Ferry to Spain

[Wondering Star]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

If you’re a member of the CandMC Club or CandC Club I believe you can get a worthwhile discount booking through them.

 

[kurienp]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

Unfortunately no simple answer. Try both sites together. The offers vary and change regularly. I keep two different browser windows (sometimes even three) open and search both in parallel and pick.

As GGD says - use CandMC Club or CandC Club membership (though, with the new CandMC website, the ship may sail while you wait in the queue for the website #headbang )

 

[Ch1pbutty]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

Book direct as its normally easier to amend the booking

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Unfortunately no simple answer. Try both sites together. The offers vary and change regularly. I keep two different browser windows (sometimes even three) open and search both in parallel and pick.

As GGD says - use CandMC Club or CandC Club membership (though, with the new CandMC website, the ship may sail while you wait in the queue for the website #headbang )

‘though, with the new CandMC website, the ship may sail while you wait in the queue for the website’

So true, it’s dreadful !

 

[Ozzy Pete]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

If you can find someone with a Brittany Ferries membership they may let you get the 10% guest discount. That’s only for the vehicle and passengers not the cabin.

 

[HowieDog]

Book direct as its normally easier to amend the booking

CAMC discount was effectively wiped out when we made a couple of changes. We will book direct next time.

 

[Ting Tong]

AA also offer up to 7% if you are a member and book via their website

Brittany Ferries discount for Members | Up to 7% off | AA Smart Benefits

Members get up to 7% discount at Brittany Ferries with Smart Benefits, included with AA membership.

www.theaa.com

 

[Wondering Star]

CAMC discount was effectively wiped out when we made a couple of changes. We will book direct next time.

Thanks for that, thought as much.
Have looked at other companies in the past offering so called discounts only to find specific conditions.
Will book direct.
Thanks for all of your replies, appreciated.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Thanks for that, thought as much.
Have looked at other companies in the past offering so called discounts only to find specific conditions.
Will book direct.
Thanks for all of your replies, appreciated.

If you do book with BF direct carefully think about which option you take. We were glad we took the top option because with Covid we were able to move the holiday on twice . And the top option you can change your booking up to a couple of hours of sailing. I know people take out travel insurance for the unseen eventually but it’s better to be safe than sorry when paying high prices especially on the Spain crossing.

 

[Wondering Star]

Yes, thanks Pete.
I was considering this and taking the flexible options as it's quite an expense.
Had similar trip arranged for the first summer of lock downnload and it took me an age to get a refund from Brittany Ferries.

 

[Parkinjm]

I booked with Direct Ferries and got the same discount as with the C&C club. Plus changes to booking are easy and cheap (£10).

 

[Anthony1]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

I had a problem with Ferries Direct a couple of years ago. I wouldn't use them again. They booked a ferry for me from Kristiansand to Hirshals. When I got to check I was told the van was a few mm to high and had to go on standby, then pay an extra £50 as a high vehicle, to get on the ferry. Ferries Direct knew what vehicle I had. I would book direct or via one of the aforementioned clubs.

 

[Cashy62]

About to arrange ferry crossing to Spain for next summer, told to book early to get the best price?
Is it best to book direct or use a site like ferries direct.
Many thanks

Brittany Ferries do a scheme called Club Voyage. Its a membership arrangement but gives you big discount on multiple trips. If you go to france or spain more than once in a year, it is well worth the membership fee. Visit the Brittany Ferries website for details. There is a one off joining fee, but there after the annual cost is cheap.

 

[Azteccamper]

Yes, thanks Pete.
I was considering this and taking the flexible options as it's quite an expense.
Had similar trip arranged for the first summer of lock downnload and it took me an age to get a refund from Brittany Ferries.

Sign up for newsletters with BF. When we booked this year they upgraded us to the flexi-ticket free of charge! Just got to keep an eye on their website though.

 

[B J G]

If not too late you can book on Brittany Ferries as a friend of a member for 10% discount.
F93981 Grant

If you check the option prices it isn't worth the premium rate compared to charge if you did make a change unless a last minute issue but tra el insurance might come into play then.

 

[ClanTimmins]

Agree booking direct is best and select the top option for maximum flexibility. As well as allowing free amendments should your new booking be cheaper you will be refunded in cash but if you have the other option you will be refunded in credit vouchers. You also pay a smaller deposit. I would say book now. We have booked the Spain crossing for next summer and already some of the cabin options have sold out.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Agree booking direct is best and select the top option for maximum flexibility. As well as allowing free amendments should your new booking be cheaper you will be refunded in cash but if you have the other option you will be refunded in credit vouchers. You also pay a smaller deposit. I would say book now. We have booked the Spain crossing for next summer and already some of the cabin options have sold out.

If you fancy a commodore cabin even though quite expensive they sell out within a few days. We managed to get ours this time because so many people cancelled because of Covid. They are like gold dust.

 

[Lalala]

If not too late you can book on Brittany Ferries as a friend of a member for 10% discount.
F93981 Grant

If you check the option prices it isn't worth the premium rate compared to charge if you did make a change unless a last minute issue but tra el insurance might come into play then.

can I use this code?

 

[Lalala]

Sorry to hijack the thread. And I know this is completely weather dependant ... but how choppy is the ferry to Spain, generally? We usually go Dover / Calais but getting sick of the 6 hour queues ( we have to go in school holidays) and with the increase in price of diesel and inflation generally, the ferry to Spain is looking more affordable. I'm just nervous about having a hellish journey on the Atlantic !

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Sorry to hijack the thread. And I know this is completely weather dependant ... but how choppy is the ferry to Spain, generally? We usually go Dover / Calais but getting sick of the 6 hour queues ( we have to go in school holidays) and with the increase in price of diesel and inflation generally, the ferry to Spain is looking more affordable. I'm just nervous about having a hellish journey on the Atlantic !

It can be beautiful and calm all the way or it can be horrendously rough. Nothing you can do about the weather. In all the years we have been going this route it’s probably been 70% calm and 30% rough.

 

[Barbara]

Sorry to hijack the thread. And I know this is completely weather dependant ... but how choppy is the ferry to Spain, generally? We usually go Dover / Calais but getting sick of the 6 hour queues ( we have to go in school holidays) and with the increase in price of diesel and inflation generally, the ferry to Spain is looking more affordable. I'm just nervous about having a hellish journey on the Atlantic !

As Ozzy Pete said it can be rough or calm unable to predict. However if you find the right tablets and stay in the middle of the ship or your room it is bearable. If I have a rough crossing I say never again but as soon as I get home I book again as driving though France is the only other option.

Your need to remember that the crossing is 30 hours and a few hours hanging around while the ship is loading. It seems to take forever but at least you are at the port and can see the ship. It can take a while to unload. Have you considered the channel tunnel?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

I don’t have a problem with the roughest of weather at sea but my wife needs the full set of sea sickness remedies including wrist bands tablets and a lie down for the whole of the journey.

 

[GranddadBeattie]

Done the spain crossing twice, first was flat calm but the ferry broke down en route and took 3 days rather than 30 hours. The second was so rough we weren't allowed out of the cabins. Food was brought to us and it wasn't possible even to shower as needed both hands to hold on.
The joy of travel, its the adventures that make it all worthwhile

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[Wondering Star]

If not too late you can book on Brittany Ferries as a friend of a member for 10% discount.
F93981 Grant

If you check the option prices it isn't worth the premium rate compared to charge if you did make a change unless a last minute issue but tra el insurance might come into play then.

Thanks for the code, appreciate it.
Planning on booking tomorrow.