Club Arnage

Just recieved an email from BF inviting me to book for next year sailings.

For a laugh I'd thought I'd see what price I could get booking this early with a guess that LM will be the w/e of the 14/15th.

Portsmouth/Caen out Tuesday night, back Monday afternoon, car, one person, no cabin just a recliner on the night boat out.

Result: £420   :o :o :o :o

So shocked you posted twice Barry?!!  ;D

I was lying on the floor with shock and clicked the quote button instead of modify.

They're 'avin a larrfff.  Lots of them.  For that money, one could do Dover-Calais or Boulogne 4 times, which in our context equates to return ferries to the 24 hrs, the Classic, the Moto GP and something else in France, all for the cost of one Pompey-Caen trip.  Hmmm, now there's a thought for trying to convince the missus of the economic sense of doing all of those in 2008..... ;D

MG Mark

Decided to try and give myself a heart attack and check the price for taking the motorbike, same routes/times/recliner one rider only.


£218    :o :o  Call an ambulance. ;)

Are you some kind of masochist Barry??!!  ::)

On the subject of ferries, when do the June sailings become available at pando?

After camping in the wind swept tundra wastes of Silverstone, probably yes.

Good weekend though :)

I have booked with Speedferries who now offer a 'flex' ticket at a slight increase to the normal cost but with the option to change the date at no extra cost. £64 for a standard car and up to 5 passengers.

1 van, 2 people, cabin out, recliners back

Out wednesday night Pompey - Caen, back Monday evening Cherbourg - Poole......









£655!!!!!!!!!!

You can stuff it up your arse for nothing and f*ck off while you're doing it Brittany Ferries. Bonjour LD Lines.

So for a caravan as well, we must be looking at a grand (Ok I know I deserve it)  I'll stick it on a barge and get it towed up the Sarthe - must be cheaper

For a car and 4 with trailer, out Tuesday overnight Portsmouth -Caen, back Monday evening £699. That does include cabins. For a bit more I could probably buy the boat. A week either side of the 14th/15th June the prices are considerably lower. It's a shame as I'm only 10 minutes from the ferry port at Portsmouth

I await LD lines and Transmanche to finalise their pricing!!

well it looks like I wont be goingB/F poole/Cherbourg as per usual............what is the general opinion on alternatives L/D lines where do they go from?? price?
 :o

Well of course it's much father to travel to Dover or the Eurotunnel.    So it might cost more in Fuel.  Lets say £200 more.
You can stay in a good Hotel for €100 so say thats another £200. £45 each way on the tunnel. So call it £500 all in.

You save £155.


I'm not going to be doing the Pommey Cean crossing till they get realistic.   £200 with a cabin on the Tues night and
return any crossing Monday (May an extra £50 if I need a cabin on the way back) I'll rethink. 

t.

The cost has gone up by £42 ( up fom £577 to £619) compared with last year for the Tue night out- return mon night  . Thats with 4x4, caravan, and 4 of us and 1 cabin ew.  Now it over £150 a head it is too dear. There must be a cheaper way.  Is LM now  confirmed for the 14 / 15 June?

I did not think that the boats on these servces this year were as full as previous years. I asumed that it was because of the the price hike this year compared with last. If the price increase puts more of us off this route the boats will be even less full. I suspect this now the result of the the demise of the the P& O withdrawal from the route to Le harve giving Brittany a monopoly (except for LD lines but they ony operate once a day at somwhat inconvenient  times for us who travel from up north on the return journey)

Sorry, I seem to be missing something here.
Speedferries Dover to Boulogne 55 minutes, normal car and up to five passengers, between £22-£27 each way, Total.
That pays for a lot of extra petrol.

Hi BG,

Why not try the Newhaven-Dieppe run.

Shitfire (sorry Sixfire) with 2 up, no cabin was £40 each way.

Downside was leaving times, 0700 each way.

