France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

Fann Linn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228382#Comment_123228382

We were in Biarritz a number of years back, lovely location right on the Atlantic coast and the surrounding cities are brilliant. St. Jean de Luz, Bayonne, into the Basque area of Hendaye and take the little cable car up to the top of a mountain which splits Spain and France in two.

We actually never stayed in that site outside Biarritz but by all accounts it really is very good. We stayed in an apartment in the city but I'd definitely recommend it as a base for touring. The Pyrenees are fab.

17togo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228625#Comment_123228625

Brilliant, thanks!

suilegorma

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123227461#Comment_123227461

We have done this twice.

Bring: adaptor and power strip for your cabin for charging multiple devices, kettle and tea/coffee supplies, including frozen milk and water which will be used as it defrosts. Note internet is ruinously expensive so just learn to live offline. Have heard of people bringing sandwich toasters as well.

Two nighter - Go to cabin on arrival, only annoying thing was a multilingual safety announcement at 12 am but obviously it is required, just woke kids as we had just settled in! Next full day was fine, we had brought loads of books, downloads, water (some frozen) snacks, cereals, kettle, tea and coffee etc as well as microwave meals. Passed a lot of time walking around on deck, especially visiting the dogs deck. This was the basic ship back in 2022, so no entertainment and very few families so it was very calm and actually lovely and peaceful to be offline. We purchased very little food and drink on board as it was only ok so just worked from our own supplies. Second morning by the time we got all packed up it was time to leave.

One nighter - V early start for us so we were quite tired. Same deal as above in terms of supplies. Didn't find this journey any shorter though! I think it was that we spent less of the journey sleeping and the second day felt really long. The two nighter with the normal night sleep the night before was easier unless you live beside Rosslare and we are not even that far. Arrived afternoon next day and we were only an hour and a half to our destination so not too bad but it would be a long day of travel if we were going further afield. I think I would go with the two nighter again.

Have taken IF family cruise and luckily had club class but I found the heaving crowds and the entertainment annoying when we ventured out. Same with BF as well, the entertainment is just too cheesy for the kids and they have already watched the movies in the cinema on board and are too old for crafts and too cool to attempt to make new pals! The one lovely thing on BF was the whale watching talks and we even saw dolphins on one of our crossings.

Would 100% recommend in terms of getting v far south and letting the ship do the driving. Not a whole pile of campsites in northern Spain so head to France and then explore Spain via non campsite accommodation.

17togo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228808#Comment_123228808

Good idea re the frozen milk and water.

Its probably the tougher aspect of these ferry crossings, even the shorter cherbourg route, the food on them doesn't be great, and not exactly cheap either.

danfrancisco83

We're going on our first ever trip by ferry to France this year, and I have a couple of questions about bringing bikes, and what i need for the car. IF website says I need a 'clean air' sticker and a triangle, and some reflective vests for each occupant of the car, can I get these on the boat, or better off getting before hand in Halfords or wherever?

My main worry is the bikes, I have a Decathlon bike rack, paid about 60 quid for it, does a good job when we bring bikes to Kerry in the Summer. However, we have 2 adult bikes and one child's bike (size 16) which doesn't really fit on the rack, I just land it on top/across the 2 adult bikes and make sure it's strapped tight. Am I going to get pulled up on this? There's no room inside the car for it.

Heroditas

Best to get all the stuff in Halfords before you head because you'll get fleeced on the boat.

The bike should be ok on the rack but bear in mind you'll probably be at motorway speeds for long distances so you'll need to make sure it's fastened securely.

Fann Linn

With regards to the Crit Air sticker, now is the time to order it. Costs approx €5 inclusive of postage and takes about 3/4 weeks to arrive although you will get an email with an attachment of the sticker on it to tide you over until the proper one arrives.

As for your bike rack, firstly declare it when purchasing your ferry tickets, last time I brought a bike it cost an extra €10 each way for the rack. Secondly make sure it's well secured and check it periodically whilst driving and finally buy an extra reg plate and attach it to the back of the rack/bikes in case the one on your car is being obscured. I also bought a long cable lock and ran it through the bikes, rack and towing hook on the car and it just provides that bit of extra security for when you're pulled in at service stations or city car parks.

suilegorma

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228896#Comment_123228896

I would always prefer to be coming off the ferry with extra rather than having to pay for the overpriced and underwhelming food. I see lots of families bring plug in coolers as well, we just don't have one.

On BF last year, the microwave was out of service. We therefore couldn't give my veggie child the food we had planned as it had to be heated. She would not eat anything in the self service cafe (wouldn't blame her TBH it looked awful) so we ended up having to have my husband fork out for a very mediocre dinner in the sit down restaurant so she could go with him and have chips. They didn't do chips or pasta at all in the cafe or do takeaway from the main restaurant, despite there being a very clear market for it. Some other parents who had to deal with allergies ended up feeding their kids cold meals. I did give feedback so who knows they might pay attention to their market!

