When you do start looking for your ferry offers you should be aware that the route you select will dictate the cost of your ferry ticket. UKferrytickets is therefore an invaluable tool for quickly sifting through all the available routes and comparing the costs to find the cheapest.

Another important factor to consider is the choice of ferry company. Each company will have its own foibles and its own price tag. When trying to compare different routes, different ports and their costs, you must also take into consideration your savings on fuel and the journey time with each option. Not many people take into consideration their fuel savings when calculating or comparing ferry costs. You may be able to get considerable fuel savings by choosing the right ports, which can balance your overall holiday cost.

Like flight tickets, the cost of ferry tickets can vary based on the season, the day and the time of your travel. If you are flexible with your travel days and happy to travel at off-peak times, you will have more chance of getting some of the cheapest ferry fares.

On longer routes you can also play around with your accommodation options. If you need to book a cabin, then you must be prepared to pay more. In some cases, you are obliged to book cabins, in others you may be able to manage with reclining seats. Avoiding overnight crossings can help save ferry cabin costs but you may then need to pay more to stay overnight in an en-route hotel.

Some people try to keep their ferry costs low by not taking their vehicle. Here you need to take into consideration the cost and inconvenience of organizing local transport. In most cases, driving your own vehicle is cheaper and more convenient but it’s always worth double checking.

Once you’ve chosen to book a car-inclusive ferry ticket, make sure you book the right vehicle size and include any trailers, luggage racks, bikes etc in the overall dimensions. Booking the wrong vehicle size or forgetting to mention the bikes on the roof can sometimes lead to your passage being refused at the port and a great deal of unnecessary frustration and expense. On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to have a choice of vehicles, by all means choose the vehicle that fits into the cheapest price category, as long as it is suitable for the trip.

Guest Article by Max Rickman

The UKferrytickets blog has today been listed in the lively BlogTopSites directory.

But every cloud has a silver lining, and every crisis has a beneficiary. And so far 2008 seems to have been a good one for the powers that be at Eurostar.

The operator of the high speed rail link can boast of a 25% increase in tickets sales and an 18% increase in passenger numbers in the first half of the year. That’s a total of 4.63 million passengers from January to June this year.

The much heralded opening of St Pancras International has been hugely beneficial to Eurostar’s fortunes. Firstly the opening of a major architectural project in London provides the kind of media coverage that an advertising budget simply cannot buy.

And, more importantly, the St Pancras hub has opened up Eurostar as a cheap and convenient option for people living to the north of the all important Watford Gap. The Channel Tunnel may have been an exciting engineering feat but it didn’t quite spark the imagination of people who had to brave a six hour rail journey and then get stuck in London before they could even think about the joys of France.

Not so anymore it would appear: Derby has seen a 190% increase in passenger numbers, Nottingham a 133% rise, Leicester an increase of 113% and Manchester a jump of 52%. Fares to Paris from these cities start from as little as £77.

Basking in these results Eurostar is rewarding passengers with the introduction of 18^th daily service on the London to Paris route in September.

But should we enjoy this burst of optimism while we can? Eurostar’s Richard Brown thinks so:

“The impact of rising oil prices on air fares, combined with growing awareness of the much greater environmental impact of flying, are causing more and more travellers to switch from plane to train.  However, while we expect traveller numbers and ticket revenues to continue to rise, it is clear that the wider economic environment is deteriorating and we expect that the rate of growth will slow in the second half of the year.” 

So the future might not be all that bright. But let’s forget that for a while and sit back and enjoy this new, affordable and fashionable way to travel for a little longer yet.

Guest Article by Tom Hall

Personally, I never take holiday during July and August. I don’t have children, so naturally I want to avoid the peak periods when prices are at their highest and beaches are full of little people building sandcastles. But should everyone be able to travel during so-called off-peak periods?

Travel companies are constantly attacked for putting up their prices during the school holidays, but they merely contract hotel rooms and it’s the hoteliers who ramp prices at a time when demand peaks.

The government, along with some tour operators, has tried to prevent people from pulling their kids out of school for an off-season break, with a campaign which offers discounts during the peak period. But, the ‘Every Lesson Counts’ scheme has really been a damp squib, because even with the discounts on offer, it’s still far cheaper to holiday in May than it is in August.

Head teachers can, at their discretion, allow children to take up to 10 days off school per year, but they are under increasing pressure to do so only in exceptional circumstances.

Some parents feel they should be freer to take their children out of school for holidays abroad during term-time.

The founders of a family website, www.takethefamily.com, polled over 200 people and found that 78 per cent of them felt it was acceptable to do just that. Lucy Ace, one of the website’s directors, said the savings made through the government’s scheme were simply not good enough and argued that everyone should be allowed to take full advantage of their 10-day allowance.

