I'm coming round to the 'Drive thru France' to Spain idea..... (1 Viewer)

[peterc10]

And in winter the weather risk.

The winter weather risks work both ways.

I would prefer to use the tunnel and risk driving through France in the bad weather, safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of places I can stop and be warm and cosy in the motorhome if things get to bad, rather than throwing up for one or two days in a winter gale on the Bay of Biscay.

Brother did the Santander crossing back a couple of weeks ago. Weather awful and the ship then had to go to aid a yacht in distress. Arrived many hours late and without any sleep. That does not sound like fun to me.

 

[MR. FUSION]

The winter weather risks work both ways.

I would prefer to use the tunnel and risk driving through France in the bad weather, safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of places I can stop and be warm and cosy in the motorhome if things get to bad, rather than throwing up for one or two days in a winter gale on the Bay of Biscay.

Brother did the Santander crossing back a couple of weeks ago. Weather awful and the ship then had to go to aid a yacht in distress. Arrived many hours late and without any sleep. That does not sound like fun to me.

'Safe' and French drivers is an oxymoron!

 

[Jaws]

Just booked Newhaven/Dieppe 13th Jan, £72 - discount = £57

Just checked on the cost for us.. £542 return !!!

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[Chockswahay]

Just checked on the cost for us.. £542 return !!!

Wot! on the Newhaven/Dieppe ferry?

 

[Jaws]

Yup. Travelling out on Jan 14th and returning on March 22nd.
9 mtr van, me and her and the woofa ...

 

[gus-lopez]

rather than throwing up for one or two days in a winter gale on the Bay of Biscay.

.

& then the boat sinks !

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[hilldweller]

rather than throwing up for one or two days in a winter gale on the Bay of Biscay

Couldn't agree more, I've been there, when there's nothing left to come up and you are still heaving it's grim. Since then Kwells have saved me.

 

[Chockswahay]

Yup. Travelling out on Jan 14th and returning on March 22nd.
9 mtr van, me and her and the woofa ...

That's shocking! I don't quite understand, I have had a quick butchers at those dates and it is less than £100 each way.... what am I missing?

 

[Chockswahay]

Have just booked the ferry to Santander for the first time - am dreading it but hubby insists we try it. Think I may have to overdose on Sturgeron.

Haha.....

I mis-read this and thought .............. Sturgeon? it would be cheaper to buy the boat (I do like Caviar 'tho)

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[Chockswahay]

Hmm........ I've been examining the option of using the (faster?) toll roads through France ............... OUCH?


Maybe I might have to re think all this

 

[Jaws]

We found that using toll roads was no quicker in the end mate

 

[Chockswahay]

We found that using toll roads was no quicker in the end mate

I've often wondered..............

The truth is I have never used one

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[Jaws]

That's shocking! I don't quite understand, I have had a quick butchers at those dates and it is less than £100 each way.... what am I missing?

Perhaps I am doing something wrong..
That was DFDS quote..
Using Direct ferries I just got that down to £299.. But the maximum size they list is 7.5 mtrs and still with DFDS
So returning to the DFDS site, put in the size as 7.5 mtrs and yep, £281 ( slightly less ) but putting in 9 mtrs for van length and it jumps straight up !!

 

[Jaws]

I've often wondered..............

The truth is I have never used one

We have tried every which way

Using NO toll roads the journey to Zahora takes 3 days and a few hours
Using toll roads ( we were held up on the ferry one year so thought we would make up time )..
travelling time.. 3 days and a few hours !

 

[Chockswahay]

@Jaws !!

I'm just trying to work out/justify the ferry to Spain! and then you come along with the voice of reason.......

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[Jaws]

Sorry mate ! LOL !!!

 

[Chockswahay]

@Jaws I get this for your size van ......... (and a dog!)

 

[Judge Mental]

We found that using toll roads was no quicker in the end mate

Indeed......probably not much in it certainly in a motorhome + all the cheap fuel, Aires, shopping, bakers (yum) are on the normal/N roads

large vehicles better off on tunnel thats for sure as one price fits all

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[MR. FUSION]

Just checked on the cost for us.. £542 return !!!

You must have one of those sticky cookies stuck in your PC somewhere. Like BA used to have that put the price up by £50 every time you went back to the site

 

[Jaws]

@Jaws I get this for your size van ......... (and a dog!)

View attachment 85781

Yessss.. So that is what, £483 return then ....

 

[Chockswahay]

Yessss.. So that is what, £483 return then ....

Nah......£235 IS the return price

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[Jaws]

Ahhh ! In that case.. I shall have to rework all the figures for next year !

 

[Lenny HB]

Ahhh ! In that case.. I shall have to rework all the figures for next year !

And you get 20% off if over 60 and save even more if you pay in Euro.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just booked Newhaven/Dieppe 13th Jan, £72 - discount = £57

Just booked my outgoing one, £72 less 20% discount £57, I paid on NW CC in Euro, so only cost £51.60

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[Jaws]

All costs for return journeys


All fuel costs based on average published for each country


English leg

309 miles £71.15


French leg

1436 miles £249.80


Spanish leg 936 miles £148


Ferry £235


Total £703.96


Total mileage 2681


So a saving of 62 miles on the road ( wow LOL ! )


And a cost increase of £72.30

With the 20% discount that comes down to an increase in cost of £25.30
So still dearer no matter what !

 

[gus-lopez]

@Jaws I get this for your size van ......... (and a dog!)

View attachment 85781

But that shows a length of less than 9m.Which is not 9m ?

 

[Busman]

Have you tried phoning

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[Jaws]

But that shows a length of less than 9m.Which is not 9m ?

Yes.. it is really odd how they display it

 

[mentaliss]

come on guys stop telling them our little secret about cheapy Dieppe we'll start a Black Friday scenario!!

 

[ebikejohn]

We drive to Barcelona three or four times a year, usually go Eurotunnel - break in Limoges, pick up the BIS for a bit of scenery and then on in to Les Medes for a couple of night before heading on in to Barcelona.

Tried Portsmouth - Caen in November upgraded cabin, turned out our trailer was 15cm over length so £70 surcharge on the already outrageous price.

We can do Portsmouth in under 3 hours but Dover is 4.5 hours so that's a plus, going again end of Jan, will we go Portsmouth - Caen again - NO

Back to the tunnel again for us.

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