Driving in Europe with Drive-Alive

New road traffic regulations for Germany and Austria

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:28:00 +0000

More information on German traffic regulations and driving in Germany
More information on Austrian traffic regulations and driving in Austria

Germany is the latest country to ban devices which detect radar speed cameras. If you have a SatNav or GPS device which has this capability it must be disabled or the device switched off. Ensure you have downloaded the latest software, as this should automtically disable radar speed location capability for those countries where this is now illegal.

Austria has introduced a rule whereby vehicles must clear a lane for emergency vehicles between the existing lanes of a motorway or dual carriageway as soon as traffic stops.

On dual carriageways with two lanes a lane for emergency vehicles must be cleared between the two existing lanes; on carriageways with more than two lanes it must be cleared between the far left lane (that is the outside lane) and the lane next to it. This means that all drivers in the far left lane must steer their vehicle as far to the left as possible. All other drivers must drive as far to the right (including using emergency lanes) as is necessary.

The obligation to clear a lane for emergency vehicles applies not only after accidents,but also in everyday traffic jams, whether emergency vehicles are present or not.

Not clearing a lane for emergency vehicles or driving on such a lane can result in a fine ranging from 72 to 2,180 euro.

As in the past, drivers of vehicles are required to make room for approaching emergency vehicles on roads which are neither motorways nor dual carriageways.

Breathalyser kits to be compulsory in France

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0000

France has a high rate of injuries and deaths from motor vehicle accidents - roughly twice that for the UK per head of population. Drink-driving remains a significant factor in many accidents, so to try and improve the situation every car driver, including visitors to the country, must carry a single-use breathalyzer kit from July 1st 2012.

However, anyone caught without the kit will not immediately face the £11 (€14) fine, which police are to start issuing from November 1st 2012.

The single-use breathalyzer kit can be used to check the driver's blood alcohol level. The legal limit in France is 0.5 grams per litre. Single-use breathalyzers cost between £1.50 and £2.00 and the French authorities are trying to make sure there are enough available before the law comes into force.

Breathalyser test kits carrying the "NF" label are recommended in France, manufactured by Contralco and Red Line. UK drivers should be able to purchase such kits from their chemist. We understand that some ferry companies intend to sell appropriate kits at their port shops, and will confirm this later.

Motorists are being advised to have at least two breathalyzers in the vehicle at all times, so that one can be used if necessary while the other is kept to produce if requested by police.

Anyone driving in France must carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest for each vehicle occupant. The vest should be carried inside the car and not the boot. Failure to have these in the car can lead to a fine of €90. And unless you have a number plate incorporating the GB logo you should affix a separate GB sticker to your vehicle. Also ensure you have headlamp stickers to avoid dazzle to oncoming vehicles.

Other items recommended but not mandatory are a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and and spare bulbs.

More information about driving in France
Country by country guide to driving in Europe

Petrol and diesel prices in Europe - December 14th 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000

If you are driving abroad for your Christmas or New Year holiday you might like to check our chart of petrol and diesel prices throughout Europe, updated December 14th 2011.

Since our last survey in October the price of petrol has been static, or fallen slightly. The price of diesel has gone up, largely because of supply issues, and is now close to the price of petrol in most of Europe. In some countries it is now dearer, and whilst this has long been the norm in the UK, in Europe in general this is a new development.

Italy has seen the biggest price rises and fuel here is now the most expensive in Europe, with Britain close behind for diesel and in the top 5 for petrol. It's a long way to drive, but Hungary and Poland have the least expensive fuel, and nearer home Luxembourg is still a good place to fill up.

If you are heading to the Alps this winter Austria is relatively inexpensive both for fuel and the cost of living generally.

In many countries there are large variations in price so when you first arrive in a country drive for a while before you fill up, so you can get an idea of the prices on offer. This is particularly true in France where petrol prices can vary by as much as 20 cents a litre.

A full list of petrol and diesel prices in Europe

Snow chains or winter tyres when driving abroad?

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:57:00 +0000

One of the most frequently asked questions at Drive-Alive relates to the use of snow chains and winter tyres when driving abroad. Are they a legal requirement and if so where and when? Confusion also exists about the difference between winter tyres, all season tyres and studded tyres.

Studded tyres are designed to be used in more extreme conditions than normal winter tyres and should not be used when driving on clear roads. UK drivers will not normally need studded tyres and snow chains are a much better option should extreme conditions be encountered.

All season tyres are in effect the same as winter tyres. Like winter tyres in theory they can be used all year round, although they suffer from the same disadvantages in the warmer weather as do winter tyres. They also carry a symbol on their side wall similar to winter tyres.

Winter tyres will carry a snowflake, M&S or mountain symbol on the sidewall. They are manufactured from a different rubber compound to summer tyres (currently fitted as standard to British sold cars). This compound retains its grip in cool temperatures much better than summer tyres, and by cool we mean anything below about 7 degress centigrade. So they are safer not just in snow but in cold weather generally, especially if the road is wet or icy.

The disadvantage with winter tyres is that in the summer they tend to wear more quickly, have a higher rolling resistance so use more fuel, are a little noisier and do not grip as well as standard tyres in hot weather and cost a little more.

