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

Good call on the VHI cover, we hadn't yet booked travel insurance and we're potentially not going to but combined they are good value especially as it is an annual policy.

We stayed in Sol a GoGo for two years in a row 2018 and 2019. The kids would've been 8 and 5 the last time we were there. It's a gorgeous little campsite with a lovely kids section in the pool. Direct access to the beach and the cycle/foot path runs all the way into St Jean De Monts. I can't recommend it enough for younger kids.

Booked into Le Pin Parasol this year. It's obviously out on its own but with the kids a little older we're hoping for a little less active type of holiday.

U can buy Sims over in France in kiosks in supermarche. Better network using a French one I believe. That's my plan this yr.

Can't they hotspot off a parent's phone on the Irish side and the French side since you'll be all together in the car?

Define 'bad'? They are typically functional - up until they run out of data allowance and such. As mentioned in previous posts, there may be issues with access within busy campsites (due to roaming devices having a lower "quality of service" metric on the cell towers), but I have not had data issues generally.

Thanks for the information. Yea by bad I meant functional.

I've tried Irish Vodafone and Three sims for data in French campsites and neither have been great. Would be interested in any French options, they all seemed very expensive last time I checked(about 3 years ago).

I used the Irish Vodafone sim in the middle of Nice(city centre) and it was perfect.

Interesting site summarising all French data options:

Coverage map:

i think I’ll chance the Vodafone x option

Pretty much nope, the DAA doesn't "manage" the ports, and even if it did the volumes of traffic are totally different so the effect wouldn't be a 5 hour queue outside the ferry terminal.

They might be slow enough in checking passports on the return, but that's minor enough.

After going direct Rosslare-Cherbourg last June, we're back to Landbridge this year, €290 each way.

Chalk and cheese.

The ferries/ports have been busier than ever since Brexit became a reality on Jan 1st, 2021, and staffed accordingly.

Dublin Airport was a ghost town for 2 years, with travellers risking arrest by the Gardai, and about 33% of staff took an early retirement package designed to save the DAA wage bills.

So you have a perfect storm, greatly understaffed, replacements not yet trained/ security cleared yet, and a significant number of those who were rostered for Sunday morning rang in sick.

Overdid it drowning their sorrows after the cup final Saturday night, and not fit to get out of bed for work.. .

As there were, unusually in our experience, three other cats on the crossing last Tuesday I thought I’d give an update in case anyone else wants to know!

The cattery now seems permanently located in the staff only corridor I mentioned in the previous post though it feels a lot less temporary than it did. There are four bigger metal cages on the bottom easily capable of accommodating the provided litter tray, your own cat bed & still have space for dishes & cat. I think there were also four smaller cages on top, similar to those on the OW.

Water, litter, litter tray, litter scoops, clean food dishes & bins are provided which is a huge improvement on 2019, when we last used the WB.

The area is cooler & a lot less noisy. A better experience all round for the cats & their humans.

OT, but are people bringing their cats on their summer holidays?

I always though that cats were primarily territorial and would try strongly to return to their home are if moved to another location.

Whereas dogs are pack oriented and are ok to bring to new places as long as their pack (family) is there.

that means go to wales, cross over the channel?

How does the 290 break down? thanks

Yes, Dublin - Holyhead or Rosslare Fishguard, nearly always with Stena. Then there are a choice of routes across the Channel if heading to west coast of France. But the shorter western routes have longer less frequent sailing times = more pressure to make the sailing time. So the tunnnel is the preferred route for us. Especially since 2 of our passengers would get sick on the Ballyhack ferry. Only downside is you never know what the M25 around London will be like. Sometimes we same-day it from Dublin, 08:30 ferry and stay at a hotel an hour or two into France, but this year we've got to do the Anfield stadium tour on the way so will overnight in Liverpool :( Usually pick up the sister-in-law and nephew somewhere in France on our way to the coast. Another advantage of landbridge is that we booked it last week, so if there's any uncertainty about your plans, it gives you flexibility. But the long driving isn't for everyone, especially small kids and we only started doing it again when our youngest turned 5.

I'll check with my wife how the 290 breaks down, it's for a car and 4 pax. The dog is €27 extra on top of the €290.