Ferries / Eurostar suggestions
Discussion
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.
You can get to many places in France just by changing trains at Lille Europe, it's a very small station just used for Eurostar and TGV. Otherwise it's off at Gare du Nord, metro to Gare de Lyon for the SE or Montparnasse for the SW. You can buy joined Eurostar/SNCF tickets online easily from London to final destination.
https://www.seat61.com/stations/lille-europe.htm
BTW - my wife flew to Paris at 7.5 months pregnant (just to see Robbie Williams!)
https://www.seat61.com/stations/lille-europe.htm
BTW - my wife flew to Paris at 7.5 months pregnant (just to see Robbie Williams!)
omniflow said:
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).
Am I missing something? Happy to take a ferry and drive, or take the Eurostar. But not just take the car and go on Le Shuttle and drive where you like? It's not as cheap as it used to be but surely it is the default answer for many?? 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:
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).
Having holidayed a lot in the UK thanks to Covid, I can only agree with you.Pubs in the middle of bumfek nowhere charging London prices for shoite food, great scenery, if you can see it through the drizzle.
Shame your wife won't fly. Last Christmas I spent 5 weeks in Tenerife. Up in the north away from the tourists. Hiking and exploring in my cheap hire car whilst living in an old apartment in a very working class Canarian town.
It was so cheap for eating out and having a drink.
I do day walks in the UK but I refuse to stop for a coffee £3.80, a pint £6.00 or a snack £7.00 to £10.00. Just feks me off.
I was paying €1.10 for a beer in Tenerife Norte and could eat like a king for €12.00 including drinks.
Blue skies and 22c to 28c every day of my 34 days away apart from one day of rain.
UK has been cold, wet and so muddy for every one of my trips be it in the middle of summer or December.
If you do get a sunny day it's gridlock, massive queues for food/drink, no parking and if there's a room spare, it'll be £200.
I am a fanboy of Newhaven/Dieppe, both ferry and terminals are clean but basic but undercut Brittaney Ferries by a fair margin. However, I would suggest booking as far ahead as you can manage!
I have also dicovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
I have also dicovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
andyA700 said:
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.
Just looked at Dinard. Great shout on that. Looks great tbh. Do you have a link for the apartments if you don't mind me asking? Sounds a bargain.
croyde said:
simons123 said:
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).
Having holidayed a lot in the UK thanks to Covid, I can only agree with you.Pubs in the middle of bumfek nowhere charging London prices for shoite food, great scenery, if you can see it through the drizzle.
Shame your wife won't fly. Last Christmas I spent 5 weeks in Tenerife. Up in the north away from the tourists. Hiking and exploring in my cheap hire car whilst living in an old apartment in a very working class Canarian town.
It was so cheap for eating out and having a drink.
I do day walks in the UK but I refuse to stop for a coffee £3.80, a pint £6.00 or a snack £7.00 to £10.00. Just feks me off.
I was paying €1.10 for a beer in Tenerife Norte and could eat like a king for €12.00 including drinks.
Blue skies and 22c to 28c every day of my 34 days away apart from one day of rain.
UK has been cold, wet and so muddy for every one of my trips be it in the middle of summer or December.
If you do get a sunny day it's gridlock, massive queues for food/drink, no parking and if there's a room spare, it'll be £200.
Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is s
t, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage. ferret50 said:
I am a fanboy of Newhaven/Dieppe, both ferry and terminals are clean but basic but undercut Brittaney Ferries by a fair margin. However, I would suggest booking as far ahead as you can manage!
I have also discovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
I did a short break from Newhaven-Dieppe and it was a breath of fresh air compared to the Tunnel or Dover. I think for a 4 day break I paid about £100 return for a car and 2 adults. Looked up another short break in June and it's £118.I have also discovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
vikingaero said:
ferret50 said:
I am a fanboy of Newhaven/Dieppe, both ferry and terminals are clean but basic but undercut Brittaney Ferries by a fair margin. However, I would suggest booking as far ahead as you can manage!
