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

micks_address

westgolf wrote: »

Just a question to those who changed from driving / ferry to fly / car hire basis. How did you cope with the restrictions on luggage etc. ? I know when we go the car is always full plus bikes on back etc. Obviously bikes can be hired on site but it still must be a major change ?

Actually re luggage I think flying is nearly better as it restricts you a bit. We had the kitchen sink in the car last year. For four of us this year checked a 25kg and 20kg bag. Rest was backpacks etc. Could have brought less. Staying 12 nights. 4 of us.

We have done some laundry on site but no more than last year. Also manged to bring nespresso machine and supply of capsules on case

average_runner

westgolf wrote: »

Just a question to those who changed from driving / ferry to fly / car hire basis. How did you cope with the restrictions on luggage etc. ? I know when we go the car is always full plus bikes on back etc. Obviously bikes can be hired on site but it still must be a major change ?

We started flying as our youngest was a bad traveller. We bring a 25k and 20k suitcase and then a few carry on bags with tablets etc. We ensure we have a wash machine in the mobile so that cuts the need for too much clothes. Tennis rackets are in the suitcase as is the beach umbrella and two beach foldup sun beds.

josip

average_runner wrote: »

We started flying as our youngest was a bad traveller. We bring a 25k and 20k suitcase and then a few carry on bags with tablets etc. We ensure we have a wash machine in the mobile so that cuts the need for too much clothes. Tennis rackets are in the suitcase as is the beach umbrella and two beach foldup sun beds.

Where do ye fit the inflatable 6 man boat, the electric motor and the 70aH battery?

darragh o meara

raddo wrote: »

Hi all. Currently in le clarys plage and loving it. Heading home via roscoff on Friday and looking to stop in a decathlon store. Was thinking of going to the one in Morlaix but don't know what size it is. Anyone know or can recommend a large store on the way?? Cheers

There's a pretty big one about 50mins from you in :

https://www.atlantis-nantes.com

Great shopping centre with loads of other decent stores and not that far from you. The one in Challans is great but this one has a much bigger selection. Kiabi (much better version of Penneys) is worth checking out too

darragh o meara

If anyone us in the Challans area you should really check out Autrefois Challans festival that's on 2 or 3 times a year in July/August

The whole town basically returns to what the place looked like 100 yrs ago and everyone gets involved. Hands down the very best thing we seen last year and highly recommend for a day out if your nearby.

wall

westgolf wrote: »

Just a question to those who changed from driving / ferry to fly / car hire basis. How did you cope with the restrictions on luggage etc. ? I know when we go the car is always full plus bikes on back etc. Obviously bikes can be hired on site but it still must be a major change ?

We also brought the kitchen sink in the car last year but flew this year. I booked 40kg in 2 bags, each bag was just over 15kg. 5 of us. We just did a few washes in the camp laundrette. Though as we were going to the south of France we were going to be wearing less clothes as its much warmer which helped. On the west coast there's more chance of more weather so you need more clothes.

54and56

westgolf wrote: »

Just a question to those who changed from driving / ferry to fly / car hire basis. How did you cope with the restrictions on luggage etc. ? I know when we go the car is always full plus bikes on back etc. Obviously bikes can be hired on site but it still must be a major change ?

Bikes and (to a much lesser extent) wine are the two big reasons we still drive rather than fly plus we actually enjoy the whole ferry experience and are luckily able to do 3 week holidays so the ferry/drive time element doesn't impact too negatively.

We (my wife and I) like to go for a 2-3 hour cycle each morning and bring our own bikes. We could hire but the type of bikes typically available to hire on campsites aren't something I'd like to be doing 50km-60km cycles on daily. I looked at hiring more suitable bikes from local bike shops a couple of times but the cost Vs campsite bikes escalates very quickly and would be prohibitive over a 3 week period.

We also like to bring home enough wine to get us through the following 11 months until we return to France. I don't see us getting 12-14 cases of wine into 2 X 25kg suitcases!!

First Up

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

westgolf wrote: »

Just a question to those who changed from driving / ferry to fly / car hire basis. How did you cope with the restrictions on luggage etc. ? I know when we go the car is always full plus bikes on back etc. Obviously bikes can be hired on site but it still must be a major change ?

Bikes and (to a much lesser extent) wine are the two big reasons we still drive rather than fly plus we actually enjoy the whole ferry experience and are luckily able to do 3 week holidays so the ferry/drive time element doesn't impact too negatively.

We (my wife and I) like to go for a 2-3 hour cycle each morning and bring our own bikes. We could hire but the type of bikes typically available to hire on campsites aren't something I'd like to be doing 50km-60km cycles on daily. I looked at hiring more suitable bikes from local bike shops a couple of times but the cost Vs campsite bikes escalates very quickly and would be prohibitive over a 3 week period.