In certain European countries (currently Germany and Austria) there is now a legal requirement to use winter tyres during certain months of the year, when driving in wintery conditions. The problem is that on a lengthy journey such as from the UK to go skiing in the mountains it is impossible to be certain whether you will encounter wintery conditions. So if you want to go skiing with your car in those countries you really should purchase a set of winter tyres. Drivers resident in those countries normally have two sets of tyres as standard and they are sold on with the car.

We expect that more countries will make winter tyres mandatory in the future. In Switzerland the current position is that winter tyres are not compulsory but if you do not fit winter tyres and as a result you impede other traffic you could be fined. The tread depth on winter tyres must be at least 3mm (4mm in the Czech Republic).

Snow chains should be carried whether using winter or summer tyres if you are in a country with mountainous terrain. In some countries it is mandatory to use chains when conditions demand and if you do not do so the police can prevent you from continuing your journey. However, you must only use chains when the road surface is covered with snow and must remove the chains as soon as possible to avoid damaging the road.

For more on winter tyres and snow chains please visit the following pages:
Driving abroad
Winter driving in Europe
Winter tyres in Germany
Winter tyres in Austria

Stena Line Ferries all change on the Irish Sea

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:17:00 +0000

Stena Line's Irish Sea ferry routes have undergone a rationalisation process to make the company leaner and more efficient. The Fast Ferries (large catamarans) have been trimmed so that only the summer service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire is still operated by these expensive to run vessels.

Among the casualties are the Fishguard to Rosslare fast ferry service, which will not be returning to service, although the conventional ferry the Stena Europe will continue to service this route twice daily. The Stena Europe Superferry service had benefited from a £1m refit in 2010, and to confirm its ongoing commitment to Fishguard, and the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry service, Stena Line has gone into partnership with investment firm Conygar to develop the port of Fishguard with a proposed new marina, housing development and promenade.

Stena has already announced a cut in its fast ferry service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. This route is now served in the summer only by the Fast Ferry Stena Explorer. The Stena Adventurer and Stena Nordica superferries continue to operate ferries between Holyhead and Dublin port.

Holyhead continues to enjoy support from Stena Line and here also they have partnered with Conygar to develop the waterfront.

On a further positive note Stena Line ferries have moved their Cairnryan to Belfast ferry service to Stena Lines’ new £200 million port at Cairnryan in south-west Scotland. Previously the route to Belfast arrived and departed from Stranraer on Loch Ryan, but the narrow entrance to the loch meant a slow approach, losing time and burning fuel.

Cairnryan is at the mouth of Loch Ryan and this has reduced the travel time by three quarters of an hour and saved fuel. The new ships can maintain full speed until the last minute. Stena Line has also invested in two new ships, Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII. The new ships are the largest ever to sail the route. Automatic docking at the new port allows a faster turnaround.

Another positive devlopment for Stena Line took place earlier this year when they inaugurated the Liverpool Belfast ferry route, giving excellent access to Northern Ireland's capital city from the heart of the North of England.

Stena Line hopes this programme of modernisation and rationalisation will see the company continuing to serve the ferry routes between England and Scotland and Ireland far into the future.

More about Stena Line's Irish Sea Ferries

Ferries and Mini-Cruises - a growing trend

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:01:00 +0000

Once upon a time a car ferry was a fairly basic piece of kit designed to transport vehicles from A to B. Sometimes there was a bar, a self-service restaurant and a duty-free shop, but the early ferries were not built for comfort.

That has all changed. A modern car ferry is more like a cruise ship, with sleek lines, restaurants, bars, cinemas and sometimes even swimming pools. The cabins, especially the better specified ones, are more like hotel rooms, with ensuite facilities, proper beds and TVs.

The ferry companies realised that these facilities, often under-utilised outside the holiday season, could attract a new sort of customer, not so much interested in taking their car abroad, but who enjoyed the very experience of travelling on these comfortable ships. To further enhance the experience live entertainment is provided on board, and at the port of arrival excursions and shuttle buses ferry customers to the various local attractions.

Some of the mini-cruises allow for just a shopping trip at the destination, whereas others give the traveller the chance to spend a couple of nights enjoying cities such as Amsterdam, Bruges and Santander. The choice is yours.

The destinations served by the ferries to France, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands and Spain offer ample opportunity for sightseeing. Below is a selction of links to just some of the destinations. If a short break in comfortable on board accommodation without the car to some of Europe's best destinations appeals, with none of the hassle associated with flying, , then why not check out these mini-cruises?

P&O Mini-Cruises from Hull to Amsterdam, Zeebrugge (for Bruges), and Rotterdam
DFDS Seaways have a whole range of mini-cruises from Newcastle to Amsterdam and from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark with some great offers
Brittany Ferries Mini-Cruises from Portsmouth to Santander in Northern Spain

Plymouth to St Malo on Brittany Ferries

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Brittany Ferries have announced that they are launching a new ferry crossing between Plymouth and St Malo, to run once a week during the winter.

The car and passenger ferry departs from Plymouth on Tuesday evenings and the return sailing leaves St Malo on Friday mid-morning.
More about the Brittany Ferries Plymouth St Malo ferry.

