Because the various methods of travelling to the Loire Valley are forever changing as more routes are added (or taken away!), we will keep up-dating this page so that you are always aware of the latest possibilities. We hope you find it useful.
If you have found us from CHEZ NOUS or OWNERS IN FRANCE (Brittany Ferries) now HOLIDAY FRANCE DIRECT, you will probably be aware that both offer discounted travel to clients booking properties in their brochures. Both companies ask for a reference number, which we can happily give to you after confirmation of a booking. Contact CHEZ NOUS on 0845 604 3959. Or contact HOLIDAY FRANCE DIRECT on 0871 244 0444. for Brittany Ferries travel:- Portsmouth to Caen, Portsmouth to St. Malo, Portsmouth to Cherbourg, Poole to Cherbourg and Plymouth to Roscoff to see which service fits in the best with your travel plans. As a matter of interest their 2008 routes look to be cheaper than for quite some time, however, perhaps this is just advertising blurb or perhaps the competition from the new Speedferry is helping to concentrate their minds! SPEEDFERRY/0870 220 0570 is the new 'Low Cost Operator of the Seas' travelling from Dover to Boulogne. They advertise unlimited stays in France for £50 return fare. Happily for us about half the journey is on the new motorway starting just south of Boulogne meaning that the journey time to Le Clos des Guyons has been cut to about five hours. You can always try the generic low cost ticket sellers too that say they can offer lower fares on any ferry. They are often disappointing but a ferry seems to have a few good things said about it and worth a try. Alternatively you can try the Eurotunnel (www.Eurotunnel.co.uk).
The last two years has seen several new routes opened for the first time by the low cost airline RYANAIR, and whilst Gatwick and London Stansted are still the airports with the largest choices and the most convenient flights to our nearest airports, Tours, Poitiers (being reinstated from April 2008) and Nantes Atlantique, at least our guests from the North and the Midlands can now avoid the trek South by flying from closer airports like East Midlands (Nottingham), Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool and so you will actually be on holiday in France and not spending four hours trying to find the M6 interesting!
NEW ROUTES UPDATE:
RYANAIR COMMENCING JUNE 2008 new flight route from BIRMINGHAM to POITIERS.
RYNAIR COMMENCING APRIL 2008 new flight route from LIVERPOOL to NANTES ATLANTIQUE.
COMMENCING APRIL 2008 for our guests from Ireland new route DUBLIN FLIGHTS to TOURS.
COMMENCING MAY 2007 Aer Arann (www.aerarann.com) launched its new twice weekly route from BRISTOL to NANTES and will start operating CARDIFF to NANTES from 23 JUNE.
COMMENCING MARCH 2006 for our guests from the Midlands and the North West Regions Ryanair have announced their new flight route from EAST MIDLANDS/NOTTINGHAM to NANTES-ATLANTIQUE.
Having listened with horror to many of our guests from Ireland who have described waiting up to eight hours at Stansted for a connecting flight to Tours or Poitiers, we now feel relieved that flights are available direct to NANTES ATLANTIQUE from SHANNON with Ryanair with up to three flights a week.
Another addition to the roll call of available flights are Aer Arran (www.aerarann.com) from both CORK to ANGERS and MANCHESTER to NANTES ATLANTIQUE.
FROM MAY 2006 Flybe introduced flights from SOUTHAMPTON to ANGERS (a mere 40 minute drive to Le Puy Notre Dame).
WATCH OUT FOR THE MANY SEAT SALES WHEN BOOKING WELL IN ADVANCE!
(CAR HIRE IS AVAILABLE TO MEET MOST ARRIVAL TIMES. IT IS NORMALLY CHEAPER TO BOOK DIRECT WITH THE CARE HIRE COMPANY THAN TO USE THE RESPECTIVE AIRLINE ON-LINE BOOKING SERVICE, WHO ADD THEIR COMMISSION CHARGES).
TRAINS!!
NOT FORGETTING THE 'EUROSTAR' INTO ANGERS STATION (The Capital City of Anjou) just a 40 minute drive away from Le Puy Notre Dame and again good car hire availability at the station to meet most arrival times!
(www.sncf.fr)
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