ferry to france

cats.life

what is the best ferry from cork or rosslare to france? im going demented looking online . im just wondering if any of you ferryied to france. there be 2adults and 2 kids. i dont like to fly so it would have to be by boat. we have never gone on holiday before . we would want to hire a car on the other side to get to where we are staying. dont know where yet, just in the process on getting passports . yes its very late to do all these things but we have extra cash coming to us at the end of the month so we want to go abroad. can any of you tell me which ferry to take, and where have ye stayed in france beside the seaside . we be coming from galway id say by train or bus. hubbie dont want to bring car cos bad luck follows us as in break downs so please guid me to france.

Bicycle

If you can fly.. it would be much easier, particularly if you are not taking the car. And it would be significantly cheaper.

We've gone from Rosslare (Irish Ferries) - its cheaper than Cork, but its still very expensive. With kids you will need a berth rather than chairs so it could cost quite a bit.

Celtic Ferries also go on that route but I haven't used them. But they are cheaper than the others.

Regarding France, what do you want to see? What ages are your children? Do you want to stay in mobile homes or do something else?

If you don't want seaside, the Loire Valley is lovely. You have lots of chateaux to see but the riverside itself is lovely. And Zooparc de Beauval near St. Aignan is fabulous, well worth a visit http://www.central-france.com/family_attractions/zooparc_de_beauval.htm

The Loire Valley is about 5 hours drive from Calais (if you decide to go through the UK - and also roughly 5 hours drive from Roscoff in Brittany.

Satts

cats.life wrote: »

what is the best ferry from cork or rosslare to france?

I've been on Brittany Ferries, Cork to Rosscoff twice, and it's very nice.
Haven't been on the Irish Ferries, but I heard it's not as good.

The port of Roscoff is ideal for visiting Brittany, you can get to any part of Brittany from here in 2 hours or less.

How about looking in to the possibilty of renting a car here before you go ?
May be an estate, and roof boxes can also be rented, which will double up your luggage space.
The biggest advantage in going by ferry is having the car to bring what ever you want with you, especialy for the kid's stuff.

Berty

Satts wrote: »

How about looking in to the possibilty of renting a car here before you go ?
May be an estate, and roof boxes can also be rented, which will double up your luggage space.
The biggest advantage in going by ferry is having the car to bring what ever you want with you, especialy for the kid's stuff.

The hire companies will not let you take the car onto the continent. Some will allow the UK but not all.

Satts

Berty wrote: »

The hire companies will not let you take the car onto the continent. Some will allow the UK but not all.

Fair Enough.


OP, you could always get a mechanic to check your car out before you go and take out breakdown assistance.
I wouldn't fancy carrying bags on/off the bus/train and on/off ferry.

Juran

We've travelled on all 3 ferries, Irish ferries from Rosslare, Celtic link from Rosslare and Brittany ferries from Cork and i must say that Brittany ferries was the best interms of comform, cabins, facilities plus kennels (we take the dog wtih us). We are booked from Cork to Rosscoff for september again.
We stay ~ 45mins south of Brest so Rosscoff is so handy. Its over a 4 hour drive from Cherbourg to Brest.

I would recommed you re-consider bringing the car, as previously mentioed, it would be very difficult to bring luggage by foot, also Rosscoff is very isolated and i've been at the port 3 times in the past 3 years and I can't remember seeing any car hire companies as of all travellers take their own car or go on a tour bus or lorry.

The other advantage of taking the car is that you can fill it with wine on the way home!

cats.life

Juran wrote: »

We've travelled on all 3 ferries, Irish ferries from Rosslare, Celtic link from Rosslare and Brittany ferries from Cork and i must say that Brittany ferries was the best interms of comform, cabins, facilities plus kennels (we take the dog wtih us). We are booked from Cork to Rosscoff for september again.
We stay ~ 45mins south of Brest so Rosscoff is so handy. Its over a 4 hour drive from Cherbourg to Brest.

I would recommed you re-consider bringing the car, as previously mentioed, it would be very difficult to bring luggage by foot, also Rosscoff is very isolated and i've been at the port 3 times in the past 3 years and I can't remember seeing any car hire companies as of all travellers take their own car or go on a tour bus or lorry.

The other advantage of taking the car is that you can fill it with wine on the way home!

ive hubbie talked around to my idea to bring car, we might not be going any where we havent our passports yet. its our first ever holiday over seas , our passport are out ,have to wait for them before we buck anywhere just incase .

Berty

You COULD hire a car for your friends/parents etc etc and let them drive the hire car whilst you borrow their car(hire the car in their name with their license of course), insure it as well of course, and head off to the continent then with it.

Who wouldn't like a nice rental car for 2 weeks or so?

I was put on my mothers insurance, 04 micra, for 12 months for €24 or so.

Worth a thought possibly?

Satts

How about not renting and spend the money on a service for the car.
Hopefully reducing the chance of breakdown.
( maybe ye already service the car regularly )

cats.life

Berty wrote: »

You COULD hire a car for your friends/parents etc etc and let them drive the hire car whilst you borrow their car(hire the car in their name with their license of course), insure it as well of course, and head off to the continent then with it.

Who wouldn't like a nice rental car for 2 weeks or so?

I was put on my mothers insurance, 04 micra, for 12 months for €24 or so.

Worth a thought possibly?

our is a 04 zafira its well servised by his brother who works in a brilliant garage. we cant buck anywhere until passports get here . if we do buck and no passports to go we will lose deposit on the place. thank you for the thought berty.

cats.life

Satts wrote: »

How about not renting and spend the money on a service for the car.
Hopefully reducing the chance of breakdown.
( maybe ye already service the car regularly )

yep we do service the 04 zafira . yesterday his pals said to bring the car cos as i told him we can pack what we want . you see icant fly cos i wont fit into the little seats they have on the planes.so its either swim or sail..we are thinking of going over to blackpool instead now , we dont care just as long we get away for a bit cos we had and are having a really crap year so far. does anyone recomend a place to stay near blackpool. ive looked up a few selfcatering but all bucked for august.. mobile home sites or cottages is ok to.