SP26 - Back from France?

For the summer holiday we gave already booked the outward ferry with Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander. 

In addition, I have booked a couple of nights in campsite along the coast from the port. 

Only for a couple of days to get over the long ferry across the Bay of Biscay.

There's still a lot of planning ahead on where to go. Stay in Northern Spain and hoover up the sights there. Maybe cross into Portugal.

I know I should embrace the real "van lifer" experience and decide where to go from one day to the next. "Leaving only footprints" etc.

But I am one of life's planners.

We always have to look ahead to sort out Reggie's worming pill. We have used two vets' practices regularly before. This year though Reggie will need his rabies jab updated. It's due in June and so we need it done before returning to the UK.  

I will probably look at the vet in Denderleeuw again. We had him booked in this year, but the terrible weather, several "named" storms, leading to high winds and rain, led us to change our route up the west side of France rather than via Belgium.

All this would be easier if the UK hadn't refused to stay in the movement of animals scheme. Another Brexit bonus. Thanks Boris?

That brings us to the return from France. 

We only need a one-way ticket from France to the UK. I was hoping to use the vouchers from Tesco Clubcard. But it looks as though you can't use the vouchers to part pay on crossings from Europe to UK. I currently have £80 in vouchers that are worth £160 against the ferry fare.

That is a blow but we can use them another time. The vouchers last for a couple of years after issue.

The fares, including early-bird style discounts come out at:

• Le Shuttle - £210
• P&O - £166.58
• DFDS - £164.00 - no pet lounge
• Irish Ferries - £141.95 - have loyalty points

The loyalty points when used brought the fare down to £135.80. The savings are quite large. We have been Irish before and although it's not the Savoy or Ritz of travel, it's a good service.  I hope we are on the Oscar Wilde again.

I'm always amazed on different Facebook forums when people claim the Shuttle is cheaper than ferries. It never has been for longer than day trips. The £30 return after 3pm and back before midnight fare disappeared long before COVID.