Discussion
SEE YA said:
Krikkit said:
SEE YA said:
Anymore details how long is the boat trip across, cost of tickets etc. Please thank you.
Do you not have Google? Or are you just too lazy?
Subjective things like "is it worth driving to do the tunnel, or just go from portsmouth? and what routes are good driving through?" are of course just what forums like this are great for.
I went out on the Portsmouth -> Le Havre ferry and came back on the Tunnel (second year in a row using this combo).
The boat leaves at 11pm and you get off at 8am (local). Book a cabin, get some sleep and a shower, then the short hop to Le Mans is ideal.
What I don't like is having to wait until 5pm for the return boat, as I usually (including this morning) am up and ready to go by 6am latest.
Outbound on the boat was £285 for 3 people in a 4 berth cabin. Tunnel was about £80 for the single back.
Will do the same again next year, and the one after, and the one after (ad infinitum).
The boat leaves at 11pm and you get off at 8am (local). Book a cabin, get some sleep and a shower, then the short hop to Le Mans is ideal.
What I don't like is having to wait until 5pm for the return boat, as I usually (including this morning) am up and ready to go by 6am latest.
Outbound on the boat was £285 for 3 people in a 4 berth cabin. Tunnel was about £80 for the single back.
Will do the same again next year, and the one after, and the one after (ad infinitum).
Krikkit said:
Sorry, perhaps it was a bit terse, but it winds me up when a forum is used as an excuse not to bother Googling anything. Ticket prices and ferry times are the first to fifth hit on a Google for "Portsmouth le havre".
Subjective things like "is it worth driving to do the tunnel, or just go from portsmouth? and what routes are good driving through?" are of course just what forums like this are great for.
Blimey its a forum for tips, but yes google works just fine! Subjective things like "is it worth driving to do the tunnel, or just go from portsmouth? and what routes are good driving through?" are of course just what forums like this are great for.
Its always worth a punt as people may know offers etc...... but thanks for you input!
Output Flange said:
I went out on the Portsmouth -> Le Havre ferry and came back on the Tunnel (second year in a row using this combo).
The boat leaves at 11pm and you get off at 8am (local). Book a cabin, get some sleep and a shower, then the short hop to Le Mans is ideal.
What I don't like is having to wait until 5pm for the return boat, as I usually (including this morning) am up and ready to go by 6am latest.
Outbound on the boat was £285 for 3 people in a 4 berth cabin. Tunnel was about £80 for the single back.
Will do the same again next year, and the one after, and the one after (ad infinitum).
Thanks, thats some really helpful info, sounds like a plan. The boat leaves at 11pm and you get off at 8am (local). Book a cabin, get some sleep and a shower, then the short hop to Le Mans is ideal.
What I don't like is having to wait until 5pm for the return boat, as I usually (including this morning) am up and ready to go by 6am latest.
Outbound on the boat was £285 for 3 people in a 4 berth cabin. Tunnel was about £80 for the single back.
Will do the same again next year, and the one after, and the one after (ad infinitum).
Will be my first time and cant wait!
I live in the West Country and it is some years since I have been to Le Mans but almost certainly will travel next year. I do however go to France frequently. You may value an alternative view.
Part of the fun of Le Mans is the drive in France. I loathe the idiotic element who aim to get to their campsite as quickly as possible without regard for other road users. There are sensational "off piste" routes (feel free to PM me for ideas), that give you a chance to see some beautiful countryside and villages whilst driving on deserted challenging roads. A lunch stop in a café/restaurant in a picture postcard village really gets you in the mood (not to say providing perhaps your last decent meal for the weekend!); some classics also take the back roads - we saw a convoy of D types, another of Ferraris For LM I have travelled from Dover and Plymouth (not many LM-ers consider this crossing); I have also crossed from most other ports - Ramsgate/Tunnel/Folkestone/Newhaven/Portsmouth/Southampton (R & S are no longer ferry ports) as all are within 2 to 4 hours of home, and on arrival divert from the autoroutes as soon as possible.
An advantage of the short crossings is that, where possible, if you arrive early the operators will put you on the next crossing (even when busy e.g. at LM time) as it means they can pack another car on "your" crossing. Similarly if you are running late (despite what the T's & C's say) you should be put on the next crossing - within in an hour; if you miss a long crossing you may need to wait 12 hours for the next one!.