We think this is a useful addition to the ferry crossings between England and France, and this is why:

Plymouth and St Malo are both cities well worth visiting.
Plymouth has something for everyone with shops, theatres, cinemas, bar and restaurants. In addition Plymouth Sound and the ancient steets of the Barbican are awash with history, and the views from the Hoe are stunning.
St Malo is also rich in history, with one of the best preserved walled citadels in Europe. It too, although smaller than Plymouth, has a wealth of attractions, including some excellent beaches
Both cities offer easy access to some superb countryside and coastal scenery, all within a short drive from the ferry. From Plymouth visit the Devon and Cornwall coastline, and from St Malo take a trip to Mont St Michel, or the riverside town of Dinard
These are popular holiday areas, and no wonder, but in the summer season they can be very crowded. These crossings give you time and space to make the most of what Devon and Cornwall and Brittany and Normandy have to offer.
The timing of the crossings mean you can leave the UK on Tuesday evening and arrive refreshed after a good night's sleep. Then you have the option of a short break, returning to the UK on Friday in time for tea, or with hotel prices at their lowest of the year you might want to stay for a full 10 days, maybe venturing further afield into France. And of course you can always choose a different return crossing!

So why not give it a go? Below are the links to check the timetables and book the crossing, as well as links to the hotels we offer in Plymouth and St Malo.

Timetable for Brittany Ferries Plymouth St Malo ferry crossing
Hotels in Plymouth
Hotels in St Malo

Driving in Europe? 10 things to remember.

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:04:00 +0000

More and more UK motorists are taking their cars to Europe, both for holidays and business trips. Flying is becoming more stressful and subject to delays, and low cost flights now seem to cost more in surcharges than the flight itself. Plus there are restrictions on the amount of luggage you can take.

With a car the journey becomes part of the holiday. Enjoy the changing scenery and architecture; notice how everything becomes a little bit different the further you venture from our shores.

But you do need to make a few preparations, and below we list 10 things which will help to ensure a trouble free trip:

1. Remember to drive on the right everywhere in Europe (except the UK and Ireland).
2. Several countries now insist you carry reflective vests in the vehicle in case of emergency.
3. Buy or hire snow chains if you are driving in mountainous areas in the winter.
4. Carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and spare bulb kit.
5. Do not exceed the speed limit - radar traps are frequent and on the spot fines can be severe.
6. Take out vehicle breakdown insurance for Europe.
7. Contact your car insurer and tell them you are driving abroad - not all policies provide automatic European cover.
8. In Spain you must carry spare spectacles (if you wear them).
9. Do not drink and drive - many countries have stricter limits and heavier penalties than the UK.
10. Buy and affix headlamp stickers to ensure your lights do not dazzle oncoming motorists.

If you follow this advice you should enjoy a trouble free driving trip. You can find more detailed advice on our country-by-country pages about driving in Europe.

Roadworks delays en route to Dover summer 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:53:00 +0000

Roadworks are in place on the A20 near the Roundhill Tunnel between Folkestone and Dover. The eastbound carriageway, which narrows from three lanes to two soon after passing the Channel Tunnel exit, now reduces to just one lane.

The delays vary according to the volume of traffic, but at peak times during the school holidays you could be delayed by as much as one hour. The same applies to westbound traffic towards London. Channel Tunnel traffic from the West is not affected as the exits for the tunnel are before the roadworks.

The roadworks are necessary because of problems with the expansion joints on the viaduct to the west of the Roundhill Tunnel. Apparently these need to be made in Europe (so much for British engineering!) and this, together with the time needed for fitting, means the disruption could continue for most of 2011.

The ferry and port operators are urging the Highways Agency to find an interim solution, such as a temporary bridge, but this is by no means certain.

You might like to consider using the alternative route via the M2/A2, which although a little slower, is not currently subject to any problems.

For up to date traffic information visit the Highways Agency website.
For more information on ferry crossings to France, Eurotunnel and Eurostar.

2011 Whale Watching in the Bay of Biscay

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:18:00 +0000

Spot whales in the Bay of Biscay with Brittany Ferries' on the largest whale-watching boat on earth!

This summer Brittany Ferries is offering wildlife lovers the opportunity to take a unique wildlife cruise to Spain, travelling through some of the best waters on earth for spotting whales and dolphins. Marine conservation experts from the School Of Whales will help passengers look out for all kinds of marine life from the best vantage points on board Pont Aven, Brittany Ferries’ flagship cruise ferry.

Expert whale biologist and School of Whales guide Dylan Walker says: “Whale watching with Brittany Ferries is the perfect combination. The chance to see whales and dolphins in the wild onboard a ship that offers considerable luxury and comfort at a reasonable price. To be able to go whale and dolphin watching from the south coast of England is a treat that most people just don’t realise is possible. Within a day’s sailing of Portsmouth we regularly find ourselves surrounded by huge pods of dolphins and enormous whales – it’s a magical experience.”

“The Bay of Biscay is such an undiscovered wilderness that we are still learning more about the whales and dolphins that live there on every trip. By joining us you can help us to continue to record sightings and take photographs, as we begin to piece together the mysteries of some of the rarest and least known whales on earth!”

The cruises will be fun as well as enlightening. During the trip the expert guides from School of Whales will carry out whale and dolphin spotting watches on deck helping passengers spot these amazing animals in their natural habitat. There will also be a range of colourful wildlife presentations and activities. On-board passengers will enjoy a range of bars and lounges as well as shopping and entertainment and fine French dining. And on arrival in Spain the ship docks right in the centre Santander, and there’s just enough time to explore this vibrant seaside resort before getting back on board and heading back out to sea.

