Getting there - Flights, Ferries and Travel Information
With all aspects of your holiday, the watchword is flexibility. This is true of your travel arrangements and although we should stress that we are not offering pre-organised packages from specific departure points, we are happy to organise your travel to your property. Alternatively you may wish to book your own.
We will be pleased to research availability and prices and book flights, ferries and car hire for you. We can quote competitive fares from UK departure points.
If you decide to make your own arrangements it is essential that we know your travel details as soon as possible, and at least one month prior to travel. In many cases the property owner or local representative will meet and direct you to the property so it is important that this information is available for them.
We may not be able to release house routings or confirm key collection arrangements until we know these details.
Getting there - by air |
Getting there - cross channel |
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Whether you opt for a short Channel hop and a leisurely drive through France or a longer crossing, spending one or two nights at sea, we will be happy to guide you through the options, compare prices and book your journey.
If you decide to make your own arrangements it is essential that we know your travel details as soon as possible, and at least one month prior to travel. In many cases the property owner or local representative will meet and direct you to the property so it is important that this information is available for them. We may not be able to release house routings or confirm key collection arrangements until we know these details.
Hotels en-route & Overnight stops
If you are driving to your holiday destination, breaking the journey with an en route hotel stop can make all the difference. We recommend contacting Hotels Abroad who offer over 800 hotels in nine countries, all bookable with one local-rate call (call 0845 330 2500 quote code VNT for a copy of their brochure or click here for their web site).
For hotels in Spain, we suggest contacting Madrid & Beyond, whose English-speaking staff can book individual hotels throughout Spain. www.madridandbeyond.com
Tel: 00 34 91 758 00 63, Fax: 00 34 91 542 43 91.
Maps and guides
To assist in planning your route and exploring your holiday area, we are able to supply an extensive range of maps and area guides. You will be sent details of these with your invoice, and we will be pleased to assist you in ordering them.
Amendments to travel arrangements
Please note that you are bound by the operator’s own booking conditions and fees covering cancellation and amendments on all travel arrangements (car hire, ferries and flights). Please, therefore, make sure that all details concerning passenger names are correct at the time of booking. Please also ask for a copy of the carrier’s booking conditions as cancellations or changes (including name or initial change) will incur a charge.
Cross Channel
Just as you have taken great care with the selection of your holiday property and destination, we believe that the choice of travel arrangements is equally individual:
Some may opt for a short hop across the Channel, perhaps taking a few days’ leisurely drive through France; others may prefer the relaxation of a longer crossing, spending one or two nights at sea.
Vintage Travel does not tie you in to pre-arranged travel packages, so you are free to choose from any of the operators on these pages, with whom we have negotiated advantageous rates for our clients.
Whether your choice is for the shortest route by ferry or one of the new high-speed craft, or by the longer ‘mini-cruise’ sailings to France or Spain, our staff will be happy to guide you through the options and help compare prices for your journey.
(You can benefit from our special cross-channel rates only if taken with a property rental).
Driving distances
The following table gives approximate mileages from the ferry ports to towns near to
our properties. The information is based on the route planning facility on www.viamichelin.co.uk, using the mileages given as ‘Recommended by Michelin’.
In Miles From: |
Calais |
Cherbourg |
St Malo |
Caen |
Roscoff |
Santander |
Ancona |
926 |
1033 |
1034 |
958 |
1123 |
1105 |
Avignon |
606 |
648 |
634 |
572 |
723 |
537 |
Biarritz |
664 |
529 |
439 |
509 |
524 |
151 |
Bordeaux |
540 |
406 |
315 |
385 |
400 |
267 |
Florence |
870 |
945 |
956 |
869 |
1045 |
945 |
Girona |
761 |
736 |
646 |
699 |
731 |
490 |
Marseille |
655 |
705 |
695 |
625 |
778 |
585 |
Porto |
1194 |
1059 |
968 |
1044 |
1054 |
408 |
Perugia |
915 |
1035 |
1048 |
959 |
1137 |
1037 |
Pula |
992 |
1082 |
1093 |
1006 |
1182 |
1207 |
Ronda |
1334 |
1201 |
1110 |
1180 |
1211 |
598 |
Santiago |
1099 |
964 |
874 |
1047 |
959 |
294 |
Toulouse |
599 |
555 |
464 |
537 |
549 |
336 |
Urbino |
898 |
1005 |
998 |
929 |
1097 |
1053 |
SeaFrance
Dover–Calais ferries
Begin your holiday in style and enjoy superb on-board facilities, with the relaxed continental atmosphere for which SeaFrance has become renowned.
Latest in the fleet is the brand new super-fast, super stylish ferry, SeaFrance Berlioz which boasts all the features of her award-winning sister ship, the SeaFrance Rodin.
Both vessels can carry 1900 passengers and up to 700 cars and have been designed and fitted to cruise-liner standards. With 15 sailings in each direction every day, crossing time is just 70 minutes (90 minutes on other SeaFrance craft).