She pointed out that many trips can be educational for children, as they experience different cultures and can practice languages that they learn in school.
The government disagrees. A spokesman for the Department for Education said it was not going to discuss the merits of taking an off-peak trip. “We believe that children should be at school during term time,” he said.

So, what do you think? Are holidays during term-time educational? Or should children always be in school?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

The thrill of being outside under the stars more than made up for a poor night’s sleep on canvas.

These days, people are far more demanding. To be fair, children can probably still see the attraction of curling up in a sleeping bag as rain lashes against their tent, but the parents are having none of it.

Instead, they want all mod cons and a decent night’s sleep in peace and quiet.

Over 50 per cent of people who visit campsites, or rather holiday parks, in France, Italy and Spain, are now opting for top of the range mobile homes.

Some of the facilities in these homes – power showers, ovens, fridge freezers and even flat screen televisions – are just not the kind of thing that I associate with holidaying outdoors.

It’s camping, but not as we know it.

Even the tents in French holiday parks, which are more like bungalows and are far posher than anything I stayed in as a lad, are not deemed good enough for most happy campers in 2008.

As one of my friends told me: “The term ‘camping’ is a bit of a misnomer these days. People are just no longer prepared to rough it any more.”

It reminds me of a story I wrote in a previous newsletter, about how youth hostels were becoming far more luxurious.

As the mobile homes are so well kitted out, you wonder why holidaymakers don’t go the whole hog and stay in hotels. Many do, but lots stay with the parks because they offer a safe environment for children to play in, and have some excellent facilities, such as bars and restaurants.

It’s just a shame that no one sleeps under the stars anymore!

What are your experiences of camping?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Rising oil prices and the economic downturn are blamed. Thus DFDS held their hands up in surrender and used the excuse of generations of Scottish schoolboys: "It wisnae me."

In fairness DFDS did produce a third, and arguably more persuasive reason, of falling passenger numbers. But at the same time officials in Bergen can boast of 200,000 British tourists each summer so there remains a market. And the closure of the route, at the beginning of September, gives DFDS no time to see if last years trend of increasing passenger numbers over the summer months continues.

So 350 people lose their jobs. Tourism in Norway and Newcastle suffers. And ferry passengers, especially the North Britons amongst us, lose another valuable route.

What worries me is that DFDS seem to have capitulated awfully early. Granted oil prices are not great. And I’ll concede – although it’s a field I am not an expert in – that the economy has looked stronger. But would European ferry holidays and short breaks not become more viable and attractive to travellers as the economic pinch starts to nip?

Have DFDS set a precedent? Will other operators take a look at their less busy routes and decide the time has come to scarper? The escape route is there now. The regretful nods in the direction of the local area, the resigned shrug of the shoulders as they point at the global economy and the rise in oil prices as the reason for their departure.

Of course closing routes is the last resort. Before then can we expect rising prices for tickets? Will those little extras that make for a more comfortable journey bear the brunt of escalating prices? All, or any of this, will be carried out with the same excuses: oil prices and economic downturn.

Of course I might be scaremongering. I might, despite my best intentions, simply have fallen prey to the current media mantra that things can only get worse.

But it strikes me that, if nothing else, the announcement by DFDS (studiously ignored on their own website) could be indicative that a change is going to come. The ferry operators will plead their innocence. But like all these things it’s the consumer that suffers. Unless, of course, the companies begin to court us. Might they begin a war for our custom by lowering prices to attract us in what might be called the opposite of the DFDS tactic?

That might be our glimmer of hope. But the one thing we do know for certain is that DFDS have fired the starting pistol and the world economy is now impacting on ferry travel. These will be interesting times.

Guest Article by Tom Hall

The romance of the open road. The freedom to do your own thing. The chance to give Terminal Five, customs chaos and lost luggage the long goodbye. Should we be surprised that the self drive holiday is on the rise in 2008?

The trend – we might soon be calling it a boom! – has many causes. Firstly we are becoming more environmentally aware. True, we might be constantly told that cars are bad for us but not even the greenest environmentalist could argue that car and ferry adds up to a whole lot less damage than car to airport then cheap flight to wherever.

Secondly, as you may have read or heard, the economy is not as robust as it was this time last year. But, hard working as we are, we still need our holidays. Self drive is the cheaper option. Consider the case of Chelsea and Manchester United fans: a gas guzzling flight to Moscow will be upwards of £1000. Cleaner, greener and cheaper, to drive there will be infinitely more fun. That might be an extreme example but it holds true: the self drive holiday will be a lot cheaper. If you put your mind to it then it can really be as cheap as you like.

For a few years now we (or some of us) have looked down our noses at self drive holidays on the continent. Snootiness is all well and good. But ask yourself where you would rather be: stuck on a budget flight, packed so close together that you immediately become more intimate with the stranger sitting next to you than you’d ever want to be. Or strolling around a cross channel ferry, eating what you want, happy in the knowledge that as quickly as the British coast disappears so new horizons, opportunities and adventures will present themselves on the other side.

