Question for NIK or anyone whose done coach hol. with Leger

[jillrobinson]

I'm looking for some information on Leger Coach hols to DLRP.

Crossing - do they use the Tunnel or Ferry or do you get a choice.
How long is the journey, what sort of time do you arrive at the hotel.
What are the facilities on the coach like, travelling with kids - are there toilets/drinks/food facilities onboard.
What happens with luggage, presumably you take it through customs yourself.

I understand you change coaches at some point from the "Feeder" coaches - how does this work ?

Any information greatly appreciated. I did a coach trip to Spain in '86 and vowed never to go anywhere by coach again.

Thanks folks, as I mentioned before DH doesn't want to go again and I'm contemplating taking the kids, I couldn't cope with the M25 on my own and it looks like a lot of hassle with changes to get to Waterloo, so Eurostar's out of the question. So it's flights or coach.

 

[lizbro]

that quite odd as i was about to post the a similar question for nik !! my only other question is how long did ti take from peterborough ,it took us 8 hrs exactly going by car& eurotunnel and just wondered about the leger as we are trying to figure out how to use my huge amounts of clubcard points !!

 

[stargatebarbie]

hi my friend has gone with ledger and she is back at the weekend so i be happy to quiz her if you are not in a hurry. Ive done DLP with national coaches 5 times ,we leave HUll at 7.00am and get to DLP about 9.pm via the ferry from dover to calais. There are pently of stop offs and there is a loo on board the luggage stays on the coach the whole time sometimes you have to go though passport control (never took luggage though) A long journey but the thought of DLP keeps you going (and you get what you pay for)bUT everyone usually survives !!

 

[jillrobinson]

we are trying to figure out how to use my huge amounts of clubcard points !!

Me too!!!
I realised I've enough to pay for a coach trip outright and can't stop thinking about a short pre-christmas trip.
Next to Eurostar or self drive it does sound very simple almost door to door service.

 

[Torchy]

We went via Leger year before last.

Trip time from Durham to DLRP was 17 hours, setting off at 03:30. Got into room at NPB at 21:45. Changed coaches at South Mimms (waited nearly an hour for a coach from Wales that was late). Also had to wait half an hour at Dartford for a woman and child from London. Ferry from Dover to Calais was uneventful, meals and drinks well overpriced.

In 17 hours we stopped twice, once at South Mimms and at a French service station somewhere. Driver seemed disinterested in toilet breaks as we "had to make time up". The return leg was even worse, travelling through the night but the only thing to look forward to was getting off the damn coach.

Most appaling trip we have ever been on. The coach was alternately freezing cold or stifling hot. Legroom almost non-existant, and the constant drone and vibration drove me mad. We will never take the coach to DLRP again and will fly every time even if it means saving harder or shortening the trip.

 

[jillrobinson]

Thanks stargatebarbie I'd love to know what your friend thinks while she's still fresh from the journey.

You've already helped me out, I think I'd avoid the 3 day break (which I was previously thinking might be a good idea, i.e. travelling back through the night) and go for the 4 day break and travel back after breakfast.

 

[jillrobinson]

We went via Leger year before last.

Trip time from Durham to DLRP was 17 hours, setting off at 03:30. Got into room at NPB at 21:45. Changed coaches at South Mimms (waited nearly an hour for a coach from Wales that was late). Also had to wait half an hour at Dartford for a woman and child from London. Ferry from Dover to Calais was uneventful, meals and drinks well overpriced.

In 17 hours we stopped twice, once at South Mimms and at a French service station somewhere. Driver seemed disinterested in toilet breaks as we "had to make time up". The return leg was even worse, travelling through the night but the only thing to look forward to was getting off the damn coach.

Most appaling trip we have ever been on. The coach was alternately freezing cold or stifling hot. Legroom almost non-existant, and the constant drone and vibration drove me mad. We will never take the coach to DLRP again and will fly every time even if it means saving harder or shortening the trip.

Now you've just gone and reminded me of all the bad points of coach travel.

 

[Cyrano]

Let us know if you book it

 

[catgirl03]

Jill not sure if this helps but when I went to Paris with work, they picked us up at 10.00pm in the bus station abergavenny. We boarded the ferry in dover for a 3.00am sailing. It only took about an hour to cross but you also lose an hour so it was about 5.00am in France. The luggage stayed on board the bus at all times and appeared in the room of our hotel. Once the bus left the ferry in france we had to stop and French Passport control got on, they inspected everyones passport and got back off then a sniffer dog came on, they opened up the side of the bus so that he could sniff the bags as well. Then we set off for Paris we got to the hotel for breakfast so I say it was about 8.00am.

Overall it was about 9.00hours but it was quite broken up.

