Book Early and Online for Lowest Prices – whether it's via the operator's own or a booking site, almost all tickets cost more if booked by phone or at the ferry port ticket office than they do if booked online, the typical difference being between £10 and £20. Because fares increase the more fully booked a ferry is, booking early is likely to be the cheapest option.
Estimate Travel Costs Before You Leave – If your budget is not unlimited, it's worth doing a realistic calculation of the fuel, road toll and incidental costs of your road journey. The ViaMichelin route planner finds routes within Europe. It also estimates the cost of your fuel and factors in the motorway tolls. Provided with more details (eg type of vehicle, fuel type etc) the answer can be even more accurate.
Motorhome Travellers – having paid quite a bit extra on most ferries for transportation of your kitchen sink etc, the bonus is that in France a overnight parking can be free. There are many 'Aires de Camping Car' in France with facilities varying from just space to park and a tap, to hook-ups, tank emptying and more. When 'on the road', breaking a motorway journey at service areas where trucks park seems to be completely acceptable (I've done it on numerous occasions with no problem, and the same applies in Spain). The unmanned 'picnic area-and-loo' parking areas may seem appealing as they are more peaceful. However, parked with other travellers nearby is safer.
Avoid a Big Mobile Phone Bill – Using a standard UK-registered mobile in Europe is a completely seamless experience, but very expensive. Your correspondent has been stung by this on a number of occasions. But no more! Get yourself a sim-free phone (or unlock a locked one), and a roaming sim from United Mobile. This 'pay as you go' service is 25p per minute within Europe, with no charge to receive calls or surcharge for your callers.
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The Ferry Site
Photos of ferries in Northern Europe. There's something on most of the routes.
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