Discounted Ferry Crossings

Cross-Channel Ferries

For discounts on some popular cross channel crossings we suggest that you contact La Chenaie Vacances (Tony Cluskey) based in France.  They are English speaking and work with the major operators (Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries) allowing them to provide discounts on some ferry crossings.  You can contact them by telephone or e-mail.

Tel. 0033 231 699854  

anthony.cluskey@wanadoo.fr

Cross-Channel Routes

Booking Your Crossing

This could not be easier. You can contact the ferry company directly by telephone and book over the phone, or you can use their website and book your crossing on-line. If you are taking a long overnight crossing and you have children you may prefer to book a cabin. If you do not have children, then you can reserve recliner seats which are less expensive. 

However, before booking your crossing you need to decide which crossing you want to take - read the information below which should help you decide.

Brittany Ferries

Tel. 0870 444 1482

Which crossing should I take ?

A short sea crossing between Dover and Calais is usually the cheapest and most popular way of getting to France. At peak times there are up to four ferry sailings an hour from Dover and four Eurotunnel shuttle trains an hour from Folkestone. Crossing times vary between 35 minutes by the tunnel, to just under an hour by high speed catamaran, to about 90 minutes by ferry.

Like Dover, Calais is one of the world's busiest passenger and vehicle ferry ports. As the closest landing point in France, Calais has long been the port of passage across the Channel to England.

If you've crossed by ferry or Eurotunnel, it's amazing how different a place can be when it's so close. Calais has plenty to offer, you can enjoy the cultural heritage of traditional French restaurants and despite the town having been flattened in two 20th century wars, you can also find a lot of surviving glimpses into its fascinating past - if you know where to look.

If you are travelling to the South of France, or the more central regions such as Burgundy and the Auvergne (refer to map on home page), then the Dover to Calais ferry crossing, or the tunnel option are the obvious choices.

However, if you are travelling to the West of France to regions such as Brittany, Vendée or Biarritz, this is not the obvious choice of crossing.

Travelling to the West of France/

Dover to Calais is a short crossing for those who wish to save money or who do not especially enjoy sailing. The crossing is short (about 90 minutes), however if you are travelling West, you may have a long journey by road in France to your final destination. If you are in no rush, it may be a good idea to break the journey in France. Hotels in France are much less expensive than in the UK.

By choosing the Dover to Calais crossing (or the tunnel), you will make a significant saving on the price of the crossing, less than half the price of the other cross-channel routes. Despite the long drive in France, you will find it  less stressful than driving in the UK. The roads in France are excellent, the density of traffic is much less and there are no heavy goods vehicles on the road on a Sunday.

Portsmouth to Cherbourg or Caen are long crossings (5 to 6 hours) and you will have plenty of time to unwind and  rest and enjoy the luxury facilities the modern cross-channel ferries have to offer, eg. Casino, bars, restaurants, shops and cinemas (depending on the boat). Many people prefer taking the night crossing with a cabin so that they are refreshed for the journey ahead of them in the morning. From Caen it is motorway all the way (non-toll) and it will take around 5 hours, but from Cherbourg the first 100 miles are on A roads and later some of the motorways are toll.

Portsmouth to St Malo is another popular crossing. The  night crossing takes about 10 hours but if you are asleep in your cabin you will be unaware of the time. You will have plenty of time to unwind and  rest and enjoy the ferry.  This crossing leaves the shortest drive in France in the morning (about 4 hours).

Approximate driving distance in France to the Vendée, from the different cross-Channel ports.

• Calais : 400 miles

• Dieppe : 321 miles

• Le Havre : 290 miles

• Cherbourg : 270 miles

• Roscoff : 250 miles

• Caen : 240 miles

• St Malo : 170 miles