It's the one part of the ferry I don't like! Though I will recommend club class on IF, we certainly got our money's worth of food and drinks as well as the peace and quiet on a busy ship. Now of course my kids know it exists and keep asking if we will have it again! Keeping an eye on prices so if they fall will do the cancel and rebook and add the club like we did before.

suilegorma

Check your car boot around the spare tyre for the warning triangle etc if there is one…we found those bits already in the car!

Re the bike rack, we had a Halfords one that hung on the car and put one of our bikes on the roof rack frames with cable ties and bungees and it worked fine. Don't forget to bring cable ties to replace and a scissors to cut them :)

danfrancisco83

Thanks! Good to know I should be OK with the child's bike, also I think I don't need the IRL stickers (which look awful) as long as my reg plates have IRL on them. I'm just going over my spreadsheet of the trip, which I had put out of my mind for a few months, but it's time to start boxing off some of the loose ends.

Firstly, we're checking out of Le Littoral on a Friday, the boat is sailing to Dublin from Cherbourg on Sunday @4.30pm. The plan so far is to head to Pontorson (other suggestions welcome, but it looks nice enough) on Friday, book a hotel there for 2 nights, have the whole day Saturday to see Mont St. Michel, have dinner in the town, head to Cherbourg Sunday morning.

Travelling with a 2.5yr old and 7 year old, does that seem like a decent plan? Suggestions welcome, I'm half thinking one night in Pontorson and 1 night in Bayeux, or should I just leave it as is? Cheers.

Fann Linn

Go for one night in Pontorson and 1 night in Bayeux. Have a wander round, look at the fabled tapestry and finish it off by a few visits to some of D Day beaches which surround it.

Just looking at the ages of your kids now, they probably would prefer a day out at Festyland 20 mins up the motorway from Bayeux.

Google it.

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228972#Comment_123228972

Keep an eye on done deal or adverts

Always have decent second hand bike racks that people are moving on

Picked up a four bike rack last summer for the towbar for half price

danfrancisco83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123234480#Comment_123234480

I can feel the cider and cheese coming back up from my stomach when I see those rides 🤢

My daughter would love it though, cheers

mr_edge_to_you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123234480#Comment_123234480

Spent the night in Ponterson last year. Booked a small house in the village off Booking.com. .

Nice little spot for a stopover.

idontknowdoyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228972#Comment_123228972

if you have a roof box stick kids bike in it. We have 5 bikes, 4 go on our rack and the smallest kids bike we take pedals off loosen handle bars and put it in flat in the roof box.

I personally wouldn't be travelling far with flimsy bike rack

Salvadoor

There was a fire at the Des Menhirs campsite in Carnac last week. A lot of mobiles will be out of action for the season.

danfrancisco83

On the booking with IF it doesn't mention the ship we'll be on. When will we know which ship we'll be sailing on?

Nekarsulm

If you are sailing Dublin-Cherbourg, you will be on the W B Yeats

17togo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123265826#Comment_123265826

Irish ferries during the peak months do 2 ferries to cherbourg. The yeats and used to be the epsilon, but that's gone now. So I'd imagine the inishfree is replacing it, Which is fairly basic. When you're booking it should say what ship you're booking on?! Is has done whenever I've booked..

browne_rob5

If you go to make a booking on the website on the dates you have already booked it will show the names of the boats sailing. Looks like the Isle of Inisheer is doing one return journey a week with the wb yeats covering the rest.

Yeah I checked my booking and it doesn't mention the boat either.

danfrancisco83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266425#Comment_123266425

Thanks, I had the same idea, and it looks like WB Yeats alright.

macchoille

Staying in Les Brunnells this year. May need to work remotely maybe 3 days (have a lot on this year so tight on Annual leave). WiFi and 5G was spotty last year (but didn’t need to work). Thinking of maybe getting an eSIM but no idea what network/provider would have the best (good signal and decent speed). Any help or suggestions?

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123272492#Comment_123272492

I've used Orange SIMs in the past. They seem to have excellent coverage

macchoille

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123272609#Comment_123272609

Were you in that area Longeville-sur-Mer, Vendee ?

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123273302#Comment_123273302

No but have been in a good few other areas and coverage was excellent.

macchoille

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123274136#Comment_123274136

fair enough but this wouldn’t be something I can leave to chance if I commit to work. Bit like Vodafone (or your preferred network) here can be spotty in the odd town. I’m thinking of maybe calling the campsite and ask the staff what they find the best.

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123274448#Comment_123274448

Very true!

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123274448#Comment_123274448

Perhaps this site can help?

https://www.nperf.com/en/map/FR/-/21.Orange-Mobile/signal?ll=46.41164838182672&lg=-1.4987754821777346&zoom=13

Another option

https://couverturemobile.com/en/

Taking a quick look it seems there's 5G coverage but might be a bit spotty. 4G seems reliable enough, probably enough to do office work but possibly not enough to reliably support video calls

idontknowdoyou

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mr_edge_to_you

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