Driving from Dublin to Prague

muddypaws · 20-06-2016 04:18PM #1

We are going to represent Ireland at a European Championships in October near Prague, and need to drive, as we're taking dogs with us. We've been looking into the various routes, and had thought that getting a ferry from Ireland to France and then driving would be the best option, plenty of rest on the boat, then sharing the driving. Unfortunately at that time of the year, the ferries don't go very often, we need to be there from the Friday to Sunday evening, but the way it is working out, we will actually be away for 9 days.

It appears there are no longer any ferries from the UK to Germany, unless anyone knows any different? We'll be going in vans, so a freight ferry may be a possiblity.

Any ideas or opinions would be very much appreciated.

Tabnabs · 20-06-2016 04:22PM

Have you looked at Hull to Rotterdam (http://www.poferries.com/eu/rotterdam-hull) as an alternative to Germany?

Freight ferries cannot carry more than 12 "passengers" and wouldn't have facilities for dogs, nor would you be allowed to visit the car deck once at sea.

muddypaws · 20-06-2016 05:19PM

We'll be taking two Transits, so 3 people in each. Thank you for that link, just checked the P&O ferry, double what we'd pay going direct from Ireland. I've got the Dublin-Liverpool ferry a few times, to get a good sleep, but then worked out its cheaper to get Irish Ferries or Stena Line and book a travelodge the other side.

Plopli · 20-06-2016 09:34PM

Dublin-Holyhead in the morning and then Hull-Rotterdam or Zeebruge for the night crossing would also be my suggestion.

Good night of sleep on the leg to the continent and arrive fresh to drive in the morning. This would also be the one with the shortest driving time.

The other option is Dublin-Holyhead and the 'le Tunnel'.
If you take the 2:15 ferry in Dublin, you will be in Germany for the night.

I would use 'le Tunnel' instead of a ferry because crossing are much more frequent and they usually make no problem to accommodate you early or late.

I've done the Hull route once (I stop in the east of Belgium) and the Tunnel route multiple time.
I usually take the Tunnel because it's a 1 day trip.
I manage to sleep a few hours on the ferry so I'm ~fresh when arriving in Holyhead and then have a nap in the tunnel.

Be sure all your paperwork for the dogs are filled in when you cross back to UK/Ireland.
I was once stopped because the passport was missing one of the vet's signature.
As it was only a signature, I was able to get it done in Calais (they have a list of vets - they charge dirty money to sign - it was 50€ for 5 minutes work and I was not alone. If I was a vet, I'll definitely open my practice there.)

Driving from Dublin to Prague

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