Getting cheapest ferry tickets?

[bmouthboyo]

I am hoping to do a road trip to Vienne this summer to visit a friend with a a few mates. I am looking to go over via eurotunnel or ferry from Dover on or around the 20th July and come back around 2 weeks later. These dates and especialyl times are flexible however.

I have found it hard finding anything under £200 for the crossing, is this normal? Am I missing a trick here on how to get the price down? The sites I have tried do not really show peal, off peak etc times so other than trying each time I cannot get an overview of when will be cheapest. Also I have not done many crossings here so not in the know about sun deals. Can anyone advise?

Thanks

[Titus A Duxass]

The only tip that I can give you is to deal directly with the ferry company.
That way you don't pay the handler and it is cheaper if you have to make a change.

[windysurfer]

http://www.ferry-to-france.co.uk

£69 return for me (over 3m and upto 6m)

[cshots]

Don't know if this helps, but I was considering going to Dunkirk instead - seemed cheaper for some dates.

http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-rout ... r-dunkirk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hope it's useful.

[sooperspur]

you certainly shouldnt be paying much more than 80 return.

like titus said book direct with the ferry company. it wont be any more expensive and changes dont usually incur any cost. some of these brokers/comparison sites charge for any alteration to the booking

you have of course hit the first weekend of the summer holidays (we leave on the 19th) but i dont think it makes a huge difference other than on peak time ferries.

ian

[bmouthboyo]

Thanks for advice guys. It would be nice to have an open return, say an off peak return but doesnt seem an option, and payign at "the gate" so to speak doesnt seem like a wise idea.

Does anyone know if prices jump up significantly as a date approaches? i.e. is it paramount to book at least 2 months prior etc or do prices remain steady near the date? It just can be a nightmare getting lads to commit and this far away could be a pain, however if the prices increase significantly it may be our only option.

[Ralf85]

Book DFDS direct via Dover - Dunkirk leaving 20 July return 3 August between £80 and £114 return for a pop top depending on which crossing you use.
Mid week may well be cheaper check it out.

Patrick

[Rogbik]

Thanks for advice guys. It would be nice to have an open return, say an off peak return but doesnt seem an option, and payign at "the gate" so to speak doesnt seem like a wise idea.

Does anyone know if prices jump up significantly as a date approaches? i.e. is it paramount to book at least 2 months prior etc or do prices remain steady near the date? It just can be a nightmare getting lads to commit and this far away could be a pain, however if the prices increase significantly it may be our only option.

Yes they do,
(example.. a day return with car and 4 booked online £25-£35... turn up on the day P&O £89..... DFDS £110)
The earlier you book your crossing, the cheaper it will be,
also play around on the booking pages with the travel times
e.g.. if you go for an 8.30am sailing it will cost you probably £30 more than if you book a 6.30am sailing.
as others have said, book direct with ferry companies, not through agents,
Remember, its olympic year this year so bookings are heavy already,
Sea France are now gone so the other 2 companys are busy (with freight as well as passenger traffic)
The days of 'cheap' ferry travel are numbered.

[c11babe]

Have done three trips over fairly recent years (Dover / Calais), we also had a trailer attached and did get out of peak ferry times but nothing too severe honest. Dont think we pair more that £70.00 return on any of the trips. We did pay a few quid extra one year as we got to Dover ealier than planned and got on an earlier boat, this also happend on a trip home but never got charged. We did go direct to ferry company for the crossing. Have a good trip

[VW T25 Feuerwehr]

We are traveling to France in July for our usual jaunt around Europe and interestingly if we book 2 day returns but only intend to use one way on the days we are traveling it works out cheaper than selecting outgoing and return dates.

So booking Dover to dunkerque 3rd to 15th = £70.00

Booking Dover to dunkerque 3rd - 4th and not using the return trip on the 4th = £25.00
Plus booking dunkerque to Dover 15th - 16th not using the return on the 16th = £31.00
Total £56.00

Saving £14.00 which can be spent on better things like beer!

Anyone else booked like this or sees a flaw in our plan?