We also like to bring home enough wine to get us through the following 11 months until we return to France. I don't see us getting 12-14 cases of wine into 2 X 25kg suitcases!!

My motivation is much the same - just substitute golf clubs for bikes!

average_runner

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Bikes and (to a much lesser extent) wine are the two big reasons we still drive rather than fly plus we actually enjoy the whole ferry experience and are luckily able to do 3 week holidays so the ferry/drive time element doesn't impact too negatively.

We (my wife and I) like to go for a 2-3 hour cycle each morning and bring our own bikes. We could hire but the type of bikes typically available to hire on campsites aren't something I'd like to be doing 50km-60km cycles on daily. I looked at hiring more suitable bikes from local bike shops a couple of times but the cost Vs campsite bikes escalates very quickly and would be prohibitive over a 3 week period.

We also like to bring home enough wine to get us through the following 11 months until we return to France. I don't see us getting 12-14 cases of wine into 2 X 25kg suitcases!!

Missing the wine is the one negative part of flying.

average_runner

josip wrote: »

Where do ye fit the inflatable 6 man boat, the electric motor and the 70aH battery?

The wife carries them on her back

First Up

average_runner wrote: »

Missing the wine is the one negative part of flying.

No question. I know that not everyone is into wine but the savings we make on wine (and better quality wine than we would get here) more than covers the cost of the trip.

josip

First Up wrote: »

No question. I know that not everyone is into wine but the savings we make on wine (and better quality wine than we would get here) more than covers the cost of the trip.

And the more you buy, the more you're saving

Deeman83

You could drink less wine.....

(Sits back down sheepishly)

micks_address

New tyre today. Same as existing Bridgestone. Reception in les Ormes phoned them for me Wednesday afternoon with tyre size. I asked bar staff for recommendation after hopeless encounter with citreon garage in dol de bretagne. All sorted for 130. Not to bad. Only took few minutes. Will see how I get on with insurance when back home. Glad to be off the spare

Pneumadol
ZAC de, Les Rolandières, 5 Rue du Doucin, 35120 Dol-de-Bretagne, France
+33 2 99 48 00 73

https://goo.gl/maps/gmGZyqKqEt72

Deeman83

Any recommendations for wine? Do you get the wine at the supermarkets or direct from vineyards?

First Up

Deeman83 wrote: »

Any recommendations for wine? Do you get the wine at the supermarkets or direct from vineyards?

The best value by a mile is to buy from vineyards but that risks being nabbed by Irish customs as VAT would not have been paid. Best value of all is to buy from vineyards in 20 litre drums but bottling it at home is a pain.
I usually buy where the French do - in Supermarkets or specialty wine shops. I avoid the "booze cruise" type places because they mostly cater for people who know f-all about wine.
But what you buy depends on your taste and your pocket.

volchitsa

Deeman83 wrote: »

Any recommendations for wine? Do you get the wine at the supermarkets or direct from vineyards?

A friend who knows about wine told me that buying from one of the specialist wine shops in France is a better bet than the supermarkets because of how they all buy in themselves : the small independent will prioritise quality/price while the supermarkets need to buy from big suppliers to ensure reproducibility above all. It's not that they aren't good, but they're never great, is his idea.

I don't know how true that is but I've tried to follow that rule when I can. You tell them how much you want to pay and they can make suggestions for you. Something I've not often found in supermarkets.
(I don't know about buying fr vineyards though.)

10-10-20

average_runner wrote: »

Hi,

If flying from toulouse, the toll is 60 euro each way but your on it for most of the journey.

60 EUR seems high, do you mean 16 EUR as that's what Via Michelin indicates for the motorway from Toulouse to Bezier?

https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes?departure=31000%20Toulouse%2C%20France&arrival=34500%20B%C3%A9ziers%2C%20France&index=0&vehicle=0&type=0&distance=km&currency=EUR&highway=false&toll=false&vignette=false&orc=false&crossing=true&caravan=false&shouldUseTraffic=false&withBreaks=false&break_frequency=7200&coffee_duration=1200&lunch_duration=3600&diner_duration=3600&night_duration=32400&car=hatchback&fuel=diesel&fuelCost=1.33&allowance=0&corridor=&departureDate=&arrivalDate=&fuelConsumption=5.1:4.2:4.5

mikerd4

60e each way? Hope not as i drove it the other day. That would be the most expensive toll in France given my experience.

Heading to Rosciff in 20 mins. Any tips for wine shops or supermarkets?

As for value/price. Was chatting to a guy who buys from the local vineyard every year in bulk. Last year he popped into a supermarket in Cherbourg and the wine he buys was cheaper per bottle than the bulk per bottle he had filled his car with.......supermarkets have serious buying power

54and56

mikerd4 wrote: »

60e each way? Hope not as i drove it the other day. That would be the most expensive toll in France given my experience.

