The following info includes travel prices for 2001 for the average family which can vary due to Day/Dates/times, on/off season, more/less passengers/larger vehicles. For personal quotes click on the relevant Link.
Stena Line offer an excellent service - their website allows you to choose, select & book your trip online, or alternately provides contact info for other booking options.
Stena Line sails from:
Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead: Stena HSS, crossing time 99mins., 4 crossings e/way per day;
Dublin Port - Holyhead: Stena Challenger, crossing time 3 hrs. 35 mins., 2 crossings e/way per day;
Rosslare - Fishguard: Stena Lynx, crossing time 99 mins., 4 crossings e/way per day;
Superferry, crossing time 3 hrs. 30 mins., 2 crossings daily;
Belfast - Stranraer: Stena HSS, crossing time 105 mins.,
Superferry, crossing time 3 hrs. 15 mins., both up to 5 times daily e/way.
Landbridge Fares - incl. above route(s) + Landbridge via UK from Dover to Calais PER SINGLE JOURNEY ,
Prices quoted are for Car + 2 Adults+ 2 Children ( 4 to16 years ): -
Until 31/05: Ir.£ 190. From 01/06 to 28/06 Ir.£ 230. From 29/06 to 12/07 Ir.£ 260. From 13/07 to 02/09 £300
Note: Stena HSS / Lynx Supplement - Add Ir.£ 25 per Car per Journey.
e.g. Superferry to Holyhead & crossing to France before 31/05, RETURN = Total Ir£ 380.
(P&O Stena Line / Seafrance) . Prices Quoted are for Car + 2 Adults + 2 Children (4 to 15 years)
PER SINGLE JOURNEY
Eurotunnel & Seafrance: From 01/04 - 30/06 Ir.£ 210. From 01/07 - 12/07 Ir.£ 235.From 13/07 - 31/08 Ir.£300.
P&O Stena Line: From 01/04 - 30/06 Ir£ 240. From 01/07 - 12/07 Ir.£ 275. From 13/07 - 31/08 Ir.£ 330.
Dublin Swift Supplement - Add Ir£ 20 per Car per Journey.
e.g. CruiseFerry to Holyhead + Eurotunnel to Calais, before 30/06, RETURN - Total = Ir.£ 420
Irish Ferries Cruise Ferry, Normandy, newly refurbished at a cost of £4 million, sails direct toFrance,
from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Roscoff. Average crossing to Cherbourg 18 hrs. ( 4p.m. to 11a.m.); to Roscoff 17 hrs. ( 5p.m. to 11a.m.). Booking a berth or cabin on these o/night trips is advisable, though not obligatory.
Direct Fares to France vary based on applicable rate. Sample Fares based on Car + 2 Adults + 2 Children,
PER SINGLE JOURNEY: SuperSaver - Ir.£ 340. Saver - Ir.£ 376. Summer - Ir.£ 389 .
Plus ( if selected ) : 4 berth Cabin, Shower, toilet, (inner): 02/03 - 31/05 Ir.£ 75 per single journey.
01/06 - 31/08 Ir.£ 103 per single journey.
e.g. SuperSaver rate, Rosslare - Roscoff, incl. 4 berth cabin, RETURN before 31/05 - Total = Ir.£ 830.
Brittany Ferries' website, whereas at times slow downloading, provides an easy menu to navigate through - allows you to select, price and book your trip online.
Brittany Ferries first - class ferry sails from Cork to Roscoff once a week in each direction, departing Cork each Sat. (10/03 - 29/09) @ 15.30 arriv. 06.30; & Roscoff each Fri. (09/03 - 28/09)@ 23.59 arriv. 13.00; with an average crossing time of 14 hrs.. For detailed prices consult their website.
Direct Fares Cork - Roscoff vary, based on dates travelled & quality of o/night accomm. availed of.
A sample fare departing mid-June, returning early July, for a Car + Roofbox + 2 Adults + 2 Children(4-15 years):
Ir.£ 380 per single Journey. Plus (if selected ) : 4 Berth, inside, Cabin, shower, W.C. - Ir.£ 92 per single journey. e.g. RETURN fare, Cork - Roscoff, incl 4 berth cabin - Total: Ir.£ 944.
Note: This is a popular, well established route & Early Booking is advisable.
FROM IRELAND & UK
Brittany Ferries also sail Direct from Plymouth to Santander in Northern Spain. For those who want to limit driving time this trip is an excellent choice for travel to Mediterranean France. Average driving time from Santander to Camping Club Louvillage is 6 hrs. (430 miles, of which 405 is autoroute). Visitors from Ireland can link this with a Rosslare to Pembroke / Fishguard crossing & the shorter drive to Plymouth.
Pamper yourself with a luxury mini cruise on board Brittanny Ferries' flagship - the "Val de Loire" in air-conditioned Cabin comfort on this overnight 24 hr. cruise, departures Plymouth - Sun. 12.00, Mon.08.00, Wed.12.00 & departures Santander - Mon.19.00, Tues.11.00, Thurs.14.30 (up to 2 departures e/way per week. On board the pride of the Brittany Ferries fleet there are elegant shops, bars, restaurants - even an indoor swimming pool.
