Ferris don't claim to be a luxury holiday company - they offer a fair holiday for a fair price. What you see is what you get, hence my title!
We have travelled with them several times, when we have wanted a cheap short break or have been too broke to afford to fly!
They compare very favourably ... Read review
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Advantages: Cheap, value for money and good if you hate flying Disadvantages: Lengthy journey, don't expect 4* luxury
Ferris don't claim to be a luxury holiday company - they offer a fair holiday for a fair price. What you see is what you get, hence my title!
We have travelled with them several times, when we have wanted a cheap short break or have been too broke to afford to fly!
They compare very favourably with other coach travel companies - a few years back they had the unfair reputation of being nicknamed 'Hard Shoulder Holidays', ... ...3 night SC holiday, where Ferris choose your accommodation. This short break means that you leave on Friday, arrive in resort early Saturday morning, and leave Tuesday around midday to arrive back home on Wednesday. Ferris also offer HB, FB, and 'free drinks' options in their hotels. The hotels are mainly 2-3*, but as I have mentioned in other reviews, who wants to go on holiday to sit in a hotel room all day?! We have never had a bad apartment or ... more
Ferris don't claim to be a luxury holiday company - they offer a fair holiday for a fair price. What you see is what you get, hence my title!
We have travelled with them several times, when we have wanted a cheap short break or have been too broke to afford to fly!
They compare very favourably with other coach travel companies - a few years back they had the unfair reputation of being nicknamed 'Hard Shoulder Holidays', as this is where you mainly saw them, but in the five or six years that we have travelled with them the worst that has happened to us was a burst water tank which dampened our luggage and meant that we couldn't use the on-board loo!
Prices in the current brochure start at a very reasonable £84 for a 6 day, 3 night SC holiday, where Ferris choose your accommodation. This short break means that you leave on Friday, arrive in resort early Saturday morning, and leave Tuesday around midday to arrive back home on Wednesday. Ferris also offer HB, FB, and 'free drinks' options in their hotels. The hotels are mainly 2-3*, but as I have mentioned in other reviews, who wants to go on holiday to sit in a hotel room all day?! We have never had a bad apartment or room yet. Children's prices are very reasonable too - you can get free children's places or highly reduced prices for the first child aged 2-12 or 13, sometimes up to 17 for apartments, and after that you generally get 50% reduction from the adult prices, although its best to check the brochure as each hotel can differ in price.
Pick up points are numerous across the country, or you have the option of joining the coach at Dover Dock. Each coach has 2 drivers, and a host/hostess, affectionately known as 'trolley dollies' regardless of age or gender! You can generally purchase Pot Noodles, hot and cold drinks and soup on board, but this is dependent on the crew as they are responsible for purchase and sale of these items. Prices vary from 60p for a hot or cold drink to, I think, £1 for a Pot Noodle. You can also normally buy things like Mars and Snickers.
Large cooler boxes are not allowed on the coaches for safety reasons, but if you have a cool bag which can be squidged under your seat or stowed in the overhead apartments then you can take a fair amount of food with you - its amazing how much you want to eat when sitting on a coach for any length of time! Luggage is restricted to one medium sized suitcase per person weighing no more than 15kg, and children under 2 do not have a baggage allowance. It states in the brochure that a buggy can be taken in place of one suitcase, but I have seen buggies put on in addition to the maximum number of suitcases per family.
Disabled passengers will need to note that there is no room for wheelchairs inside the coaches - a wheelchair may be transported in the hold, but you have to state the need for this when you book the holiday. Hotels and apartments in Spain also do not have the same safety standards as in the UK. We have a walking disabled member of our family who has travelled with us on Ferris before - he found the stairs on the coach a little steep, but with a little help and patience, we got by.
In the past, Ferris have always allowed smoking on their coaches, but this year they have developed a smoking area or small room, dependent on the style of coach, and the remainder of the coach is now a smoke free zone. For myself, as a non-smoker and an asthmatic, this has come as welcome news. Pipe and cigar smoking has never been allowed, and Ferris respectfully requested in the past that smokers kept their smoking to a minimum, but there were always one or two that had to light up another cigarette before the last one was finished, and I can guarantee that I was the poor devil who was sitting adjacent to them!
