Ferries to Europe
Discussion
I am planning a road trip to the continent next May it June.
We are looking at ferries and driving around. It's all a blank canvass but could do with some advice. In particular, apart from Hull into Zeebrugge an Rotterdam and the the standard south coast into northern France what other ferry routes are available?
For the record I think starting from Calais could be boring.
We are looking at ferries and driving around. It's all a blank canvass but could do with some advice. In particular, apart from Hull into Zeebrugge an Rotterdam and the the standard south coast into northern France what other ferry routes are available?
For the record I think starting from Calais could be boring.
A lot depends on where you want to go on your European adventure.
Over the last few years we've done the south coast/Calais and Eurotunnel routes a few times and I must admit they aren't my favourite unless you happen to be heading for northern Europe - they are generally quite cheap though.
We've also done Portsmouth/St Malo (was 12hrs overnight out/12 hrs daytime return) and Portsmouth/Santandar (24hrs each way). Costs are considerably more initially but, if you're heading south and take fuel/tolls/overnight stops into account the gap closes considerably. There's also the advantage that you can 'save' a day or two wasted travelling to.
Big advantage for me was not having to drive 280 miles each way to Dover - Portsmouth is only around 180 miles and means I have no worries about M25 snarl-ups
Whichever way you go, enjoy your trip
BB
Over the last few years we've done the south coast/Calais and Eurotunnel routes a few times and I must admit they aren't my favourite unless you happen to be heading for northern Europe - they are generally quite cheap though.
We've also done Portsmouth/St Malo (was 12hrs overnight out/12 hrs daytime return) and Portsmouth/Santandar (24hrs each way). Costs are considerably more initially but, if you're heading south and take fuel/tolls/overnight stops into account the gap closes considerably. There's also the advantage that you can 'save' a day or two wasted travelling to.
Big advantage for me was not having to drive 280 miles each way to Dover - Portsmouth is only around 180 miles and means I have no worries about M25 snarl-ups
Whichever way you go, enjoy your trip
BB
As the chap above says, it depends upon what you want, and where you want to go.
We ahve used the Hull/Zeebrugge route many times and we favour that route. We have also used the Newcastle/Amsterdam route but found it to more expensive, and the ferry wasn't as good as the Hull routes.
We like to head across France and into Italy, so Zeebrugge locates us well for that route.
One night on the ferry, and an 0900 hrs disembarkation at Zeebrugge also make for a well timed day of driving.
If you live in London, the South coast routes may be better for you, in as much that you do less driving to get to the ferry.
Hull is great for us, but may not suit everyone.
I recommend European travel if you want to have 'an adventure' !
We ahve used the Hull/Zeebrugge route many times and we favour that route. We have also used the Newcastle/Amsterdam route but found it to more expensive, and the ferry wasn't as good as the Hull routes.
We like to head across France and into Italy, so Zeebrugge locates us well for that route.
One night on the ferry, and an 0900 hrs disembarkation at Zeebrugge also make for a well timed day of driving.
If you live in London, the South coast routes may be better for you, in as much that you do less driving to get to the ferry.
Hull is great for us, but may not suit everyone.
I recommend European travel if you want to have 'an adventure' !
Happy chaps. Many thanks for this. We are Essex based so a south coast departure would be best. To be honest, we haven't decided where to go but it'll be with the other half and two kids under 3 - so convenience is key.
At the moment it seems like a Brugge, Amsterdam trip as I think going into Italy, Germany or Spain would be too much.
Any destination ideas would be appreciated - as long as family friendly.
At the moment it seems like a Brugge, Amsterdam trip as I think going into Italy, Germany or Spain would be too much.
Any destination ideas would be appreciated - as long as family friendly.
bomb said:
We ahve used the Hull/Zeebrugge route many times and we favour that route. We have also used the Newcastle/Amsterdam route but found it to more expensive, and the ferry wasn't as good as the Hull routes.
We like to head across France and into Italy, so Zeebrugge locates us well for that route.
One night on the ferry, and an 0900 hrs disembarkation at Zeebrugge also make for a well timed day of driving.
We went from Newcastle to amsterdam last year, the boat was fine, but amsterdam was a bit grim. We were heading to the paris area, and driving down there was a bit of a slog. We like to head across France and into Italy, so Zeebrugge locates us well for that route.
One night on the ferry, and an 0900 hrs disembarkation at Zeebrugge also make for a well timed day of driving.