Chris

LD lines run from Pompey to Le Havre, but (at the moment) only one trip each direction per day (they also sail Newhaven - Le Havre and Newhaven - Dieppe).  Leave Pompey at 11.00pm for overnighter, and leave Le Havre 5.00pm, arriving at Pompey at 9.30pm. Boat is a bit tatty, but it has got everything (bar, food etc), but there are a limited number of cabins. Prices...I came back last year with them for £130 (single) with car + large caravan.  They have no prices listed yet for next year, but I will certainly be using them.

Del

Agree with that.

I used LD lines this year (for practise and race weekend) because BF was twice the price.

Sailing times could be restrcitive for some, but worked fine for me.

As Del says, the boat is scruffy round the edges, but other than that, I have no complaints.

I plan to use them again next year.

Used them for the last two years. I'm waiting for them to set their pricing for next year as at present there are no prices beyond the end of december on their website. I suspect we will use them or LD lines

i used Ld lines this year upon reccomendation of a friend.
They were fine, boat is ok, served beer and food, had seats to sleep on and cost me £200 return for car and 2 people.
I will pop into their office and see if I can get any ideas of prices for next year. The staff seemed ok when I had to ammend some bits on my booking so may be able to help with this... will keep you all posted.

Brittany Ferries sailing same time was over double the cost!

I used LD lines this year too.

MG Midget
Two people (second one un-named until a couple of weeks before sailing)
Club Class Armchairs (which we didnt use 'cos we were chatting to lord PP and Andy going and Lord PP coming back)

£140 Tuesday to Tuesday

For a several hours shorter journey and easier driving (No M25 hurrah!) even beats the legendary Speedferries from Brum. No long drag across the northern coast of France and drawn out rites of passage through Rouen.

And reasonable bar prices too

Make mine "LD Lines" next year too.

 ;)

bill

We rent our property in Fance out through Brittany Ferries and part of the deal is we gat a 'free' return crossing with them - never used it yet as the 'free' crossing always works out about twice the cost of going from dover/folkestone with any operator ....

We had sleeper seats on LD Lines.  Cheap but very stange, as they are rows of large reclining seats, with a fold out "tray" in front to put your feet on.  Comfortable, but after a few bevvies in the bar, you find that all the lights are out, and you've just woken up 4 people trying to get it all to work.

Only complaint was the £29 charge to amend the booking.

One point please,

Why do we have to moan about BF every year. Yes they are expensive! But so are Bentleys!

The larger the car the better deal you seem to get. We take the motorhome and although it cost more than other routes we save on the fuel.

If you put a 40' trailer on the back they might pay you to travel with them Rick!

Point ref fuel costs is valid in the case of motor homes


Point I was making Rick is that these are the cheap fares with an early booking.
The price now for the bike is the same as I was quoted a week before the 2007 event!
That's a increase of about 22% on what I was quoted this time  last year.
Similar increase on the car price.

Monopoly of the Western channel= large increases in fares, which I think we predicted last year, whilst having a moan :)

Bunch of Pirates.

Hi Del cheers for that will certainly be booking L/D for next year if some kind sole could pm me as soon as we have a firm date and booking lines are open?

Hello Chris,long time no see! How you doing?
 Myself and the barrel o monkeys have also tired of the highwaymen of the high seas and will be on LD lines next summer. I'm checking the site daily for next years timetable and will give you a shout as soon as it pops up. What day are you planning to go over?

For £350 you can buy 5 return trips on Eurotunnel.  That's quali, the race, the Classic and two booze cruises into the bargain.

Rick

Just to point out BF's perceived blatant profiteering, the prices are 50% higher than the same crossing a week either side of LM weekend (even though the date has not been "officially" announced)

I agree that you have to take into account the cost of extra fuel (I live 6 miles from the ferry terminal) and the extra driving time, but the prices have risen dramatically since P&O withdrew their services to Le Havre and Cherbourg.

For the last couple of years I have found Transmanche to offer a more reasonably priced crossing even taking into account the extra fuel and driving time.

Don't forget that fuel cost/saving is also relative to where in the UK you reside. For us (in Kent) the run from Calais/Boulogne uses the same fuel as getting to the south coast to catch the Brittany Ferries service (and personally, I prefer the A16 to the M25 any day), so the calculation is entirely based on crossing cost - BF are just not competitive even for the 'free' crossings we get with them. I'm sure things are different for others, this is just our scenario.

