant she won't fly abroad because of this (despite from what I'm reading there being no risk to the unborn baby, she has it in her head it's dangerous due to someone she knows having a miscarriage on holiday straight after a flight).
The idea of going away in the UK depresses me, so she agreed she would be happy to go on a short ferry then drive or Eurostar. I was looking at a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. That alone comes to £800 return with my car! This is absolutely outrageous given I could fly for around £80 return. So looking at shorter ferries to France and even they are close to £500. Absolutely ridiculous....anyone got any suggestions to cut the cost??
Looking at the Eurostar and they all seem to go to major cities like Paris or Amsterdam. Anyway to get to a nice beach resort via Eurostar?
The idea of going away in the UK depresses me, so she agreed she would be happy to go on a short ferry then drive or Eurostar. I was looking at a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. That alone comes to £800 return with my car! This is absolutely outrageous given I could fly for around £80 return. So looking at shorter ferries to France and even they are close to £500. Absolutely ridiculous....anyone got any suggestions to cut the cost??
Looking at the Eurostar and they all seem to go to major cities like Paris or Amsterdam. Anyway to get to a nice beach resort via Eurostar?
We rarely fly.
We love uk holidays generally but once a year we get le shuttle or dfds ferry to Calais and drive into France and sometimes a bit further.
The crossing to and from France has never cost us more than £270 return and no need to hire a car at the other end.
Manche area of Normandy has lovely beaches, Brittany is not much further along.
Sometimes we go further south, Lake Annecy with a visit to Geneva etc.
If not into that sort of holiday there are cruises you can go on without needing to fly.
We don’t fancy cruising but lots of friends do the no fly cruises and rave about them.
I’ve noticed a few companies popping up specialising in no fly holiday planning based around sleeper trains which sounds fun
We love uk holidays generally but once a year we get le shuttle or dfds ferry to Calais and drive into France and sometimes a bit further.
The crossing to and from France has never cost us more than £270 return and no need to hire a car at the other end.
Manche area of Normandy has lovely beaches, Brittany is not much further along.
Sometimes we go further south, Lake Annecy with a visit to Geneva etc.
If not into that sort of holiday there are cruises you can go on without needing to fly.
We don’t fancy cruising but lots of friends do the no fly cruises and rave about them.
I’ve noticed a few companies popping up specialising in no fly holiday planning based around sleeper trains which sounds fun
Edited by Nemophilist on Sunday 12th May 15:21
www.seat61.com is a great resource for rail travel abroad.
As for beach destinations, France has many which are easily accessible by rail.
As for beach destinations, France has many which are easily accessible by rail.
Scroll through this and then book a nice break at the Torridon.
https://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon2...
https://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon2...
loskie said:
"The idea of going away in the UK depresses me"
What a sad attitude.
Not really. Other then bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO). Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do Just depresses me. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.What a sad attitude.
Nemophilist said:
We rarely fly.
We love uk holidays generally but once a year we get le shuttle or dfds ferry to Calais and drive into France and sometimes a bit further.
The crossing to and from France has never cost us more than £270 return and no need to hire a car at the other end.
Manche area of Normandy has lovely beaches, Brittany is not much further along.
Sometimes we go further south, Lake Annecy with a visit to Geneva etc.
If not into that sort of holiday there are cruises you can go on without needing to fly.
We don’t fancy cruising but lots of friends do the no fly cruises and rave about them.
I’ve noticed a few companies popping up specialising in no fly holiday planning based around sleeper trains which sounds fun
Thanks for the suggestion. Any other places in the north of France you recommend?...Lake Annecy looks spectacular. How far is the drive from Calais?We love uk holidays generally but once a year we get le shuttle or dfds ferry to Calais and drive into France and sometimes a bit further.
The crossing to and from France has never cost us more than £270 return and no need to hire a car at the other end.
Manche area of Normandy has lovely beaches, Brittany is not much further along.
Sometimes we go further south, Lake Annecy with a visit to Geneva etc.
If not into that sort of holiday there are cruises you can go on without needing to fly.
We don’t fancy cruising but lots of friends do the no fly cruises and rave about them.
I’ve noticed a few companies popping up specialising in no fly holiday planning based around sleeper trains which sounds fun
Edited by Nemophilist on Sunday 12th May 15:21
I did Portsmouth to Bilbao with the car last year. Considering that I wanted my holiday to have lots of driving it was important to have my car with me so the cost wasn't an issue. But one thing I would not claim is that the ferry is a short one with the crossing taking 30+ hours. The ship trundles along, presumably to allow its LNG fuel to last long enough. And presumably to reduce emissions. And the long you're on board, the longer you spend money in the shops, restaurants and use their paid internet.
