Advice on which ferries to take for France ?

[Black Bird]

Helo , how are you ?

For this summer ,
I'am planning a ride to France to Aix en Provence , will be going from Bristol .
Need some advice on which company's ferry to take as there's just too many on the net .
Due to a shortage of budget , I'am looking for the economical type .
Once in France will cycle , walk and etc til Aix then to cross over to Italy and so on .

Having a student visa in UK I hope it will be just showing my passport and go from the customs ?

Thanks .
More advice about routes etc welcomed !

 

[Monsieur]

Cheapest and quickest will always be dover-calais
Eurotunnel is also cheapish but the ferry lets you have a rest/drink/meal
Sea france, p&o

 

[Brandane]

Are you cycling from Bristol to whatever ferry you choose to sail on? If so, you might be better to head for Portsmouth and cross to Caen or Le Havre. Brittany Ferries or LD lines are quite reasonably priced. Never used LD lines, but I can vouch for Brittany Ferries; they have a nice fleet of ships.

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/

http://www.ldlines.co.uk/

http://www.cheapferrytickets.com/

 

[Ajay]

Yep, I'd go Portsmouth - Caen. Then pick a route down to the Loire, means you can miss out London/Paris and Calais/ Lille areas.

 

[Red Light]

Cheapest and quickest will always be dover-calais
Eurotunnel is also cheapish but the ferry lets you have a rest/drink/meal
Sea france, p&o

Is Sea France still running? I thought they went into liquidation at the start of the year.

 

[Red Light]

Yep, I'd go Portsmouth - Caen. Then pick a route down to the Loire, means you can miss out London/Paris and Calais/ Lille areas.

+1 for Portsmouth and its a reasonable length sailing so you can take the night ferry, find a place to kip and save a nights lodging if you are on a budget. There is also a Portsmouth-Cherbourg and Poole-Caen ferry you could look at as alternatives.

 

[User269]

As others have said; Dover to Calais is cheapest (depending on how you get to Dover), Portsmouth to Caen (Brittany Ferries) or Le Havre (LD line) is quite expensive and long but worth it if you want to get a cabin and arrive early the next morning with the whole day to travel ahead of you. LD is cheaper. As you're cycling once in France, consider going from Poole to Cherbourg on the fast ferry; reasonably priced, quick, and a long but quietish ride SE towards Aix once you're in France. I've always found it cheaper to book ferries directly with the company, rather than use a specialist ferry search site.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Having a student visa in UK I hope it will be just showing my passport and go from the customs ?

I assume you mean you don't hold a British or EU passport. If so, you might want to check French & Italian entry requirements (should be info on the embassy websites) to be on the safe side.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Helo , how are you ?

For this summer ,
I'am planning a ride to France to Aix en Provence , will be going from Bristol .
Need some advice on which company's ferry to take as there's just too many on the net .
Due to a shortage of budget , I'am looking for the economical type .
Once in France will cycle , walk and etc til Aix then to cross over to Italy and so on .

Having a student visa in UK I hope it will be just showing my passport and go from the customs ?

Thanks .
More advice about routes etc welcomed !

I know you Don't need a visa for France, as my partner is Malaysian, if you are in KL, the french embassy is in Jalan Ampang oppisite the British High Commission just down from it Junction with Jalan Tun Razak so maybe you can inquire there for peace of mind,

 

[Black Bird]

I know you Don't need a visa for France, as my partner is Malaysian, if you are in KL, the french embassy is in Jalan Ampang oppisite the British High Commission just down from it Junction with Jalan Tun Razak so maybe you can inquire there for peace of mind,

Helo , thanks . Do you mean you know me in person ?

 

[ceepeebee]

Sea France have indeed ceased trading, which meant that we had to get dfds last weds and will get them back tomorrow, bloody rubbish they are too, really low rent.

 

[snorri]

Helo , thanks . Do you mean you know me in person ?

I'm sure Ticktockmy meant he "knows no one needs a visa.....", not that he knew you personally.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Helo , thanks . Do you mean you know me in person ?

If you live in KL maybe I do know as my partner I spend 3 months a year in Malaysia, and we are often found lurking around Jalan Bintang, and supping coffee in the Coffee bean in the Pavilion shopping Mall, walkway where all the food outlet are.

 

[snorri]

I think Channel ferry companies make it very difficult to do price comparisons, so many companies so many options. Sometimes cheaper booking ahead, sometimes cheaper going on spec. Two singles sometimes cheaper than a return. depends on time and date of travel....it's impossible to compare.

 

[jay clock]

If cycling from Bristol I would look at Poole, Plymouth and Portsmouth. Heading all the way over to Dover adds tons of hilly uk riding, and then the first day or two in the less attractive part of north eastern France.