We went with a company from Llanfoist or Gilwern they were called Hertiage?? I think.

They used to do lots of trips from Abergavenny Area and I think they are still going. And if they go the Paris (I went a second time with them as well) I would have thought they would do a Disney one.

See you soon
Annie

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi Catgirl03 long time, no see

It's Heritage in Gilwern and they do run trips to DLP, but I'm only contemplating a coachtrip because I can use my Tesco vouchers with Leger, but only for their coach hols.

 

[chrismoo]

I'd sooner chop both my arms off then ever get on a coach ever again.

Last coach trip involved a trip from Penzance to London, picking up every drunk in every tiny village on route.

You don't need the M25 to get to London from Abergavenny. M4 all the way.

Or quicker would be to Fly from Cardiff or Bristol (Easyjet start in October)

 

[steve_woodward]

Last year we went with Goldcrest and it was just a bad as everyone is saying, stopping every 10 mins to either pick someone up or to have another toilet break, ancient coach the list just goes on.

The thing that really brought it home to me how long it had actually taken to get there was when I worked out that in exactly the same amount of time we could have got to Disney in Florida!

 

[jillrobinson]

Guess you've all just confirmed what I was thinking.
"I'd sooner chop both my arms off then ever get on a coach ever again."
I said something like that after our Spain trip.

I'll just have to wait until next year, DH won't let me go again this year, after the "one special 06 trip" earlier this year. I could've justified it by using up my Clubcard vouchers.

Chris I was thinking M25 for Ashford that's where we usually go from, I drive eyes closed on that road - I hate it, DH doesn't drive, but having him there means I can manage it, I'd be a bag of nerves on my own and I wouldn't even contemplate driving into London.

 

[Cyrano]

I'd sooner chop both my arms off then ever get on a coach ever again.

I said that after one and only trip to South of France by coach

 

[higgy66]

I went to Paris by coach from Yorkshire, for the New Year, many moons ago. It was OK actually but I only had myself and b/f (now hubby) to worry about.

There is no way I would attempt anything like this with my 2 toddler girls. I shudder at the very thought!


however, when they're older, the thought or door to door service and nothing to worry about would be tempting, especially if you can use your clubcard points.

 

[NIK]

Hiya.

As far as the crossing of the 'great water' is concerned it depends what dates you go. They do different types of crossing for different travel dates. You have to ask when you book or just take pot luck.

I've never had to change coaches on either of the occasions I've been with leger. The same coach and drivers stay with you.

There are loos on the coach but if you are one of the last bodies on I'm afraid its cross your legs time. If the tanks get full They have nowhere to empty them and so they can't be used. They do have several comfort stops along the way though

Drinks are avaiable but it depends very much on the drivers favour. The first time I went we were forever being offered drinks - it was very pleasant. But the second time we only grudgingly got offered a drink when we stopped for everyone to troop through customs with their passports.

Generally you put your bags etc on the coach when it collects you and it stays there until you arrive. Mum went on a longer coaching holiday to Europe with my Aunt and one of hers was the bag selected for customs to check but I've never had anything like that happen when I went.

HTH

 

[jillrobinson]

Thanks for the info. Nik, I'm still undecided - on my own I'd probably give it a go. My eldest would be OK he's been to Normandy on a coach so knows what to expect but with the youngest complaining of feeling ill on the way back on Eurostar last time I don't think I could risk 12+ hours travelling time.

 

[NIK]

Actually I always enjoyed coach travel myself. It's nice for once not to have to be responsible for every blessed thing. I can just stick my cd player on and daydream out the window - no fuss no muss. It does have it's advantages

 

[mickey66]

Hi
We went on a leger coach tour in March and it was a very long day.
It collected us from West Yorkshire at 7.30 am and we arrived at Sequoia Lodge at 21.50.
We were the last pick up on the feeder coach and luckily there were just enough seats for us to be able to sit together, as this does not have reserved seats. The tour coach from Dover,did have reserved seats and according to our booking we were supposed to be seated together...but we weren't and neither were another family on the coach. Luckily there was enough empty seats for us to be able to move about so we could sit together(and so could the other family!) There was toilets,refreshments and dvd's on the coach and the tour coach drivers were absolutely fab, there was even a quiz with prizes for the kids which were purchased at DLP and there was plenty as my two(amongst others) were winners!
We went on the ferry both ways and didn't have to do anything with our luggage, we just all had to get off the coach to go through passport control at the port in France, but that didn't take long
I think with small children, it is hard work,boring and very long...just take loads to keep them entertained(and try and sit near the toilet)There are scheduled stops too.
Friends of ours regularly go on coach tours and say leger is the best they have been on, although I personally wouldn't really want to go by coach again, but only because of the length of time it takes.
Hope I haven't put you off, have a lovely time