DFDS Premium Lounge and a drive to the Cote d’Azur


So S packed up the car, locked up the house and picked me up from the office. 

DFDS ferry across from Dover to Dunkirk with an estimated 12 hour drive (inc some breaks) when we get to the other side.  Experience has taught us that the premium lounge on this crossing is well worth the expenditure.  It is peaceful.  Sometimes too peaceful as the Steward could do with more clientele to be attentive towards but this time she had 3 couples including us so we weren’t the sole focus.  The offer of Prosecco as we walk in is always nice but equally always declined.  All alcoholic drinks being off the menu due to the drive to come.  There is, however, no shortage of snacks (cakes, biscuit, fruit, pastries and crisps) and other drinks (both alcohol/non alcohol, hot and cold) to help ourselves to and there is a little menu of filled baguettes/sandwiches/pizza/leek and cheese tarts to select from.


Having discovered that a flat white at Costa is now £4.25 (up from £4.05 in August), £18 for each of us for enough to keep us going until a breakfast pastry somewhere further along the route plus peace and quiet feels like value for money.


This gives the opportunity for 40 winks ahead of the drive.  S at least got a snooze despite an 8pm crossing not being the obvious time for a sleep.  I’m sure there are quiet enclaves around the ferry but there was also at least one coach load of German/Dutch teenagers and at this point of the holiday and after a day at work I don’t feel quite up to that level of exuberance. 


The France side was a less fraught, though much longer, drive than the English side traffic wise and we arrived at Les Adrets de l’Esterel a little before noon. 


The trip back is via the Channel Tunnel.  Pros - it is quick (except when it really is not - when delayed previously we have slept in the car for a good few hours, or tried to at any rate).  Cons - Burger King and Starbucks at the services are just not my personal preferences and you notice this, all the more, when delayed.  Plus, by its very nature,  the tunnel train is rather enclosed!




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