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

webpal

Not sure if it’s been mentioned here before but if you search supermarkets in google maps you can see their opening hours by clicking on any specific one. Not always 100% but usually the big ones are accurate. If traveling on a Sunday you may have to stop sooner than you want.

CheerLouth

loyatemu wrote: »

the onsite shop should be open - they have bread and wine, what more do you want

We'll be arriving on Sunday too - must remember to bring snacks and supplies. Had forgotten about the supermarkets closing on a Sunday - it's been a long time since I was in France on a Sunday looking for groceries

Odyssey 2005

Heading to the Dordoigne in a fortnight...wishing the time away.

murt101

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Heading to the Dordoigne in a fortnight...wishing the time away.

2 months til we get there! Can't wait.

mr_edge_to_you

We were staying in an area between St Jean De Monts and St Hilaire De Riez last summer. We were killing ourselves to try and get into a supermarket before they shut at 12:30 to get a few bits rather than going to the “€50 shop”.

Anyway, when we went into the village there was a mini Super U which was like a medium sized Tesco - open all day. We’ll be taking our time this year traveling down.

Fann Linn

CheerLouth wrote: »

We'll be arriving on Sunday too - must remember to bring snacks and supplies. Had forgotten about the supermarkets closing on a Sunday - it's been a long time since I was in France on a Sunday looking for groceries

Plus a lot of the garages past the ports and off the motorways are also closed in a lot of places on a Sunday and only provide the fuel by credit or debit card. Either fill up in Ireland or in the French port cities.

darragh o meara

Fann Linn wrote: »

Plus a lot of the garages past the ports and off the motorways are also closed in a lot of places on a Sunday and only provide the fuel by credit or debit card. Either fill up in Ireland or in the French port cities.

We usually arrive on Sunday too but head straight for the supermarket when we get off the ferry and load up the cooler box, that way we have enough for the half way down picnic and also something for when we get to the site. A lot of places close on Sundays but you will find some places open if you look hard enough.

sdevine89

Heading to Roscoff from Rosslare at the start of August. Hoping to spend 5ish weeks (haven't booked a boat home yet). The only place we have to be is Bordeaux for a few days for a wedding.

Hopefully might get into Italy and Spain and get the boat back from Spain. In terms of accommodation, we will just book as we go with a mixture of hotels, B&B's and campsites (will throw a tent in the boot).

Picking up a new car in July so hopefully, the exact terms of our breakdown cover won't be something we have to worry about.

This will be our first driving holiday in France, so all tips very much appreciated.

josip

Although both Ireland and France are countries, France is bigger.
It's very difficult to drive across France in a day.

First Up

darragh o meara wrote: »

Fann Linn wrote: »

Plus a lot of the garages past the ports and off the motorways are also closed in a lot of places on a Sunday and only provide the fuel by credit or debit card. Either fill up in Ireland or in the French port cities.

We usually arrive on Sunday too but head straight for the supermarket when we get off the ferry and load up the cooler box, that way we have enough for the half way down picnic and also something for when we get to the site. A lot of places close on Sundays but you will find some places open if you look hard enough.

I'd recommend the "looking" be done ahead of time through online searches.

Odyssey 2005

sdevine89 wrote: »

Heading to Roscoff from Rosslare at the start of August. Hoping to spend 5ish weeks (haven't booked a boat home yet). The only place we have to be is Bordeaux for a few days for a wedding.

Hopefully might get into Italy and Spain and get the boat back from Spain. In terms of accommodation, we will just book as we go with a mixture of hotels, B&B's and campsites (will throw a tent in the boot).

Picking up a new car in July so hopefully, the exact terms of our breakdown cover won't be something we have to worry about.

This will be our first driving holiday in France, so all tips very much appreciated.

I wouldn't be relying on a new car in lieu of breakdown cover. They breakdown too,also what if,God forbid an accident occurs?

josip

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

I wouldn't be relying on a new car in lieu of breakdown cover. They breakdown too,also what if,God forbid an accident occurs?

Many new cars now include breakdown cover.

Ours included European cover for the first 3 years, so this is the first year we have to purchase it.

sdevine89

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

I wouldn't be relying on a new car in lieu of breakdown cover. They breakdown too,also what if,God forbid an accident occurs?

Oh don't worry I have breakdown cover, I was saying that hopefully, I wouldn't need to worry about the minute terms of it, because we won't break down.

