Best way to France and back for Dogs?

[tawny owl]

Hi We are traveling to the Lot in March with our 2 Dogs. Last time on our first trip with them we used Eurotunnel which was very easy and quick although the drive in France was long for them and the cost for us all quite expensive.

Has anyone views/ recommendations on other ways? I am unsure what happens to pets on ferries. Thanks

[Merlin]

Friends of ours regularly travel over with their two dogs and a cat on the overnight ferry down the west coast and then drive inland - the animals have to remain in the car during the ferry trip and you are not allowed down on to the car deck to check on them.  Theirs are quite used to the trip and because it's overnight they just sleep.  If you just mean to cross over from Dover to Calais then obviously it's only a couple of hours but you then still have the long trip down through France.  All Ferry companies make the rule that you cannot return to the car deck once the ship has set sail.

[Cendrillon]

I think they have some kennels for the pets on Brittany Ferries.

[goose]

We have always travelled to Charente Maritime via Eurotunnel for the simple reason it is short and you are with the dogs the whole time. We did price up going via Portsmouth or Poole to Normandy but the cost was much more than the cost of driving from Calais. We have just booked a trip in March and the cost on Eurotunnel for a single journey is £58 so not too much if you buy in advance.

The tolls are expensive on the motorways though, but worth it to travel on them rather than the smaller roads as much quicker.

[Kitty]

Tawny - This subject has been written about in the past.  For example, take a look at these threads:

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1178224/ShowPost.aspx

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/711481/ShowPost.aspx

If you use the search box (top right), you will find other useful information about dogs in France.