Through France to Spain ? not likely (1 Viewer)

[Tigertom]

Hehe, I’m sure there’s a forum somewhere for folk who enjoy cruising the oceans.
This forum is for folk who enjoy motorhoming.
Maybe some people are in the wrong place, sailor .

 

[Reallyretired]

I dont think anyone is only allowed to like one thing though. I like wine but I also like beer and brandy. Currently having a predinner g&t. I like that too.

 

[Dorwyn]

You don't have to do one or the other. That's the beauty of motorhoming. If you don't fancy driving and prefer ferries in the Bay of Biscay, do that. If you enjoy driving through France, do that. Be a devil, and go one way, come back the other. What the heck, go for it.

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[mitzimad]

if you do rouen in a day from the border no wonder you prefer the fery, to get a rest. I dont even like the tunnel no brekkie and an hours read of the paper

 

[Chris]

Love the ferry to Spain -- Cap Finistère specifically. We have sea legs though (when you've done a force 12 in the Arctic Ocean, everything else seems calm). It actually has always been calm for us, except for one which was a bit up-and-downy -- not many people at dinner that night!

Last time we opted for the two-nighter that stops (briefly) at Roscoff -- cabin price the same as for one night -- and treated it as a 'mini cruise' as a relaxing start to our holiday.

We also like the proper French food in the restaurant -- even as an infrequent eater of red meat, I cannot resist their tournedos. Probably a bit wasted on anyone of the 'well done' fraternity, though, it's got to be bloody or there's no point.

There were quite a few people travelling with dogs. There are a small number of pet-friendly cabins which get booked up very early. And there are also kennels for those without pet-friendly cabins. The ship has an exercise area for dogs, swabbed regularly by a man with a hose! Dogs are supposed to be muzzled while moving around the ship.

It’s funny isn’t it because I hate the Cap Finistere and will only use the Pont Aven if there is a commodore cabin available. I hate the bars, restaurants and everything else about the Cap Finistere.

 

[Barclaybasher]

if you do rouen in a day from the border no wonder you prefer the fery, to get a rest. I dont even like the tunnel no brekkie and an hours read of the paper

Stopped at the Aire in Montmaralt first day, Rouen was afternoon on 2nd day

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[River gypsys]

Beware the tolls in France, very expensive for large moho 3 axle etc

 

[Spriddler]

I'm retired. The journey IS the adventure, wandering in and around villages, hamlets, markets. The longer it takes the better I like it.
If I was in a hurry (who goes on holiday IN A HURRY?) for the return motorhome ferry cost I could fly EasyJet Barcelona return, stay for ten days in a noisy hotel and still have change left for a packet of Immodium.

 

[Barclaybasher]

I'm retired. The journey IS the adventure, wandering in and around villages, hamlets, markets. The longer it takes the better I like it.
If I was in a hurry (who goes on holiday IN A HURRY?) for the return motorhome ferry cost I could fly EasyJet Barcelona return, stay for ten days in a noisy hotel and still have change left for a packet of Immodium.

I'm 72 but not 'retired', My trip to Spain was part holiday, part fitting a kitchen to my place in Mallorca - which I took with me !

I don't do 'holidays' or noisy hotels - or doing nothing - but prefer traveling in the MH despite the much cheaper option of flying.....

My MH(s) are part of my daily life............each to his own..............

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[Speve]

We drive down through France every year and enjoy the drive,we do this as we take our two dogs with us and to get a dog friendly cabin on a ferry are like hens teeth so it suits us well and have never tired of it.
Everyone to their own and I certainly understand that lots of folk don’t have the time we have

 

[hilldweller]

the reason I hesitated was because it was the economie and have heard horror stories of vans damages on the open deck.

We crossed on that in Feb. I've never seen vans packed so tightly, even up the ramp. We were watching them load and kept saying "they'll never get that in there" but they did time and time again. Then there is the sea spray as a bonus.

But the worst thing is it's so small it's as stable as a jelly, even in calm conditions it oscillates, standing at the back the rear of the boat describes a circle when going in a straight line.

No food for us outbound.

 

[Barclaybasher]

We crossed on that in Feb. I've never seen vans packed so tightly, even up the ramp. We were watching them load and kept saying "they'll never get that in there" but they did time and time again. Then there is the sea spray as a bonus.
But the worst thing is it's so small it's as stable as a jelly, even in calm conditions it oscillates, standing at the back the rear of the boat describes a circle when going in a straight line.
No food for us outbound.

The 'cruise' on Cap Finistere is not much dearer.....

I never book early and you can now get accurate weather and 'sea state' reports....

Had much worse weather on a cruise in the Med and on a ferry from Mallorca to Barcelona last year it was so bad they were giving cabins away free to keep passengers safe......

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[EuroTrotters]

It’s funny isn’t it because I hate the Cap Finistere and will only use the Pont Aven if there is a commodore cabin available. I hate the bars, restaurants and everything else about the Cap Finistere.

If only you could combine them?

I would like Cap Finistere's bar above Pont Aven's Restaurant with Pont Aven's Commodore cabins.

 

[EuroTrotters]

We crossed on that in Feb. I've never seen vans packed so tightly, even up the ramp. We were watching them load and kept saying "they'll never get that in there" but they did time and time again. Then there is the sea spray as a bonus.

But the worst thing is it's so small it's as stable as a jelly, even in calm conditions it oscillates, standing at the back the rear of the boat describes a circle when going in a straight line.

No food for us outbound.