On board each of the SeaFrance ships you can enjoy fine cuisine in La Brasserie, with waiter service and all the trimmings expected from a French restaurant, whilst Le Relais is an excellent self-service restaurant where you will find a wonderful range of value for money food.
Alternatively, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the comfortable surroundings of the Le Parisien Café, or try out Le Pub with its range of English and continental beers all at Duty Free prices.
| Typical Fares for SeaFrance | LOW SEASON |
HIGH SEASON |
| Dover– Calais | April to June, Sept & Oct |
July & August |
| One way fares for vehicle and up to 5 passengers | From £30 |
From £99 |
Please telephone us and we will be happy to quote prices for your chosen dates and times. |
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Please note that all prices are approximate and are based upon correct rates at time of publication, these prices are occasionally updated and therefore are subject to change without notice.
Brittany Ferries
Sailing from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, directly to the western Channel ports of St Malo, Caen and Cherbourg, and to Santander in Spain, Brittany Ferries offers a great choice for travellers to make the journey part of the holiday. Why not combine two routes, for example by making the outward journey to Santander and returning from one of the French ports.
Portsmouth–Cherbourg
With the new high speed service (Normandie Express) you can zip across to Cherbourg in just 3 hours. The ferry terminal is located directly off the M27, making Portsmouth easy to reach from London, the Midlands and the North.
Poole–Cherbourg
Brittany Ferries’ shortest crossing, with the choice of a High Speed Service (HSS) taking just over 2 hours, or a leisurely crossing by cruise ferry (4.5 hours daytime, 6.75 hours overnight). Poole is easily accessed with good links to both the east and west and a straightforward drive from the Midlands.
Portsmouth–St Malo
The longest channel crossing operated by Brittany Ferries, giving the shortest driving distance to Biarritz or Bordeaux by way of excellent toll-free dual carriageway roads. Average sailing duration is 10.75 hours with one overnight crossing from Portsmouth and one daytime return from St Malo.
Portsmouth–Caen
Passengers on this route have a choice of either the new High Speed Service (HSS) taking you into the heart of northern France in just 3.75 hours or a classic cruise ferry on which you can enjoy fine dining, excellent shopping and comfortable cabins. Caen has excellent road links to the Autoroutes to the south and for onward travel to Catalunya.
Up to 4 daily crossings: early morning, afternoon and overnight.
Plymouth–Roscoff
Brittany Ferries’ only crossing to France from Plymouth, ideally situated for access from the North, Midlands, Wales and the West Country, with a longer drive then through western France to reach our properties. Daytime sailings are 5.5 to 6 hours, overnight crossings are 8 hours.
| Car & up to 5 passengers | LOW SEASON |
HIGH SEASON |
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| Guide Prices (each way) | 1/4–23/5, 28/5–11/7 |
27/8–31/10 |
24/5–27/5 |
12/7–26/8 |
| Portsmouth-Cherbourg (HSS) | £125-169 |
£145-185 |
£145-198 |
£155-225 |
| Poole – Cherbourg (Ferry & HSS) | £110-165 |
£120-185 |
£130-198 |
£145-230 |
| Portsmouth – Caen (Ferry & HSS) | £110-165 |
£120-185 |
£130-198 |
£140-225 |
| Plymouth – Roscoff (Ferry) | £120-160 |
£130-185 |
£145-198 |
£155-225 |
| Portsmouth – St Malo (Ferry) | £145-185 |
£185-245 |
£210-270 |
£259-280 |
These guideline prices are PER SINGLE JOURNEY to allow you to combine routes. Midweek is defined as Monday - Thursday Outbound and Monday - Friday inbound. |
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Plymouth–Santander
Brittany Ferries’ new flagship, the Pont Aven sails twice weekly with a journey time of
21 hours. Departures from Plymouth are on Sunday evening and Wednesday, returning from Santander on Monday and Thursday afternoons.
| Car & 2 passengers | LOW SEASON |
MID SEASON |
HIGH SEASON |
| Guide Prices (each way) | April–mid June, Sept, Oct |
Mid June–mid July |
Mid July–end Aug |
| Plymouth - Santander Depart 1600hrs Sun. Arrive 1130 hrs Mon. Depart 1230hrs Wed. Arrive 0900 hrs Thurs. |
£295 |
£325 |
£350 |
| Santander - Plymouth Depart 1530hrs Mon. Arrive 1030 hrs Tues. Depart 1300hrs Thurs. Arrive 0930 hrs Fri. |
£295 |
£325 |
£350 |
| Extra Adult | £30 - £55
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| Extra Child | £15 - £30
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These guideline prices are PER SINGLE JOURNEY to allow you to combine routes. |
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On-board accommodation
Air conditioned cabins, two-berth, four-berth with own facilities, the choice varies from ship to ship. On certain routes there are also luxury Commodore Class and De Luxe cabins – these are very popular so book early.
Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel's fast, smooth and frequent service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With up to four departures an hour at peak times from Folkestone and a crossing time
of just 35 minutes platform to platform (45 minutes at night), it's the easiest way to cross the Channel.
Folkestone is easily accessed from the M20 at Junction 11a and on arrival in France, drive straight onto the A16 Autoroute with connections to all parts of Europe. Both terminals offer shopping at Tax Free prices and places to eat.
The Calais/Coquelles Terminal shops also offer low French supermarket prices on tobacco, wines, beers and spirits. Boarding is easy – just follow directions and drive on then you can relax in your vehicle or stretch your legs.
Why not upgrade to FlexiPlus, the premium travel service, where you can enjoy priority check-in and boarding, pick up a complimentary light meal and use the FlexiPlus Lounge. Standard and FlexiPlus Fares can be combined to make a return booking.
Standard fare (one way): Vehicle and up to 8 passengers From £49
Great value fares where savings can be made by booking well in advance, or by travelling at less busy times. Whilst only valid for the booked departure time you can, at no extra charge, transfer to a space on the next available shuttle if you arrive at Check-In within
2 hours of your booked departure time.
- Price includes vehicle and all passengers
- Amendments are subject to conditions and charges
- Non refundable.
flexiplus fare (one way):
Vehicle and up to 8 passengers From £199
Allows you to alter your departure date or time, without charge, if your travel plans change. Fare includes dedicated Check-In, use of lounge facilities and priority boarding.
- Price includes vehicle and all passengers
- Amendments are free of charge, subject to availability
- Fully refundable.
Both the Standard and FlexiPlus fares can be bought as singles (one way) or combined to make a return booking. Please telephone us and we will be happy to quote prices for your chosen dates and times.
Let us book your Flights
Nowadays, the variety and choice of flights from UK airports to European destinations is considerable. We offer complete flexibility in choice of departure airport, flight timings and dates of travel (which need not be the same as those of the property booking).
We always recommend booking your flights at the same time as your holiday accommodation. Booking early means prices are often lower and there should be a choice of flight times for convenient arrival to coincide with our tenancy times (arrival from 1600 hrs, vacate by 1000 hrs).
We can book flights on your behalf and as a member of ABTA we have access to the reservation systems of most of the major charter and scheduled flight operators. Our staff are happy to research the flights available and present you with the options. On the following pages there are guideline charter flight prices for our destinations. We will also be pleased to research availability and prices and book air seats for you on selected scheduled and ‘no frills’ airlines, adding a booking fee of up to £15 per seat.
For a quotation please call us on 0845 344 0460 (local rate).
Charter Flights
As the name implies, these are flights contracted by a tour operator with an airline to serve a holiday destination, usually running weekly on a specific day. Refreshments are normally served during the flight, although this is sometimes charged as an addition to the fare.
Many of our areas are well served by charter flights. The island of Menorca has limited scheduled flights but a wide range of charter flights from many UK airports.
We book charter flights with reputable airlines such as Monarch, First Choice and Thomas Cook. We will compare prices and will always endeavour to find flights at civilised times, but it should be noted that charter flight timings can change at short notice.
Scheduled Airlines
Each of our areas is served by a scheduled airline, for example British Airways, Iberia, TAP Air Portugal. These direct flights are usually from Gatwick or Heathrow, with frequency varying from once daily to several times per day. Scheduled airlines allocate seat numbers at check-in and may include a meal or snack in the cost of the ticket.
No Frills Airlines
The growth of ‘no frills’ airlines in recent years has brought many destinations in Europe within reach of travellers from all parts of the UK.
The list of budget airlines is constantly increasing and now includes easyJet, Ryanair, flybe, bmibaby and Jet2, to name but a few. These airlines usually operate free-seating on a first-come, first-served basis; no refreshments are included in the cost but snacks can be purchased on board.
Barcelona, Palma, Málaga, Porto and a number of the smaller, regional airports in France and Italy are destinations well covered by the ‘no frills’ airlines.
Financial Security
When you purchase your flights through Vintage Travel, you are assured of complete financial security for all elements of your holiday. Your flight-inclusive holiday will be protected under our Air Tour Operators Licence (ATOL 2787). A sizeable bond has been pledged to safeguard our clients.
Those clients purchasing flights elsewhere will be covered under our ABTA bond, which will only cover the elements that are booked through ourselves.
Amendments to flight bookings
In all cases you are bound by the flight operator’s own booking conditions and fees covering cancellation and amendments. Where you require Vintage Travel to book flights on your behalf, please ensure that you quote all names as per each individual’s passport. Please also ask for a copy of the carrier’s booking conditions, as cancellations or changes (including name or initial change) will incur a charge.
Airport parking
Through our partnership with ‘Holiday Extras’ we are able to offer discounted secure parking, airport lounges and overnight hotels at most UK airports.
Please see the Vintage Holiday Extras section ablove, or ask a member of our team for current rates.