AGENTS' GUIDE 2010

France and Spain WITH BRITTANY FERRIES

brittanyferries.com/agents ;gVcXZHeV^c

Contents About this pack

Welcome to Brittany Ferries

page 1

Section 1

Introduction

page 1

Brittany Ferries at a glance

page 2

Your clients will be miles better off

page 3

A guide to our ports

page 4

Motoring in Europe

page 5

Fleet and onboard information

page 6

Brittany Ferries Holidays

Section 2

Why your customers should choose to holiday with Brittany Ferries

page 8

Hand-picked holidays in France and Spain

page 9

Holiday Regions

Section 3

The magic of France

page 10

The magic of Spain

page 12

Trade Support

Section 4

brittanyferries.com/agents

page 14

Agents’ concessions

page 15

Contact information

page 16

Welcome to Brittany Ferries

About this pack This guide is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of the service Brittany Ferries provides. It is full of useful information and we hope you will find it invaluable both as a reference to making a reservation, and as a way of familiarising yourself with the many advantages that only Brittany Ferries can offer.

A world of holidays in France and Spain When it comes to holidays in France and northern Spain, there’s no better choice than Brittany Ferries. After all, we’ve been taking people on holiday across the Channel for over 30 years, giving our customers:

• The widest choice of mile-saving routes, sailing direct to the best regions of France • Sailings to suit their holiday – daytime, overnight and high speed • The fastest, most luxurious ferry service to Santander, northern Spain • A superb range of hand-picked accommodation • Award-wining onboard service and top-class facilities The Cross Channel Ferry Market: France & Spain

How to complete your self-study quiz We’ve also included a self-study quiz based on the Brittany Ferries experience. Not only will this increase your knowledge in an enjoyable and practical way, it will also earn you a completion certificate and a travel voucher worth £100. Don’t forget, you can use our 2010 brochures and agents’ website, brittanyferries.com/agents to help you with your answers!

New for 2010 We’re pleased to announce some exciting improvements to our services for 2010.

Just over 4.3 million vehicles crossed the Channel in 2008 with 25% using Western Channel routes. Brittany Ferries has a 74% share of this high value market sector. We also hold a 60% POOLLE PORTSMOU POO OUTH OU TH H PLYM YM YMOUTH share of the CHERBOUR UR URG UK-Spain market. CAEN ROSCOFF FF

ST MALO

sailings to Spain – three sailings • More per week from Portsmouth and one from Plymouth high-speed sailings from • More Portsmouth to Cherbourg cruise ferry service from Portsmouth • New to Cherbourg (replacing the current cruise ferry service from Poole)

SANTAN SAN TANDER TAN DER

1

Brittany Ferries at a glance

CROSSING TIME

FREQUENCY

MAIN SHIPS

6 hours

Up to 3 daily return sailings

Mont St Michel Normandie

33/4 hours

Weekend high-speed service

Normandie Express

3 hours

Up to 2 daily return sailings

Normandie Express

4 ½ hours

Regular return service

Cap Finistère

8 3/4 hours

Daily return service

Bretagne

21/4 hours

Seasonal daily high-speed service

Normandie Vitesse

6 hours

Up to 3 return sailings daily

Armorique Pont-Aven

24 hours

3 return sailings per week

Pont-Aven Cap Finistère

21 hours

Weekly return sailing

Pont-Aven

PORTSMOUTH – CAEN Most popular route on the Western Channel. Ideal not only for Normandy, but also for Loire, Paris and southern Europe.

PORTSMOUTH  CHERBOURG Ideal not only for Normandy, but also Brittany and beyond.

PORTSMOUTH – ST MALO Ideal for Brittany, Loire, Dordogne and south west France.

POOLE – CHERBOURG PLYMOUTH

POOLE PORTSMOUTH

Ideal not only for Normandy, but also Brittany and beyond.

CHERBOURG CAEN ROSCOFF

ST MALO

PLYMOUTH – ROSCOFF Gateway to Brittany and ideal for Atlantic Coast, Dordogne and south west France.

