 One of life's trickiest yet most enjoyable decisions is booking a holiday. And as a motorcaravanner you'll have a lot more options than most, with the chance to travel far and wide during any one trip. Getting there should be half the fun, but it can
sometimes prove awkward: once you've decided where you're going, how you're going to get there and how much it costs is another matter altogether.
We've put together a guide to all UK ferry routes, with sample prices for the three main classes of motorhome (pages 128/129). First it will serve as a
quick-reference guide to routes you may be considering, to let you see if there's a viable alternative. If you live in the south-west of England and you're going to the south of France, why not travel Plymouth-Roscoff instead of Dover-Calais? Second, it offers a good
comparative guide to prices so you can choose which is the most economic option. You'll also find a
summary of additional useful information, including fare options, for particular crossings.
How do I get the cheapest fare?
The simple answer is to book early; the earlier you book, the cheaper your fare is likely to be. Most ferry companies switched to a flexible pricing system, similar to that operated by most airlines, two or three years ago. Before this, fixed prices were published in brochures every year. Under the new system, prices change with availability, so if you're trying
to book one of the last few places on a peak season,
peak-time crossing, you'll pay through the nose. This system can occasionally lead to reduced prices on late bookings when a ferry company is keen to sell tickets on a crossing with few passengers. But it's unwise to bank on deals like this turning up.
When you travel makes a big difference. The most expensive crossings are those in peak season (July and August). Weekend sailings are also at a premium, with outward crossings on Fridays and Saturdays, and return crossings on Saturdays and Sundays, being the most expensive. Time, too, plays a part; the more inconvenient or unsociable the hour of travel, the cheaper the fare. Most companies also offer discounts if you return within five, ten or 14 days, whereas a flexible return fare is charged at a premium.
Should I book through an agent?
Yes. All three motorcaravanners' clubs offer discounts to members, as do a variety of booking services. Most 'all-in' booking services, such as Alan Rogers or Select Site Reservations will offer ferry discounts, but only
as part of a package including site reservations or
low-season touring vouchers. The two main clubs (The Caravan Club, and The Camping and Caravanning Club) should be your first port of call since they have bulk buying power and can negotiate some hefty discounts. But it's also worth ringing around because many
booking agents will try to better the clubs on price.
Most booking agents receive commission from ferry companies for each sale they make, which they then pass on to the customer as a saving. Some claim to reduce their commission to a minimum in order to match a competitor's price, in the hope of gaining repeat business.
What about the internet?
In general, people prefer to negotiate over the phone; either to haggle for the best deals or so that clubs and agents can do the work for us, looking for the cheapest fare for our requirements. But some ferry companies offer small discounts for booking online, and there are several online booking agents as well. So, if you want the best deal, you should see what's available on the net as well as making calls. Booking online won't save you time, though, even with broadband.
How we compiled our data
We requested fares for three 2003-model motorhomes: an Auto-Sleeper Trident high-top van conversion (length 4.8m, height 2.72m); a Swift Kon-Tiki
615 coachbuilt (length 6.64m, height 2.95m); and
a tag-axle A-class Hymermobil S-820 (length 8.33m, height 3.15m).
Our travelling times were as follows: departing 10 June (morning if possible) and returning 26 June (also morning). These would have been adhered to as closely as possible with less regular crossings.
In our table, overleaf, we've noted the type of craft, length and frequency of crossing and the facilities available. For sailings to the Western Isles of Scotland, we've listed five popular crossings, and the Hopscotch route which taking in three islands, to give you a
general idea of price (there were too many to include
a complete listing but ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne publishes all the prices in its brochure).
We also asked ferry companies to explain their pricing structures and supply us with important passenger information. Their replies are reproduced on Page 2. |
