Our journey to Dover was pretty standard for a Leger holiday. Taxi on time at 04:20 taking us to Cardiff West services to join our feeder coach at 04:40. We had to go to the services because our normal pick-up point at the National Museum was “unavailable”; the streets around it were closed off for the annual Cardiff Half Marathon.

The Leger Group have three levels of service, best described as “Basic, Better, Best” - Shearings, Silver Service & Luxuria. Ours was basic which meant a late departure, near silent drivers (no information about anything), no refreshments offered and cosy seating. It did the job so no big deal.

The interchange at Stop 24 was much as usual. Noisy and overcrowded but fast and efficient. Our coach crew, Alistair & Csaba, got us away as one of the first coaches to leave. We made it on to an earlier than booked ferry.

Our ferry was one of the new additions to the P&O fleet, the P&O Pioneer. Very swish. Their new Club Lounge (a now essential part of our cross channel routine) was massive with an equally large private sun deck. The food and service were as before, very good for a buffet. We think that given there’s a three course buffet, unlimited tea, coffee, wine and spirits and a very comfortable, quiet environment it’s a no-brainer at £27pp. The sea was like a millpond so we enjoyed this mini-cruise very much.

The journey to Paris Orly was trouble free. The Paris Rue Peripherique was, as always, a car park almost literally. If we averaged 3mph over the hour we spent there I’d be surprised. The advantage of a coach tour? Who cares, not our problem; enjoy chatting and drinks served by the coach crew.

‍ The Novotel at ORY was a good standard business hotel. A homemade picnic meal, a good night’s sleep and a passable breakfast with the restaurant so very, very busy and chaotic as only the French can do.