These two night trips depart from Portsmouth on 21st June; 5th & 12th July; and 2nd, 16th, 23rd & 30th August, with prices starting from only £155 per person, including comfortable en suite cabin accommodation.

After leaving Portsmouth, passengers will cruise through the English Channel before crossing the Bay of Biscay, a vast ocean landscape and one of the world’s most important habitats for whales and dolphins. Plunging to depths of up to four kilometres, this mysterious sea area has recently begun to reveal its secrets - including the fact that it is home to over twenty species of cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) ranging in size from the harbour porpoise, which is no bigger than a dog, to the mightily blue whale – the largest living animal on earth.

For more information visit the Brittany Ferries Whale Watching Page

Zermatt Unplugged - Festival of Music

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Zermatt Unplugged is one of the winter’s most exciting musical festivals. It was founded in 2007 as a singer-song writer festival and this year’s event (the 5th festival ) takes place between 12th – 16th April.

5 days, 6 stages, 14 acts, 32 concerts and free admission! On 5 days, 14 different bands and musicians will be playing 32 concerts on 6 New Talent stages – and all free of charge!

In addition there are ticket events for concerts with Seal, David Gray, James Walsh ( and surprise guests!) and Roger Hodgson (Supertramp).

Hotels in Zermatt
Self-catering chalets and apartments in Zermatt
More about Zermatt Unplugged

Zermatt is spectacularly situated at the foot of the Matterhorn, and is arguably the most famous ski resort in the world. It has something for everyone - pistes for all levels, a lively and sophisticated ambience, and stacks of aprs-ski and non-skiing activities.

Zermatt also has the longest winter season in the Alps. All three skiing areas are open from late November to the start of May, so there should still be plenty of fantastic skiing available in the breaks between the music.

Drive-Alive Holidays offers a fantastic selection of hotels and Self-catering chalets and apartments in Zermatt – perfect for skiing and for enjoying great music.

Rail travel in Europe - ideas and deals of the month

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Drive-Alive is about more than just driving in Europe - we also promote other forms of surface travel (our last post was about cycle trails in Normandy) and this post has some suggestions for getting to a few of Europe's most popular destinations by train.

Disneyland Paris by train from £69 rtn
Eurostar trains run from London St Pancras and Asford International direct to Disneyland Paris. This is a great way to reach this most popular of family destinations, especially with kids. There's plenty of room for them to get up and stretch their legs and what child doesn't enjoy the magic of a train journey?

Florence by train from £131 rtn
Avoid all the hassle of budget flights and airport delays. Catch the Eurostar direct to Paris then change to the overnight sleeper to Florence, waking refreshed and ready to enjoy all the treasures this famous city has to offer.

Paris by train from £69 rtn
Nowadays the only sensible way to get right into the heart of the City of Light, the Eurostar from St Pancras takes just 2 and a quarter hours. Enjoy Paris in springtime.

Geneva by train from £105 rtn
Geneva enjoys a spectacular situation on the shores of Lake Geneva, with the Alps as a magnificent backdrop. With a journey time (not counting transfer in Paris) of just 5 and three quarter hours from St Pancras to the centre of Geneva, you can be booking in to your hotel with time for a stroll along the Lake before dinner.

Rome by train from £131 rtn
Rome needs no introduction, just to say that taking the train is a stress-free way to arrive right in the centre of the Imperial City. The journey takes 17 hours and only one change of train in Paris, from the Eurostar to the comfortable high speed sleeper. And when you arrive, it's only mid-morning!

Nice by train from £119 rtn
The French Riviera still retains the glamour and charm that has attracted visitors over the years. The train journey takes less than 8 hours from St Pancras, excluding the transfer in Paris, and you get to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Cote d'Azur over breakfast!

These are just a few of the great destinations available by modern comfortable high speed trains. We hope you agree, it's time to let the train take the strain!

For more about Trains in Europe click here.

Cycling in Normandy on Voies Vertes

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:58:00 +0000

The authorities in both France and England are looking for feedback regarding the facilities for cyclists at the ferry ports and what they think of the signage, as well as views on the paths themselves. So when you reach the ports you are likely to be handed a questionnaire. Complete this and you will help to shape the cycle newtork of Europe!

The French are well advanced in setting up a nation-wide network of Voies Vertes (Green Ways) for cycling and walking. There are still gaps in this network but some excellent sections have now been completed and some of the best are in Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie) and Lower Normandie (Basse-Normandie).

Normandy is easily reached by ferry from England. You can either book as a foot passenger and pay a small extra fee for your bike, or, if you want the freedom to try out different routes you might like to take your bikes by car. Just make sure that when you book you complete the section confirming you will be carrying bikes. This is especially important if the bikes are roof-mounted, as you will need to be allocated a high space on the ferry.

Ferry crossings to France from the UK.

The longest of these routes is the Véloroute du littoral en Seine-Maritime which runs for 172 km from Le Tréport to Le Havre along the coast. It's not a true Voie Verte becaus some of it is on quiet roads, hence the title "Véloroute". If you don't take a car you can join this route 40 km south of Le Tréport at Dieppe, which can be reached using Transmanche ferries from Newhaven, and from Le Havre the ferry travels to Portsmouth. Or of course you can travel in the reverse direction.

