Portsmouth to Caen ferry advice

Myself and my wife travelled from Portsmouth once. Never again, the place is a fcking shthole.
Not sure if that helps the OP though.
Is there such a thing as a nice South coast ferry port (Plymouth - X, Southampton - X, Poole - X, Portsmouth - X).

OTOH they make you appreciate your holiday so much more having slummed it through the port ;)
 
I take a collapsible brolly. Bought it on a very rainy day in Epernay where I was wandering between champagne houses.

It's very handy at a port where there is no cover, whether pissing down in Portsmouth or 30C scorcio in Santander. Although, at the latter, they have now built cover for motorcyclists, unlike in 2022 when it was pissing down and I had forgot the brolly.
 
I use the Portsmouth Caen route a lot. Both daytime and overnight. IMHO it’s the best service to and from northern France. Portsmouth port is generally good compared to other UK ports, but as others have already said there is no point turning up early as it won’t get you onto the boat any faster. Ouistreham port is brilliant, both on arrival and departure and they always seem to put the bikes onto the ferry first. I’ve also got to say that amazingly both the ferry staff and the immigration staff at Portsmouth have always been friendly and smiley faced for me, unlike 99% of other points of entry to the UK.

The other plus is that the overnight sailings is long enough to get a decent Kip,

The only downside on a bike is that the deckhands on this route always tighten the overseat strap down really really tight which then leaves your bike seat seriously crumpled, even though they do put a cushion on top. Do it enough times and it knackers the foam inside the seat . Other than that it’s my favourite route by far
 
I suffered friction burns to a 2 week old bike seat; strap related. Portsmouth Brittany ferries paid for a new seat.
 
I normally arrive an hour and a bit before departure but no later than 45 minutes. Perfect. No point being there any earlier as boats dock, and out of port in under two hours. They certainly will not let you on two or three hours before scheduled departure.
 
Premier inn at the Rusty Cutter, Bedhampton - bottom of the A3 is a great location, safe tucked away..

And in the morning/evening less then ten minutes to the ferry entrance…
 
Luckily I’m only 15 minutes from the ferry … so I use my own secure parking.. ….
 

do keep up Twizzle !

only the Beefeater is closing, not the hotel. As it says, there will still be catering for residents but not the hoi poloi from Leigh Park and environs.

Personally, I would put this place in the same risk category as the Travelodge. My son lives about a mile away in Bedhampton and I would not park on his drive. It's located near the M27/A3(M) junction so easy for thieves to get in and out quickly.
 


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