Sponsored Editorial

Are you thinking about booking a romantic autumnal getaway? Perhaps you’re looking for some festive family fun during your trip abroad this winter?

If so, there are some fantastic European destinations to discover which have everything you could dream of – buzzing cities, picturesque countryside, historic landmarks, and all kinds of exciting cultural attractions.

And the timing couldn’t be better if you’re planning to head out before the middle of December!

P&O Ferries currently has a fantastic Short Break offer for Dover to Calais (3 or 5 Day Short Break). This offer is available on all Dover to Calais short break bookings travelled up to 14th December 2023.

3 Day Breaks are only from £99 if booked by 11 October 2023 while 5 Day Breaks are from £129 when booked by 9th December 2023.

You can also take advantage of P&O Ferries’ unmissable offers, you can ensure your next trip is budget-friendly without compromising on quality. Travel from Dover to Calais in luxury on the P&O Pioneer, with its opulent Club Lounge, spacious Pet Lounge and World Duty Free store offering savings of up to 50% on the high street prices of all your favourite brands.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a motorhome or caravan, you can enjoy 10% off your next European adventure. Book by 13th December and travel by 14th December 2023, pack up everything you need and hit the road!

P&O is also running an offer of free wine with a day trip from just £39. Valid for travel with a car or high car and up to 9 passengers, you can swing by the Calais Wine Superstore upon your arrival in France and pick up a bottle of something special – red, white or rosé.

Here are four escapes over the Channel within 4 hours of Calais, handpicked by the P&O Ferries team…

1. Enjoy everything France has to offer

The city of Amiens, a 1-hour 40-minute journey from Calais, has it all. During your visit, savour the local gastronomy, discover some treasure in the Réderie flea market or follow the footsteps of Jules Verne Aronnax in a fun interactive tour.

Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of France, is home to a variety of fascinating art galleries and museums, and it’s only 1 hour 30 minutes from Calais. At Roubaix, located to the northeast of Lille, you’ll find the wonderful Roubaix La Piscine museum, housed within a former indoor art deco swimming pool, while the Louvre-Lens puts on fabulous exhibitions sourced from collections of the Louvre Paris. It’s an art lover’s paradise!

Although slightly further afield at 3 hours 30 minutes, the Halloween celebrations at Disneyland Paris provide a truly unforgettable experience for the whole family. The “frightfully fun” Halloween Festival takes place from 1st October to 5th November.

2. A Belgium city break

With many vibrant cities to explore, Belgium makes for a great European break, and the atmosphere is much more relaxing and peaceful at this time of the year, compared to the summer months.

Bruges is just 1 hour 30 minutes from Calais. Discover this multi-faced city, with a fascinating culture, heritage and nature. Check out the IedereenKlassiek, a free celebration of classic music for everyone, and climb the fifteenth-century Belfry, which offers stunning panoramic views.

A 2-hour and 30-minute journey, Brussels is another excellent choice. Discover Atomium, a landmark of Brussels, once called Europe’s most bizarre building, along with a delicious Belgian waffle and beer!

3. The French countryside

France is renowned for its enchanting countryside. Think rolling hills, quaint villages, rivers, canals and waterways, farmland, orchards and vineyards – all enveloped in seasonal beauty.

St Omer, for example, is a rural town just 30 minutes from Calais with brilliant boating opportunities on its lovely waterways. There’s also Fort-Mahon-Plage, which has some of the finest beaches in northern France. It is a 1 hour 15-minute journey from Calais and offers plenty of exciting outdoor activities, including kite-flying, beach ball, sand-yachting, sailing and horse riding.

You can also explore the unique Baie de Somme nature reserve. With a stunning landscape of salt meadows and marshes, sand dunes and forest, forming a rich habitat for birdlife, it’s perfect for hiking and cycling!

4. Soak up the Dutch culture

For a rich cultural experience this autumn, visit the Netherlands. 3 hours 30 minutes from Calais is the city of Rotterdam, celebrated for its incredible history, charming waterways and canals, innovative architecture and bustling port. Top attractions include Rotterdam Zoo Blijdorp, one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and the “Remastered” Digital Art audiovisual experience.

The capital, Amsterdam, is 4 hours away. Often referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to its extensive network of canals, the city is vibrant, diverse and packed with things to do. Be inspired by the great Dutch painter Rembrandt with a visit to the Rembrandt House Museum, and get lost in the exceptional, artisan, Dutch and international produce of Pure Markt, Holland’s renowned travelling market. Of course, nothing completes a trip to Amsterdam like a canal boat trip and cycle around the city!

Also a 4-hour drive from Calais, The Hague is a superb Dutch city to explore. It’s less “touristy” than Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and has everything you could possibly want (and more) – from a beach and pier to museums, shopping and delightful green spaces. Make it a trip in its own right or travel from Rotterdam or Amsterdam (both 30 minutes away) for the day.

To find out more about travelling with P&O Ferries and to book your crossing, visit www.poferries.com.

Terms and conditions

Free Wine with Day Trip

Offer applies only to a day trip on standard tickets, from Dover to Calais made by 28th November, for travel up too 30th November 2023. Promotion excludes foot passengers, bicycles, and vehicles designed for commercial use (including vans). Promotion code valid against new bookings only and can only be redeemed at time of booking. Promo code cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discount. Bookings are subject to restricted space, sailings and dates.

P&O Ferries reserve the right to amend or withdraw all elements of the promotion without prior notice. Subject to Promotional Conditions and P&O Ferries’ Terms of Business, both available online at poferries.com.

Motorhome & Caravan 10% discount

Offer is valid for Single and Standard Returns made by December 13th for travel up too December 14th 2023. Bookings are subject to restricted space, sailings and dates. Excludes Cars (without a caravan), High Cars, Motorcycles, Motorcycle combinations, Minibuses, Vans, Trailers, Foot Passengers and Bicycles as well as Short Breaks, 2 Days and Day Trips. Subject to limited availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. P&O Ferries reserve the right to amend or withdraw all elements of the promotion without prior notice. Subject to Promotional Conditions and P&O Ferries' Terms of Business, both available online at POferries.com.

Short Break offer for Dover to Calais – 3 or 5 Day Short Break.

This offer is available on all Dover to Calais short break bookings travelled up to 14th December 2023. 3 Day Breaks from £99 and 5 Day Breaks from £129 when booked by 11 October 2023 for 3 Day Breaks, and 9th December 2023 for 5 Day Breaks. Excludes long breaks, 2 and 4 day returns, day trips, foot passengers, bicycles, vehicles designed for commercial use, minibuses, motorhomes, caravans or vehicles towing a caravan or trailer.

P&O Ferries reserve the right to amend or withdraw all elements of the promotion without prior notice. Subject to Promotional Conditions and P&O Ferries' Terms of Business, both available online at poferries.com.