Bookings for any of the Brittany Ferries routes to France or Spain are being asked for just £25 deposit at booking time as an incentive to get bookings in for next summer, while helping out families pressed for cash. The full payment need not be made until 46 days before departure.

This offer excludes short-term promotional offers, accommodation inclusive holidays and mini-cruises.

This is in stark contrast to many cross-channel ferry operators who offer discounted fares for up-front bookings, although at a dramatically discounted rate. If you are prepared to pay the full amount you can often get a very low price for a return crossing with LD Lines despite having to pay the whole lot up-front without the possibility of refund if you have to cancel. Eurotunnel are asking a total fare of £98 return for crossings at the height of summer 2012, while the same dates came up at £104 with P&O Ferries.

We advise a really good look around all the ferry operators before you book, planning always pays off and will save you stacks of cash. Use our cross-channel ferry comparison search tool to get an instant view of the best fares for getting over to France on the dates you want next year.