Rates vary & are better value April /May. Sample fares for departures mid-June, return early July for a Car+ 2Adults+2Children(4-15years) are £ 425 Sterling per single journey. PLUS (if selected) : 4 berth, inside, Cabin, shower, W.C. : add £ 100 Sterling per single journey.
e.g. RETURN fare Plymouth - Santander, incl. 4 berth Cabin - Total £1,050 sterling.
Brittany Ferries also operate daily crossings from Plymouth - Roscoff, Poole - Cherbourg, Portsmouth - St. Malo & Caen. (New Condor Vitesse from May 2001, from Poole - crossing time 2 hrs. 15 mins). Check their website for further details
Eurotunnel crossings from Folkestone to Calais take only 35 mins & travel up to every 15 mins. at peak times. Eurotunnel provide an easy to manoeuvre website & costs vary, with special offers if you are prepared to stick to definite dept. times ( not refundable or amenable) + offers for booking at short notice. Cars are loaded on board Eurostar, with height as a criteria therefore it is important when booking to specify roofboxes, above height wehicles etc. to ensure a reserved space.
It is essential to specify time / date / type of booking to ensure accurate quotes.
Sample fare, out mid-June, return early July, Car (under 1.85 m.'s in height) + 2 Adults + 2 Children, refundable & amenable tickets: RETURN - Total = £ 297 Sterling.
Much better rates are available - Check their " Best Fare Available " & " Special Promotions ".
* Eurotunnel Off-Peak, out = 14.00 - 06.00 & 00.00 - 14.00 in. (better rates)
A different web site for U.K., with all prices quoted in sterling, allowing online selection & booking from P&O's 7 ferries & 35 crossings e/way per day across the English Channel, from Dover to Calais.
Fares vary. A Sample Fare, depart mid - June , Return early July for Car + 2 Adults + 2 Children, RETURN =
£194 sterling (including £5 discount for online booking).
Check special offers. * P&O Stena Line Off-Peak: 15.00 - 06.00 out & 22.00 - 10.00 in.
An absolutely brilliant website, www.ferryoffers.co.uk , provide an invaluable public service.
Simply punch in the date, time you wish to cross the English Channel, add your car + passenger details & Ferryoffers very quickly return the closest matching sailing times out & in, giving the Best Fares available + other price / crossing options. And then allows you to book that choice with them online.
A Sample check for Car + 2 Adults + 2 Children, Dover - Calais RETURN for June 2001 revealed, for dates/times sought: Best Fare - Seacat, cost £144 sterling return.
Options returned are adjustable, to allow selection of personal suitable times, all with Bookable fares displayed. Spread the word - this is Travel Selection made easy!
For those who wish to take their car to the south of France, with as little driving as possible, here is the easy way. Arrive in Calais, put your car on the train, avail of sleeper berths / couchettes, and relax overnight awaking in Narbonne - a short half-hour drive to Louvillage. Motorail operate many other routes throughout France & Europe which can be booked online at www.railsavers.com .
One price covers all passengers, car & sleeper or couchette costs.
Motorail departs Calais at 21.13, arriving in Narbonne at 10.09 & departs Narbonne 06.25, arriving Calais at 07.37 .
Calais to Narbonne departures on Tues., Fri., Sun. from 29/05/01 to 09/09/01. ( + Thurs & Sat. fromearly July to early Sept.)
Narbonne to Calais departures on Weds., Sat., Mon. from 29/05/01 ( + Sun. from 08/06 & Frid. from 13/07) to early Sept.
Rates vary as specified, taking account of O/night accomm. reqd. & dates travelling. Sample Fare, incl 4berth Couchette, Car + 2 Adults + 2 Children, Outward early June,- £ 309 sterling single journey ;
Inward late June,- £ 329 sterling single journey .
* Note : Travel on Thurs. or Sun., any direction, - Add £30 per party, per journey.
Travel on Frid. or Sat., any direction, - Add £60 per party, per journey.
This low-cost carrier offers no-frills flight & are invariably the cheapest carrier. With Ryanair all infants under 2 years old travel free. Children over 2 years have their own seat & pay full fare.
From Ireland: Ryanair fly up to 16 times daily Dublin - Stanstead & connecting flights through Dublin, from Cork & other regional Airports. Best Fares are available on Internet booking, alternately phone bookings can be made. Prices quoted are for online bookings, and are best fares quoted now ( Febr. 2001). Fares vary on times/day/when booked.
Sample Fares: Out Sun/June, Back Sun/June: From Ir£ 22.50 to Ir£ 37.50 per Person e/way + Applicable Taxes. e.g. 2 Adults + 2 Children (over 2 yrs.) Return, Dublin-London Stanstead, both on Sun. June 2001
TOTAL = Ir£ 180 + applic. taxes. * Taxes average £10 per person per flight e/way.
From the U.K. : Ryanair fly from London Stanstead daily to Carcassonne, Perpignan & Nimes Airports in the South of France, with many connections from major UK cities to Stanstead. Ryanair advise that booking onward flights through Stanstead one should allow 3 hours between flights, as flights must be booked separately & failure to make connections for whatever reason, is the responsibility of the passenger. Ryanair is a ticketless Airline. On booking, one is given a Confirmation No., which is your unique booking I.D. It is absolutely essential on check-in to have a passport, photo identification card, and visa (where applic.), for each passenger - or else you don't travel.
Stanstead - Carcassonne: Is a 2 hour flight with 2 departures e/way daily. Dept. Stanstead- 10.10am