Life these days is regimented. We work too long, we don’t relax enough. What fun then, in the package holiday? Do any of us ever again feel the need to sit at a poolside and hear the rep announce that the water polo will begin in five minutes? Thought not, far better the freedom to do your own thing.

With Europe now open as never before the self drive holiday gives you the chance to explore. Plan your route, book your cheap ferry tickets and set off. Adventure holidays are popular – but surely the real adventure is to plan it yourself. The need for sedate adventure can be seen in the rise of camping holidays, camping is the new hotelling, and where better to camp than on the continent. The true taste of freedom!

We Brits may not be fully convinced by the European experiment on a political level. But one thing we can agree on is that the Euro and the relaxation of borders has made Europe a much smaller place. The self drive holiday recognises this in a way that the package tour can’t. Pack up in the morning and be in another country by the afternoon. The gap year you never had distilled into a fortnight’s holiday and shared with the family. Perfect.

No wonder then that the self drive holiday is on the rise. Relaxed or adventurous as you want it to be. Greener than flying. Cheaper than a package tour. A sense of freedom, a sense of romance. Your own pace, your own rules. Nothing beats the self drive holiday. And if you still aren’t convinced then let’s be practical: the price of petrol in mainland Europe will be a welcome break for your wallet.

Guest Article by: Tom Hall

Ferries travel between several ports in the UK and northern Europe. To arrange your travel by ferry, use the UKferrytickets online tools to explore your options and locate the best fares, best routes and best ports. In addition, some companies automatically discount their fares for online bookings. Remember, you will probably get your best ferry deals if you book at least 24 hours in advance.

A ferry voyage can add to your European travel experience. Travelling with the family? A number of ferries feature play areas, arcades and live entertainment in the high season. Many travelers love the ferry’s open decks and the opportunity to experience the wind and waves first hand. If that doesn’t appeal, the well-stocked shops on board offer great deals on fragrance and cosmetics, as well as heavily discounted prices on adult beverages (spirits and wine) and cigarettes.

Many overnight crossings feature cabin accommodation so you can let the ferry’s motion rock you to sleep and awaken refreshed and ready to spend the day enjoying tourist pursuits. Restaurants and lounges add to your comfort, as well. And if you are making a brief visit and don’t want to wrestle with traffic, many ports provide facilities so you can park your car, walk on the ferry, and step off to explore your destination port on foot.

Your other option, Eurotunnel, gives you a very quick trip to the Continent, 35 minutes. If you choose the tunnel, you will travel between passenger terminal buildings in Folkestone, UK, and Calais, France. You can visit the shops, pick up a snack in the terminal buildings, and enjoy the play area outside.

You will stay with your car or motorcycle during the crossing (cyclists board a shuttle bus and meet up with their bicycles again on the other side). You are well-advised to make a reservation in advance; standard fares vary and depend on the length of your stay and the time you are crossing; it is much less costly at midnight than at noon.

Review the resources on the web then decide which you will choose, tunnel or ferry.

Guest Article by: Colleen Morrison

The UKferrytickets team will naturally continue to work hard to make sure the articles on this site are as relevant, informative and entertaining as they are useful, but we’d also like to hear your thoughts, feedback and opinions too.   Sure, you can always leave a comment or two at the foot of any article that takes your fancy but it would be much more meaningful if you were able to contribute a few of your own articles.

We are always interested in hearing from individuals who are willing and able to share their opinions and expertise on any products, services and destinations relevant to this site.

Just send us a writing sample and an idea of how you’d like to get involved. We appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

According to research from one travel company, it’s people who sneak oversized bags onto aircraft. Business travellers are particularly guilty. I’ve interviewed dozens of executives about their travel plans and most say they only take hand luggage. They hate waiting at the carousel and are scared of airlines losing their bags.

The study, from Carlson Wagonlit, found that 28 per cent of people object to fellow passengers taking big bags on to aircraft. Some 14 per cent are annoyed by people talking loudly on their mobiles, the same number that hates crying babies. Meanwhile, 5 per cent object most to check-in and security queues, and 4 per cent are wound up by finding their neighbour has paid less for their seat.

I find the last statistic quite curious: how do people know they’ve paid more than the person sitting next to them? When was the last time you got on a flight and said to your neighbour: ‘hi, my name’s x, how much did you pay for your seat?’ I can’t say I’ve ever had that conversation with anyone, perhaps because I usually put on my IPOD at the earliest convenient moment.

On the positive side, 56 per cent admit they sometimes extend their trip to take some holiday and seven in ten say they sometimes take their family on a business trip.

The combined business-family trip has already become a phenomenon in the United States, with hotel groups such as the Sheraton offering family deals at weekends in business hotels. Many also offer a babysitting service. Look out for the trend in Europe.

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore