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

EletricMan

Can you access the car when ferry sets sail with Brittany?

manshay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123289551#Comment_123289551

You cannot access below deck car decks on any ferry. Exceptions are sometimes made for access to kennels. You may be able to access open air car decks. No one is allowed to remain in the below deck areas for safety.

EletricMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123289679#Comment_123289679

Thanks, will have to plan the kids bags so, thought if I forgot something I could just run down for it 😅

Fann Linn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123289783#Comment_123289783

While the ship is tied up you can run up and down to the car decks bringing up bags. Once the last car or truck is loaded however that's it.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123289783#Comment_123289783

It does involve a bit of logistical complexity, and a sore back

I'd recommend dividing out some ferry luggage from the rest and having that near the top so you can just grab it and go

We ended up with an airline cabin sized suitcase with changes of clothes plus essential toiletries. We all had a backpack each for entertainment items (tablets, books, toys for the kids, phone chargers) and a food bag with snacks

I ended up carrying a lot of it while the missus herded the children, hence the sore back 😅

danfrancisco83

For the ferry to Cherbourg from Dublin Port, what is the best time to arrive? Last year we missed a trip on foot to Holyhead because we arrived at 7.30am (which was the time I thought it said to arrive by 🤷‍♂️). We quickly sped over to Stena to make the slightly later boat, it was just a day trip, and we got the Ulysses back, but the kids were distraught when we told them we missed it.

So just having been slightly burned before, I'm thinking of arriving for about 2pm, but is that way too early then? We live about 30 minute drive from the Port, thanks.

sceach16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123293353#Comment_123293353

We sail early April. Sailing is 4 pm.Last check in 3pm. You don't need earlier than 2. We are Malahide and leave at 2pm. Might as well sit there-Ferryport- as in the house clock watching !

danfrancisco83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123293371#Comment_123293371

That's perfect thanks, I'll aim to do the same then.

sceach16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123293406#Comment_123293406

Minor thing. If you have a speedy exit booked, you need to be early….to be parked for the exit. Your ticket will have details.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123293353#Comment_123293353

2pm for a 4pm sailing sounds about right, the queue for the check in can be fairly long so be prepared to wait

I'd definitely recommend paying the toll for the port tunnel, takes any risks of Dublin traffic out of the equation

If you want to get to the terminal from the parking area you'll need your boarding pass. There's a couple of vending machines and bathrooms but not much else as I recall

Pretty sure there's also a toilet block in the parking area for the ferry if needed but haven't used it

Don't be surprised if they're a bit slow boarding. Last time while we were waiting a truck side swiped it's trailer against the barrier on the ramp, so the port staff had to get them unstuck while having a laugh at the driver

After that they were hustling to get everyone boarded but it was still 20-30 mins

suilegorma

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123289783#Comment_123289783

Remember when packing that there are often long queues for the lifts, so you might need to haul bags up flights of stairs to avoid waiting. If your kids are old enough get them to carry their own bags…nothing focuses the mind like knowing that they are carrying the weight!

suilegorma

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123293353#Comment_123293353

Agree with the timing. You will be sitting in the car or in the car park when waiting to board, so make sure to have easy access to something for the kids to do, especially if it is raining and you can't get out of the car. We passed some of the time speaking to dog owners who were giving their dogs one last walk before boarding. One thing you could do is bring a picnic lunch to eat in the car to pass some of the waiting time.

Heroditas

Nearly April already! Anyone else starting to get excited about their France ferry trip and holiday yet? I sure as hell am! 🤗

ellee

Any EV drivers here? How do you find managing charging etc in France? We’re probably going to change our car and an EV definitely on the table.

browne_rob5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299184#Comment_123299184

Its very straightforward. Lots of availability along the main routes and a decent amount of campsites have AC chargers in them also. The likes of Tesla would have banks of 16 or so chargers so you don't need to worry about one not being available when you pull up. I have bee twice and have had no issues and driving from Bilboa to Cherbourg this year. Thread below about it on the EV forum.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058291245/who-s-bringing-the-horse-no-ev-to-france?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=ev+france