PORTSMOUTH – SANTANDER Unique service for Spain, Portugal and south west France. SANTANDER

PLYMOUTH – SANTANDER Unique service for Spain, Portugal and south west France.

2

Introduction to Brittany Ferries SECTION 1

Your clients will be miles better off The strongest selling point of Brittany Ferries is the fact that our unique route network takes your clients direct to the popular holiday areas of France, saving miles of unnecessary driving.

Mileage chart See how many miles can be saved from the tables below which show driving distances from our ports compared to Calais and the Channel Tunnel. France and Spain are big countries and journey planning is important. You may find it useful to also refer to the enclosed maps of France and Spain.

DRIVING IN FRANCE Distance in miles Caen

Roscoff

St Malo

Cherbourg

Santander

Calais/Tunnel

Biarritz

466

495

422

501

150

617

Bordeaux

358

379

310

391

264

499

La Baule

195

152

111

202

505

380

La Rochelle

250

270

198

277

371

417

Paris

136

334

227

712

607

169

Quimper

217

62

122

232

600

425

Toulouse

452

527

455

525

327

580

Tours

149

261

171

222

469

299

DRIVING IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL Distance in miles Santander

Roscoff

St Malo

Cherbourg

Caen

Calais/Tunnel

Alicante

498

940

871

952

909

1059

Barcelona

427

726

653

723

651

779

Faro

598

1183

1115

1196

1154

1304

Lisbon

517

1094

1021

1101

1066

1216

Madrid

243

795

722

801

766

917

Marbella

587

1152

1084

1164

1123

1273

Oporto

390

996

928

1009

967

1117

Santiago

298

936

863

943

908

1059

DRIVING TO OUR UK PORTS Distance in miles Portsmouth

Poole

Plymouth

Dover

London

74

109

215

78

Birmingham

145

142

200

185

Manchester

226

223

275

257

Bristol

93

69

115

195

Newcastle

331

337

399

341

Edinburgh

430

427

477

440 3

A guide to our ports

Ferry Port

4

Plymouth

Poole

Portsmouth

Santander

Caen

Cherbourg

St Malo

Roscoff

Introduction to Brittany Ferries SECTION 1

Motoring in Europe

The following provides a useful summary of requirements for motoring in Europe: FRANCE

SPAIN

Minimum age at which UK Driving Licence accepted

18

18

National driving licence required

YES

YES

International driving permit required (for UK licence holders)

NO

NO

Vehicle registration document required

YES

YES

Motor vehicle insurance required

YES

YES

Bail Bond required

NO

R

GB sticker/Europlates required

C

C

Warning triangle required

C

C

Reflectorised jacket/waistcoat

C

C

Spare headlamp bulbs required

R

C

Headlamp adjustment needed

C

C

Seatbelts required front and rear

YES

YES

Minimum age of children allowed in front seat

10

12

Wide acceptance of credit cards for petrol

YES

YES

Use of radar detectors

F

F

Motorway tolls payable

YES

YES

130kph 81mph

120kph 74mph

YES

YES

Maximum motorway speed limit On the spot fines R = Recommended. C = Compulsory. F = Forbidden.

5

Fleet and onboard information

Portsmouth – Caen Portsmouth – Cherbourg

Poole – Cherbourg

39,500

27,541

6,581

5,000

Passenger Capacity

1,500

2,056

850

2,200

2,400

1,500

750

750

Car Capacity

470

580

500

884

650

600

260

185

Restaurant

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Self-service restaurant

✓

✓

–

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Salon de Thé

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Bar

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Bureau de Change

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Shops

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Playroom

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Cinema†

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Lifts

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Disabled cabins

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Disabled toilets

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Kennels

–

✓

✓

–

✓

–

–

–

Children's Club (Seasonal)

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Normandie Vitesse

Portsmouth – Caen

30,000

Normandie Express

Pont-Aven Portsmouth – Santander Plymouth – Santander Plymouth – Roscoff

32,728

Normandie

Mont St Michel Portsmouth – Caen

24,534

Cap Finistère Portsmouth – Santander Portsmouth – Cherbourg

22,500

Bretagne Portsmouth – St Malo

Tonnage

Armorique Plymouth – Roscoff

In addition to unique routes, our ships offer unrivalled standards of service, style and facilities. For information on routes and duration refer to page 2.

