Zedding Abroad for Beginners

MOT on Tuesday and then we are 'zedding' down to Biarritz in a few weeks time so I hope the car performs well. It's a long way!!
We go across to Dunkirk and stop overnight part way through France. We've done this several times when we lived in Spain, but generally going to Spain we prefer to take an overnight ferry to Bilbao or Santander and miss out driving through France. It's a pleasant break from driving , evening meal plus night's sleep and breakfast , before the rest of the journey.
 
Hi.
For a first time toe dipper or people who don't want a long trip into France my suggestion would be .
Get the early morning Euro Tunnel and stay in Montreuil Sur Mer at the Hotel Hermitage only about a 40 minutes drive .it's perfect for a base to venture out in the surrounding area.
They also do car clubs and if you ask they will open the gates to the courtyard for club reserved parking only .
Perfect for a short break. :thumbsup:
We have travelled a lot of France and later in the year we are going to Honfleur which is a long drive but well worth it.
 
Wow so many suggestions I still believe start slowly and work up and the OP needs a pleasant experience.we cram as much as we can in our trips.But as it's the first time let's make it easy.Having read all your suggestions I still maintain Cherbourg is much the best destination overnight ferry and when you land 30 mins from a Dday beach it's a peninsula full of history and easy to navigate,plenty of reasonable priced accommodation and you can choose a different trip every day that won't include 4 hours driving
 
My first experience of continental driving came last year on the forum Euro trip to the Dutch Limborit. We crossed the channel on Eurotunnel and had a comfortable run down to Slenaken in southern Holland. It was a most enjoyable experience, so much so we did it again this year.

For a first experience I'd recommend going with someone who has already done it and you'll gain some confidence from that too.
 
At the request of Billz and Grumps I've removed the last 10 or so posts and dumped them in to a separate one entitled - "why billz and grumps shouldn't go on holiday together" :whistle:
 
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Tracy Dee said:
Hi.
For a first time toe dipper or people who don't want a long trip into France my suggestion would be .
Get the early morning Euro Tunnel and stay in Montreuil Sur Mer at the Hotel Hermitage only about a 40 minutes drive .it's perfect for a base to venture out in the surrounding area.
They also do car clubs and if you ask they will open the gates to the courtyard for club reserved parking only .
Perfect for a short break. :thumbsup:
We have travelled a lot of France and later in the year we are going to Honfleur which is a long drive but well worth it.
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Sounds great if you haven't try and visit Pegasus bridge and the little cafe the same lady still runs it the day the commandos arrived she's very nice
 
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Here's my old road book out of Cherbourg almost So many good memories guiding some true idiots! Need some more of them laughs......any idiots on here need a guide that doesn't know where he's going?
 
Ok, time to wade in.

First time Euro run, keep it simple and do short trips with plenty to see. So I would recommend speaking to Brittany Ferries and see if they will do a package for you of a Gite and crossing. That way you would have a nice base to explore from and if you do not feel like driving far everyday you can just relax and enjoy local.

Normandy for a first trip is defiantly a western channel ferry crossing. Do an overnight saying and you travel when you sleep.

Above all make sure you check the latest updates on requirements for driving abroad. RAC is a good site to read.

Enjoy and have fun.
 
pgunter said:
Ok, time to wade in.

First time Euro run, keep it simple and do short trips with plenty to see. So I would recommend speaking to Brittany Ferries and see if they will do a package for you of a Gite and crossing. That way you would have a nice base to explore from and if you do not feel like driving far everyday you can just relax and enjoy local.

Normandy for a first trip is defiantly a western channel ferry crossing. Do an overnight saying and you travel when you sleep.

Above all make sure you check the latest updates on requirements for driving abroad. RAC is a good site to read.

Enjoy and have fun.
Click to expand...
Plymouth to Roscoff is about 6 hours and they do an overnight crossing.
Brittany is meant to be lovely and it has a town called Brest, which obviously my eye has been drawn to.
 
Tearoom said:
Plymouth to Roscoff is about 6 hours and they do an overnight crossing.
Brittany is meant to be lovely and it has a town called Brest, which obviously my eye has been drawn to.
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Sounds like a great idea. The Portsmouth sailings are good overnight too.
 
Tracy Dee said:
Slight confusion I think Montruel Sur Mer I meant is 40 minutes from Calais and circa similar to Le Touquet
The Hermatige Hotel is good base as said.
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Sorry I thought you were going to Hornfleur and the one I was thinking about is just a few miles from Pegasus bridge.
 
Sorry for confusion Montruel Sur Mer was a suggestion for a near first trip abroad I have stayed at the Hotel Hermitage there. ;)

Yes we are going to Honfleur this year ourselves. :)
 
Can we start afresh
1 first trip
2 visit D day beach's
3 short distance to travel over there
4 No.long distance France travel
What's needed i e insurance traveling in France what you have to take car wise
 
That looks very good @katwak , I've looked at some of the Brittany Ferry deals myself as we use them when crossing to Spain. This time we decided to go further south, but maybe Brittany next year.
 
The area around St Malo does look rather nice.
 
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