Route advice: Cherbourg to Vannes (esp. fuel stops)

[Basil Hume]

It seems that the ferry to Cherbourg (rather than St Malo) is more convenient for a trip in late August / early September 2015 to the countryside near Vannes.

It'll be my first drive with our family of four on board - in a Golf R32, which likes a drink...

Any general advice on the route (including fuel / "family" / wee stops) would be gratefully received.

[majordad]

What time of day do you arrive, and what day of week? Sundays are very different in France. Shops close at 1230 Sundays.

Without deviating much from your route I'd stop at Utah Beach ( musuem takes an hour, maybe a bit much for kids ) and St Mere Eglise. Refuel near there https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Super+U/@49.40519...

Pumps self service and take credit cards UK type and buy stuff for your lunch in the supermarket. Eat picnic at nearby La Fiere , there are benches and shade.https://www.google.ie/maps/place/B%26B+%C3%A0+la+Bataille+de+La+Fi%C3%A8re/@49.400501,-1.363892,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x480b7efc2be8d8d9:0x58c8e5944b930d17

[numtumfutunch]

We are major Francophiles and have had many trips including one with a 6 week old baby (ours)

Until relatively recently the Caen ferry was our default, sometimes overnight*, until one fine Saturday afternoon when SWMBO went AWOL in a hypermarche leading to us missing our fecking return crossing
This lead to a blast up the Peage to Calais in order to get back to Blightly by our deadline realising this was a decent option

My man maths are a bit rusty this evening however the Chunnel is now our default crossing for all geographical areas of France
The time for the Caen/Cherbourg/St Malo crossings is waaaaay more than a tunnel vs Peage hoon assuming your passengers are up for it

Furthermore whilst I enjoyed the 5-6h break in the journey for the crossing, plus boarding and disembarking, and the respite it gave the kids to mess around when they were tiny I had never actually done a price comparison with Dover which is orders of magnitude cheaper

My kids happily sit in the back and fight/listen to music/play nintendo/chat so Im happy to smash the journey
Consequently we get up at 6AM for a French holiday via Calais versus 3AM as previous on the ferry - clearly this makes for a happier me and even though the driving is more intense I am more rested and so happier behind the wheel

If your kids are toddlers or smaller the long distance ferries may be better for the natural break you get

Which ever you choose dont worry about fuel or food - the French motorway services serve good grub and gas isnt as ripp off expensive as it is on the M1, I would also recommend a Sanef Peage transponder though - Google it

Enjoy your holiday

• overnight ferry, grrrrrrr, top dollar and a great idea but you have to take an extra days leave for the Friday and they wake you up with Klaxons at 5AM so your pretty much as knackered the following day as if youve hammered it from home in one hit

[Basil Hume]

These are top tips, received with grateful thanks. More would be good, if anyone else cares to...

For better or worse, the trip is now booked via ferry from Poole to Cherbourg.

[paulwirral]

Supermarket fuel is the cheapest every time , motorway fuel most expensive . Tunnel is the best way to travel , costs slightly more but if it's not busy it's flexible on time 2 hours either way on a standard ticket without charge , much quicker and easier loading and your parked in a single line so your doors won't get damaged by excited kids !
Beware the megane , berlingo , 208 , innocently parked at the roadside , it's probably a speed trap .