The Herge (tin tin) museum in brussells was great and well a slight detour, If you are in essex I would probably take Le Shuttle - certainly that was my preferred route when we live in suffolk. Calais isnt that exciting but its a pretty easy drive to some nicer bits - Brugge is nice and Le Touquet ticks a lot of boxes for families.
Just to hijack the thread slightly, Bomb, what areas of italy do you head for and what would be the preferrred route from Zeebrugge?
Did Portsmouth -Bilbao & then drove home via Spain, Andorra, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany & back through Belgium via Calais to Dover. Can thoroughly recommend it as long as you have enough time. if you just go in via northern France its pretty dull until you get a good way south to be honest, so you have 2 days driving to get anywhere interesting & then 2 days to get back again - so that eats a chunk of your holiday.
24 hours out of Portsmouth & you can be in Spain & then
in the Pyrenees the day after . Brittany Ferries is also very civilised.
24 hours out of Portsmouth & you can be in Spain & then
in the Pyrenees the day after . Brittany Ferries is also very civilised.The Leaper said:
Eurotunnel can be affected occasionally by the weather. Twice I've been unable to travel due to high winds which mean that the trains cannot operate safely at Calais.
R.
Well, that is still a tiny proportion of the services compared to the ferry services. I've never had a single issue with Eurotunnel in 10 years.R.
Essex based? Harwich to Hook of Holland, no brainer and a good service too.
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/harwich-ho...
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/harwich-ho...
thebullettrain said:
Happy chaps. Many thanks for this. We are Essex based so a south coast departure would be best. To be honest, we haven't decided where to go but it'll be with the other half and two kids under 3 - so convenience is key.
At the moment it seems like a Brugge, Amsterdam trip as I think going into Italy, Germany or Spain would be too much.
Any destination ideas would be appreciated - as long as family friendly.
How about Brittany? Portsmouth to Cherbourg - 2.5 hrs on the fast cat, and then a lovely area to explore and lots of stuff for small children, without spending hours in the car with them.At the moment it seems like a Brugge, Amsterdam trip as I think going into Italy, Germany or Spain would be too much.
Any destination ideas would be appreciated - as long as family friendly.
Silver993tt said:
ell, that is still a tiny proportion of the services compared to the ferry services. I've never had a single issue with Eurotunnel in 10 years.
They are also affected by snow - last Christmas we took the ferry at the last minute because the Tunnel had 6 hour delays due to 3 snowflakes falling on the points - the ferries were unaffected. In the last 10 years I have also experienced Tunnel delays due to signal failures and defective trains, to the extent that I now prefer the ferry - in my experience they are more reliable.thebullettrain said:
Thanks! Been looking at the Harwich to Evsberg in Denmark route. A sail from 6pm until 1pm the next day. Sounds good, will check some hotels and places to visit too.
Legoland is the obvious destination and quite near the port - much better than the UK one. There is a great zoo (more of an indoor rainforest) at Randers http://www.visitdenmark.com/uk/en-gb/menu/turist/o...
and a great aquarium at Grenaa with ponds for the kids to touch the fish etc
The dunes at Rubjerg Knude (NW Jutland) are spectacular
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheeweng/205442558/
Skagen is beautiful, as is Ebeltoft. We didn't get further east than Jutland but there is plenty to see in the rest of Denmark.
If you didn't want to stay in hotels and are happy to spend a week in one place, plenty of Danish holiday villas come with indoor pools and saunas etc. We rented one from Novasol, which we were v.happy with, there is also another big agency called SologStrand
http://www.novasol.co.uk/
http://www.sologstrand.com/
sawman said:
some stuff......then,
Just to hijack the thread slightly, Bomb, what areas of italy do you head for and what would be the preferrred route from Zeebrugge?
We leave the ferry from Zeebrugge and head in a straight line towards Italy (heading to the Italian Lakes).Just to hijack the thread slightly, Bomb, what areas of italy do you head for and what would be the preferrred route from Zeebrugge?
I prefer to 'get the miles in' on the first day, so we just make a good speed across country in the SE'ly direction. Head via the Brussels Ring Road and then SE'ly again via Luxembourg, Metz, Strasbourg, then South into Italy.
We do it in a two-hop route, and stop over one night on the way.
Use Google-Maps to plan your route. There are plenty of good fuelling and feeding stops along the way, and we generally pull off the motorway and find a small village or town to stay the night.
You may wish to avoid Switzerland, and fine tune you route once getting near to Italy.
Once in the Italian Lakes, you have better weather, great views and some great driving roads.
Go for it ! We jkeep going back, just for the adventure ( and the food and wine !).
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