Ferry prices !

Jewellbags

Jewellbags

Joined
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Since October 2019
I might be a tight so and so but anyone got tips to reduce the ferry costs to and from France (from portsmouth ) . I know the Chunnel is about half the price but the extra fuel to via this route also
Adds up.
 
Are you a member of any club as CMC are normally cheaper than booking direct
 
No not yet is that the caravan club ?
 
You need to do the maths. Size of motorhome, your age and travel preferences will be key.
Establish your fuel consumption and the rest should be a straight forward calculation, from a cost only point of view. Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS will give a 20% discount if your a pensioner and must e booked by phone. Portsmouth to Bilboa is going to be expensive unless your going to use more in fuel costs from Calais. Have a look at this link for getting down to Spain from Calais as cost effective as possible. I'll cut and past a paragraph, as a taster.

(Fuel costs approx. €147.84 (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.40 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.
 
Thanks for the advice

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Sundowners said:
Ask for a discount code from Funsters, you get 10% off of the cost of the ferry but not for the cabins.
Click to expand...
Discount codes finished years ago on the short cheaper crossings. You might get something on the long crossings if your signed up for some schemes/company's, I beleive.
 
Just thinking slightly "out of the box". We use Tesco vouchers for the Chunnel, effectively costing us nothing.

Okay you have to take into account what you spend, but having a very big Tesco a few minutes down the road helps, together with Tesco credit card and also Tesco Mobile phones. Soon mounts up.

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Yep have used tesco vouchers on our trip to brugges several times (non MH) and that is a good option . Thanks
 
The Newhaven route appeals but why do you like it so much (although it’s a great price )
 
Jewellbags said:
I might be a tight so and so but anyone got tips to reduce the ferry costs to and from France (from portsmouth ) . I know the Chunnel is about half the price but the extra fuel to via this route also
Adds up.
Click to expand...
PM d you.BUSBY.
 
PhilandMena said:
Discount codes finished years ago on the short cheaper crossings. You might get something on the long crossings if your signed up for some schemes/company's, I beleive.
Click to expand...
He was asking for Portsmouth crossing, hence the reason I mentioned getting a discount code from some funsters who are very willing to offer.

Ps Just seen that someone answered this already for me.

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Jewellbags said:
The Newhaven route appeals but why do you like it so much (although it’s a great price )
Click to expand...

1. Its a good price
2. As we drive down from Scotland we can stop and see family members on route.
3. At 4 hrs its long enough to have a rest but you still arrive early enough to forward travel in daylight.
4. On board there is no hard sell to visit shops, cinema, games room etc., they do have a shop on board but it very small, restaurant is very reasonable price and again because its smaller the food is always freshly made.
5. We like it.
 
PhilandMena said:
You need to do the maths. Size of motorhome, your age and travel preferences will be key.
Establish your fuel consumption and the rest should be a straight forward calculation, from a cost only point of view. Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS will give a 20% discount if your a pensioner and must e booked by phone. Portsmouth to Bilboa is going to be expensive unless your going to use more in fuel costs from Calais. Have a look at this link for getting down to Spain from Calais as cost effective as possible. I'll cut and past a paragraph, as a taster.

(Fuel costs approx. €147.84 (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.40 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.
Click to expand...

Every year I go through this for our trip in January.. every year carefully do the maths and every year it has worked out cheaper ( By quite a bit ) to do the chunnel
And up until recently our van only ever returned 21 mpg
 
Graham and Jane said:
4. On board there is no hard sell to visit shops, cinema, games room etc.,
Click to expand...

Hard sell?......never ever come across this on any ferry, use the facilities or don't, the choice is entirely our own.
Jaws said:
Every year I go through this for our trip in January.. every year carefully do the maths and every year it has worked out cheaper ( By quite a bit ) to do the chunnel
And up until recently our van only ever returned 21 mpg
Click to expand...

Cost isn't everything, for some of us the convenience is sometimes more important than saving a few bob on the crossing.
 
matamoros said:
Hard sell?......never ever come across this on any ferry, use the facilities or don't, the choice is entirely our own.


Cost isn't everything, for some of us the convenience is sometimes more important than saving a few bob on the crossing.
Click to expand...
Ohh I agree.. But for us, we thoroughly enjoy the trip.. Never go near tolls, meet folk, enjoy the scenery.. all the things we motorhome for :)
Oh.. and Woman is petrified of water LOL !!
 
I personally never use the chunnel. It's a pain getting there from West Berkshire as you can guarantee many accidents, breakdowns and diversions. Used to take me nearly four hours to get there... Then because I always drive south in France It negates any savings. So I use the ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham. Portsmouth only 45mins from my house. Nice restful journey over and a few hundred kilomètres nearer my destination. The cost approx £210 return for 6metre van.. I think it almost balances it out in fuel costs.. And extremely relaxing.. But each to their own.. Ps I am a club voyage member and travel at least four times a year., works for me...

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Jaws said:
Every year I go through this for our trip in January.. every year carefully do the maths and every year it has worked out cheaper ( By quite a bit ) to do the chunnel
And up until recently our van only ever returned 21 mpg
Click to expand...
Jaws said:
Ohh I agree.. But for us, we thoroughly enjoy the trip.. Never go near tolls, meet folk, enjoy the scenery.. all the things we motorhome for :)
Oh.. and Woman is petrified of water LOL !!
Click to expand...
It's the same for us, from our location near P/boro down to Folkestone. Neither of us are sea faring types, and as we can't be guaranteed a smooth crossing on the Bay Of Biscay, that is why we don't do that crossing.
We dodn an overnight crossing from Yull to Rotterdam once............................but never again. :(

This winter we are giving ourselves 9 - 10 days to get to the Spanish Costas, calling in to visit friends near Limoges for a couple of days, on the way down.

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
Jaws said:
Every year I go through this for our trip in January.. every year carefully do the maths and every year it has worked out cheaper ( By quite a bit ) to do the chunnel
And up until recently our van only ever returned 21 mpg
Click to expand...
In winter it's not just about the price ..Can't get any pleasure driving the length of France in crap weather when for a few Bob more I can travel in comfort with entertainment,decent do food and a nice cabin and shower..BUSBY.?
 
We always use the tunnel - Tesco vouchers, better for the dog & wife doesn't do ferries - we are very happy just poodling down through France & Spain. Yes, the weather is quite often not the best but for some reason that doesn't bother us. Stop when we feel like it
 
Graham and Jane said:
1. Its a good price
2. As we drive down from Scotland we can stop and see family members on route.
3. At 4 hrs its long enough to have a rest but you still arrive early enough to forward travel in daylight.
4. On board there is no hard sell to visit shops, cinema, games room etc., they do have a shop on board but it very small, restaurant is very reasonable price and again because its smaller the food is always freshly made.
5. We like it.
Click to expand...

I second all of the above

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Don’t forget the 20% discount on Newhaven to Dieppe ferry if you are over 60.
It is not well publicised and you need to ring up to book and claim it.They also give you Nectar points.
 

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