Routes

Ship description

Onboard facilities

†Charge payable on board

6

Armorique

Bretagne

Normandie

Cap Finistère

Normandie Vitesse

✓

✓

✓

–

–

–

Normandie Express

Mont St Michel

Pont-Aven

Introduction to Brittany Ferries SECTION 1

Onboard facilities continued Teenage area

✓

–

Tourist Information

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Sundeck

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Video games room

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Baggage room

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

–

–

Swimming pool

✓

–

–

–

–

✓

–

–

Baby changing room

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Onboard accommodation* Commodore Class

18

8

–

16

8

–

–

–

De Luxe

16

–

–

–

–

8

–

–

Club Plus

–

–

8

–

–

–

–

–

2 Berth Outside

12

–

6

–

3

57

–

–

2 Berth Inside

252

40

95

149

33

–

–

–

4 Berth Club

56

–

96

49

–

–

–

–

4 Berth Outside

97

68

–

37

123

102

–

–

4 Berth Inside

158

80

34

108

27

66

–

–

Reclining Seats

47

419

319

319

416

–

F 578 P 90 C 52

750

Cots

30

15

15

15

14

10

–

–

* Normandie Vitesse - Reclining Seats: F=Free, C=Commodore, P=Pre-allocated

7

Why your customers should choose to holiday with Brittany Ferries Easy to book, easy to get to and great value for money, France and Spain with Brittany Ferries is the perfect choice for customers looking for an unforgettable holiday experience, with the freedom of taking their own car. But if that’s not convincing enough, here are just a few examples of who you should be telling about us, and why:

Families with kids of all ages

UK holiday makers

• •

A wide choice of accommodation suitable for families in all sorts of locations

•

Fabulous selection of properties – often proving to be better value than their UK equivalent

•

•

No baggage limitations – simply pack the car with everything they need

Direct sailings from the easily accessible ports of Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, makes France and Spain closer than you think

•

Quieter roads, beautiful scenery – and the opportunity to really ‘get away from it all’

Convenient and hassle-free sailings with something to keep everyone occupied on board

Couples – young and old

Reservations and information

brittanyferries.com/agents

0871 244 1444 Brochures

www.trade-gate.co.uk 8

•

Great choice of self-catering and hotel accommodation – selected for their high standards

•

An unrivalled onboard experience, offering restaurants, stylish bars and lounges and well-appointed cabins

•

Freedom and flexibility of taking the car and exploring at their own pace

Better still, all customers will enjoy: No hidden supplements – plus if booking early, only a small deposit to pay. No baggage restrictions and surcharges – simply pack the car and go. No inconvenient check-in times – arrive just 45 minutes before departure. No more long drives through north east France – saving on fuel, tolls and overnight stops.

Brittany Ferries Holidays SECTION 2

Hand-picked holidays in France and Spain

Cottages and villas With a fabulous choice of gites, cottages, villas with pools and casas set in many of the most desirable locations of France and northern Spain, this is the ultimate guide to holiday accommodation with a true home-from-home feel. All are great value for money, especially as prices include return ferry travel for a standard car and occupants

Chalet camping and apartments Absolutely perfect for clients whose idea of a great time is having lots of fun-packed activities right on their doorstep. Each of these sites feature special play areas for kids and live entertainment in the evenings, whilst most locations also feature a large pool and offer a wide range of outdoor pursuits too. All are great value for money, especially as prices include return ferry travel for a standard car and occupants.

Hotels Our great selection of hotels in France and Spain covers virtually every type of location, style and budget. Historic châteaux, luxurious paradores, city centre hotels and small country inns specialising in a personal welcome are just some of the many choices available. All offer superb value for money and can be booked for any length of stay.

