Travel arrangements Southern Posse Austria 04

[Blade]

As time is moving on we thought it would be a good idea to start to plan our journey.

As Sven points out the ferries will be busy.

Suggestions for routes and hotel stops will be appreciated.

We plan to leave on Saturday 29th May doing 200 miles per day.

I just looked a prices Hoverspeed out on 29th back 7th £233

Eurotunnel out 29th back 7th £90 special friend discount. Any ideas on how we can get a better ferry price?

Anyone have same plans?

Our crossing details are :

Hoverspeed Seacat Dover to Calais 08:00 Saturday 29th May 04

Hoverspeed Seacat Calais to Dover 15:30 Monday 7th June 04

Dan & Jill

[Blade]

Good news
just spoke to Hoverspeed (tel 0870 2408070) if you quote May Apex when you book the price is £89 one adult, one bike. What a difference !!!!!

We are booked outgoing 0800hrs 29/5/04 Seacat
Return 1530hrs 7/6/04 ( Monday) local time Seacat


WooooHooooooooooo get booking


Dan & Jill

[Muppet]

Dan,

I thnk we'll be going on the Saturday too, but probably getting a ferry over from Portsmouth to Le Havre, and then going across France that way. Could arrange to meet up somewhere perhaps, depending on the route you/we take. Will probably then take a slow ride back aiming to get back here on Sunday, again va Le Havre - Portsmouth.

If anyone wants to come that way, let me know, I've not looked into the ferry booking just yet, but we have a few options from this area. St Malo, Cherbourg, Le Havre, so can be quite flexible.

[CatchUp]

I would rather leave on the Saturday & get back on the Saturday/ early Sunday as I don't want to use too much annual leave & upset SWMBO.

Clive, I'd rather avoid the 300 mile trip to/from Dover on top of the rest of the trip, so, I'll probably follow your route. Can you post again once you've looked into the ferry booking.

Cheers

Steve

[funkybill]

I'm planning an early crossing preferably by ferry on Saturday, possibly stopping in Dover on the Friday night. Then motorway blast to Reims, and then cross-country via Nancy to a stop-over near Freiburg - nice roads over the Vosges and about 380 miles. Sunday, some more nice roads across the Black Forest, down to Lake Constanz and into Austria - about 250 miles.

Hadn't got as far as planning the return, as I might be riding across to a mates house in Provence if I can persuade SWMBO of the profound wisdom of this plan.........

[CatchUp]

Depending on ferry times it may be possible for the Dover & Potsmouth posse's to meet in the Reims area. Approx 160 miles from Calais & 190 from Le Havre.

Steve

[Muppet]

Ok, just done a few ferry costings to see how they compare.


Porstmouth - Le Havre:

The price of your tickets will be 178.00GBP
Booking Details
Outward Route: Portsmouth To Le Havre
Scheduled Date/Time: Sat 29 May 2004 at 0830
Scheduled Arrival: Sat 29 May 2004 at 1500
Outward Ship: Pride of Portsmouth (Cruiseferry)
Return Route: Le Havre To Portsmouth
Scheduled Date/Time: Sun 06 June 2004 at 1630
Scheduled Arrival: Sun 06 June 2004 at 2100
Return Ship: Pride of Portsmouth (Cruiseferry)
Passengers: 2 Adults
Method of Travel: Motorcycle

Outward Accommodation: (None)
Return Accommodation: (None)
Cost: 178.00GBP
Fare Type: BROCHURE:EBO2 10DY 2004/5



Portsmouth - Cherbourg (Fast Ferry)

The price of your tickets will be 202.00GBP

Booking Details
Outward Route: Portsmouth To Cherbourg
Scheduled Date/Time: Sat 29 May 2004 at 0745
Scheduled Arrival: Sat 29 May 2004 at 1130
Outward Ship: Portsmouth Express (Fastcraft)
Return Route: Cherbourg To Portsmouth
Scheduled Date/Time: Sun 06 June 2004 at 1230
Scheduled Arrival: Sun 06 June 2004 at 1415
Return Ship: Portsmouth Express (Fastcraft)
Passengers: 2 Adults
Method of Travel: Motorcycle