Or maybe you'd like to try some shorter options. For example there's the Voie Verte de la Seine à l'Eure, a 20 km voie verte south of Rouen, along the banks of the Eure. Or how about a gentle 13 km ride along the Voies Vertes de la Vallée de la Charentonne in central Haute Normandie.

As you can see these Voies Vertes cater for all levels of cycling ability, so they are perfect for a family trip or a good long ride for the more enthusiastic. Normandy is a beautiful region of France and can really be appreciated by bike. It is a region of wooded valleys, forests and rolling hills, dotted with pretty timbered houses in old villages.

For more information on all the Voies Vertes in Upper Normandie.
For more information on all the Voies Vertes in Lower Normandie.

Both the sites are currently only in French, although there are plans to present them in English and German.

Self-drive camping holidays January booking discount

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:01:00 +0000

Self-drive camping holidays are likely to be popular in 2011. They offer a cost effective way of having a great time in Europe's best holiday locations. Modern mobile homes offer real comfort, while fixed tents are a budget, but still comfortable option.

These great prices are now even more amazing thanks to discounts for any bookings made in January. Eurocamp are offering 20% off all their holidays, while Keycamp discount by 15%.

Camping holidays are not just for families either. With campsites situated in some fabulous country areas they offer a great base for walkers and cyclists. Put your bikes on the car and take a few days break in the Dordogne or the Loire, where you will find superb cycle and walking paths.

And if you are not tied to school holidays there are some fantastic bargains to be had, made even more enticing by the early booking discount of 20% on all holidays booked with Eurocamp in January, or 15% across the board for January bookings with Keycamp.

With over 250 campsites from Europe's favourite operators, why not check the great holidays on offer now?

Book your camping holiday with Eurocamp
Book your camping holiday with Keycamp

Brittany Ferries brings back Poole Cherbourg ship

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:59:00 +0000

Brittany Ferries has done the right thing and agreed to reinstate the ferry route operated by their vessel the Barfleur between Poole and Cherbourg. Following their decision to suspend this ferry crossing to France there was quite an outcry. The Poole Cherbourg crossing might not be the most used of the ferry routes between the UK and France, but it was much loved by those in the know.

Book the Poole to Cherbourg ferry crossing

Poole is a useful port for those living in central southern England and the relatively short route to Cherbourg, just 4 and a half hours for the Barfleur, makes the crossing effective in terms of time. The short crossing time also enabled the mv Barfleur, which operates the route, to make up to 3 crossings daily.

The Barfleur will return to service between Poole and Cherbourg on the 27th February 2011, crossing fron Cherbourg ready to sail again from Poole on February 28th. Brittany Ferries has changed the mix of freight and passengers to give more emphasis on freight. They hope this will enable the route to return to profitability, as it has been losing serious money for some time. But the company promises there will be no loss of facilities for passengers on board.

The Brafleur will operate beytween Poole and Cherbourg throughout the spring and summer, and towards the end of the season the route will be reviewed to see if is producing sufficient profit to enable it to continue. So residents of Poole and the surrounding area need to help Brittany Ferries to justify their about turn by using the route whenever possible.

The service from Poole will operate daily with an overnight return from Cherbourg, with extra crossings every Friday and Saturday. During the summer there will be a convenient 11.00 departure from Poole on most days and a 19.00 return from Cherbourg on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - 22.30 on other days.

Latest timetable Poole Cherbourg ferry crossing.

Barfleur’s departures will be complemented by the existing fast craft service between Poole and Cherbourg which operates from May to October and takes just 2 and a half hours.

Customers already booked on other sailings or on the Fastcraft Normandie Vitesse will be able to change their reservations to Barfleur sailings without charge. This will be possible at any point in time on Brittany Ferries' website, and customers will also be able to make these changes without charge by phone until 17th January 2011.

Concerts in the Alps - Music in the Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:26:00 +0000

Between April 2nd and 9th 2011 the Alpine ski region known as Les Portes du Soleil is putting on a series of concerts in the mountains. This sounds like a great way to combine some skiing with some great gigs in a fabulous setting.

Les Portes du Soleil is claimed to be the largest ski area in Europe, crossing the border between France and Switzerland, and has an amazing 650 km of marked pistes.

Alerted by SMS just minutes before the start of the gigs, fans will need to hop on their skis to reach the unique sets built overnight. For one week, all 12 of the Portes du Soleil's French and Swiss village resorts will be pulsating to the rhythm of these one-off performances. So we can't advise you in advance where these events will take place or even who the performers will be, but that sounds like part of the fun.

There's no cost to see the concerts - all you need is a lift pass. To register your mobile phone and pre-book your lift pass visit the official website of Les Portes du Soleil.

Drive-Alive Holidays offers some great value accommodation in most of the resorts comprising Les Portes du Soleil. Visit the links below to check our self-catering accommodation in the various villages:
Self catering in Abondance
Self catering in Chatel
Self catering in Lets Gets
Self catering in Morzine
Self catering in Champéry
Self catering in Torgon
Self catering in Val d'Illiez/Les Crosets

Just a reminder that we also offer self catering apartments, villas and chalets throughout the Alps. There's still plenty of availability for most of the ski season, although peak dates are selling fast, especially February half-term. So go to our self-catering search page and look for what you want before it's too late!