The journey to Spain can be quite lengthy, dependent on where you depart from. We always joined the coach at Thurrock Services (about midday) on the M25, which is around 1-1½ hours drive from Dover, but I know that some folk are on the coach from about 5am, which does make it a very long journey indeed. You have to accept that the journey, although lengthy, is a part of your holiday - being prepared with a small pillow and something (a jacket perhaps or small blanket) to make yourself comfortable overnight may be useful. We have taken children with us ranging from 4 months to 16 years in age with no problems - once over the Channel there will be films to watch (although I believe they also show films on the run down from 'oop North'), the odd game of Bingo and quizzes for both adults and children alike. The Channel crossing takes 1½ hours - its a good idea to get a decent meal inside you whilst on board, if your stomach lets you!!
Once over the other side (generally around 4.30pm), the coach will travel non-stop for about 5 hours - this is the longest part of the journey without a break. When you stop for your evening meal break (around 9.30pm) beware - lots of coaches, long queues for both food and toilets - we've got it down to a fine art now - half our group head for the toilets while the other half find tables and queue for food, then we swap roles! This is where a decent meal on the ferry comes into its own - we now tend not to bother with the restaurant but sit outside on the grassy bank and eat the food that we brought along with us at this stage. Food can be fairly expensive in the service areas and if your French is poor you may end up with something you'd not ordered - we bought a baguette once that we thought was ham - it turned out to be tongue with olives in it!!!!
Further stops are made just after midnight and again around 3am, but these are primarily to refuel, and as most are asleep these are not classed as 'official' stops. Those that are awake tend to step off the coach for a smoke or to use the toilet facilities, but they are limited to around 5-10 minutes. About 5.30am the coach will stop for breakfast - I don't know if they are still using the same place, if so, it looks a bit of a Greasy Joe Cafe, but the food is edible and the toilet facilities are clean.
Arrival at resort relies on location and traffic. For Lloret, Calella, Blanes or Malgrat arrival is normally about 8.30-9am, for Salou, closer to lunchtime. Be prepared for a wait for your room - we have found from experience that rooms generally aren't ready for you until after 2pm, given that the previous occupants will only recently have vacated them - again, a little forethought and preparation can make a lot of difference here - we pack our swimwear, towel and sun creams on the top of our suitcase so that we can access them easily and go and wait around the pool or beach in comfort. If you have an apartment booked, you will be asked for a £50 deposit, which is refundable on departure, less any cost for damages if applicable.
I have stayed in the Hotels Osiris and Esplai in Calella, and the Salou Pacific Apartments in Salou, all of which have proved satisfactory, given the low cost of the holiday - if you want 4* luxury, don't expect to get it for 2* prices!
The food in the Osiris is fine, my only gripe there is that the swimming pool is mainly in shade until about lunchtime, although the beach is only about 10 minutes walk away. To access the beach and shops from either of the Callella hotels mentioned you have to cross a busy dual carriageway, but there is a pedestrian pathway which runs underneath.
The Salou Pacific apartments are about 15-20 mins walk from the main Salou beach, downhill, but via a street full of shops, bars and restaurants! There are some good restaurants very close by and also a few bars and shops for those who don't wish to wander too far. Food in the Salou Pacific apartments is good - although these are classed as apartments they are in fact sold on a HB basis too.
Ferris have a website - www.ferriscoachholidays.co.uk , and their brochure/booking line is 0870 601 0905. For new bookings or brochures requests they are open on Sundays from 10am-3pm, otherwise opening hours are M-F 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm. One advantage of booking with Ferris is that you only pay £20 per person deposit - how many times have you lost a holiday because you couldn't get the deposit and insurance together in time?!
Its a myth that you have to sit on a coach for 24 hours - the longest period without a break is around 5 hours - you have the length of the Channel crossing to stretch your legs and spend your hard earned pennies in the Duty Free, and the scenery as you drive further into the depths of France is beautiful, especially at sunrise.
I hope this review has been helpful to you if you are considering booking a Ferris coach holiday. My preference still is to fly, but when the pennies don't allow this we always turn to Ferris and have yet to be disappointed.
Advantages: Cheap holiday to the sun Disadvantages: Coach journey may be too long - but what do you expect going on a coach?
...- wrote a review about Ferris Coach Holidays. Some things about the journey have changed that could effect some peoples thoughts about wanting to go with Ferris.