Outward Accommodation: 2 Of Standard Seat

Return Accommodation: 2 Of Standard Seat

Cost: 202.00GBP
Fare Type: BROCHURE:EBO2 10DY 2004/5


Portsmouth - Caen (Fast)
The price of your tickets will be 202.00GBP

Booking Details
Outward Route: Portsmouth To Caen
Scheduled Date/Time: Sat 29 May 2004 at 0645
Scheduled Arrival: Sat 29 May 2004 at 1110
Outward Ship: CAEN EXPRESS
Return Route: Caen To Portsmouth
Scheduled Date/Time: Sun 06 June 2004 at 1200
Scheduled Arrival: Sun 06 June 2004 at 1425
Return Ship: CAEN EXPRESS
Passengers: 2 Adults
Method of Travel: Motorcycle

Outward Accommodation: 2 Of Standard Seat

Return Accommodation: 2 Of Standard Seat

Cost: 202.00GBP
Fare Type: BROCHURE:EBO2 10DY 2004/5





Although the Le Havre crossing is slightly cheaper, and slightly more convenient, I'm inclined to go on the Caen route as it's better timings. Slighlty earlier, faster crossing so an extra 4 hours to travel on the Saturday.

I'll leave it till the new year before booking, might still consider going Dover Calais if it's a good enough bargain, but I doubt it.

[CatchUp]

Clive,

Which ferry company did you check out, I can't seem to find the Caen Express.

Cheers

Steve

[Muppet]

Sorry Steve, should have said, that's P&O. Looked at Brittany Ferries, and they're more expensive and way slower. I know it's an early start on the Satruday, so if you want to come up to me and stay here the night you're more than welcome. It's about half an hour from here to Portsmouth.

I may go ahead and book those times before Xmas (Caen route) as it's D-Day week.

Been playing around with routes etc, and here's what I've some up with so far. Staying in Rouen the first night isn't far from Caen I know, but it's a nice place to visit, so worth spending a few hours there in the daytime. And I've never been to Nancy, so that's worth a look I think. Don't know about the return route yet, may go a bit south to stay at Annecy, which is beautiful. I'm avoiding motorways wherever possible.

[CatchUp]

The ferry price is the same, i.e. £202, for a single passenger, more than twice the cost of the Dover crossing.

Unfortunately I was unable to open your map as I'm still using 2001. I don't know France at all so don't mind where we go, an overnight stop on Friday would be welcome, thanks.

Just looked on the map, Roen's about 50 miles from Le Harve, and then Nancy seems to be abot halfway to Kappl approx 350 miles.

I'm not sure yet which ferry to take, I'll give it a bit more thought over the weekend.

Cheers

Steve

[ace]

Just got a quote for £81 on the train out 7.45am 29/06/04 back on the Sunday 6/07/04 if iv'e left the hotel friday morning then i should make the Sunday train.Not how/where to book a pillion on the train which is by far the best way to go you don't even know your moving.

I defo won't be able to come back on the Monday also still waiting to see if the extra hotel has been sorted.

[Zuri]

Dan,
I thought we were coming back Sunday? The hotel is booked for 4 nights so...
Travel out Saturday, Sunday, Monday arriving Monday afternoon ish.
Stay Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night.
Travel back Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

You may want to amend your booking or have I got this wrong?

[funkybill]

Clive - your route from Nancy pretty much mirrors mine. If we get a contingent coming across through Dover, we could all meet up in Nancy and do the Sunday run into Kappl together.

Mind you, remebering the experience of trying to do that on the way to the Mosel that might not be the greatest idea.......

[gaucho]

Alun,

You looking to do it in two days (one stop over each way)?

If so why not a late train back on the Saturday and recover Sunday before back to work Monday. I may accompany you if this is what you have in mind, would only be 4 hours riding a day .

We are also waiting to see if there is a bed before we book, keeping an eye on Svens Austrian thread.

[Muppet]

Originally posted by funkybill
Clive - your route from Nancy pretty much mirrors mine. If we get a contingent coming across through Dover, we could all meet up in Nancy and do the Sunday run into Kappl together.

Mind you, remebering the experience of trying to do that on the way to the Mosel that might not be the greatest idea.......

Sounds like a good plan Bill, no reason why we can't get a hotle booked in Nancy for us all, once we've worked out exactly who's going that way. Can I suggest we look into it in the New YEar, or if someone would like to do so before then please do. I'm gonna be busy from now till after Xmas.