Skiing holidays in Europe by car and train

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:03:00 +0000

Self-drive Winter sports holidays and trains to the Alps

The summer is but a distant memory, school half-term holidays are over, so cheer yourselves up by thinking about a winter sports holiday. We don't do flights, so just how easy is it to drive to the ski resorts of Europe and are they accessible by train? Here is a summary of the options, all available through the Drive-Alive website.

DRIVING TO THE SKI RESORTS
From the Channel Ports many major ski resorts are within a day's drive. Even better, if you have a couple of days to get there, catching a ferry in the morning allows for an easy two days' drive, arriving on the afternoon of the second day. Break your journey in one of our en-route hotels.

As a guide here are driving times to some of the resorts, assuming departure from Calais and not allowing for stops:

Megeve (France) 8 hours
Tignes (France) 9 and a half hours
Chamonix (France) 8 hours
Saas Fee (Switzerland) 9 and a quarter hours
Verbier (Switzerland) 8 and a half hours
Grindelwald (Switzerland) 8 and a half hours
Courmayeur (Italy) 8 and a half hours
Sestriere (Italy) 9 and a half hours
Kitzbuhel (Austria) 10 hours
Zell am See (Austria) 11 hours
Seefeld (Austria) 9 hours

The Dover to Calais ferry crossing is always a good option if you are in the South-East, and you can use P&O Ferries, SeaFrance or the Eurotunnel shuttle (M20 near Folkestone to Calais Coquelles). Dover Dunkirk with DFDS Seaways (formerly Norfolk Line) is often cheaper, if a little longer.

Longer crossings are offered by LD Lines from Newhaven to Dieppe and Portsmouth to Le Havre, whilst Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Caen.

These last two crossings offer overnight sailings, so it's perfectly possible to get a good night's sleep on board and arrive at your resort in time for an evening meal. Driving times from Le Havre, Caen and Dieppe are not much longer than from Calais if you are going to the Western Alps, but to get a more accurate idea visit our route planner, where you will also see en-route hotels displayed in case you prefer an overnight stop.

If you live in Scotland or the North of England you can take overnight ferries from Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS Seaways, or from Hull to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge with P&O Ferries. Driving times are a little longer from these ports, so check out the route planner.

BY TRAIN TO THE ALPS
The very popular Eurostar Snow Train running from 19 December 2010 to 16 April 2011 whisks you from St Pancras International or Ashford International direct to the valley towns of Moûtiers, Aime or Bourg-St-Maurice. This is a great way to get to the French Alps, so make sure you book soon. From early January until April there is an overnight train leaving St Pancras at 20.31 on Friday evenings and delivering you to the mountains in time for breakfast and a full day's skiing.
Click for the Snow Train timetables and booking.

From Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice there are various ways to get to your resort - taxis, shuttle buses - or you can hire a car. Check out car hire in Bourg St Maurice and car hire in Moutiers.

Many other ski resorts in Europe are accessible by train, especially now that the various European train companies are getting their act together in terms of integrated booking. To see what is possible visit the Eurostar website and try some different destinations. Rail Europe is another good website for pan-European train bookings.

IN THE RESORT
On our ski information website you'll find statistics, information and piste maps for around 80 of the most popular ski resorts in Europe. You can book self-catering apartments and chalets at extremely competitive prices as well as many hotels in ski resorts throughout Europe. Each resort page has a direct booking link to all the properties in the resort.

Brittany Ferries skiing holidays offer some great packages which include ferry crossings and accommodation.

You can also pre-book ski equipment at anything up to 40% off, not only saving money but saving time by having your equipment ready and waiting when you arrive.

So forget the horrors of budget airline travel and make the journey part of your holiday. Take as much luggage and ski equipment as you can fit in. And by the time you've allowed for getting to the airport, for the often lengthy transfer to your destination, and the time spent actually in the airports (not to mention potential delays), you might find it's almost as quick to drive or take the
train!

Ferry routes to Ireland - Irish Sea ferries

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:48:00 +0000

With the industrial disputes in France causing some disruption and with an uncertain outcome, why not turn your attention westwards towards Ireland for your next driving trip? You'll find spectacular scenery, excellent food and of course Guinness or Murphy's to wash it down. The people are really friendly and nobody knows how to turn a quick pint into an all night party better than the Irish!

Traffic is rarely a problem in Ireland, whether in the Republic or Northern Ireland. Dublin and Belfast can be busy, but away from there and the open road beckons. It's hard to single out anywhere for special recommendation, as the whole country has something to offer. There's the wild west coast of Galway, the Dingle Peninsula and Donegal; the softer lushness of the south around Cork and Waterford; the prettiness of Wexford; the glorious coastline of Antrim and Down in Northern Ireland.

Dublin is world famous for its culture and lively nightlife, although these days Belfast runs a close second. Classy Cork and vibrant Galway both repay a visit.

Drive-Alive now offers 8 different ways to get to the Republic and Northern Ireland by ferry with routes from Stranraer to Belfast, Fleetwood to Larne, Liverpool to Belfast and Dublin, Holyhead to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire, Pembroke and Fishguard to Rosslare.

So if you're longing to hit the road but hesitating about heading to France, visit our ferry information page where you'll find links to more information about all these ferry crossings to Ireland plus links to book directly with the ferry companies at the best possible prices.

