On our to do list during the planned road trip in the South of France is to try and watch a mountain stage of this years Tour de France.

Tour de France Route
We had hoped to travel at the end of July, but because the tour starts in Monaco this year and follows an anti-clockwise route around France, it means that the mountain stages in the Pyrenees occur fairly early on, with the big mountain stages on the 7th, 8th and 9th of July. Another option the penultimate stage on the 25th of July which finishes on the famous Mont Ventoux summit, in the Provence region of southern France. Nicknamed the “Giant of Provence” because it is the largest region or “The Bald Mountain” because top of the mountain is bare limestone without vegetation or trees.

Didi, the Tour de France Devil
Dieter “Didi” Senft (born 1952 in Reichenwalde, Germany) is known as the Tour de France devil or El Diablo and since 1993, he has been seen in the Tour’s many stages wearing his red devil costume.

Tour de France Dates 2009

…go to the main Self Drive Holiday in France page.

Picture: REUTERS

Note: This post is part of a series on our Self Drive Family Holiday in France.

Ferry crossings to France

There are two reasons why we decided on the ferry crossing to France rather than flying, the first is the cost, if we were to fly, there would be 6 air tickets to purchase and then we would still have to hire a car in France. The other is just to try something different, I haven’t been on a car ferry to France before and so it sounds like it could be a fun part of the journey rather than something you just want to get over with. With the cost of cheap flights becoming more expensive, and increased competition amongst Ferry companies mean that cheap ferries to France are a real alternative to the no-frills airlines especially as they offer you the added advantage of door-to-door access, greater independence and flexibility giving you the freedom to explore France as well as the rest of Europe.

Dover to Calais

There are plenty of ferry crossing to France from the UK, the most used route is the 90 minute journey from Dover to Calais with a large choice of companies and crossings throughout the day. Probably the best known France ferry companis is P&O ferries, below is an example of what you can expect to pay:

Example Booking

• The prices range between £25 and £55 depending on time of travel in either direction.
• The cost is also the same for any amount of passengers up to 9 passengers.

Depart 6am: £25 (up to 9 people and a car)
Depart 8:30am: £55 (up to 9 people and a car)

So on average you are looking at about £80 to £100 for the return journey = approx £20 per person (based on 6 people)

Dover to Dunkirk

Another common route is from Dover to Dunkirk. Dunkirk is just north of Calais and is more convenient than Calais for many destinations in France as well as Belgium and Holland as well as providing shorter drive times to Germany, Switzerland. It also has the benefit of being a much quieter port meaning that you are on your way from the ferry port more quickly and the roads are a lot quieter although I think the crossing time is a little longer at about 2 hours.

Norfolkline is the only ferry company sailing to Dunkerque, France and an example of what you can expect to pay is below:

Example Booking
Outward journey - The Dover to Dunkirk Ferry

Friday 3 July 2009
6am depart: £24
8am: £45
6pm: £29
11:59pm: £17.99

Saturday 4 July 2009
6am depart: £39
8am: £45
6pm: £37

Return Journey – The Dunkirk to Dover Ferry

Sunday 19 July 2009
6am: £32
8am: £42
10am: £35
2pm: £47
8pm: £47
10pm: £39

Monday 20 July 2009
6am: £25
8am: £29
10am: £32
2pm: £42
8pm: £37
10pm: £25

Prices above are for up to 4 passengers and a vehicle any extra passengers are £15 each for return tickets (add £30 to the total for 6 people)

So it will cost around £80 to £100 for the return journey (about £20 per person based on 6 people)

What if you live in the North?
From the North of Britain you don’t have to drive all the way down south to get on a ferry at Dover. Ferries from Newcastle to Holland, may be a better option even if you are travelling to France as it can not only save you many miles of driving put a few pounds as well. From Newcastle to Dover is 347 miles, take the ferry from Newcastle to Holland and it is only 175 miles before you reach the French border.
Ferries from Newcastle to Holland cost from £129 (one-way) based on 2 people and a car. For more details take a look at the DFDS Seaways Website

Ferry to Spain

Another option worth looking at if you are travelling to Southern France, is to catch the Ferry to Spain (Portsmouth to Bilbao) and then drive into France.

Go back to the main Self Drive Family Holiday in France page.

South of France Holiday – Beaches, Bicycles & Canoes

For something a little different to our traditional summer holiday (relaxing on one of the beaches in Europe) a group of us thought it might be fun to explore the south of France by driving there from the UK using a ferry crossing to get to mainland Europe.

The aim is to not only to enjoy some of the best beaches on the French Riviera, but also to time it so that we can take in a mountain stage of the world’s most famous bicycle race, the Tour de France and perhaps do a little canoeing and camping in the Ardeche region of France.

As there will be 6 of us travelling together, I thought that I would write about the planning of the trip as well as a report after we get back in the hope that some of the information may be of use to others as I feel this could also make for a fantastic family holiday in France.

So the basic plan is (click on the links for more details):

• Hire a Car to Carry 6 People
• Get to France by Ferry or Ferry to Spain and then Drive into France
• Travel to the south of France by car
• Watch a mountain Stage of the Tour de France
• Enjoy some Canoeing in the Ardeche
• Enjoy a day or two on one of the best French beaches

Our accommodation in France will consist of:

• Camping
• Bed & Breakfasts