Two countries for the price of one. That's the intriguing offer that Irish Ferries are placing before motorists as part of their 2007 holidays programme.
 
Under the plan, all motorists who book a family motoring holiday to France travelling from Rosslare to Cherbourg or Roscoff during the months of June, July or August will be rewarded with a free return trip to Britain for a car plus two adults on the company's Dublin - Holyhead or Rosslare - Pembroke services.
 
The offer forms part of an even more comprehensive choice of self-catering and themed holidays to Britain and France being promoted for the coming year by motoring holiday specialists Irish Ferries based around their popular car ferry services from Dublin - Holyhead, Rosslare - Pembroke and Rosslare - Cherbourg and Roscoff.
 
A flavour of what is on offer includes a host of self -catering arrangements to Britain based around their collaboration with leading operators Haven and British Holidays. Featured in the programme is a choice of self-catering apartments and mobile homes situated in seven top UK resorts.
 
Holiday ideas with a strong family appeal include fun breaks to Britain's best theme parks, including the acclaimed Alton Towers and Oakwood Theme Parks. Situated within easy reach, Alton Towers is just a three hours drive from Holyhead while Oakwood is located just 12 miles from Pembroke.
 
Other popular new year offerings to Britain include City and Shopping Breaks with one and two night hotel packages on offer. In addition, there's a vast range of economically priced hotels aimed at motorists who like to do their own thing and go touring, all bookable on-line.
 
For those travelling further afield to France, the advice from Irish Ferries is to book early to be sure of getting the accommodation you require and to take advantage of the most economical deals available. To that end, the company is offering early booking discounts of up to 30 percent off selected sailings with some additional top up discounts available.
 
Irish Ferries' long links with France are reflected in a bumper programme crammed with lots of family appeal. Thanks to their association with the Pierre & Vacances organisation, hundreds of self-catering packages are available in virtually every corner of France including all of the top resorts in Normandy, Brittany, Vendee and Cote D’Azur.
 
Accommodation includes a choice of studio, one and two-bed apartments and one and two-bed houses at selected resorts. In all cases, properties are available for any day of the week arrivals at selected times of the year, freeing holidaymakers from the bind of having to travel from weekend to weekend. Also featuring are packages to Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix near Paris and Parc Futuroscope at Poitiers.
 
Another popular item in the Irish Ferries programme is their popular Cherbourg Wine Breaks. This package offers one or two night hotel stopovers in the popular French port based around departures in February, March, April and May, giving customers ample time to browse the wide selection of discount wine stores.
 
To make matters easier, simply by going on-line holidaymakers can make their bookings and get all of the information they require on all of the properties on offer. Also bookable on line is a network of hotels dotted throughout France which will appeal to the go-as-you-please motorist who prefers not to be tied to a single resort.
 
This year, Irish Ferries reminds motorists of the great value to be had by travelling on the Landbridge and Seabridge routes to Continental Europe.
Travelling Landbridge or Seabridge, holidaymakers sail Irish Ferries to Britain on their Dublin - Holyhead and Rosslare - Pembroke routes taking onward connections to France, Holland, Belgium and the Channel Islands.
 
Sailings to France recommence in February. Once again, the focus from Irish Ferries will be on lower fares as the company continues their fight back against competition from air carriers. Emphasising the fact that it is often cheaper to take your car and sail by ferry than it is to fly and face the various add-on costs that can arise, Irish Ferries promises to maintain what it terms 'an unbeatable price position' on all routes with emphasis on early booking and big value low season packages.
 
This emphasis on low fares coincides with what the company believes is a swing back to ferry travel, especially amongst families seeking a richer, more rewarding holiday experience. According to their Sales Manager, Declan Mescall  'the enjoyment which holidaymakers get from having their own car and by touring from place to place is something which simply cannot be equalled. With more money to spend, holidaymakers are now looking for added value - extras that can be found only in the richness of experience which a car-centered holiday can provide'.
 
In promoting their services to France, Irish Ferries lay great stress on the frequency of their sailings with departures from Ireland every second day throughout Summer. Another advantage which they claim is their convenient sailing schedule structured to provide evening departures and morning arrivals.
 
With their acclaimed ‘Normandy Nights’ cabaret playing to packed audiences each night on board their ferry Normandy, it is hardly surprising that Irish Ferries have coined the phrase 'your holiday begins the moment you drive on Board'. Indeed, it sounds so good one can almost smell the fresh baguettes baking in the oven!