If you know which route you'd like just follow the links below:

* Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire with Stena Line
* Fishguard to Rosslare with Stena Line
* Holyhead to Dublin with Stena Line
* Stranraer to Belfast with Stena Line
* Fleetwood to Larne with Stena Line
* Holyhead to Dublin with Irish Ferries
* Pembroke to Rosslare with Irish Ferries
* Liverpool to Belfast with DFDS NorfolkLine
* Liverpool to Dublin with DFDS NorfolkLine

Luxury Autumn and Winter breaks in France from Brittany Ferries

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:05:00 +0000

Brittany Ferries are cementing their reputation as more then just a ferry company by offering Autumn and Winter short breaks in quality accommodation in France, at bargain prices. They have teamed up with luxury hotel group, Lucien Barrière, to provide breaks at two of the most magnificent hotels in western France.

Research and book your luxury short break in France.

Indulge yourself with a two-night stay at either the Normandy Hotel in Deauville or the Royal-Thalasso Hotel in La Baule in southern Brittany for only £199 per person, including return ferry crossings to France with a car. This represents a real bargain, giving you the chance to enjoy top resort hotels for not much more than the cost of a crossing on its own.

As one of the most chic coastal resorts in France, Deauville is frequented year-round by the rich and famous. Known for its Film Festival that takes place every September, it also has a long association with horse racing. There is also no shortage of fine golf courses in the vicinity.

The 5 star Normandy Hotel with half-timbering, chequered flagstones and picturesque pinnacles, offers a warm and friendly atmosphere. Situated just across the road from the sea and in the centre of town, the hotel is connected to the casino by a covered walkway.

La Baule boasts one of the longest and finest beaches in Europe which the 5-star Royal Thalasso overlooks. This spa hotel is devoted to the concept of wellbeing and is the ideal place for a romantic break. You might not want to take advantage of the outdoor swimming pool complex (in fact it will be closed!) but every other water-based treatment is available. Again, the hotel is close to the beach and town centre.

The combination of luxurious ferry travel, top-class resorts and really outstanding hotels makes these breaks perfect for a celebratory treat such as a birthday or anniversary. Even in the winter there is always so much to do and see, and a stroll along the beach at La Baule or Deauville is a great experience whatever the time of year. These breaks represent remarkable value, especially as you can take your own car, and what you bring back won't be limited by airline baggage charges!

These breaks are available on any sailing from 3 October to 31 March 2011 and prices are based on 2 people sharing. Cabins on overnight sailings are available from £34.

Research and book your luxury short break in France.
More about Brittany Ferries routes to France.

• Price includes a return crossing to France with a car and is per person based on 2 people sharing a double room.
• This offer is subject to limited availability
• Available on selected dates from 3 October 2010 to 31 March 2011.
• Offer is for two night stay only and cannot be extended.
• New bookings only.
• Holiday terms and conditions apply.

Copenhagen to Oslo ferry from DFDS Seaways

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:28:00 +0000

Driving holidays in Scandinavia remain popular with British motorists, but currently there are no car ferries between the UK and Norway or Sweden. You can always fly and hire a car on arrival, but then you still have to put up with all the stress of airport security, delayed flights, baggage restrictions and extra payments.

The appeal of taking your own car lies in the freedom from all that. So how do you get to Scandinavia without flying? You can of course take any of the ferries that operate between the UK and Northern France, Belgium or Holland, but that leaves you with a long drive up through the Netherlands, Germany and Southern Denmark.

There is an alternative thanks to our partnership with DFDS Seaways. Drive-Alive has always offered the DFDS ferry crossing from Harwich to Esbjerg in Western Denmark. We are now able to supplement this crossing with the DFDS ferry between Copenhagen in Denmark and Oslo in Norway.

Combining these two routes allows you to design a really interesting and enjoyable driving holiday. Harwich is easily reached from most of England, either along the A12/A120 from London and the South-East or along the A14/A120 from the Midlands and the North.

Once you arrive in Esbjerg you could either take a break nearby in the lovely old town of Ribe, or visit Legoland, or set off on the easy 3 hour drive to Copenhagen. This is a fantastic city for a short break. Make sure you visit the Tivoli Gardens funfair with its midnight firework display - simple pleasures reminiscent of times past. Children and grown-ups love it.

The ferry to Oslo departs daily in the early evening. The ships that operate these routes really are more like floating hotels, a very different experience to the ferries that come and go from the UK. The Scandinavians demand quality, and these ships deliver, with 11 different cafés bars and restaurants, cinema, shopping and very comfortable en suite cabins.

You arrive at your destination next morning ready to explore the fabulous scenery that Norway has to offer. But stay awhile in Oslo, as this is a delightful city set at the head of the Oslo Fjord. Visit the islands, walk in the woods, enjoy the parks and open spaces and admire the modernist architecture around the harbour, where you can also spend a fortune eating out on Aker Brygge. Yes, Norway is expensive, although if you self-cater food in shops is much the same price as in the UK.

No holiday in Norway would be complete without visiting the Fjords, and Bergen is the perfect small coastal town from which to explore this dramatic coast. It's an 8 or 9 hour drive from Oslo, so it's a good idea to break your journey. Or head north towards Trondheim and the Arctic Circle. Although the main roads are well surfaced, many alternative routes are compacted dirt and offer a great opportunity to find out why the Scandinavians excel at rallying!

