Ferries

[eucalyptus marley]

Am looking to book a ferry from England to mainland Europe this summer, probably from Kent to France or Belgium. I find the various ferry websites a bit of a minefield and want to get hold of the best deal. Can anyone recommend a site or a company? Never booked a ferry before, so don't know what to expect to pay.

Many thanks in advance for your comments!

[horns]

http://www.aferry.co.uk/ lets you search all the operators from one site. Personally I prefer the tunnel - its quicker and you get to stay in the van.

[rugchucker]

Cant do tunnels, my missus can swim but shes rubbish at digging

[horizontal kipper]

Norfolk line

[horns]

Norfolk line used to be good, but every time I've got a quote off them lately its been higher than most of the others. Might be that they charge a load extra for high tops, though.

[Ian Hulley]

You'll need to know when and how tall to get a sensible answer. If it's a tintop at stupid o'clock it's cheap. Hightop and 7am>10pm and it's dearer.

We've booked with LD Lines (Speed Ferries) 2.7mtr high, Dover>Boulogne, 7th Aug>24th Aug, 7am out 7am back, £82.50 return.

In the past we've used Norfolkline and they were great and cheap BUT had whacked their prices up this year

Ian

[T'Onion]

ferrycheap.com

[horns]

I'd second that - crossing at unsociable times is well worth it for cheapness. We've taken to getting a late night one, then having a kip in Calais before driving off refreshed in the morning.

[Red Westie]

Dito....Norfolk line is dirt cheap as long as yours is not a high top and you opt for night time crossings.
From as little as £20 each way in August.
High top and during daylight hours is a different story.

Martin

[richieadkins]

We just booked norfolk line dover to dunkirk for >2.4 m van going at 8 coming back at 10 in the morning in july for £81-50 return.

Richie

[horns]

Interesting - so you can still get good deals from them with a high top? Might have to put them back on the shortlist...

[si macc]

I second norfolk line, good boats and cheap! The food is pretty reasonably priced too.

Was looking the other day for lateish time and got quoted £50 return for the first two weeks in july

Also had a look at ferries from portsmouth to santander and it was £960!!!

[Ralf85]

Definitely Norfolk line Dover to Dunkirk. Best boats and food and normally cheapest by far, provided that you book early. I booked my camper + 4 people back in December to travel in August. £48 return. Patrick

[roj62]

Ive no idea if this is true or not but We were speaking to a couple camping this weekend and they said they buy ferry tickets from ebay and get them dead cheap - I didn't think tickets were transferrable and i'd guess most tickets were for a normal car but you never know

[horns]

You don't even get a ticket these days - you just make a booking and they recognise you from your number plate when you turn up, usually. So I'd say that was nonsense.