CheerLouth

For anyone going into Cherbourg port, I have a colleague from the area and asked her about supermarkets open on a Sunday near the port:

• Leader Price - Rue de la Fonderie – TOURLAVILLE - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Intermarché – 260 rue du grand pré – TOURLAVILLE - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Super U (a little further than the 2 others) - 60-66 Rue de la Paix -Cherbourg - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Petit Casino (smaller than the 3 others) - 117 rue du Val de Saire - Cherbourg - open between 09:00 and 20:00

k123456

A question please for those than have brought home / imported wine before

On a recent visit to France , came across a wine shop who will ship for free to Irleand

I will be getting shipped , which is less than the standard import allowance (100 litre) I think

In total , will be about 40 bottles standard wine
6 x 5 liter boxes, standard wine
6 bottles of bubbly
4 desert wine (similar to port)

As I am not personally transporting it, could I get hit for taxes , duty

Will of course be paying the standard purchase taxes in France


Thanks

HuntingDrog

CheerLouth wrote: »

For anyone going into Cherbourg port, I have a colleague from the area and asked her about supermarkets open on a Sunday near the port:

• Leader Price - Rue de la Fonderie – TOURLAVILLE - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Intermarch 260 rue du grand pr TOURLAVILLE - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Super U (a little further than the 2 others) - 60-66 Rue de la Paix -Cherbourg - open between 09:00 and 12:30
• Petit Casino (smaller than the 3 others) - 117 rue du Val de Saire - Cherbourg - open between 09:00 and 20:00

that's brilliant information...tks


Anyone got similar information for the Roscoff shops on Sundays?

First Up

k123456 wrote: »

A question please for those than have brought home / imported wine before

On a recent visit to France , came across a wine shop who will ship for free to Irleand

I will be getting shipped , which is less than the standard import allowance (100 litre) I think

In total , will be about 40 bottles standard wine
6 x 5 liter boxes, standard wine
6 bottles of bubbly
4 desert wine (similar to port)

As I am not personally transporting it, could I get hit for taxes , duty

Will of course be paying the standard purchase taxes in France


Thanks

Yes.

frash

pennyblack wrote: »

Staying at Castell Montgri Campsite Estartit in early June 2018 for the first time with 2 teenagers.
Would really appreciate any tips to make our holiday enjoyable.
Any info re transfers from Airport to campsite would be most helpful.


Thanks

Interested too but suspect we won't hear anything until it's moved

hasdanta

So I’ve been reading up about the amounts and just wanna double check. So is it 800 cigarettes and 1kg of tobacco per person? And if I bring home 1kg of tobacco am I also allowed to bring home 800 cigarettes too?

ETA: travelling within Europe btw

Homer

Where are you travelling to from? Different allowances depending on whether you are travelling within the EU or not!

Homer

Sorry just saw your edit.. I always thought it was as much as you like as long as you can show it’s for personal use?

F1ngers

Homer wrote: »

Sorry just saw your edit.. I always thought it was as much as you like as long as you can show it’s for personal use?

I thought this too, apparently OP is correct.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_to_ireland/customs_regulations_for_travellers.html

Homer

Wow.. and the limit is as low as 300 from some of the cheaper EU countrys!
I’m off the cigarettes over 3 years now anyway :pac:

molly dolly

2 months to go!! I've started the holiday grocery shop build up. Always bring the basics, which get used and is replaced with booze on way home. Though mild panic in house. Ds is a good athlete and has been at the community game finals for the last few years. Turns out this year its a week early. We may have to come home a day or two early if he qualifies. Doesn't help its his good year too. Fecker. Could end up sailing home on the WB which woud be a treat.

mirrorwall14

Any recommendations for somewhere to stop for a decent dinner on the way to rosslare from Dublin? Preferably not fast food, want something that will keep us reasonably full!

Passports finally posted on Friday so starting to get excited now!

We’re bringing a plug in cooler box for the cabin on the boat so trying to sort out food and snacks now

SusanC10

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Any recommendations for somewhere to stop for a decent dinner on the way to rosslare from Dublin? Preferably not fast food, want something that will keep .......

Cu... https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-d3969530?m=19907

This is where we stop - based on a recommendation from this thread. Would recommend.

noinc

As much as you like with the descretion of the customs officer. I am off them too since March 2017.

feedthegoat

Anyone any helpful advice on the Holyhead - Portsmouth and / or Cherbourg - Le Clary's Plage drive? Heading in about 5 weeks.

First Up

feedthegoat wrote: »

Anyone any helpful advice on the Holyhead - Portsmouth and / or Cherbourg - Le Clary's Plage drive? Heading in about 5 weeks.

Allow plenty of time for the Holyhead - Portsmouth section and stay away from the M25.

aquarius10

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Any recommendations for somewhere to stop for a decent dinner on the way to rosslare from Dublin? Preferably not fast food, want something that will keep us reasonably full!

Passports finally posted on Friday so starting to get excited now!

We’re bringing a plug in cooler box for the cabin on the boat so trying to sort out food and snacks now

We ate in Kellys of Wexford last year and it was lovely... plus went for a stroll on the beach to stetch the legs. We could see the ferry docked across the beach.