There are some good early booking deals on offer for crossing the Channel to France this summer - and beware that the ferry companies are starting to copy budget airlines in pricing - so you can expect to pay considerably more for your crossing the later you leave it to book.
Although several operators offer their own loyalty schemes, it is always worth checking the available tarrifs on one of the price comparison sites - such as Cheap4 Ferries - they do claim to save you money with every operator across the channel, including EuroTunnel.
Brittany Ferries and others offer "Propery Owners Club" discounts, and recently SpeedFerries (Dover - Boulogne) offered some super prices if you were prepared to buy 10 crossings in advance.
Inevitably western Channel crossings from Portsmouth, Poole, Weymouth and Plymouth will cost significantly more - but it may be worth it depending on your departure point and holiday destination - and will certainly offer greater comfort and relaxation - and save money and time in some cases. Arriving in Caen (Ouistreham, 14 Calvados, Normandy) and Le Havre is a more attractive option now that the motorway network can get you south and west easily and quickly and avoiding Paris!! Even from Dover and Boulogne getting to Normandy and Brittany is now much easier.
For more info on cross channel ferry crossings see www.frenchduck.co.uk
Be sure to take a decent (and up-to-date) map with you - see our recommended Michelin Maps of France as the growth of the autoroute network in France may offer you new itineraries which were not previously available - or cause marital friction if the navigator is working from a 15-year old map!!
And don't forget that many Satellite Navigation systems have European maps available - the old Sat Nav can make a huge difference to a long journey on unfamiliar routes, especially as French road signs seldom display the road number. - See our list of Sat Navs for France
