From the historic chateaux of the Loire valley to the sunshine glamour of the French Riviera, and the quaint villages of Brittany, a holiday to France never fails to delight, offering something for everyone. But how much thought do you put into getting there? We spend so long planning our holidays, yet very little time trying to make the journey as pleasant an experience as possible. For years we’ve endured the hassle of cheap flights, delays, cramped legroom, and arriving so tired sometimes that it takes another day to recover. But there is an alternative that is enjoyable and relaxing: travel by ferry.
Sailing opens up a world of possibilities – not just to our neighbours across the Channel but as a gateway to explore Europe. For a stress-free crossing, avoid the busy port of Dover and instead sail from Portsmouth, Plymouth or Poole. Brittany Ferries offers the widest choice from these ports to France.
It is also the only operator to sail to northern Spain from Ireland. Its spacious and comfortable fleet covers short hops (Poole to Cherbourg takes five hours) and more luxurious longer journeys (Plymouth to Santander takes approximately 20 hours). And, as one of the oldest and most trusted ferry companies operating in the UK, it has an intriguing history; its roots can be traced back to a group of Breton farmers who chartered a boat to sell their crops in Britain. This year it celebrates its 50th anniversary as a passenger service and is still to this day primarily owned by farming co-operatives.
Travelling by car is easy: check-in is only 60 minutes before departure and there are flexible ticket options – so if your plans change you can amend your ticket up to four hours before departure.
There are no baggage restrictions, meaning you can pack everything you need for a fun-packed holiday, which is especially handy if you have camping equipment or kids who don’t want to leave their toys behind.
You can even take your own camper van or motorhome. Or your pet – according to Brittany Ferries, more than 75,000 pets made the cross-Channel journey in 2022.
One of the biggest advantages of travelling by ferry is how child-friendly it is compared with taking a cheap flight. Deborah Castle recently took the journey with her husband Nick and two children, Edith, 13, and Kit, 11. “For me, travelling is always the worst bit of a holiday, I just want to get there, so the only way is to treat the minute we drive on to the ferry as the beginning of our holiday.”
For this reason Castle booked an ensuite cabin both ways – on the outward overnight voyage and then during the day on the return. All cabins are air-conditioned, with bed linen, towels and toiletries provided. On certain routes, cabins rival cruise ships in terms of comfort and design, with large windows, private balconies and complimentary extras such as continental breakfasts.
“Booking a cabin meant we had a base and somewhere to freshen up, plus the kids could stretch out and read on their bunks if they wanted to,” she says. There was a lot to keep the kids occupied. Along with soft-play areas and a deck with deckchairs, most routes have children’s entertainment such as magic and game shows, not forgetting a kids’ Ferrynauts app for the iPad. Free wifi is available on all routes (limited to one hour).
She couldn’t fault the service. “At one point I needed to change something on my booking and was dreading it as I’ve had bad experiences with cheap airlines. But I have to say, their customer service was fantastic.”
Depending on your ferry and route, day and evening entertainment ranges from cocktail pianists and cabaret singers to DJ sets and tribute acts. You can even catch up on the latest film releases in the on-board cinema (certain ships only). If you book the Pont-Aven ferry to Spain, take advantage of its swimming pool, beauty spa and nail bar.
You can also treat yourself at the gift shop. Since the UK left the EU, shopping on ferries has ramped up a notch and duty-free shopping is now back on the cards with some pretty decent discounts on wines and spirits, designer perfumes and skincare.
The food doesn’t disappoint either. From fish and chips to fine French dining, most of the ingredients are sourced locally in Brittany. Wines are handpicked by sommeliers for their quality and price and are also available to buy onboard. And don’t disembark without sampling one of Brittany Ferries’ best-kept secrets: exceptional cakes and desserts made by its team of in-house pâtissiers based in Roscoff.
Research has shown that ferries are less carbon-intensive than planes, particularly in comparison with short-haul flights. But Brittany Ferries is going one step further by ploughing millions of pounds into making its ships even more sustainable. In March this year, for example, it launched its third ship powered by cleaner liquefied natural gas, so that passengers can enjoy a smoother, quieter and greener ride.
Of course, the best part about travelling by ferry is the journey’s end, because nothing beats the thrill of catching a glimpse of the first sliver of land and anticipating the adventures that lie ahead of you. “It was so easy,” says Castle. “We left Portsmouth as the sun was setting and woke up the next day refreshed and raring to go. It was the best-ever start to a holiday.”
Drive on, put your feet up and relax on the way to your European break this summer. To find out more about hassle-free holidays by ferry, click here.