Doc Holiday responds: The most obvious companies to contact are the actual ferry operators themselves. However, you might save time and effort (especially on a route where there are several companies competing), if you visit a company like Direct Ferries (0871 222 3312, www.directferries.co.uk). Fares tend to be the same as those from the ferry operators, but this way you can see all of the sailings on the route, no matter how many companies are competing, with one search. Eurotunnel and Eurostar are included.

Other companies to try include aferry.co.uk (no call centre); Cheap4Feries (0870 111 0634, www.cheap4ferries.com); Ferry Savers (0870 990 8492, www.ferrysavers.com); Ferry Bookers (0870 442 2418, www.ferrybookers.com), and Online Ferries (0870 700 0139, www.onlineferries.co.uk).

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