A useful article in the Telegraph extolling the virtues of St Malo (35 Ile-et-Villaine, Brittany) as a short-stay destination.
I fully agree - this medieval walled port town is too good to miss, which is what most of us do when we head off the overnight ferry to make our way south. Unlike the industrial wastelands which greet your arrival in Calais, Le Havre and Boulogne, St Malo looks impressive and welcoming - which it is in true Breton style.
It also is the destination for the most civilised cross-channel crossing - leaving Portsmouth mid-evening in time for a leisurely and decent meal in the restaurant, maybe a nightcap in the bar followed by a reasonable nights sleep before arriving at 8.30am (French time, 7.30am UK).- not a pre-dawn arrival.
The Telegraph also lauds the virtues of using the ferry (or train) on environmental grounds - as this would save over 96% of the CO2 emissions compared with flying that distance.
Ryanair can fly a couple from London to DInard (14km from St Malo) for £224 return, whereas the Brittany Ferries crossing starting from Portsmouth including overnight cabin is £143 (both for late October travel).
To be fair the other channel ports - Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe, Le Havre (for Rouen), Caen, Cherbourg and Roscoff - all have their attractions as a short-stay destination - for shopping and dining and a real taste of France, but St Malo and Roscoff are probably the best - as long as you can face the long sea crossing!
For more on St Malo see www.saint-malo-tourisme.com/
Also www.brittanyferries.co.uk and www.ryanair.com
For other options for travel to France see www.frenchduck.co.uk