Heading to Rosciff in 20 mins. Any tips for wine shops or supermarkets?

As for value/price. Was chatting to a guy who buys from the local vineyard every year in bulk. Last year he popped into a supermarket in Cherbourg and the wine he buys was cheaper per bottle than the bulk per bottle he had filled his car with.......supermarkets have serious buying power

Hi Mike,

Safe trip.

We love http://www.wine-centre.com in Roscoff. It's not your typical pile em high and sell em cheap type warehouse but it does have a good selection and great value. Solenne and Vincent (the owners) speak great English and are very very helpful if you tell them what you like or are looking for.

Google Maps link - https://goo.gl/maps/Bipy55zvoXL2

If you want value AND quality you won't go wrong with these guys in my personal experience.

mikerd4

Cheers for that. Will have time to kill when I get to Roscoff..

First Up

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

mikerd4 wrote: »

60e each way? Hope not as i drove it the other day. That would be the most expensive toll in France given my experience.

Heading to Rosciff in 20 mins. Any tips for wine shops or supermarkets?

As for value/price. Was chatting to a guy who buys from the local vineyard every year in bulk. Last year he popped into a supermarket in Cherbourg and the wine he buys was cheaper per bottle than the bulk per bottle he had filled his car with.......supermarkets have serious buying power

Hi Mike,

Safe trip.

We love http://www.wine-centre.com in Roscoff. It's not your typical pile em high and sell em cheap type warehouse but it does have a good selection and great value. Solenne and Vincent (the owners) speak great English and are very very helpful if you tell them what you like or are looking for.

Google Maps link - https://goo.gl/maps/Bipy55zvoXL2

If you want value AND quality you won't go wrong with these guys in my personal experience.

Would agree with that. There used to also be a nice place right at the port - Roscoff Wine Seller - but I think the owners retired.

First Up

volchitsa wrote: »

Deeman83 wrote: »

Any recommendations for wine? Do you get the wine at the supermarkets or direct from vineyards?

A friend who knows about wine told me that buying from one of the specialist wine shops in France is a better bet than the supermarkets because of how they all buy in themselves : the small independent will prioritise quality/price while the supermarkets need to buy from big suppliers to ensure reproducibility above all. It's not that they aren't good, but they're never great, is his idea.

I don't know how true that is but I've tried to follow that rule when I can. You tell them how much you want to pay and they can make suggestions for you. Something I've not often found in supermarkets.
(I don't know about buying fr vineyards though.)

Its reasonable to assume that a specialty wine shop will have items you won't get in a supermarket - that's as true in France as it is in Ireland.

That doesn't mean that what you find in French supermarkets or hypermarkets is less than satisfactory - or that you can't get superb wines there.

I'm reasonably fussy (and knowledgeable) about my wines but I'm not loading up the car with premier cru. My usual price range is €8-12, with a few treats thrown in. For that money I'm getting about 3 times the value I'd get in Ireland.

I've got to know the wine team at Auchan in Cherbourg, having done business there for a few years now (including help friends buy for weddings). They are as good as you will find anywhere in their knowledge of what they stock. They are not geared up to cater just for Irish or British customers (90% of their business is local) and it helps if you can talk to them in French. But their combination of quality, price and convenience works for me.

I've shopped elsewhere too - Normandie Wines, Carrefour, LeClerc - but I usually end up doing the bulk of my buying at Auchan.

mikerd4

Ended up in wine centre. Very helpful staff who threw in a couple of free bottles of red to try out as my daughter said her granny likes red when at the till...

Bought a load of french wines and a few cases of torres vina sol as at €4 a bottle its handy to have in the house.

First Up

mikerd4 wrote: »

Ended up in wine centre. Very helpful staff who threw in a couple of free bottles of red to try out as my daughter said her granny likes red when at the till...

Bought a load of french wines and a few cases of torres vina sol as at €4 a bottle its handy to have in the house.

Thats about a tenner a bottle here so the savings add up pretty quick!

mikerd4

Googled it. 12e in Tescos at the moment. ...

First Up

mikerd4 wrote: »

Googled it. 12e in Tescos at the moment. ...

That will make yours taste all the better! Enjoy.

But if you like your wine, its a powerful factor in the fly or drive question.

average_runner

Just back from la carabasse. It was a great hol. The kids had a ball especially with the pool complex. Heading back there again next year.

mikerd4

Was in carabasse same time as yourself so.  We said this was the last ysar for France but enjoyed it so much we are tempted to go again next year.  Likely to fly though as its a touch too far imho to drive again. . Although would miss the bootful of wine

First Up

That's a very long drive alright. Wouldn't blame you for flying. But do you have to go so far south to find somewhere nice?