Advice on Normandy & Brittany driving holiday
Jun 25th, 2013, 02:26 PM
#22
rhiana - I'm not aware of a website that compares ferry prices, sadly. we tend to use Brittany Ferries as they go from our nearest port ie Plymouth. for Poole and possibly Portsmouth there is also Condor I believe.
as for places to stay, depends how long you've got. We really liked Dinan [to the west] and Rouen [to the East]. if you wanted to go further afield, Paimpol is a very lively fishing port and makes a very good base for exploring the northern coast of Brittany, and Quimper - on the south coast of Brittany, makes a very base for exploring that region.
in a couple of week's time we're off to the very far south east of Brittany - Vannes. I'll let you know what i think about that when I get back.
as for places to stay, depends how long you've got. We really liked Dinan [to the west] and Rouen [to the East]. if you wanted to go further afield, Paimpol is a very lively fishing port and makes a very good base for exploring the northern coast of Brittany, and Quimper - on the south coast of Brittany, makes a very base for exploring that region.
in a couple of week's time we're off to the very far south east of Brittany - Vannes. I'll let you know what i think about that when I get back.
Jun 25th, 2013, 04:14 PM
#23
We chose Dinan and Pont-Aven for our two bases a couple of years ago. Trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-movements.cfm
Jun 27th, 2013, 01:02 PM
#25
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That would be great annhig. I've looked at so many places now I've confused myself. I like the idea of Bayeaux as our 'middle' destination and Dinan has been mentioned by a few so maybe that would be our last stay. Anyone know what Dieppe is like? Would that be an option for our first 2 nights or not?
Jun 27th, 2013, 01:12 PM
#26
Anyone know what Dieppe is like? Would that be an option for our first 2 nights or not?>>
depends where you're starting from, Rhian. if you're following the suggestion to use the tunnel/a short ferry hop one way, and to take one of the longer ferries back, that would work very well, I think.
we did stay in Dieppe once but honestly it was such a long time ago, I really don't remember much about it. there are loads of restaurants, so for one night you should be fine.
depends where you're starting from, Rhian. if you're following the suggestion to use the tunnel/a short ferry hop one way, and to take one of the longer ferries back, that would work very well, I think.
we did stay in Dieppe once but honestly it was such a long time ago, I really don't remember much about it. there are loads of restaurants, so for one night you should be fine.
Jun 27th, 2013, 01:49 PM
#27
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Yes I think we will be going via Dover to Calais now. The other routes are so expensive and we have a friend who lives in Reading so could stop over with her for a night on the way to Dover. I've just been having a look and we're thinking now maybe Dieppe for 2 nights, Bayeux for 3 nights and Dinan for 2 nights. How does that sound?
Jun 27th, 2013, 01:57 PM
#28
it sounds very nice, rhiana. they are all nice towns with plenty to look at both in the towns and nearby. Also there are not that far apart so you won't be chasing around too much.
how are you getting back to the UK? the overnight ferry is nice coming back as you get longer to sleep due to the I hour time difference. going the other way, the 23.30 ferry from Plymouth which we often get gets into Roscoff at 7am which is awful as in fact that's 6 am so they wake you after only 5 hours sleep [if you're lucky].
on our trip we're doing the night ferry going out but it leaves at 20.45 so even after a decent meal on board, we should still get 6-7 hours shut-eye. coming back it's the afternoon ferry so I'll sit myself in front of the cricket on the TV. [hopefully].
how are you getting back to the UK? the overnight ferry is nice coming back as you get longer to sleep due to the I hour time difference. going the other way, the 23.30 ferry from Plymouth which we often get gets into Roscoff at 7am which is awful as in fact that's 6 am so they wake you after only 5 hours sleep [if you're lucky].
on our trip we're doing the night ferry going out but it leaves at 20.45 so even after a decent meal on board, we should still get 6-7 hours shut-eye. coming back it's the afternoon ferry so I'll sit myself in front of the cricket on the TV. [hopefully].
Jun 27th, 2013, 02:13 PM
#29
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The night ferry sounds good as I do like my sleep!! Where would I find details of hat? As I'm a teacher I can only travel during the holidays so the prices are so ridiculously expensive. I'm still only seeing prices in excess if £200 for ferry trips other than Dover - Calais! 
Jun 27th, 2013, 02:29 PM
#30
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I'll just add this in regards to your bases. There's nothing wrong with them but what do you want to see and do nearby each base? I always advise to first decide what you're going to see and do on your vacation and then choose a base, or bases, that are central to those things you want to see and do. So have you decided what you will you see/do near Dieppe, Bayeux and Dinan? I'm not saying you need an itinerary but having an idea of the choices available nearby to each base will give you options to chose from once you arrive. It's been a while since I've been there and my memory is a bit foggy but I don't think I'd give Dieppe more than one night. I remember it as being OK but really someplace I'd only do an overnight. I'd take a night away from Dieppe and add it to Dinan. Actually, I'd probably pass right by Dieppe and stay in Etretat instead. I'd probably also take a night away from Bayeux and add it to Dinan but that's just me. Others would probably do it different from me. Of course if you already know what you want to see and do then you can disregard my opinions completely. 
Jun 27th, 2013, 09:27 PM
#31
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<<<I>I'm still only seeing prices in excess if £200 for ferry trips other than Dover - Calais!</I>>>
I don't think you will do better than that for the longer crossings, especially at this stage.
Remember, that if you do the overnight you are saving a night's hotel cost BUT you should spring for the room (i.e. beds) on the ship.
I don't think you will do better than that for the longer crossings, especially at this stage.
Remember, that if you do the overnight you are saving a night's hotel cost BUT you should spring for the room (i.e. beds) on the ship.
Jun 28th, 2013, 01:08 AM
#32
Dieppe is a crappy big port with inbuilt industrial landscaping. I would no more stay here than Calais. Nearby you have Fecamp (a nice little harbour)or Rouen or even the brutalist concrete Le Havre and the sublime Honfleur or the slightly concreted over beauty of Harfleur. I would recommend any of them over Dieppe.
Jun 28th, 2013, 01:49 AM
#33
I had a look at condor ferries but the best I could find was St Malo to Weymouth for €200:
http://www.condorbooking.co.uk/ExtRe...ateway.aspx?S3
However, I did find fares for Brittany Ferries from Chebourg to Poole for £139 on 6th August, and £159 on 13th Aug.
not sure what your preferred dates are but these might suit!
one snag is that they get in at about 10pm, so you'd probably want to stay overnight before setting off for home.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fe...oole-cherbourg
i also found fares on the Caen-Portsmouth Brittany ferry for £159 on 13th Aug, with cabins for £99.
hope this helps!
if you wanted to come back via Calais, you could do Honfleur/Rouen - Dinan - Bayeaux - depending on ferry times.
You will still have to spend a night somewhere though - and I'd rather spend in on board or in France, personally.
http://www.condorbooking.co.uk/ExtRe...ateway.aspx?S3
However, I did find fares for Brittany Ferries from Chebourg to Poole for £139 on 6th August, and £159 on 13th Aug.
not sure what your preferred dates are but these might suit!
one snag is that they get in at about 10pm, so you'd probably want to stay overnight before setting off for home.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fe...oole-cherbourg
i also found fares on the Caen-Portsmouth Brittany ferry for £159 on 13th Aug, with cabins for £99.
hope this helps!
if you wanted to come back via Calais, you could do Honfleur/Rouen - Dinan - Bayeaux - depending on ferry times.
You will still have to spend a night somewhere though - and I'd rather spend in on board or in France, personally.
Jun 28th, 2013, 02:41 AM
#34
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Just south of Dieppe is the little seaside village of Pourville. There is a really good restaurant here, though I can't remember the name.
Further south on the coast road is St Valery-en-Caux, which is a bit of a sailing mecca. Lots of yachts but the town is pretty enough.
Continuing down the coast is Veulettes-sur-Mer where I stayed for a couple of nights. Faded grandeur sums it up. You can imagine that a century ago - and indeed can see from the photos displayed in the Hotel des Bains - it was a popular seaside place for the well-off. I quite liked it. We stayed there at the end of our trip, so drove from there to Calais and back to Gloucester in one day. We got home early evening, and also had time for a big shop at a hypermarket. Here's a tip for you - to keep all the cheeses and chilled stuff cool I bought a large frozen fish - the cheapest I could find, and used it as an icepack in the coolbag. It worked perfectly and was only just starting to defrost as we got home 5 hours later. The cat was very happy for a few days lol!
Further south down the coast road you'd get to Fecamp and Etretat.
If you google the names of these places a few snapshot images come up so you can get a quick idea of what the towns look like.
Further south on the coast road is St Valery-en-Caux, which is a bit of a sailing mecca. Lots of yachts but the town is pretty enough.
Continuing down the coast is Veulettes-sur-Mer where I stayed for a couple of nights. Faded grandeur sums it up. You can imagine that a century ago - and indeed can see from the photos displayed in the Hotel des Bains - it was a popular seaside place for the well-off. I quite liked it. We stayed there at the end of our trip, so drove from there to Calais and back to Gloucester in one day. We got home early evening, and also had time for a big shop at a hypermarket. Here's a tip for you - to keep all the cheeses and chilled stuff cool I bought a large frozen fish - the cheapest I could find, and used it as an icepack in the coolbag. It worked perfectly and was only just starting to defrost as we got home 5 hours later. The cat was very happy for a few days lol!
Further south down the coast road you'd get to Fecamp and Etretat.
If you google the names of these places a few snapshot images come up so you can get a quick idea of what the towns look like.
Jun 28th, 2013, 03:09 AM
#35
Here's a tip for you - to keep all the cheeses and chilled stuff cool I bought a large frozen fish - the cheapest I could find, and used it as an icepack in the coolbag. >>
Julia, that's a great idea. we may copy it on our next trip.
lucky cat!
Julia, that's a great idea. we may copy it on our next trip.
lucky cat!
Jun 28th, 2013, 12:34 PM
#39
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Just looked Rouen and seems like a nice place. Thanks for the heads up on Dieppe! Like the idea of Rouen, Dinan then back to Bayeux... Would mean less if a trip back to Calais. Just wondering whether its easy to get into Belgium from France? Thinking now of maybe adding another couple if days and going to Ypres
Jun 28th, 2013, 12:41 PM
#40
"whether its easy to get into Belgium from France"?
no barbed wire any more
the upper border is the old rust belt (around lille) which is less attractive. Ieper is very easy to get to but so is Bruges or Ghent which are really nice.
no barbed wire any more
the upper border is the old rust belt (around lille) which is less attractive. Ieper is very easy to get to but so is Bruges or Ghent which are really nice.
