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Author Topic: Cheapest/best/fastest way to Irleland with my van  (Read 22991 times)

DownwashSoarer

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Cheapest/best/fastest way to Irleland with my van
« on: December 17, 2009, 09:29:29 AM »
Dear All,

it's your fault, you have been too nice, so I want to come back :lol:
The thing is - I would like to come with my van and bring every model I can find in my basement. My government accepted slight changes in holiday planning. This freed one week in May.
Does it make sense to come by car and ferry to Ireland for only one week (~1700km one way)?

When would be the very best time? Should I go via the UK or take a direct ferry from France? - any recommendations for ferries?

Nollaig Shona agus Athbliain faoi Mhaise Dhuit 2010!!

Karl
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Happy Days

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« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2009, 10:57:23 AM »
Hey Karl

Whether a 3400Km total journey is worth the effort for only one week,…. only you can decide.

But bear in mind that there are other slopes in Ireland apart from Mt. Lienster that offer good flying. :D  

So, when planning any trip to Ireland you might want to factor into your plans the possibility that if one area of the country is forecast to be rainy or no wind, then you could travel to another part to get some flying. :wink:

As far as planning your trip,…………….If possible I’d leave the actual dates that you want to come until the latest possible moment, so that you can check the weather forecasts and see which days will offer the best weather.
If you get the weather right,…… flying here will put a smile on your face that will last for years! :lol:

If you get the weather wrong,………….it’s an awfully long way to come for a glass of Guinness! :!:

K.
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Fred

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« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2009, 11:18:49 AM »
Hey Karl  :D

Maybe Stephan can help you on this, as he came in Ireland this year, pretty much the same way you show on your map.

As for me, each time I went to the continent, I took only one ferry to Cherbourg... You have to check both possibilities, but I think all in all, you have less driving at the end taking only one ferry, but the ferry journey last 20 hours !
You save on driving, but not necessarely on time ! And with my great organisation  :lol:  I prefer to deal with only one ferry (yep, one year, missed the ferry by... 24 hours!  8)  )
You basically lose 4 days on your week, just for the travel...
Is it worth it ? Well, each time I drove 2 days to go to Retroplane, that was totally worth it at the end !
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lothar4862

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« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 13:09:08 PM »
However,

I made the trip last year, You marked on the map. I can say, it was the cheapest and the easiest way to go to Ireland. To drive to Cherbourgh costs maut for the Autobahn too. And the trouble with the ferry dates.... I strongly recommend the landbridge. I do it via Denmark also, when I go to Sweden or Norway. The long ferrys make Your timetable unflexible...

Ok. You have to touch England.....

Regards

Lothar
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Fred

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« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2009, 14:17:36 PM »
Hi Lothar,

How long was the rip for you ?  :?:
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lothar4862

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« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 16:44:16 PM »
Well Fred,

I started at about 12.00 H on Sunday in Bremen, had a longer stop (3,5 h) before the ferry to England (Norfolk-Lines). Than arrived at Dover at 4.00 H Monday in the morning. I made a 4 hours stop near London, then drove to Pembroke and arrived in Killmuckridge at about 20.00 H Monday evening.

Please remember, I towed a Caravan with my car. So I had to calculate this 1.5 Days trip. I believe it should be possible, if You calculate 2 hours for the stop and go around London, to make the whole trip in about 24 hours with two drivers.

btw: It were about 1200 km to drive. I believe to the Wasserkuppe it should be about 300 km more.

Regards

Lothar
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IceWind

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« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2009, 22:53:55 PM »
Hi DownwashSoarer,

Ferry from France to Ireland is the way.
What you'll spend in gas and the UK ferry and tunnel will probably be 2x.
And catching in France you spend a relaxing night sleeping in the Ferry. :)

But check Britanny Ferries or Irish Ferries. I'd go for the Britanny Ferries because of the crepes! :D

Nando
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Stephan

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« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2009, 20:04:26 PM »
Quote from: "IceWind"
...Ferry from France to Ireland is the way.
What you'll spend in gas and the UK ferry and tunnel will probably be 2x....