Food-wise - try for the "posh" restaurants for peace & quiet (away from screaming school kids) - I find the small price premium money well spent.
Part of the fun of Le Mans is the drive in France. I loathe the idiotic element who aim to get to their campsite as quickly as possible without regard for other road users. There are sensational "off piste" routes (feel free to PM me for ideas), that give you a chance to see some beautiful countryside and villages whilst driving on deserted challenging roads. A lunch stop in a café/restaurant in a picture postcard village really gets you in the mood (not to say providing perhaps your last decent meal for the weekend!); some classics also take the back roads - we saw a convoy of D types, another of Ferraris For LM I have travelled from Dover and Plymouth (not many LM-ers consider this crossing); I have also crossed from most other ports - Ramsgate/Tunnel/Folkestone/Newhaven/Portsmouth/Southampton (R & S are no longer ferry ports) as all are within 2 to 4 hours of home, and on arrival divert from the autoroutes as soon as possible.
An advantage of the short crossings is that, where possible, if you arrive early the operators will put you on the next crossing (even when busy e.g. at LM time) as it means they can pack another car on "your" crossing. Similarly if you are running late (despite what the T's & C's say) you should be put on the next crossing - within in an hour; if you miss a long crossing you may need to wait 12 hours for the next one!.
Food-wise - try for the "posh" restaurants for peace & quiet (away from screaming school kids) - I find the small price premium money well spent.
Sortie 10 said:
I live in the West Country and it is some years since I have been to Le Mans but almost certainly will travel next year. I do however go to France frequently. You may value an alternative view.
Part of the fun of Le Mans is the drive in France. I loathe the idiotic element who aim to get to their campsite as quickly as possible without regard for other road users. There are sensational "off piste" routes (feel free to PM me for ideas), that give you a chance to see some beautiful countryside and villages whilst driving on deserted challenging roads. A lunch stop in a café/restaurant in a picture postcard village really gets you in the mood (not to say providing perhaps your last decent meal for the weekend!); some classics also take the back roads - we saw a convoy of D types, another of Ferraris For LM I have travelled from Dover and Plymouth (not many LM-ers consider this crossing); I have also crossed from most other ports - Ramsgate/Tunnel/Folkestone/Newhaven/Portsmouth/Southampton (R & S are no longer ferry ports) as all are within 2 to 4 hours of home, and on arrival divert from the autoroutes as soon as possible.
An advantage of the short crossings is that, where possible, if you arrive early the operators will put you on the next crossing (even when busy e.g. at LM time) as it means they can pack another car on "your" crossing. Similarly if you are running late (despite what the T's & C's say) you should be put on the next crossing - within in an hour; if you miss a long crossing you may need to wait 12 hours for the next one!.
Food-wise - try for the "posh" restaurants for peace & quiet (away from screaming school kids) - I find the small price premium money well spent.
Hi sounds really good, i do want to make the most of the trip. Being i live in Portsmouth does make sense to go from here, but once i hit france i would like to find a group, or a few doing exactly what your saying. If you go from Portsmouth let me know. I am a complete novice when it comes to anything abroad Part of the fun of Le Mans is the drive in France. I loathe the idiotic element who aim to get to their campsite as quickly as possible without regard for other road users. There are sensational "off piste" routes (feel free to PM me for ideas), that give you a chance to see some beautiful countryside and villages whilst driving on deserted challenging roads. A lunch stop in a café/restaurant in a picture postcard village really gets you in the mood (not to say providing perhaps your last decent meal for the weekend!); some classics also take the back roads - we saw a convoy of D types, another of Ferraris For LM I have travelled from Dover and Plymouth (not many LM-ers consider this crossing); I have also crossed from most other ports - Ramsgate/Tunnel/Folkestone/Newhaven/Portsmouth/Southampton (R & S are no longer ferry ports) as all are within 2 to 4 hours of home, and on arrival divert from the autoroutes as soon as possible.
An advantage of the short crossings is that, where possible, if you arrive early the operators will put you on the next crossing (even when busy e.g. at LM time) as it means they can pack another car on "your" crossing. Similarly if you are running late (despite what the T's & C's say) you should be put on the next crossing - within in an hour; if you miss a long crossing you may need to wait 12 hours for the next one!.
Food-wise - try for the "posh" restaurants for peace & quiet (away from screaming school kids) - I find the small price premium money well spent.
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