9

The magic of France When reading this section you might find it useful to refer to the enclosed map of France. For further information view our regional guide online at brittanyferries.com/agents

France has an irresistible, year-round appeal boasting a landscape as diverse as it is grand in scale. From the lush green countryside and rich medieval heritage of Brittany and Normandy, to the stylish sun-drenched beach resorts of the Côte d’Azur – from the chic boulevards of Paris, to the sunlit vineyards of Bordeaux and the majestic snow capped mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees. And, there’s no better way to discover these delights than on a self-drive holiday with Brittany Ferries.

Normandy and Brittany East of Caen, the Côte Fleurie – or Floral Coast – of Normandy boasts a clutch of stylish seaside resorts including family-friendly Cabourg, chic Deauville with its race course and boardwalk, and neighbouring Trouville with its busy fishing harbour. Don’t miss picturesque Honfleur

where cafés line the quay around the old port. West of Caen, the historic D-Day Landing beaches stretch in a long arc towards Cherbourg – visit the museums and memorials and enjoy miles of peaceful sands. Mont St Michel, on the border with Brittany, is one of the country’s most iconic landmarks, a Gothic hilltop abbey that rises from a sheltered bay, whilst nearby Saint Malo with its impressive walled town is another must-see site. Brittany’s coastline embraces pretty coves and broad beaches, rugged cliffs and dramatic rock formations, all dotted with authentic fishing villages such as Roscoff. For the true Breton experience, watch the comings and goings of nautical folk over a towering seafood platter at a restaurant on the quay. Visit Quimper, Brittany’s oldest town; soak up the mystical atmosphere of Carnac where lines of standing stones date from 5,000 BC; and wander amongst the halftimbered buildings in historic Vannes.

10

Loire Valley and Atlantic coast Travel south from Brittany into Western Loire and you reach the stylish resort of La Baule with its five miles of beautiful sandy beach, before crossing over the Loire – France’s longest river – into the Vendée. With 90 miles of beaches and a micro-climate that ensures nearMediterranean summer weather, this is a great family destination with childfriendly resorts such as Saint Jean de Monts and La Tranche sur Mer.

Holiday Regions SECTION 3

There’s something for all ages in the Poitou Charentes region, which lies beyond the regional nature park of the Marais Poitevin or ‘Green Venice’, an enchanting area of unspoilt marshland and canals. Relax round the bustling marina at La Rochelle with its three historic watch towers and quaint old streets, and take the road bridges to Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oléron to enjoy whitewashed villages dotted with hollyhocks. Take the ferry across the Gironde estuary from Royan to enter the wine-growing area of the Médoc, gateway to Aquitaine. From here the coast is one long sandy beach that stretches to the Spanish border. Learn to surf the Atlantic waves; climb the extraordinary Dune du Pyla near Arcachon; and take in the colourful resorts of Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz in the French sector of Basque Country, an area steeped in tradition and atmosphere.

The Mediterranean Mention the Mediterranean and most people immediately think of sophisticated resorts like Nice, Cannes and St Tropez on the Côte d’A zur, but France’s Mediterranean coast is just as varied as its Atlantic shoreline, stretching from the Pyrenees in the west to Monaco in the east.

The Languedoc Roussillon region includes the picturesque resort of Collioure near the Spanish border, historic Perpignan and the vibrant city of Montpellier, finishing up on the western fringes of the Camargue, a vast wetland area that also marks the beginning of Provence. Here cowboys on white horses still round up black bulls beside lagoons dotted with pink flamingos. Visit the unpretentious resort of Saintes Maries de la Mer where you can discover the area’s rich folklore and traditions, relax on the beach and climb to the church roof for a panoramic view.

11

The magic of Spain When reading this section you might find it useful to refer to the enclosed map of Spain. For further information view our regional guide online at brittanyferries.com/agents

If you like the idea of a Spanish holiday but don’t like the idea of commercialised Mediterranean resorts, allow us to introduce you to a very different kind of Spanish destination – a whole new world just waiting to be explored, just a ferry journey from Britain. Northern Spain could not be more different from the Costas – a magical land of dramatic mountains, lush green countryside and glorious, golden beaches – a land still proud of their local traditions.

