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

Thanks for the replys and info regarding my query.

Can ships sailing to France accommodate 6 for overnight?

I think Stena do a 6 bed cabin

I was able to book 6 (2ad 4ch) into one 4 berth cabin with Brittany-Ferries this year. It will be a squeeze but its saves €260 or so (return) by not having to book an additional 2 berth.

We were thinking between Le Littoral and Les Brunelles and went with Les Brunelles. Who did you book with?

I would agree with Frejus. Lovely town, nice beaches, fireworks in the harbour in the evenings (went Aug). We stayed in Holiday Green, which is a little more economical than La Baume and a little further out of town. Family in the mobile beside us didn't hire a car and just used buses and transfers to get about.

We are planning our first ferry trip to a campsite in France (Escale Saint Gilles / Sandaya) in June this year. We've done significant research on the choice of location/accommodation, so are relatively happy on that side of things.

My question is on the ferry, similar to some already asked above recently, but would love to hear from those who have done it before.... We are 2 adults / 4 kids, and my current plan is to just book a 4-berth cabin on Brittany Ferries (Pont Aven), which seems to be allowed on the booking site (i.e. not forced to book anything in addition to that, even though we are 6).

The question is will we manage OK like this. I'm happy enough to sleep on the floor in between berths if needs be, but I think we could squeeze the 4 kids into the 2 lower berths and everyone will get at least a few hours sleep!

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

We are also a family of 6 and have travelled many times on the Pont Aven (the first time as a couple while expecting our first child!). You can take the mattresses off the bottom bunks and put them together on the floor and then stow away the bed frames - one of them turns into a sofa so one child could possibly sleep on that and 3 on the 2 mattresses together or just top and tail on the bunks - whichever you think would cause less fighting! Most important thing is that the driver gets a comfortable bed - although you'll have a quick enough drive to Benodet in the morning.

Thanks a lot ShamoBuc and Rex for the responses.

Rex, that kind of first hand experience is what I was looking for, and sounds like great advice regarding the bottom bunk and how to set the kids up. Excellent, thanks again! Will likely go ahead and book today then, exciting! :-)

Recommended Italian sites?

Does anyone know if Irish Ferries has any offers on at the Holiday World Show?

Looking for advice on a bike rack. I don’t have a tow bar so will need that if getting a tow bar mounted one. As a result my preference is for roof rack with bike carriers for 4 bikes. Short to medium term the roof rack would get more use after holidays. Anyone any experience?

We had five of these on our roof going to France last summer.

That's almost certainly too many, as our roof is only rated for 75kg. It also took at least forty minutes to get the bikes on as they needed to be fitted so tightly together. It involved reversing pedals, raising/lowering saddles, and lots of wiggling and repositioning, to make them fit. It will be easier with four bikes but still hard work. Make sure to alternate the racks; forward facing beside rear facing; as that will make it easier. Adult bikes on the outside and kid bikes in the middle should also help (if the kids are young enough that their bikes are smaller).

If you don't already have roof bars, you can get compatible ones on the same site.

I didn't notice them being particularly noisy but you're going to get some increase in noise with multiple bikes on the roof. I don't know about 130km/h. For my own peace of mind I limited myself to 100km/h when I had the bikes on the roof, and tried to avoid sudden braking and went as gently as possible around sharp turns.

No, they will love it.

Regarding Pou du Fou - its an amazing attraction. It's a long day but the effort is more than worth it. it's a mostly open air performances so hats/suncream are an absolute must. Bathrooms/rest areas/cafes etc are every where. We bring those very light cotton blankets to cover heads or legs etc while sitting in the sun. Be there for opening time & you'll get a days program on the notice board on entering & plan your day from there. Its a massive site, The absolute musts to see ~Le Signe du Triomphe (colosseum) ~Les Vikings ~Le secret de la lance ~Le mystere de la Perouse (if to warm go in here/its kept cold) ~les chevaliers de la table round ~Le bal des oiseaux fantomes (bird show) ~Les Amoureux de Verdun (WW! trench). With good planning you should get 4/5 shows in. We have been 7 times over the years & are still impressed with it. It really is a 2 day event. The night show ~Cinescenie is truely wonderful.