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North West France Region - Ideas & Help Needed

  • 13-04-2010 10:53am
    #1
    Stinkah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 158 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    The wife any I have been pondering over the idea of spending around 10 days or so in France with our 2 year old son for our holidays this year.

    The idea would be to drive to Rosslare, ferry to Cherbourg or Roscoff (not sure what would be best). Stay in around the area of the port (I believe www.siblu.ie is a good place to look for accommodation from reading some previous threads) and then hopefully drive up to Disney in Paris for a couple of days with our son.

    We obviously want to do this in the most cost effective way possible but also need to consider that we'll need to make sure our son isn't stuffed up in the car for too long either.

    I would very much appreciate anyone's assistance on what they think would be the best:

    1. Ferry company and crossing
    2. Location for base
    3. Location at Disney

    and why you have chosen this?

    Of course if there are any other tips, like for instance about driving in and around France (especially around Paris as I've heard it can be a bit of a nightmare) I'd be most grateful.

    Thanks in advance,

    Mick


Comments

  • #2
    babaduck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 488 ✭✭babaduck


    If you're planning to head to Paris, then Cherbourg is the closest port from Rosslare. Both Irish Ferries & Celtic Link offer sailings to this port.

    Can I ask why you want to do Disney with a 2 y/o? - personally I'd wait a year or two until they can go on more of the rides and really appreciate the park.

    My advice would be to relax - rent an apartment or stay in a good campsite in a mobile and have fun at the pool and the beach with your little man instead.


  • #3
    gandalf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    Paris is a long drive from there so unless its an absolute I would avoid heading there this time. I normally stay in Caen when I am in France as the missus hails from there and that's where her parents live.

    Paris is around a 3 hr drive from Caen (add around an hour to hour and a half from Cherbourg) and yes around Paris the traffic can get interesting. To be fair its similar to driving on the M50 just challenging as you are unsure of where to go. I would stay around Normandy and Brittany depending on what you want to do/see.

    We are going over in July on the Celtic Ferries service to Cherbourg (I believe its rebadged LD Lines, we travelled with them last year as well). If I was booking somewhere to stay I would try and base myself around Bayeux which is a lovely town and within striking distance of Caen with William the Conquerors Castle, Mont Sant Michel (go early in the day), the D-Day Landing Beaches and a hell of a lot more to see.

    I believe there is a theme park around Caen somewhere as well. I'll ask the missus tonight if she knows the name.

    Rather than head to Paris I would go over to Brittany for a couple of days. It really depends on what you want to do.


  • #4
    Jeffm587
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭Jeffm587


    Would tend to agree with the previous posts, I would tend to wait a year or two for the Eurodisney trip in order to get the most out of it. You could also head down a couple of hours towards La Rochelle and maybe Il de Re for a couple of days. Drove through Caen last sunday on the way back to the ferry and its looks a nice spot alright. There is pleanty to do and see around that area without going towards Paris, such as Puy du Fou themepark, Brittany beaches, Loire Valley. On a seperate note what is the LD ferry like compared to Irish / Brittany Ferries. I use the ferry about twice a year but have not used LD yet ?


  • #5
    gandalf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    Jeffm587 wrote: »
    On a seperate note what is the LD ferry like compared to Irish / Brittany Ferries. I use the ferry about twice a year but have not used LD yet ?

    Sailed (should it not be Ferried!) on the Norman Voyager last July to Le Harve and the boat was ok. The Cabins were clean along with the en-suite. Didn't really use the shop or cinema as we brought our own entertainment. Did try the breakfast on the way over to France which was dire so I would recommend taking food with you. I have never travelled with Irish Ferries or Brittany Ferries but I found LD fine for this crossing.


  • #6
    Gvillage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭Gvillage


    gandalf wrote: »
    Sailed (should it not be Ferried!) on the Norman Voyager last July to Le Harve and the boat was ok. The Cabins were clean along with the en-suite. Didn't really use the shop or cinema as we brought our own entertainment. Did try the breakfast on the way over to France which was dire so I would recommend taking food with you. I have never travelled with Irish Ferries or Brittany Ferries but I found LD fine for this crossing.

    I am just back from France and found Celtic Link Ferries to be very good and a very good price. Now it was spripped down as far as luxuries go. But it was as clean as a whistle and the price was unreal!!


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  • #7
    gandalf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    Gvillage wrote: »
    I am just back from France and found Celtic Link Ferries to be very good and a very good price. Now it was spripped down as far as luxuries go. But it was as clean as a whistle and the price was unreal!!

    Well your experience is different to mine and I travelled with them two weeks ago. The cabins were filthy and the staff were pig ignorant.


  • #8
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    I came across this site the other day. It looks quite useful

    http://www.southernbrittanycottages.com/?gclid=CNSJgsnWrqMCFRQ_lAodgQjq5Q


  • #9
    olaola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,140 ✭✭✭olaola


    We stayed here - near Bayeux, and great for the Normandy beaches (close to Cherbourg) and it was FABULOUS! The photos do not do it justice:
    http://www.lamalposte.com/html/en/welcome.html


  • #10
    AndyBoBandy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,102 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    Sorry folks for bringing up an old thread, but would any of you have any updates on any nice places to go that are not a million miles away from Cherbourg or Roscoff? We are considering a car holiday to France.

    The plan would be for myself & my oh, along with our 18 month old son to take the car over on the Ferry, we'd be looking for something ideally toddler friendly in or around the region?
    We'd be looking for something with a bit of comfort (holiday apt/cottage), and with a few different things to do/see reasonable close by (within 1 hour) that could keep an 18 month old occupied.

    my only knowledge of this corner of France is of spending about a year working/living in Saint-Nazaire/La Baule about 6 years ago, but didn't really do too much while I was there, and it's probably a little too far south from the ports anyway for us.

    driving shouldn't be an issue as I've driven all over Europe (albeit in LHD cars) for many years, so I wouldn't be fazed by dealing with any madness on the roads.


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