I am trying to get from London to Bayeux (France). I was scheduled to fly to Caen and then take the train to Bayeux. However, it looks like Flybe might be out of business in a few days so I need alternate transport.
I could take the train to Paris, switch stations, and then another train to Bayeux. Or, I could take the ferry.
So my question is this....how bad can I expect the seas to be between Portsmouth and Normandy in the third week in April?
It does indeed look as though Flybe will be no more by the end of the day. Bookings are down 40% on last year, not helped by the Coronavirus.
Generally, the sea should not be too bad at that time of year and the boat is large enough to handle swells. Of course, storms can arise, but less so in April.
I could take the train to Paris, switch stations, and then another train to Bayeux.
I’ve done this and it took me most of the day ... probably about 8 hours from the time that I left my hotel in London to the time that I arrived in Bayeux including tube, Eurostar, RER and Walk from Magenta to Gare St Lazare, train to Bayeux and taxi on arrival.
The more experienced here tell me I've been unusually unlucky, but I've been ticketed on five channel ferries (all of them between May and September), and two of them were canceled. One of those was canceled for three days in a row. Odds are that will not happen to you, but I'm living proof that it could.
I too experienced a channel ferry cancellation, not due to weather but to a labor dispute on the French side (only found out the reason later on). Bayeux is between Caen and Cherbourg, so with any reasonable luck you could catch a boat to one or the other. Check which English ports connect with each of these; I'm guessing Portsmouth-Caen and Poole-Cherbourg.
But, another consideration is that the ferry boats go in for maintenance on certain dates so all of a sudden if you try to book you might find there is no ferry scheduled on your desired date to/from the port(s) you wanted.
If it's seasickness you're concerned about, know that the rolling swells of a beautiful calm day can make you just as sick as a storm can. What works for me (infamously subject to motion sickness) is to eat lightly and take Dramamine; expect to be somewhat drowsy as that is a side effect of Dramamine.
I don't get seasick. I was more concerned about rough seas causing cancellations.
I think my plan will be Eurostar to Paris, RER from Gare du Nord to Gare St. Lazarre, train to Bayeux and taxi to hotel.
Is an hour enough time between Eurostar and train departure from St. Lazare? I've only done trains out of Nord and Est. And I walked between those two.
(I amended this posting to switch using the RER instead of a taxi between Gare du Nord and Gare St. Lazare.)
"Is an hour enough time between Eurostar and train departure from St. Lazare?"
Just based on my experience getting in the taxi line at Gare du Nord after a Eurostar arrival, I'd say no. It has taken me 45 minutes a couple of times to get to the head of the line. I've also had Eurostar delays a couple of times - the longest was 101 minutes when someone stole some cable off the line on the French side. I'd get Bayeux tickets that can be flexible.
Its luck of the draw, yes yur boat might get cancelled due to wind speed but your flight might get canceled due to fog. Living in the middle of the English Channel i have lots of experience of both.
Rather than changing stations by taxi, use the metro. I changed from St Lazare to Nord by the metro/RER E line. From the time I got off the train at St Lazare, bought my metro ticket and switched to and walked up to the platforms at Nord was about 13 minutes.
Frank, Brittany Ferries start their high speed catamaran service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg in April which takes three hours. Evidently they feel that mid April offers good enough conditions to operate a service however the weather in the English Channel is an unpredictable one.
The larger, slower ferries can handle rougher weather better than the catamaran can so it's whether you opt for speed and potential exhilaration or slow but steady.
Is an hour enough time between Eurostar and train departure from St. Lazare?
I used the RER and I made it in well under an hour. However, I just bought my ticket at Gare St Lazare.
Frank, Brittany Ferries start their high speed catamaran service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg in April which takes three hours. Evidently they feel that mid April offers good enough conditions to operate a service however the weather in the English Channel is an unpredictable one.
This year they're starting in May. But it would have been my first choice. I haven't traveled by ferry across the Channel since before the tunnel.
Do they still sell metro tickets on board the Eurostar?
If you Eurostar, an hour should work fine using RER E to Haussmann St. Lazare. Gare du Nord to St. Lazare in roughly 15 minutes.
Remember that Eurostar demands an hour for pre-boarding security, Immigration, and customs at the BOARDING station between England and the Continent. They will not guarantee Eurostar boarding if you do not make THEIR deadline. It doesn't matter what someone here tells you, so read the Eurostar rules. Brexit has not made this any easier.
It's too bad you might be exposed to Walkup fare levels on Eurostar. Be sure to check times of day when Business travelers might be less likely to take Eurostar, in the hope of saving some money - unless total travel time is of the essence. You don't seem to have factored in travel time between ferry terminals and major cities.
Remember that Eurostar demands an hour for pre-boarding security, Immigration, and customs at the BOARDING station between England and the Continent. They will not guarantee Eurostar boarding if you do not make THEIR deadline. It doesn't matter what someone here tells you, so read the Eurostar rules. Brexit has not made this any easier.
Thanks, I've taken Eurostar in the past and I'm well aware of the rules.
It's too bad you might be exposed to Walkup fare levels on Eurostar. Be sure to check times of day when Business travelers might be less likely to take Eurostar, in the hope of saving some money - unless total travel time is of the essence. You don't seem to have factored in travel time between ferry terminals and major cities.
I'll decide in the next couple of days so I can get an advanced fare. My ferry plans include travel to the ferry ports. I just haven't posted them because they weren't relevant to my questions.
I'm not a novice traveler.
If you want to be certain that your OP is recognized as coming from a non-novice traveler, it might be helpful to display more affect, and detail, in the OP. Despite your belief that you asked a simple question, a vast majority of posts here come from travelers with little experience in what they are asking about. It's up to you,