Follows on from my thread some time ago....

I did not get FOUR Pages of replies, I must be a right boring 8astard

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/so-what-has-changed.169509/

 

[B-well]

Has the advantage of making France look cheap.
And only 20 miles to the ferry for me.

Only 12 miles for me. But then the tunnel is even closer.

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[DL42846]

And I thought it was just me.
Except for the bread and wine EVERYTHING in France is so much more expensive now, even accounting for the exchange rate.
It won't stop us going, it's just that I can remember when you could live cheap. The locals must be feeling the pinch.
Is it the Macron factor or are we in for a mega increase in the cost of living come Brexit

Don't think its the Macron factor causing increase in prices. It's the taxation. We own a business and you wouldn't believe the tax one has to pay to support the government run business. Someone told me 55% of the labor force in France are Government run with early retirement plans and high pensions which the private sector have to pay for. Look at the train drivers, they retire at 55 with a three thousand a month pension and housing benefits and free travel on trains for them and there family for life. A Panorama type program here in France several weeks ago showed how train drivers in Paris were buying houses in the alps and renting them out, buying the houses using the housing benefit system to purchase them. The private sector will get nothing like the Gov pensions. Everyone in France were working on the black, avoiding paying the full tax. The Gov is now closing the loop holes.
Someone scratched my car, I asked for a quot to get it fixed. 100€ cash in hand or 195€ paying the tax.

 

[mitzimad]

Don't think its the Macron factor causing increase in prices. It's the taxation. We own a business and you wouldn't believe the tax one has to pay to support the government run business. Someone told me 55% of the labor force in France are Government run with early retirement plans and high pensions which the private sector have to pay for. Look at the train drivers, they retire at 55 with a three thousand a month pension and housing benefits and free travel on trains for them and there family for life. A Panorama type program here in France several weeks ago showed how train drivers in Paris were buying houses in the alps and renting them out, buying the houses using the housing benefit system to purchase them. The private sector will get nothing like the Gov pensions. Everyone in France were working on the black, avoiding paying the full tax. The Gov is now closing the loop holes.
Someone scratched my car, I asked for a quot to get it fixed. 100€ cash in hand or 195€ paying the tax.

That highlights the problems with high taxation it benifits the black ecconomy and reduces the amount collected

 

[hilldweller]

I did not get FOUR Pages of replies, I must be a right boring 8astard

Maybe a change of deodorant ?

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[mexican pete]

Sunday’s crossing was almost perfect. Arrived this morning very relaxed, now in Aranjuez. Bonus was being charged as a car on the toll road to Burgos even though just over 3m high and weigh 4.25t! (And the sun is out)

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

That highlights the problems with high taxation it benifits the black ecconomy and reduces the amount collected

Wasn’t this the reason Greece got into trouble?

 

[gus-lopez]

Come and live in the South East for a month before going to France then you will find it cheap.

Live in Spain & then go to either to see how eye wateringly expensive they are.

Sunday’s crossing was almost perfect. Arrived this morning very relaxed, now in Aranjuez. Bonus was being charged as a car on the toll road to Burgos even though just over 3m high and weigh 4.25t! (And the sun is out)

you are same as a car on a spanish toll road

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[bigtree]

I’m booked for the ferry to France tomorrow but got down to Dover tonight and thought I would see if I could get on a boat,that will be £60 sir,not likely says I,only paid £66 for the crossing. Got a nice wee wild spot not far from the port and will get an earlier ferry in the morning.

 

[Lenny HB]

Live in Spain & then go to either to see how eye wateringly expensive they are.

Got a shock when I came out of Portugal a couple of years ago and discovered how expensive Spain was.

 

[bigtree]

Got a shock when I came out of Portugal a couple of years ago and discovered how expensive Spain was.

Not as expensive as France is though.

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[EuroTrotters]

Maybe a change of deodorant ?

Still laughing, must be in Coventry (again)

 

[Barclaybasher]

Still laughing, must be in Coventry (again)

Coventry ?........ees that in France or Spain ?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Don't think its the Macron factor causing increase in prices. It's the taxation. We own a business and you wouldn't believe the tax one has to pay to support the government run business. Someone told me 55% of the labor force in France are Government run with early retirement plans and high pensions which the private sector have to pay for. Look at the train drivers, they retire at 55 with a three thousand a month pension and housing benefits and free travel on trains for them and there family for life. A Panorama type program here in France several weeks ago showed how train drivers in Paris were buying houses in the alps and renting them out, buying the houses using the housing benefit system to purchase them. The private sector will get nothing like the Gov pensions. Everyone in France were working on the black, avoiding paying the full tax. The Gov is now closing the loop holes.
Someone scratched my car, I asked for a quot to get it fixed. 100€ cash in hand or 195€ paying the tax.

I would pay the 195.

Otherwise, they could do a merd job and say, cen me pas mois mon ami anglais et mousier ferme générale

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[EuroTrotters]

Coventry ?........ees that in France or Spain ?

Manchester today, Spain’s next week

 

[mitzimad]

Got a shock when I came out of Portugal a couple of years ago and discovered how expensive Spain was.

 

[Mike Warland]

France has definately got dearer the price of fuel even at supermarkets is an indication and supermarket shopping is much dearer than uk apart from wine and tobacco. The cost difference of either route is not that much if you get the economy ferry. We came back through France last April and the weather was not great and as we get older want hassle free driving so would use autoroutes. Ferry direct from Spain for us and spend the month in uk touring instead of France.

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