Ferry options, South coast to France

[piguglyshandydrinker]

A few of us are heading to LeMans in April, the original plan was to use LD Lines, taking an overnighter on Thurs 15th April & returning Sun 18th Portsmouth/Le Havre but this route is fully booked at the time we wish to travel.

I have done several searches & had some quotes which come in at well over £100 return It's starting to get tedious now.

I'm looking for reasonably priced options, avoiding the usual Dover/South East routes, has anyone had good experiences/reasonable prices with other routes?

Phil

[BobA]

An option is Newhaven to Dieppe with Transmanche Ferries (I think they are related to LD Lines)

This crossing is about 4 - 4.5 hours.

Not the cheapest compared to what you might get in Dover, but is a nice compromise distance wise.

There is a Premier Inn located in Newhaven as well, depending on how your journey times pan out.

Newhaven is approximately 40 minutes to an hour from the M25 J7.


Hope that helps



Bob

[stuart]

Consider Hull to Zebrugger, initialy seems to cost more but saves fuel and tyers and sorts out sleeping arangements, be in Hull for about 5:00 pm and arrive in Zebrugger 9:30 in the morning fed and watered, saves the crappy ride on the British motorway system and leaves you far more chilled for the rest of the trip, cheers

[wobblemonster]

+1 Hull/Zebrugger
Best ferry food I've ever had, good bar on the ship.

[africajim]

DFDS Newcastle/Ijmiuden, far cheaper than Hull/Rotterdam, also good food and plenty of bars!

[BobA]

I am Sir Pukealot, so the minimum time on the waves as possible for me!

[bandit]

DFDS Newcastle/Ijmiuden, far cheaper than Hull/Rotterdam, also good food and plenty of bars!

+1 Have used this route many times once on the bike and several times in the car definitely better the the long drive south

[angelo]

Over the years I have done them all. I don't know where you are starting from but as you mentioned LD and Portsmouth icassume it is convenient ( done it good service but books up 6 or more months ahead)

try Condor Lines - if I remember it is Portsmouth or somewhere close to Caen or St Malo via Channel Island - it is a fast ferry so very quick and pretty cheap. It places you pretty well for a ride through the edge of Britanny and Normandy then down to LeMans - nicer ride than coming from Calais etc

[angelo]

If you want seriously cheap then go for Norfolk Line - Dover to Dunkirk June price £44 return even cheaper at other times dates. I have used them often.

Early booking with Sea France and Stenna can be cheap as well went over and back last year for less that £30

depends on how much you want to ride and on which country. I have done at least 1 trip a year for the past 15 years and until last year it was cheaper to travel in France but now not so - having a cabin on a Portsmouth le havre can sometime be cheaper overal than getting a cheap hotel at a french ferry port these days

never tried the Tunnel - may be a though if u get seasick

I went on a Hovercraft once in rough weather oh yuk that was bouncy event the flight attendants strapped in!!!

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Thanks for the replies all, sailing the North Sea routes would make for a long weekend trip to LeMans. Current fave is Portsmouth/LeHavre, just a bit pricier than LD Lines ho, hum.

Phil

ps Bob, WTF has happened to your avatar