FERRY GUIDE

Link from here directly to the ferry web sites

Brittany Ferries	P&O	Condor Ferries
Hoverspeed	Sea France

            To assist your planning we've included a ferry guide, the details here are all approximate, your ferry provider or booking agent will give full details of actual departure and arrival times.  Please note that all times are LOCAL, which means that when you depart France you must ensure you are using French time. Your ferry provider will also expect you to arrive in excess of 3/4 hour from departure.

WEATHER

Generally the climate in Brittany is moderate with temperatures above those experienced in the UK especially during the summer months.

Life is usually unhurried, families and children well catered for.  Abundant superb restaurants, activities and places of interest.

OTHER METHODS OF TRANSPORT

HINTS AND TIPS

Please accept that these hints and tips are provided to the best of our knowledge, as with emergency procedures on flights and ferry crossings - you may already know exactly what to do but something in here may jog a memory and if these help you then we're content.  Always thoroughly check the validity of this content as omissions and errors cannot be accepted by us, these are provided only as a guide.

  DRIVING IN FRANCE

You will notice straight away that the fabulous dual carriageways and motorways are almost empty at times.  Beware of the French drivers though – they have a reputation of being intimidatingly fast but this only really applies to big cities.

SOME USEFUL HINTS AND TIPS

• Dual carriageway/motorway – signs in the middle show future destinations, signs on the right show THE NEXT EXIT  

• Remember that the traffic comes from the opposite direction that you are used to, check, check and check again and don't be concerned that you appear to be slow it is in your safety interests.

• Smaller routes "C" classification mainly: Give way to the right.  ‘priorite a droite’; unless there are signs to the contrary cars from the right have the right of way, even if they are joining a major road from a side street, this means a lot of caution is needed at unmarked junctions!  The priorite a droite is over-ridden on main roads marked with ‘passage protégé’ sign, a yellow diamond.

• Traffic laws; speed limits in towns and villages start and end with the place name.

• Parking restrictions are indicated by signs and yellow markings on the kerb.

 MANDATORY: You must carry:

•  Full and valid UK driving license

•  Car registration document (V5). If the vehicle is leased/rented and not owned then the leasing company must supply you with a ‘Vehicle on Hire’ certificate (form VE103)

• MOT certificate

• Current valid UK tax disc

• Motor Insurance: By law all UK motor insurance policies automatically provide third party cover in all EU countries (suggest you check before-hand to make sure).  An upgrade with your insurers to a fully comprehensive cover and recovery is possible telephone your insurance provider to enquire.

•  Warning triangle

• Spare light bulb set

• GB sticker

• Headlight converters

PERSONAL MEDICAL INSURANCE

If you are involved in an accident medical treatment can be expensive.  Personal medical insurance can be arranged with your Broker prior to travel.

EU member states operate a reciprocal healthcare scheme.  You can get access to emergency medical care FREE OF CHARGE on production of Form E111 (available through UK Post Offices)

CHECK LIST FOR THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO BRING/BUY

ESSENTIALS

• Torch (Especially useful if arriving/departing in the dark!)

• Car documents

• Driving license

• Road map

• Passport/s

• E111

• Ferry tickets!

• French phrasebook 

• Accommodation details or welcome pack

Depending on your accommodation facilities you may need to consider:

• Towels

• Personal toiletries

• Toilet rolls

• Bed Linen – Top sheet, bottom sheet, pillow cases

• ‘T’ towels

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING AFTER 7pm and staying in self-catering THEN WE ADVISE THAT YOU STOP EN-ROUTE AT A LARGE SERVICE STATION AND PURCHASE, FOR EXAMPLE, MILK & BUTTER (You cannot bring these or any meat products into France from the UK (Petfood – you cannot bring any pet food containing beef)) BREAD, COFFEE, TEA, SUGAR, CEREALS (You could bring these with you).

Many, if not all, French supermarkets are not open on Sundays and close between the hours of 12 and 2pm daily.

CHILDREN

We suggest you also check the facilities for children depending on age, for example, are there cots, potties, high chairs??  Check with your accommodation provider.  This may help you to reduce your luggage.

PETS

Thankfully the UK relinquished the quarantine procedures applied to re-entry from EU countries. For full actual and current details you MUST check with DEFRA and your local vet well in advance.

  To be comfortable with your pets entry/exit this may help:

• Check your accommodation accepts pets

• Thoroughly follow DEFRA guidelines - Contact: DEFRA

• Find a local vet to administer DEFRA requirements (Many speak perfect English - it is not as much of a problem as you first think! The DEFRA web site includes a "Vetinaire" telephone/fax directory and hints and tips) The administration usually includes checking the micro-chip, vaccinating for ticks and worms 24 hours before returning to the UK.

• Ensure you bring ALL of the paperwork and certificates

• Some ports will scan your pets chip when you check in by car/plane and some will require you to take your pet to their reception area - it is worth phoning your travel provider and asking beforehand. Example:  Brittany Ferries at Portsmouth will scan and check paperwork at the car check in to go to France, Brittany Ferries Cherbourg on the return journey will ask you to check your pet into the terminal before you proceed to car check in.

• Please ensure your pet is happy, has adequate air, food and water - it is an unusual environment for them.  Try to keep the sea crossing as short as possible remembering that you must leave your pet at least 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after the published crossing time so a 2.25 hour trip can be 3.25hrs plus travel time to and from the port.

• For ferry crossings in excess of 2.5hours ferry providers will allow you to visit your pet during the crossing - ask a representative on site or enquire at INFORMATION within the ferry.

We do hope this guide has offered some help to you and we wish you a very pleasant and enjoyable stay in Brittany.

Information presented here is a guide only, we will not be responsible for any errors, omissions or inaccuracy.