hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
With the pound rallying against the euro, a motoring holiday on the Continent or in Ireland is a tempting prospect for many this year. The big question is: do you fly and rent, or take your own car on a ferry? Peter Ellegard looks at the merits of both motoring holiday in Europe has long been part of the English psyche, conjuring up visions of classic roadsters hugging the sweeping curves of the Cote d’Azur or touring through verdant Alpine valleys. For those venturing across the Channel, or indeed to Ireland or Scandinavia, there has traditionally only been one way to go: pack your car to the brim and take it on a ferry, driving to your destination and stopping off for an overnight break on long journeys. The advent of low-cost airlines and cheap flights to Europe’s cities and beach resorts means that it can now be just as cheap, if not cheaper, to fly direct to your final
A
destination and rent a car while you are there. Countering that is the hassle factor of flying and security checks as well as the limited amount of luggage allowed on aircraft, particularly those of budget carriers. Each has its advantages and its downsides, and the final choice will depend on a number of factors. Here is how they weigh up against each other:
driving your own car Whether you are heading off to a French campsite or gite, a log cabin in Scandinavia, B&Bs in Ireland, a parador hotel in Spain or a holiday park in Holland,
n Ship ahoy – packed and ready to sail away
taking your own car gives you lots of flexibility. One of the biggest advantages is that you can take as much luggage as you like, as there are no restrictions on ferries. Filled up the boot? No problem; just rent or buy a roofbox to give you more space. You can also put a cycle rack on the back of your car so that the whole family can explore the countryside by bike once at the holiday destination. Then there’s the convenience of setting off from your home with everything packed in the car and no need to unpack it until you reach the other end. You can stop at a supermarket, winery or shopping mall and grab bargains to bring back, without the inconven-
Brittany Ferries
n Driving in France
ience of not being allowed liquids as on aircraft. Once on the ferry, you have the freedom to roam the ship and get fresh air instead of being shoehorned into cramped airline seats. The ferry journey itself is also part of the holiday, especially on longer routes such as to Denmark, Normandy, Brittany and Northern Spain. Ferries today are a far cry from the old days of poor onboard facilities and transport café-style food. Now they are havens of comfort, with ensuite cabins, cinemas, night clubs, spas, gyms, bars and shows on longer routes. Most ferries offer a choice of dining, comfortable seating including reclining seats on some services, shopping and play areas. Some boast club lounges to rival those of airports, yet with check-in times from just 30 minutes and no lengthy security queues. Unlike cheap flights where changes can cost more than the original ticket, check-in and travel policies are flexible. Frequent services on short-sea routes give extra peace of mind, knowing that there is another sailing soon after if you miss your intended one. Those in a hurry can book priority loading to ensure they are first on and first off. High-speed catamaran ferries cut crossing times on some routes. If you can’t bear to be parted from your four-legged friends, many ferry operators welcome Fido or Rover if you have got them pet passports under the Government’s Pet Travel Scheme. Flying is not always the cheapest travel option, either. Booking ferry travel early means you can get good-value fares, with travel from as little as £1 per mile between the UK and France for a family of four with a car. National Ferry Fortnight each year brings special advance-booking promotions and last-minute offers. Several ferry companies, among them Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries, offer ferry-inclusive holidays, with a range of accommodation close to or within easy driving range of ferry ports. And if the thought of crossing the English Channel by sea makes you go green at the gills, you can always opt for the Eurotunnel option, with journeys taking just 35 minutes through the Channel Tunnel on its car-carrying trains.
Brittany Ferries
Driven by you “The ferry journey is also part of the holiday”
n Watch out for offers during National Ferry Fortnight
Discover Ferries
28 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
Winter 2011/2012
Winter 2011/12
tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
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