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A month in the new year

A month in the new year

Old Oct 22nd 2017, 4:33 pm
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Default A month in the new year

Just back from a first week exploring and though we said we wouldn’t look at properties, only areas, we did look at a few, mainly to see how the stuff on the web compares to what’s on the ground. Not always well was the result.

Stage 2 is to drive over for a month in the new year with the dog, a cairn terrier, to get a feel for how cool it gets.

Looking at ferries it looks like we have to take the short route due to lack of dog cabins and so driving down through France. Any advice on number of stops (it looks like 2) and where, to get us down to the Murcia / Alicante area please?
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Old Oct 22nd 2017, 5:28 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

You can do it with one stop, but two is preferable. I like Dijon then Perpignan / Girona, or wherever else takes your fancy near the border.

Last edited by missile; Oct 22nd 2017 at 5:33 pm.
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Old Oct 22nd 2017, 5:43 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Originally Posted by Withavee
Just back from a first week exploring and though we said we wouldn’t look at properties, only areas, we did look at a few, mainly to see how the stuff on the web compares to what’s on the ground. Not always well was the result.

Stage 2 is to drive over for a month in the new year with the dog, a cairn terrier, to get a feel for how cool it gets.

Looking at ferries it looks like we have to take the short route due to lack of dog cabins and so driving down through France. Any advice on number of stops (it looks like 2) and where, to get us down to the Murcia / Alicante area please?
Brittany Ferries have on board kennels on their UK/Spain routes
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Old Oct 22nd 2017, 10:39 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Originally Posted by VEDShappy
Brittany Ferries have on board kennels on their UK/Spain routes
They do but they are usually fully booked up to 18 months in advance.

2 stops in France makes for a more relaxing drive. A good place to start planning is a look at the Ibis hotels site, there are loads of them throughout France and most of them accept our furry friends.

Last edited by big wheels; Oct 22nd 2017 at 10:49 pm.
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Old Oct 23rd 2017, 7:09 am
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Originally Posted by big wheels
They do but they are usually fully booked up to 18 months in advance.
You can't book 18 months in advance.
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Old Oct 23rd 2017, 7:45 am
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Maybe not I'm just going on what i was told by a neighbour who booked in the last couple of months, the first pet-cabin available to her was Nov 2018

Last edited by big wheels; Oct 23rd 2017 at 7:57 am.
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Old Oct 23rd 2017, 8:02 am
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Originally Posted by big wheels
Maybe not I'm just going on what i was told by a neighbour who booked in the last couple of months, the first pet-cabin available to her was Nov 2018
Different routes have different facilities due to different vessels used at various times of the year. There are less Pet Cabins than there are kennels
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Old Oct 23rd 2017, 12:40 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Originally Posted by big wheels
They do but they are usually fully booked up to 18 months in advance.

2 stops in France makes for a more relaxing drive. A good place to start planning is a look at the Ibis hotels site, there are loads of them throughout France and most of them accept our furry friends.
Hi

We've been driving from Calais (via the Chunnel) twice or sometimes three times a year for the last ten years with our dog. We drive down to Huelva in the south of Spain and find two stops in France is ideal; we then stop in Northern Spain. We have stayed in some excellent Ibis & Novotel hotels on the way which are very dog friendly! We find that the Novotel hotels are much better value in the winter months (particularly at weekends) and the Ibis in the summer.

If these areas are relevant to your trip we can recommend the Novotel Le Mans, Ibis Pontlieue Le Mans, Ibis Bordeaux Le Lac, Ibis Pessac - all of these hotels are either just off the motorway or a short drive from the motorway.

We did try the ferry when we came back in September and had a pet cabin, although we had a calm crossing and the weather was wonderful....I found it quite boring! Maybe we have just being doing the drive for too long to change!!

Hope you have a good journey.

Lin & Ed
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Old Oct 23rd 2017, 2:10 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

From Scotland to Huelva province 3 stops normally. Folkestone, found a great tapas bar this time. Using the tunnel drive to Tours Ibis Styles Hotel more recently using The Ace Hotel Poitiers. Then Rubena top side of Burgos. All are pet friendly, The Ace has a supermarket next door and a dog walk out the back. It is not too far out of town for food. Cuidad de Burgos Hotel has a massive garden, my dog loves it. Shirt drive to our favourite tapas haunts in Burgos.The Ibis was in town and no dog walking area. We struggled to find food we wanted there.
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Old Oct 28th 2017, 2:05 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Hi
We are going on Brittany Ferries Portsmouth Bilbao. We have booked the two night one. We where on this Jan this year and it added to the hols. Really enjoyed it.
This year we are one of the lucky ones who have got a dog friendly cabin. When we went in Jan this year. The dog had to go in the kennels that are on deck 10 (I think) This was on the Cap Finistere. with her (the dog), being a bit of a lap dog, don't think she really enjoyed it. But she was fine.
Cant really say any thing about the drive through France as have not done it. But when we drove down through Spain this year we split it in to 3 days 2 nights. As neither of us had drove on the Left before and again when we got use to it, it was not that bad.
But any way if you could get on a ferry to Spain on the one night one your dog would be fine even on deck.
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Old Oct 29th 2017, 2:12 pm
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Default Re: A month in the new year

Thanks for the useful feedback guys and girls. We have made the decision to use the tunnel and enjoy the drive. Really useful info regarding Ibis etc and their attitudes to dogs.

Now all we need to do is decide where we want to stop and find somewhere to rent for the month that will accept a small dog.

From our trip earlier in the month I think we are settling on the area inland from Almeria and not too high up in the hills. It's all getting very exciting.
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