Beside the sea Spanning the regions of Cantabria and Asturias, the glorious north coast of Spain is one long chain of broad sandy beaches and secluded coves, dotted with picturesque fishing villages and authentic small towns. Here you can relax beside the sea or get active on the water.

Have a go at surfing or sailing, jet skiing, water skiing or windsurfing; go diving beneath the waves; or fly over them on a paraglider. The choices – like the beaches – are endless. The north coast communities have a long maritime history and fishing is still an important part of the economy, so be sure

to enjoy the harvest at a local restaurant. Forget fish and chips as you know it and sample the local seafood, freshly caught each day and delivered to the quayside. Crabs, lobsters, king prawns and sea bass are all popular in Cantabria, with monkfish, tuna and hake featuring regularly on Asturian menus. A region of genuine natural beauty untouched by tourism – and it’s all just a short drive from our port at Santander.

Stunning Santander Brittany Ferries’ passengers could not have a more fitting gateway to this beautiful area than the port of Santander, principal city of the Cantabria region and one of Spain’s best kept secrets. Here you’ll find wide tree-lined avenues, elegant squares and shady public parks which are guaranteed to get your holiday off to a relaxing start. Soak up the atmosphere of the old town in Plaza Porticada, fringed with arcades and the venue for a vibrant summer festival of music and dance. 12

Holiday Regions SECTION 3 As evening falls, you can enjoy tapas bars, restaurants and night clubs that are lively with none of the rowdiness of the Costas. Just a mile from the city centre on the west of the Magdalena peninsula, the upmarket suburb of El Sardinero offers a choice of spotless sandy beaches, some with calm water for families, others with white water for surfers. Play a few euros at the Grand Casino, an opulent white building that seems to have come straight from a James Bond movie. Look out too for the Magdalena Palace, favourite summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and his wife Victoria Eugenia at the turn of the 20th century.

History and heritage The past is never far away in Northern Spain, an area which is fiercely proud of its history and heritage, its traditions and way of life. You’ll find architectural remains dating back to the Romans and Middle Ages, as well as rural traditions and festivals that date back generations.

that joins the city with the Cimadevilla district – literally ‘top of the town’. For a cultural day out within easy reach of the beaches, try Oviedo, capital city of Asturias - don’t miss the historic old quarter, nor the Fine Arts Museum housed in an impressive 18th century mansion.

A short drive west of Santander is Santillana del Mar, one of the best preserved historic villages in Europe. Wander the two main streets leading from the market square to enjoy a variety of architectural styles from across the centuries. Close by are the famous Altamira caves, where cave paintings dating from the Stone Age were discovered in 1879. So precious are they that the caves are now closed to the public but a visit to the replica caves and museum is still a must.

Further south, the huge region of Castilla y León boasts more UNESCO World Heritage sites than anywhere else in Europe. Find out about local history and culture in elegant cities such as Salamanca, León, Burgos and Segovia, where you can visit castles, cathedrals and cloisters, and step back in time at the Roman gold mines of Las Médulas, an ancient industrial site once worked by thousands of slaves. Travel east, and the small Pyrenean region of Navarra produces excellent wines in a landscape of hills, valleys and rivers. The main city, Pamplona, is famous for its annual bull running festival, whilst Puente La Reina to the south is another interesting town which lies on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela.

Further west, the beach resort of Gijón is the largest city in Asturias, offering an attractive combination of lively urban life and long sandy beach. The atmospheric old town clings to a narrow strip of land

Mountain magic You don’t have to travel far from the coast to find yourself in a totally different landscape of lush river valleys and sparkling lakes, peaceful forests and sleepy villages, all against the stunning backdrop of the Picos de Europa mountains. These craggy peaks reach 8,000 feet towards the sky and embrace 300 square miles of dramatic, unspoilt countryside which many people consider to be Spain’s finest national park.

