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

Unless U have a lot of space and weight capacity, that is an awful lot of glass taking up space. 5 litre bibs from L'Eclerc (vieux carrion) are usually 12/14. but i if each....Cab sauv, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc alll VDP D'oc. Auchan and Carrefour have their own brands. Much less space and weight! Spread your risk by only buying one of each although U can open reds, taste and judge (same with warm white if U want). even if 1 in 5 is a bummer , it still works out at 60/70 euro for 20 litres. I have been bibbing for 30+ years...solid reliable everyday wine.

I’ve been travelling to France for years with dogs.

Brittany Ferries - Cork to Roscoff (Pont Avon). Dogs must be in a kennel, access is available anytime, must be muzzled between the car and the kennel but that’s only a lift ride so very quick. Good enough exercise area. I’d advise booking a large kennel regardless of the size of the dog. The small ones are up quite high so lifting a sometimes frightened and dog from shoulder height isn’t easy. I think a dog friendly cabin can be booked on this ship on the UK/Spain route but not on the Ireland route - not sure why that is.

Irish Ferries direct to France. I only traveled on the Oscar Wilde and the kennels were in a cramped room on the car deck and very noisy with a tiny exercise area. Access was restricted to pre organised times. I haven’t travelled on the WB Yeats so can’t comment.

I travel often in Winter so would so would take the landbridge route. Rosslare to either Pembroke or Fishguard with Stena or IF, I always leave the dog in the car. From the UK the choices are endless. The Tunnel is the best by far I think as it’s such a short trip but it’s a long long drive from the Welsh coast. On my last trip in Dec 2019 I went from Poole to - I think - Cherbourg. That was with Brittany Ferries and was an overnight sailing and had a dog friendly cabin - brilliant.

I haven’t traveled since pre COVID so I’m not sure what the options are with all the new ferry crossings that have come on stream from Ireland to France since then.

Also on a slightly different theme if you do take your pet and need any info on location of vets near the French ferry ports let me know.

Thats great info thanks, from looking theres pet friendly rooms with Brittany available to book to both france and spain from ireland. that looks like it might be the best option and possibly the least stressful of the dog.

I've booked our 2022 holidays. Brittany Ferries Cork to Roscoff (wouldn't wait for Irish Ferries to open their bookings), an apartment in Royan for a week (first time not using a campsite), a night at Puy du Fou(not open for booking yet) and 4 days at a French Centre Parcs.

Just a note to all, Centre Parcs France are really good value if you book early! They also allow a large additional discount if one of the party is under 13 or over 55, just tick a little box...

May be of interest for anyone that was caught up in the Fiasco involving the WB Yeates in 2018.

Can I please double-check, is that sworn declaration purely a paper based thing, i.e. I don't need to upload it or also complete it online like the Irish one. I'm pretty sure it is only paper based but I just want to double check. Thanks

Yep its paper based. Traveled out on Pont Aven last Saturday and at Cork they checked the vaccination certs and sworn statements. On srrival early Sunday in Roscoff the customs guy barely glanced at them and just did the usual passport check. No delay at all.

Incidentally the Covid passport has worked well (so far anyway 😁). Majority of bars and restaurants scanning them even for outside dining in place.

Apologies first of all for how it'll look like I'm ignoring the "use search function" advice in the thread title. I haven't been on Boards much since the revamp, and I can't find the "search this thread" button, if it still exists at all. And a general search for "Vendee" gives on results from this thread and instead just brings up two short older ones, with the most recent one dating from 2015.

It's a short and straightforward question - can anybody recommend a campsite in the Vendee region? We've always stayed in Normandy/Brittany before, but want to head a bit further south next year.

It's just myself, my wife, and a boy who'll be eight years old by then. No particular requirements other than a pool and ideally a kids' club, which probably most if not all sites will have anyway.

TIA.

You won’t go wrong with La Garangeoire. A lovely, safe site for kids. Plenty to do with kids clubs, pool, they have their own equestrian centre, pony treks, lakes, fishing, soccer. A lot of people return here year after year, says it all really.

Hi all,

Could anyone recommend a site near Normandy or Brittany. First time going to France and I’ll have two kids (4 & 3).

Are all sites open for 2022 booking, or should I wait awhile?

thanks

That's quite a big catchment area TBF. We planned on going to Les Ormes this year (and last year) but didn't happen with COVID. Eurocamp have a couple of sites in Normandy IIRC & Les Ormes in Brittany is around two hours from Cherbourg

Les Ormes might suit your children's ages as there are theme parks, a zoo and a reptile park within an hour of the site, plus the site has a large dome covered pool complex with slides

Further south into Brittany there are lots of sites around Carnac & surrounding area but your looking at more of a three hour drive

Folks, really dumb question here but here we go. How does one get onto Mont St Michel? I know there's a bridge and a tidal causeway, but is the causeway bit paved or is it slippery rocks and mud?

We're hoping to go next year with our two year old. I know the island isn't buggy friendly so we'd probably take a carrier for when she's tired of walking, but I'd be worried about slipping on the causeway if it's a bad surface

In my opinion, you see the best of Mont St Michel from a distance. The island itself has little to offer beyond crowded alleys and tourist shops selling souvenirs at inflated prices.

Admire the setting and skyline from the shore and move on.

We had a very good guide when we visited (20 years ago) who had in the past had Buzz Aldrin in one of his tours.

Buzz (allegedly) said it was one of the few places he had always wanted to visit.

The tour guide finished off by telling the group that if we visit only one other place after Mont St Michel, it should be the Skelligs.

(He was unaware there were any Irish in his mostly American group)

I contacted DFDS to enquire about passengers for summer 2022.

They said no decision has been made yet, but the way it was phrased it sounded like it is something they might be thinking of doing.

Also does anyone know why are Irish Ferries leaving it so long before announcing their schedules for next summer ?

I mean Brittany and Stena both have their schedules out but I would like to try the WB as I travelled on the Oscar previously and it was nice. I also travelled on the Pont Aven too, but I would like to try the WB to see what it's like.

We are planning to travel to outside Carnac next June/July time. I would expect Irish Ferries will probably cost about 12-1400 euro for the return trip ?