You can either return on the Oslo-Copenhagen ferry or maybe drive down through Sweden and cross back into Denmark via the Helsingborg short ferry crossing. Another possibility is to continue south in Sweden and cross the amazing Oresund bridge that connects Sweden to Denmark, then back to Esbjerg and catch the Harwich ferry back to the UK.

Scary things can happen when driving abroad

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Another incident sent in by a reader as a warning.

"My husband and I recently returned from touring round Europe for the fifth year in a row. We had never experienced any problems before this year. We were driving from Brno to Bratislava via Babkov on the D1 E50 when an old Bmw came up behind us with five men inside. The driver started flashing the lights and coming really close to the back of our car, while his passengers were frantically pointing at the passenger side back wheel. We slowed down for a time but no way were we going to pull over as my husband is a mechanic and had checked the car before we left the hotel.

When they realised we had no intention of stopping they started to get quite frantic and were getting dangerously close. My husband started to go faster and pull away from them when the Mercedes in front of us started braking and weaving and we realised he was in on it as well. When the BMW started to fall behind the Mercedes pulled over onto the hard shoulder and we drove on as fast as possible.

We are convinced it was the car they were after as we have a Golf GT Sport. All their cars are either black or silver and ours stuck out like a sore thumb as it is red. We also hadn’t seen another Golf.

It was a really scary ten minutes driving at high speeds but it hasn’t put us off our driving holidays. We just won’t be back in Czechoslovakia and we would suggest if any of your readers are going please don’t go in a Golf."

I have been driving abroad for over 40 years and I'm happy to say I've never experienced any similar problems, so we are not saying you shouldn't take your car to Europe - and neither is the author of the above piece - simply be aware these things can happen. Luckily they are very much the exception.

Car hijacked, baggage stolen - a cautionary tale

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:36:00 +0000

We have received details of a very unfortunate event which occurred to a reader of our website whilst driving in Spain. From the reception he received when he went to the police station to report this incident it seems to be a not uncommon experience. If similar incidents have happened to other users please let us know by emailing info@drive-alive.co.uk.

Our reader tells us:

"We were on the AP-7 Motorway in the area of Martorell towards Tarragona on the inside lane when we heard a bang which sounded like someone had hit us. I looked in the mirrors as I pulled onto the hard shoulder but couldn't see anything on the road. As we came to a stop a car pulled in front with his hazard lights on. So we thought they had seen what happened. The passenger got out and came back to us. He opened my door and was shouting at me in Spanish. He then pulled at my arm to try to get me out, pointing under the car and still shouting. As I am disabled my wife got out to look under the car. I turned away to put the car into park. When I turned back there was another bloke making off with our bags, which had been at my wife's feet for easy access. They drove off before my wife got back into the car. The whole thing took just 60/100 seconds. We reckon the initial bang could have been a stone thrown from another car or fired from a catapult. It dented the boot."

For another carjack scam visit our Facebook page.

Ferry passengers will get compensation for delays and cancellations

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:47:00 +0000

The EU Parliament has decided that ferry passengers should be entitled to the same sort of compensation as airline users in the event that their crossing is cancelled or delayed.

Currently those travelling by sea can only expect a refund or a place on a subsequent crossing if their booked ferry is cancelled. Once the directive has become active ferry users will be able to claim compnsation for inconvenience in the same way as air passengers, although unfortunately it will be another 2 years before this this happens.

For more information on all the major ferry crossings between the UK and Europe.

Brittany Ferries now even cheaper in summer mid-week

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Still wondering what to do with the family this summer without breaking the bank? How about a week in Brittany or Normandy using one of the Brittany Ferries ferries to France?

Following on from their recent summer offer, Brittany Ferries have now cut prices even further with an offer of ONLY £259 RETURN FOR FAMILY OF 4 WITH CAR, which strikes us as a pretty good deal. These prices represent a discount of 33% and mean a family of 4 with their car can travel to the holiday areas of Brittany and Normandy for as little as £65 per person return. And there are no booking fees, luggage charges, airport taxes or anything else - just the cost of fuel.

Add to this the improving rate of the pound versus the euro and this becomes a bit of a bargain. You can take advantage of the summer mid-week specials on the Brittany Ferries routes from Portsmouth to Caen and Cherbourg, from Poole to Cherbourg and from Plymouth to Roscoff. You need to travel between Monday to Thursday from August 2nd and return by September 2nd, and can stay for up to 7 days.

For more information on this offer and to check the conditions visit:
Brittany Ferries summer mid-week specials
For more about Brittany Ferries services, timetables and routes

DFDS Seaways and Norfolk Line merger complete

noreply@blogger.com (DriveAlive) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:01:00 +0000

On July 13th the merger between DFDS Seaways and Norfolk Line was officially completed. All the previous seagoing operations of Norfolk Line will now be re-branded as DFDS Seaways.

However, users of the Norfolk Line ferry routes between Dover and Dunkirk and across the Irish Sea will not see any difference for a while. The redesign of the website and the repainting of the Norfolk Line ships will be an ongoing process which will take some time to complete. So for now bookings will still be made on the respective DFDS and Norfolk Line websites.

There are no plans to change the fare structure either, although in the longer term DFDS hope the merger will put them in a stronger financial position, enabling them to offer more competitive pricing.

More about DFDS Seaways North Sea ferry crossings.
More about Norfolk Line ferry crossings from Dover to Dunkirk.