Journey there:
OK as usual, you will get picked up at your selected pick-up-point and then you might experience extra pick-up-points to pick up more customers. Normally, during peak times, the coach will be full but sometimes it's not always full. Once the crew have picked up all their ... ...catch the EuroTunnel crossing to Calais - normally making one scheduled stop at services prior to the EuroTunnel crossing - (Ferris don't use the Ferry crossing due to rising costs and they find the EuroTunnel cheaper and reduces travelling times). The EuroTunnel crossing takes around 25-35 minutes. The EuroTunnel is one of the things some people are frightened of so I thought I'd make this new review.
Once you arrive in Folkestone the driver will ...
KevinMMM 05.05.2008 (24.08.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ferris holidays
Advantages: No flying, Cheap Disadvantages: Long journey, limited destinations
Ferris Coach Holiday Experience
A little bit about the trip first, these trips to the Costa Brava are great for those wanting a good deal or those scared of flying. They are actually not as daunting as people think when you hear “Up to 24 hours of travelling”.
The coaches are great whether you choose the standard or the executive, the executive is well worth the extra. Very comfortable reclining seats, loads of leg room, drop down trays and flat ... ...now heard that in 2009, Ferris may be returning back to FERRY Crossings to give a bigger break.
15:30 Traffic all clear so arrived to collect passengers from Folkstone car park and on way to board Tunnel.
16:20 Managed to get on the earlier train rather than the 17:50 one we were booked on as there was space, otherwise we would have parked up and you would have opportunity to go to the lounges and shopping centre.
The tunnel, quick and hassle ...
Jinco 29.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ferris holidays
Advantages: Good value for money Holidays Disadvantages: Wanting to go to often
...excellent value for money.
Ferris buses pick up points run the length of Britian so there is always a pickup point relatively close to home.
You can either travel on the Double Decked Executive Coaches, or for an extra £15.00 per head opt for the Luxury of a Platinum Coach with extra leg room, reclining chairs etc: Both types have a separate smokers room with extractor fans, so not to bother any other passengers.
Our Holiday was to the resort ... ...or there postal address is:- Ferris Holidays Ltd, The Coach House, Cardiff Road, Nantgarw, CF15 7SR.
I wont dwell on the actual Holiday, as it is an opinion on the Company itself, but I must say, we had a really enjoyable time, Clean and tidy modern Hotel, with friendly staff, good food, entertainment and a very nice area.
All in all a really good bargain priced holiday. ...
dreamscancometrue 23.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ferris holidays
Advantages: Cheap. Affordable. Disadvantages: Journey - but you get what you pay for.
Ferris Holidays are a coach holiday company who specialise, mainly, travelling down to the southern coast of Spain. The Costa Brava. If you are looking for a cheap 5 star hotel holiday deal, you've come to the wrong place. But Ferris Holidays do offer the cheapest enjoyable holidays you can find. Believe me. Ferris Holidays have a fleet of today-modern coaches which the option of Platinum or normal-Executive. With the Platinum travel you have to ... ...worry as I've travelled with Ferris 7 times and I see people using the toilets all the time. I have travelled with Ferris Holidays 7 times and each holiday has had it's strengths. Travelling times doesn't really bother me. If someone has told you "you're on the coach for 24 hours" they're lying to you. Averagely, the journey takes just over 1100 miles/1700 kilometres. Now the coaches are said to be limited to 62MPH/100KMH. So you can work it out ...
Greeny1980G 13.09.2008 (20.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Ferris holidays
Advantages: Low cost holidays to Spain Disadvantages: Travel is by coach..you must be prepared to travel 24 hours to get to your destination.
Ferris Holidays are quite a small holiday company and as you travel on their own fleet of coaches this makes the holidays very reasonable.
For example, there are five in my family, two adults and three children. Last year we had a weeks holiday, 'All Inclusive' at a spanish resort for £1,000 . I challenge you to find cheaper!
The company provide not only all inclusive but also full and half board holidays and self catering.
On the day of your ... ...as prize bingo and quizzes..all helps to pass the time!
All the hotels used by Ferris are excellent and are mainly in northern Spain resorts being Lloret, Calella,Pineda,Tossa,Malgrat. If you dont mind the 24 hour journey it really does save money to travel with Ferris.
Link to Ferris:
http://www.spain-accommodation.co.uk ...
Witchy 27.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Ferris holidays
Value for Money
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