If you love wildlife, you’ll be in your element here. Among the endangered mammals to be found in the Picos are the European brown bear and the asturcon – a small, shaggy wild horse. Many people are lucky enough to spot chamois, thanks to a total ban on hunting within the park, and you’ll certainly spot birds of prey wheeling overhead. Watch out for golden eagles and peregrine falcons, but also for black woodpeckers, snow finches and a wealth of other species. Look down too – the slopes are carpeted with a huge variety of wild plants. There’s hardly an outdoor sport that you can’t try in the Picos – not just hiking and horse riding, but climbing too and a variety of adrenalin sports such as white water rafting. If all that sounds too energetic, enjoy a panoramic view from the cable car that links the natural limestone amphitheatre at Fuente Dé with the high peaks. 13

Book online brittanyferries.com/agents Our agents’ exclusive website has a lot more to offer than simply booking online. The site is designed to make it easier for you to sell a Brittany Ferries crossing or holiday. Additional information available includes:

Online ferry booking – book a ferry crossing in five easy steps, plus get confirmation and tickets emailed immediately. Amendments can be made online with no charge. Online holiday booking – using the website is the easiest way to make a self-drive holiday booking. Features include:

•

Holiday search – check availability of hundreds of holidays. Search by holiday type, accommodation size, location, distance from the beach or pool and even facilities

• •

Distances from the ports – mileages from each of our ports to the chosen accommodation

•

Special offers – all the latest ferry and holiday offers are included, plus ideas for holidays with a difference

•

Trade Support – the site contains information on educationals, concessions, and a downloadable version of this guide

•

Helpful information – from guides to France and Spain, to terms and conditions to how to get to each port, plus more

Web exclusive – go online to view our range of holidays that are not featured in the brochures

•

Additional pictures – available on

•

most holidays

14

•

Brochures – order further supplies of all our brochures

Accounts – online accounts facility

Trade Support SECTION 4

Agents' concessions UP TO 50% OFF FERRY TRAVEL UP TO 25% OFF HOLIDAYS SPECIAL SHORT STAY FARES: Day trips to France from £20 for two people

These special fares are available to management and staff of productive agents who are actively involved in selling Brittany Ferries' range of products:

Ferry travel

Information and bookings

50% SAVING ON A STANDARD RETURN FARE

For further information on concessions, including full terms and conditions please contact our Concessions team on

(regardless of length of stay) Valid for UK departures to France and Spain throughout 2010, excluding selected dates.*

Inclusive holidays Up to 25% SAVING ON THE HOLIDAY PRICE Bookings can only be made a maximum of 10 weeks and minimum of 48 hours prior to departure.

0871 244 1444 Once you have made your reservation, please send an email, a fax or a letter of authorisation on agency headed paper, signed by your Manager. Quote your own booking reference number, along with at least one other reference number of a recent customer booking. The concession will be processed and the amended balance charged to your agency account. Send your authorisation to: Email: [email protected] Fax: 0871 244 0927 Post: Trade Support, Brittany Ferries, Millbay, Plymouth PL1 3EW

Terms and conditions apply to concessionary travel. *Where the full 50% discount is not available on certain dates a 25% discount will apply. Further details available on request.

15

Contact information Address Brittany Ferries Millbay Plymouth PL1 3EW

Agents' website brittanyferries.com/agents

Reservations Tel: 0871 244 1444

Trade Support Tel: 0871 244 0470 Fax: 0871 244 0927 E-mail: [email protected]

Sales Ledger Tel: 0871 244 0103 Fax: 0871 244 0113

Customer Services Tel: 0871 244 0500 Fax: 0871 244 0476

16

PLYM YMOUTH

POOLE PORTSMO OUTH TH CHERBOUR URG

ROSCOFF RO

CAEN ST MALO

SA SAN AN TAN A TAND TA AN DER DER

brittanyferries.com/agents ;gVcXZHeV^c