I have also discovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
I did a short break from Newhaven-Dieppe and it was a breath of fresh air compared to the Tunnel or Dover. I think for a 4 day break I paid about £100 return for a car and 2 adults. Looked up another short break in June and it's £118.I have also discovered on my last two trips that amending my return crossing gets very expensive....
DaveTheRave87 said:
Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Barcelona, local train to the Costa Brava resorts.
I looked at doing that last Summer. £800 return was the cheapest.Did look up last October but it was still £600.
Nearly 2 days of travel each way too, not much good for a week off
Maybe when I've retired and a small win on the lotto, as I'd love to travel that way.
Early 2000s you could go London to Avignon direct. 6 hours and £180 return 1st class.
That was a great trip that we did a few times.
Included a nice meal and unlimited wine.
I think we’ve done every permutation of crossings since 1999, predominantly Portsmouth-Caen en route to Le Mans, Classic Le Mans and Angouleme. Two years ago a group of us did a road trip round the Spanish Picos, going out Plymouth-Santander and back Bilbao-Portsmouth. The longer crossings are fine, just a bit choppy coming back. We also like Hull -Rotterdam as it’s only 35 miles from home.
simons123 said:
Glad its not just me who find the UK depressing to holiday in....get the feeling the only people who like to holiday here are those who are either scared of flying or have young kids.
Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is st, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage.
i pity you, maybe look out of the obviouse areas, there are great places to visit on our island, yes the weather is unpredictable, but so much history and scenery to see.Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is s
t, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage. I spent most of my life traveling abroard for work, still have to sometimes, one year i did over a 100 flights, now the less travel the better, and i realised i knew most of the world better than my own country, so i mainly holiday here when i can.
You just need to avoid the tourist hotspots.
simons123 said:
andyA700 said:
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.
Just looked at Dinard. Great shout on that. Looks great tbh. Do you have a link for the apartments if you don't mind me asking? Sounds a bargain.
In 2002 we went to Devon with 2 children (one was a baby) in a holiday park for a week. It was totally overpriced and I never holidayed again in the UK.
I’d certainly endorse Brittany and the Vendee, when the children are young, it’s absolutely lovely and you’ll feel like you’ve had a holiday.
simons123 said:
andyA700 said:
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.
Just looked at Dinard. Great shout on that. Looks great tbh. Do you have a link for the apartments if you don't mind me asking? Sounds a bargain.
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.6377346,-2.0655745...
richhead said:
simons123 said:
Glad its not just me who find the UK depressing to holiday in....get the feeling the only people who like to holiday here are those who are either scared of flying or have young kids.
Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is st, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage.
i pity you, maybe look out of the obviouse areas, there are great places to visit on our island, yes the weather is unpredictable, but so much history and scenery to see.Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is s
t, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage. I spent most of my life traveling abroard for work, still have to sometimes, one year i did over a 100 flights, now the less travel the better, and i realised i knew most of the world better than my own country, so i mainly holiday here when i can.
You just need to avoid the tourist hotspots.
andyA700 said:
richhead said:
simons123 said:
Glad its not just me who find the UK depressing to holiday in....get the feeling the only people who like to holiday here are those who are either scared of flying or have young kids.
Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is st, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage.
i pity you, maybe look out of the obviouse areas, there are great places to visit on our island, yes the weather is unpredictable, but so much history and scenery to see.Like you say to park anywhere is a nightmare, the accomodation in the UK is pretty shocking, weather is s
t, food is expensive and pretty st, it's all just very bleak and depressing. Can't even go in the sea as it's freezing cold and full of sewage. I spent most of my life traveling abroard for work, still have to sometimes, one year i did over a 100 flights, now the less travel the better, and i realised i knew most of the world better than my own country, so i mainly holiday here when i can.
You just need to avoid the tourist hotspots.
andyA700 said:
Why do you "pity" him?
Because he can't see the wood for the trees and it's going to cost him a load of cash getting to France on a holiday he clearly doesn't really want to do because of his daft prejudices.Meanwhile in the real world the UK has a very strong tourism sector because?
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