Car

Practicalities Getting There Car Taking the Car by Train 

A useful option if travelling longer distances and wanting a car at the other end is Motor Rail.

This allows you to use the whole car for stowing luggage, you can keep your own child seats, and you avoid painfully long drives with all the inevitable pitstops and expense of overnights and/or motorway tolls. Savings on these balance out in part the extra cost of the motor rail fare.

To make the experience extra fun pack nice food and drink.

Rail Europe

179 Piccadilly, London W1
tel: 08702 415415

French Motorail operates services from Calais to Avignon, Narbonne, Nice, Toulouse and Brive in France. These are specifically targeted at the British market and run late May to mid September, days and frequency depending on season.

From Paris Auto Train routes are mainly within France but to a wider range of destinations and operating year round, at some times of year daily.

Calais to Avignon is from around £279 one way including the car and couchette accommodation for up to six. Four-berth couchettes are available at the same price. Two-berth sleepers with made up beds and wash basin are also at a slightly higher price. Price quoted is for the whole compartment so that you do not have to share. The AA calculates this as being around £220 more expensive than driving would be.

Compartments are very compact so eating your evening meal can be cramped. However, children usually find the whole experience entertaining and it is a way of starting and ending holidays in a much more relaxed fashion than fighting the crowds at Heathrow.

Deutsche Bahn (DB)

DB Reise & Touristik, 18 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XN
tel: 0870 2435363

Details of motorail services in Germany, largely from Cologne and through to Austria and Italy. Brochures are available if you phone.

Eurotunnel Shuttle Service

The Call Centre, St Martin's Plain, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4QD
tel: 08705 353535

The train transfer for vehicles, particularly useful outside high season when bad weather can make catamaran crossings unpleasant and ferries slower. A business class crossing gives you the option, for a premium, of boarding on the next available departure, as well as stocking up on a snack meal at a business class lounge (a warm Portakabin) and children get a treat box with sweetie snacks and the odd pocket money item.