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299184#Comment_123299184

I started that thread. We’ve done it twice now - once with our own car and one with a rental. We’ve had teething problems with first charge and then been fine. Going again this year with our own car. Just apply for your charging cards in good time. They help. Chargepoint and chargemap. Can take a month to arrive.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299184#Comment_123299184

No problem charging in France and it's the cheapest European country to charge in. Most campsites now forbid charging at the mobile/pitch so that you don't trip/fry half the campsite. Some campsites will have EV chargers in the car park. Bigger hotels will also have EV chargers. Some smaller hotels without a charger will let you granny charge overnight from a domestic socket if you ask.

ellee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299389#Comment_123299389

ah not surprised. A campsite we were at a couple of years ago had a big outage while we were there and they said it was all the EVs. Tks

Baybay

This will our third trip with our EV. One thing we do is to charge at the last aire before we’re due to leave the motorway, just in case. As it turns out, we wouldn’t have been stuck yet but it’s nice, for me, to have that peace of mind.

Also, from what I can see most McDonalds & Lidls have chargers though some of the Lidls we’ve seen have been waiting to be commissioned.

The in car display is also very useful in highlighting options especially availability.

idontknowdoyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297733#Comment_123297733

we are so excited here. Going through last year's videos and photos. Every year our holiday gets longer- we are doing 14 nights plus our 2 days travel… think this might be the last year though we would like to try aitaly next

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299184#Comment_123299184

Been there done that, bringing the EV to France is quite easy

I lot of the campsites have AC chargers so charging is straightforward if you can find one. Remember to bring the charging cable with you

Download Plugsurfing and Chargemap, I find they're the best apps for finding and using chargers in France

The Ionity and Tesla apps are also worth getting

Heroditas

I'll second Chargemap. We used it in '23 and '24. Brilliant app. Third year this year travelling with an EV. It requires a little bit of planning but it works really well

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297733#Comment_123297733

We went for the first time last year and had a blast.

We went in early June because there were no kids doing exams or anything

We had no plans to go this year because we have two doing exams in early June and another starting secondary school in late August, so no opportunity to go off peak.

But the desire is still there to go because we all loved last year so much.

So here is my question.

Are last minute ferry deals a thing?

And if they are a thing where does one find them and is there any particular time of the summer that they are a thing ?

We have a few bob available to us this year so we could go at the drop of a hat if we felt we were getting a good deal.

ECO_Mental

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123302482#Comment_123302482

Last minutes deals…not really!!, actually getting a spot will be a challenge. We were like you 3 years ago, our kids were doing leaving cert etc and left it last minute to book something and we ended up sleeping on the pullman chairs because all the cabins were booked out, I ended up sleeping in the cafe on one of the benches..was not fun but a bit of an adventure.

The later in summer also the caravan parks will be booked out as well and will be very expensive especially in August where all of Europe go on holidays. I think we ended up going very late August into Sept, they missed the first day or two of school.

beggars_bush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123302482#Comment_123302482

End of august

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123303062#Comment_123303062

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123303070#Comment_123303070

Thanks

That's what I thought about August, with it being peak French and European holiday season sites would be expensive.

We might look at them starting school and then legging it for a week in early or mid September.

browne_rob5

If you could go late June/early July before UK and European school holidays the prices for the campsite might not be too bad. You could give the likes of kelair or eurocamp a call with your budget and possible travel dates and see what they could do for you.

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123302482#Comment_123302482

Yes certainly with the ferry you can pick up reduced rates. We booked our '24 ferry (mid July) in late '23 and when I checked the same itinerary about a month before we sailed last year, the same journey was about €500 less.

The issue is always getting the decent campsites at that stage.

The opportunity to find a ferry bargain can literally be dependent on a particular sailing that might not have sold out (particularly the midweek ones)

beggars_bush

The kids are missing nothing the first week back

And ferry prices can be silly low in late August along with much cheaper campsites the last week of August and half price in first week of Sept

CuriousCucumber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297733#Comment_123297733

Absolutely. Way too excited for a holiday that starts exactly 3 months from today 😎