Sorry, but your statement needs to be proven. I took the way Lothar discribed, the charges were cut in half compared to the direct ferry Cherbourg/Rosslar.
Dunkerque/Dover by Northfolk Line and Pambroke/Rosslar with Irish Ferries was by far the cheapest way to go. Furhtermore Northfolk Line gives you the flexibility to go one ferry earlier if you arrive earlier at the port without any surcharge. I made this experience this year as well as outbound as return fare. For both directions we were abel to took a 2h earlier ferry. Boundary conditions: 12m long towed vehicle, 2 adults, 2 childrens, no cabine, but I do not think that this will change for any other condition
At the end you have to spend some time to look for the different possibilities and calculate the fares. Note that in France the highways are toll charged, not in England. Only outbound you have to pay a bridge close to Pambroke, but not on its way back
Cheers
Stephan
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lothar4862

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« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2009, 21:41:32 PM »
Well,

sorry for my comments above. I just made a booking try and found out, that the Irish ferries are a lot cheaper than it was last summer, when I went to Ireland. So You have to calculate and choose Your own way.

But I aggree with Stephan, I love more the flexible way.

It's especialy cheaper to take the way via France if You go only with a car.

Regards

Lothar
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DownwashSoarer

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« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2009, 20:20:54 PM »
Thank you all for your coments.:clap:  
I've been playing with Excel a bit. Taking all the costs (diesel for 3400kms, ferries, toll roads) it is probably much cheaper (and much less time consuming) to come by plane and mail or just take some gliders in a box and get a rental car.
Best alternative I think is to forget about this one week and come to Ireland for at least 3 weeks, than it's all worth it. But since we were in Scotland last summer and it rained 98% of the time (I can confirm that Norfolk Line is a good one, Stephan, and in addition, Munich-Dunkirk takes forever :?) - I have a hard time to convince my lady to again head north this year.:?:
But well, 2011 is save I guess - In the end it wouldn't be the same without my van...
 
Damn it - why is Ireland that far away?? :!:  :!: seems like I have to look for some slopes in Portugal now...

Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you all!

Karl
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Eiretime

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« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2010, 15:39:09 PM »
Hey Karl, hope all is good with you. Just saw your post. Brilliant you cant beat a road trip! I just made a gliding trip myself but flew. If its any use i bought one of these and wasn't charged for over sized baggage! Worked really well for the job and is tuff. I rented a small car at the other end with a roof rack and threw the box up there and a way i went! http://www.sportube.com/pages/snowboards.php. Another deciding factor if you are still thinking of driving over is if you are going to be sleeping in your van or camping as accommodation is not cheep over here. If you decided to fly here is a price(for two weeks) off one of the Van Hire sites for the same one you drive, i`m sure  the price is negotiable. https://bookings.northgatevehiclehire.ie/ssl/PriceComparison.aspx?lang=ENG

Good luck with the plans

ed
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DownwashSoarer

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« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2010, 21:12:12 PM »
Hi Ed,

this box is amazing - I should really look into that (next business trip will come for sure) Where did you go? How many planes did you take? However, I definitely want to come back with MY van to Ireland sometime but it doesn't look good for 2010. And yes, I would sleep in the van, but it just needs to mine (you know I have modified it to quite a decent camper).

Thank you for your post - Tell more about your trip!!

Greetings to Fergal

Karl
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Eiretime

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« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2010, 10:01:39 AM »
Hey Karl, sorry to here you wont make Ireland this year, thats a real shame. Maybe 2011? Yeah the box made life very easy for me while we were  traveling around South Africa. We took a total of five plane rides and was never given and hassel about the size or weight of it. I onely brought my Vector lll with me but the Sports Tube dubbled up as my suit case. I think i was just sub 15 kg for everything including clothes, glider and box, not bad so if i hadnt been there for such a long time I could have stuffed a good few gliders in there! Fully extended is 1.9 meters, big enough to take an F3X. You can get smaller ones to but they would only fit one glider i think.  You Ski as far as i can remember so you have to get one! If you are ever thinking of heading down to SA make sure you tell me as this place has a large soaring community and especially in and around Cape Town. All very helpful and friendly dudes , showed  around and brought me to some seriously  amazing spots with Big Big Lift  :D  Every day i flew i was soaring with minimum of 500g ballast!  Keep us posted about your road trip, great to here where you end up.


ed
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joe

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« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2010, 11:30:55 AM »
Sounds like a great trip Ed. Got any photos??
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DownwashSoarer

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« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2010, 16:38:28 PM »
Hey Ed,

sounds amazing. Well, with this box - maybe I will make it to Ireland again. Just my van won't...

I would be interested in some pics from SA as well!!!


Greetings,

Karl
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