My Ferry Travel

1. A golden rule for travelling, be it by air, sea or channel tunnel - don’t forget your passports! Make sure everyone (including the kids, the baby and the dog!) all have a valid passport. We know it seems like stating the obvious, but travelling outside the UK by ferry is no different than by aeroplane. You’re still going to a different country, so you need your passport. For travel to Ireland, photographic ID will do, such as a drivers license.

2. Leave plenty of time to make the car/train/bus journey to the port. Check-in usually closes around one hour before most ferry departures, so make sure you are there in advance of that time. If you are travelling by car, don’t leave it until the last minute to plan your route, and leave plenty of time for delays. If you are travelling by train or bus, leave time for delayed services or missed connections.

3. Don’t forget your booking reference number. Most ferry operators and low-cost airlines don’t issue paper tickets, but will provide you with an email confirming your booking; print it out and take it with you to avoid delays. Also, as soon as you have received your confirmation email, check it to make sure all the routes, dates and other details are right. They are much harder to change later!

4. If you are taking a vehicle, make sure it conforms to the driving regulations of the country to which you are travelling. For example, in Spain you need to carry your drivers license, motor insurance certificate and V5 vehicle registration document with you, and in the car you must carry a replacement bulb set, a warning triangle, and one high-visibility vest for every potential occupant of the car. And don’t forget that GB sticker!

5. Make sure you have arranged travel insurance to cover your trip, even if it is just a short break. You never know when something could go wrong! It is always a good idea to make copies of any important documents like passports, driving license and insurance certificates, just in case they get lost or stolen.

If you have any other ferry travel tips, please share them below!

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