The Brittany Ferries Santoña that I travelled on claims a speed of 23kt but I don't think it ever got above 19kt over the entire journey! At least it's quiet on board, so unless there are screaming kids running up and down the corridors it's easy to get to sleep!
The Brittany Ferries Santoña that I travelled on claims a speed of 23kt but I don't think it ever got above 19kt over the entire journey! At least it's quiet on board, so unless there are screaming kids running up and down the corridors it's easy to get to sleep!
simons123 said:
loskie said:
"The idea of going away in the UK depresses me"
What a sad attitude.
Not really. Other then bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO). Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do Just depresses me. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.What a sad attitude.
We rented a gite in courseulles-sur-mer las year which was nice. Got the Dover Calais ferry but Portsmouth Caen would be nearer.
You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
loskie said:
We rented a gite in courseulles-sur-mer las year which was nice. Got the Dover Calais ferry but Portsmouth Caen would be nearer.
You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
Nah not at all. Been all over India, China, Cambodia, etc so like doing more then generally sitting around a pool. Just think the UK is one big expensive, depressing dump and I work to get away from the UK as much as possible (it's still my home though so no plans of leaving). But if I'm stuck in 1 place for a week then at least you want is nice weather, good food, good hotels, nice beaches (none of which can be found here).You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
Antony Moxey said:
simons123 said:
loskie said:
"The idea of going away in the UK depresses me"
What a sad attitude.
Not really. Other then bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO). Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do Just depresses me. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.What a sad attitude.
simons123 said:
loskie said:
We rented a gite in courseulles-sur-mer las year which was nice. Got the Dover Calais ferry but Portsmouth Caen would be nearer.
You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
Nah not at all. Been all over India, China, Cambodia, etc so like doing more then generally sitting around a pool. Just think the UK is one big expensive, depressing dump and I work to get away from the UK as much as possible (it's still my home though so no plans of leaving). But if I'm stuck in 1 place for a week then at least you want is nice weather, good food, good hotels, nice beaches (none of which can be found here).You don't really say what you want from a holiday but due to your negative attitude to UK holidays I'm assuming you are the all inclusive lying by a pool type.
simons123 said:
Antony Moxey said:
simons123 said:
loskie said:
"The idea of going away in the UK depresses me"
What a sad attitude.
Not really. Other then bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO). Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do Just depresses me. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.What a sad attitude.
It sounds like you want something that doesn't exist. The choices you have are:
1. Fly
2. Stay in the UK
3. Take the cheapest ferry crossing you can find (which will leave you in or near Calais) and then drive from there.
4. Take a longer ferry crossing, which will cost you more, but will offload you closer to nicer places with better weather and save you the fuel, tolls and overnight hotel costs of driving there yourself.
5. Take Eurostar, and then other local trains and then hire a car when you get there.
Given that you've already ruled out 1 & 2 then you're left with the other 3.
Option 4 is definitely your best option. If you genuinely can't afford it, then fair enough. But if you're just being tight, then re-evaluate your priorities, understand that the goalposts have moved (hopefully temporarily) due to your wife's pregnancy and pay the appropriate cost to get what you (and she) want(s).
1. Fly
2. Stay in the UK
3. Take the cheapest ferry crossing you can find (which will leave you in or near Calais) and then drive from there.
4. Take a longer ferry crossing, which will cost you more, but will offload you closer to nicer places with better weather and save you the fuel, tolls and overnight hotel costs of driving there yourself.
5. Take Eurostar, and then other local trains and then hire a car when you get there.
Given that you've already ruled out 1 & 2 then you're left with the other 3.
Option 4 is definitely your best option. If you genuinely can't afford it, then fair enough. But if you're just being tight, then re-evaluate your priorities, understand that the goalposts have moved (hopefully temporarily) due to your wife's pregnancy and pay the appropriate cost to get what you (and she) want(s).
simons123 said:
loskie said:
"The idea of going away in the UK depresses me"
What a sad attitude.
Not really. Other then bits of Cornwall (which is a 5-6 hour drive) and hardly warrants a full week, it's all pretty much meh (IMO). Overpriced hotels, crap weather, nothing really interesting to see or do Just depresses me. I like the Cotswolds but not really a holiday place. Horses for courses and all that but I'd rather stay at home then waste money in the UK.What a sad attitude.
we are about to do 3 nights in the lakes in a very nice place, cheaper than you might think, really looking forward to it.
Last december we had a few nights in a self catering cottage nr taunton, it was bliss, and we came back feeling like we had been away ages, and we could take the dog. will never forget sitting in the wood fires hot tub in the storms with a glass of wine one evening so relaxing, total cost for 2 plus dog for 3 nights including petrol was less than 500, and we ate out everyday, and discovered some great places.
Dont wright off the uk, we are looking at the highlands next, its what you make it.
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