[waltraud]

Have also been looking at this on this and was comparing the advabatges and disadvanatges of time, convenience and petrol costs alongside ferry cost.

E.g if say its around or a bit less than £100- Dover calais / dunkirk and £320- newhaven to dieppe it seems a no brainer but when you add on the extra 200 miles driving a thirsty 1.9DG as well as the extra 3.5 hours driving if ur lucky it starts to look more balanced (i think...) I hope you have a diesel!

We onec too the 'shorter' trip to St Malo and again another time to Cherbourg with not much chabge from 500 quid. TBH if th wife and kids moan massively about a longer drive then i'd prefer to pay to cut down time BUT within reason. Looks like i'll have to go diesel or gti or gas-it soon.

Viennas a great place, ther a top litle pub - restaurant called the Spazennest which we like and the flea market. My uncle Peter (Austrian) says theres a retro VW place selling old Bay Windows and VW stuf in Vienna.............good luck.

[Ralf85]

We are traveling to France in July for our usual jaunt around Europe and interestingly if we book 2 day returns but only intend to use one way on the days we are traveling it works out cheaper than selecting outgoing and return dates.

So booking Dover to dunkerque 3rd to 15th = £70.00

Booking Dover to dunkerque 3rd - 4th and not using the return trip on the 4th = £25.00
Plus booking dunkerque to Dover 15th - 16th not using the return on the 16th = £31.00
Total £56.00

Saving £14.00 which can be spent on better things like beer!

Anyone else booked like this or sees a flaw in our plan?

Yes there is a flaw. It doesn't work like that. Like you my father in law thought he would try and save a small amount of money by doing this. The ferry companies got wise to this years ago. If there is no record of you and your vehicle travelling out to France on the day (DFDS log all vehicle index numbers on CCTV so there is no point arguing about it), they have you banged to rights, so lying about it is pontless. He got charged the full single fare on the eay back. Ouch!

Patrick

[VW T25 Feuerwehr]

[/quote]
Yes there is a flaw. It doesn't work like that. Like you my father in law thought he would try and save a small amount of money by doing this. The ferry companies got wise to this years ago. If there is no record of you and your vehicle travelling out to France on the day (DFDS log all vehicle index numbers on CCTV so there is no point arguing about it), they have you banged to rights, so lying about it is pontless. He got charged the full single fare on the eay back. Ouch!

Patrick[/quote]

Fair enough that is why I asked as thought someone must have tried it!

Can't see why it would be seen as lying though as its not underhand it just playing the system like booking trains through sites that find you the best combo of ticket options.

Don't see how they could force you to pay more as nothing in the T&Cs says you HAVE to travel.....

Anyone else out their tried? I Know it's only £14 but it more the principal of it

[Ralf85]

[
Fair enough that is why I asked as thought someone must have tried it!

Can't see why it would be seen as lying though as its not underhand it just playing the system like booking trains through sites that find you the best combo of ticket options.

Don't see how they could force you to pay more as nothing in the T&Cs says you HAVE to travel.....

Anyone else out their tried? I Know it's only £14 but it more the principal of it[/quote]

It's really not like booking trains. The problem is the conditions of the ticket requires you to travel out and return on the same day - simple. The point about lying is that he tried to covince them that he had travelled out the same day but they had the evidence to prove he didn't. Not just the vehicle evidence but they copy the passports of every passenger into their system so they know whether people have travelled as well.

I am just passing on advice. You don't have to take it. What is the principal? The only ony I can think of is if you don't read the conditions you pay a higher price for your ticket. My advice - get your return ticket now. It will cost your more later. Bon voyage.

Patrick

[skysurfin09]

I'm travelling to France with some of my sons in early August, going from Portsmouth to Le Harve and I can't seem to get a single for less than £230. I'll be returning to England from Belgium or Dieppe about 10 days later. Am I missing any tricks here? I had intended to turn up and wait for the return leg is this wise? Rob

P.s I've followed some of the links suggested here. Cheapest seems to be LD Lines