UK Ferry Tickets

With 2009 being such a bad year economically for the country as a whole, many people may be considering making last minute ferry bookings to go on a self drive holiday in Europe rather than booking well in advance to ensure that they have a place on the ferry. There are pros and cons of both schools of thought but much depends on whether you are prepared to take the risk of not getting a ferry ticket nearer to the time, so which one is best?

Looking at advanced bookings first, there are actually some great deals on at the moment as a result of the credit crunch. Ferry companies are trying to encourage people to book their places on ferries now to ensure that they have revenue coming in and can continue with services. You can book summer tickets now if you choose at a discounted level so you may want to look around. Of course, if you book your tickets in advance then you are assured of your place and can be sure that you will be able to travel to your selected destination on the day of your choice. However, you do run the risk of not being able to afford to travel and thus being left with tickets that are of no use to you. As long as you check whether the tickets are refundable or not, or even transferable to another date, you can cover yourself for this. It does give you a little time to save your money as well though so you know how to budget in advance.

Booking ferry tickets at the last minute, on the other hand, offers exactly the opposite pros and cons. In terms of the pros, you can often find cheaper tickets that are designed to fill ferries. They are usually non-refundable but then that will not matter if you intend to travel right away anyway. However, you do run the risk of not being able to travel on your desired day or even to your preferred location. Furthermore, all car spaces may have already gone. That said, you will know whether you have enough money or not and won’t have to bother with checking the refund policy.

It is totally your decision as to whether you choose to book tickets now or further down the road but either way you should be happy with your choice. Some people panic if they do not have plans set in stone whereas others look at the whole process as an adventure. Similarly, you may not want to tempt fate by booking tickets or have them in your pocket so you know you will get a chance to relax in the summer months. Whatever you decide, a self drive via a ferry is one of the cheapest holidays you could choose so make the most of it!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009