Rick, same here.

I've spent over £6000 in the kast 3 years on ferries for that firm, so its time to go elswhere or even drive to dover.

I need to do 5 trips in the next year, where can you find those prices Deb?

I seem to remember an exposee a while ago, about how Eurotunnel was most expensive when booked from England, and varied for booking online by tourists in other countries (like the USA, Aus etc), so it may well be that those are lower prices available by booking to go France-England-France, rather than England-France-England?

MG Mark

go to Eurotunnel.com and click on Frequent Travellers - it's all there.  My pricing maybe out by a few quid as that is what I paid at the end of last year.  And no, it is not cheaper from France - in fact it costs slightly more in Euros.  I'll try to find the right link.
Edit : yeah, sorry it's £390 now, see
http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcPassengers/ukcProductsServices/ukcFrequentTravellers/

Thankyou Deb!

Key is off peak, just read the small print about supplements, will have to sit down with a calculator and see , but it still looks pretty good.

The "off-peak" bit is quite do-able, depending of course upon where you live.  It simply means that you have to leave the UK after lunch, or France before lunch (well, 14.00).  I can make it to the tunnel from here pretty easily if I leave at 8 in the morning.

Just priced the 5 trips up seperately, and the frequent traveller ticket works out £100 MORE.

Reason is the cost of the day trip booze cruises. Unfortunatly due to work and kids we have to travel on the trains that carry the supplements, so a day trip works out at £118, booking a one off day trip, same time trains is £49.

Thanks for the pointer to them Deb, once we are retired and the kids have b*ggered off we may be able to make use of them.

I was wrong, Sunday night out  and Monday night back with caravan and 2 Berth is only £685.  You're being robbed.

And please stay off LDL, you'll put the prices up

You can use Tesco Club Card points to book Tunnel tickets, as they are worth three times face value when used to book tickets a £5 Voucher become £15 and therefore represents a healthy saving.

I think you can also use them with other operators as well.

Hi bud, yep all fine here been maxed out at work, 2 weeks hols in france and a total refurb of the kitchen...phew back to normal now look forward to seeing you at the new travel location lol :D

I think its a Dover thing now. Speed Ferries maybe or even transmanche.

Too rite Perdu. May have a few others in the convoy next year as my mate may bring his mini winnie (or his 308) hopefully both, 308 on trailer, as Brethren tech support vehicle. Still no news on the Zil but my man has his driver in Moscow on the case. looks like there may be some in the outlying states where a gloc talks louder than $.
Getting her back will cost somewhat more than all the rest are moaning about for a trip to France..... fancy a paid trip to Russia to drive an unknown ex embassy car god knows how many miles across to finland.... through unknown border controls... shitty petrol stations.. etc. Ha Ha.. may even ask the BBC to sponsor me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, that pizza place in  southsea is great. Could be a CA meeting point prior to the ferry.
Workin in pompey again so can sort it if needed.

PP

It looks like LD will have 2008 dates up very soon,  and they are running some special offers for those travelling by car,  could be as little as £50 each way for car + 2, and £10 per extra passenger.  But spaces will be limited.... and it will not apply to cabins, but club seat upgrades will be available. 

Looks like LD 2008 pricing should be available online later today....

LD Lines booking now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

£360 for 3.5 tonne Luton Van with 3 passengers, cabin over and seats back. Nice  8)

Just checked Shittany Ferries and they won't take a van of that size but the largest van they will do (6m long x 3m high) from Pompey to Caen on the same days and same cabins as LD would cost £576 which is 60% more than LD Lines.

f**k*ng Pirates

Just tried it - seems their database has got f*cked up.  Won't admit to any sailings back on Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed.

I'll leave it for a few hours and try again

Del

I'm getting "No sailings available" - have you booked the lot

Are you trying to take a caravan you weirdo?

I get no listings for caravans but still listings for cars and vans. Maybe vehicles of that length have sold out already! It is only one boat and thousands of Le Mansters wanting cheaper passage.

I can't get a booking for just a car either.

Still, if its full of nutters, I shall go Dover Calais, with the other caravans.

LD Lines seems to be working for cars now.  Can I confirm that you're all assuming the weekend of the 14/15 June?

Well if it's not I'm facing a rather dull weekend in France!

I can get car listings as well.

It's working for me now as well.

Looks like LDlines have jumped on the 'Fleece the Le Mans Traffic' bandwagon.  Car + caravan on the Monday returning Le H - Pompey is £190, on the tuesday it's £107    :'( :'( :'(

Del

Yeah, but how much would BF charge you?

LD have now cottoned on to the pricing increase for the Lm week.

Dick Turpin has worked a 50 quid increase for the moptorbike for the same week before or after, £81 or LM week £133.
Not as bad as the Britney Pirates who want £218 now, couple of weeks ago was £190. Is that taking the urine - yes!

I am now debating the share a lift (wth some one who would put up with me) question as I am now without work. (I want to go to LM - I want to go to LM)
Also considering working off a street corner to pay for the ferry up front so as to secure a place. Any offers of business welcome, Any offers of a lift more than welcome and I will fold the business plans straight away.

Andy me ol mucca. You are welcome to join with us. Wednesday to Monday. We could even pick you up on the way. You would need to be prepared for the higher stazndards of HA though

Andy, you'll find that the nearest public conveniences to any docks will be much more fruitful than a street corner.
Good luck...
H

Spoken like a real pro BigH!!

F

How do you think he raised so much money on the bike.........

So the sore bottom was nothing to do with the saddle then? :-[

So much for the saving with LD Lines! I've decided to go Portsmouth-St.Malo with Brittany Ferries. Well worth the extra £15 over the equivalent dates with LD on the Portsmouth-Le Havre route.

Just got a price from LD for the classic weekend- £175 with cabin out and seats back. Problem is the return sailing time, she sails at 5pm from Le Havre which is a little early. Having never sailed from Le H, I need to know what time would I have to leave the circuit to get checked in? Monday crossing is out of question as I have to be back under the thumb- I mean work for Monday.

Dr S

In order to answer that, it would be useful to know what your travelling in/on  :-\

It's a good road - motorway/dual carriageway all the way.  Turn left at the end of the A28 onto the A13, then turn right onto the A131 and over the Pont de Tancarville.  200k on a sunday evening, shouldn't take 2 hours once north of LM.  Can't be more precise as I'm usually dragging the 'van when using that route, and I've got an absolute max of 65 -70mph.

Del

Pont de Tancaville with a caravan - what bliss, you've made my day.

2 hours could be tight, as its 260km.  At least if you left around 1-2pm, the town should be empty.  Beware of the bit south of the Pont, I've gone through the charming little village of Pont d'Audemer, which isn't bypassed.  Pont de Normanie may be quicker  Look it up on Mappy or Michelin.

Lorry
I took the distance from the mileage (kilometerage??) chart in my French road atlas, and it says 213 Km.  Also I said 2 hours once you clear LM.

Pon't d'Audemer is bypassed if you go right to the end of the A28 and then take the A13, and if you look at the map, it's quite a lot further to take the 'new' bridge, spectacular as it is.  Depends if you want the scenic or the fast route, and I get the impression that Dr S wants the fast route to get back under the thumb to return to the bosom of his family quicker.

Del

Mappy.com, to Arnage give 261KM, subject to a small detour on the motorways to the west of LM, otherwise the route described. And 2 hours 38 minutes @61 mph.

I turn off the N138 at Bernay to get lost in the villages.  It just seems to be a straight line, and may be 200km (but 3 hours with the 'van and a coffee)

Transmanche have finally got their prices for 2008 on their website. £235 for a return with 4 persons, trailer and a cabin each way.

Guess who I've booked with (again)

I have booked my group out Newhaven Dieppe and back Le Havre Portsmouth times virtually the same and less than half the price of Brittany Ferries.

Have just checked LD lines out on the wed nite return on the 16 june £106  ?????????????? is that right? :o

checked again with LD web site had gone up to£168???????????????

So have just booked with B/F out on the 12 june back 15 june £205 its so easy for me as poole is 10 mins for me  ::)