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Travel
Discounts and Information
For
discounts on some popular cross channel crossings we suggest that you
contact La Chenaie Vacances (Tony Cluskey) based in France. They
are English speaking and work with the major operators (Brittany Ferries
and Irish Ferries) allowing them to provide discounts on some ferry
crossings. You can contact them by telephone or e-mail.
You
should check the regular price of the crossing before contacting them and
you should quote Dolphin Gîtes in order to qualify for the discount.
Brittany
Ferries
anthony.cluskey@wanadoo.fr
Tel.
0033 231 699854
Booking
Your Crossing
This
could not be easier. You can contact the ferry company directly by
telephone and book over the phone, or you can use their website and book
your crossing on-line. If you are taking a long overnight crossing and
you have children you may prefer to book a cabin. If you do not have
children, then you can reserve recliner seats which are less expensive.
However,
before booking your crossing you need to decide which crossing you want
to take - read the information below which should help you decide.
Brittany
Ferries
Dover
to Calais is a short crossing for those who wish to save money or who
do not especially enjoy sailing. The crossing is short (about 90
minutes), however you have a long journey in France (about 400 miles).
If you are in no rush, it may be a good idea to break the journey in
France. Hotels in France are much less expensive than in the UK.
By
choosing the Dover to Calais crossing (or the tunnel), you will make a
significant saving on the price of the crossing, less than half the
price of the other cross-channel routes. Despite the long drive in
France, you will find it less stressful than driving in the UK.
The roads in France are excellent, the density of traffic is much less
and there are no heavy goods vehicles on the road on a Sunday.
Portsmouth
to Cherbourg or Caen are long crossings (5 to 6 hours) and you will
have plenty of time to unwind and rest and enjoy the luxury
facilities the modern cross-channel ferries have to offer, eg. Casino,
bars, restaurants, shops and cinemas (depending on the boat). Many
people prefer taking the night crossing with a cabin so that they are
refreshed for the journey ahead of them in the morning. From Caen it is
motorway all the way (non-toll) and it will take around 5 hours, but
from Cherbourg the first 100 miles are on A roads and later some of
the motorways are toll.
Portsmouth
to St Malo is another popular crossing. The night crossing takes
about 10 hours but if you are asleep in your cabin you will be unaware
of the time. You
will have plenty of time to unwind and rest and enjoy the ferry.
This crossing leaves the shortest drive in France in the morning
(about 4 hours).
Approximate
driving distance in France from the different ports.
• Calais : 400 miles
•
Dieppe : 321 miles
•
Le Havre : 290 miles
•
Cherbourg : 270 miles
•
Roscoff : 250 miles
•
Caen : 240 miles
•
St Malo : 170 miles
Fly
to Nantes
It
is now very convenient to fly to Nantes from London City airport with
Air France, from London Gatwick or Manchester with Flybe, and from Leeds or Dublin with
Ryanair. Nantes
Atlantique airport is about 1 hour/ 15 minutes' journey by car.
The
price of a hire car depends on the size of the car. Booking your
car hire at the time you book your flight often results in better
deal.
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