manamama

We are moving back to the UK...in three weeks.

I have looked into getting the ferry back...

It´s going to cost about 500 pounds Santander to Portsmouth or 439 pounds Bilbao to Portsmouth.

Which is better for young kids and smoothier in case of sickness?.

Or alternatively we could drive home...about 16 hours to drive.

Cost to drive I would imagine is about the same? We could share and cover over two days I think. We have driven from the North to the South of Spain a few times and it took 13 hrs which we did in one day. Tough but do-able.

Which would you recommend?

Any advice appreciated.

whitelinen

Myself I would have had the car moved back with my belongings and got on a plane with the kids.

Nobody knows if you are going to have a smooth crossing so if you chose the boat buy anti sickness meds before you go. There´s plenty to keep kids occupied on the boat. I cant imagine that driving non-stop or even with an overnight stop to the channel with (or without kids) will be pleasant or even that much cheaper. So on balance if I could not fly I would get the boat.

Lawrence.Brown

We have made the trip from south of Spain to north of France quite a few times by car.
It would be much better to drive to Calais for the kids sake that to have them on a ferry for god knows how long.
Unless you are driving a big 4X4 or similar it will also be cheaper! We spent about £150 each way.
Take your time about the trip and plan to stop overnight.
In France the B&B group only charges 50 Euros or so for a family room, but with the money you save you may want to go up market.
Dont forget that you can stop when you like and shop/eat where you like without being ripped off. Maybe even take in a few sights while you are at it.

Best of luck

missile

They are both large ferries and it is unlikely you will feel the motion. If it concerns you, I suggest you take Eurotunnel.

jay01

we have a wedding to attend next weekend and are driving back, we do it over a few days as we live on the CdS and always go via France and then Dover. Have to be honest I have never done the trip with kids just dogs but the ferry has never cost me more than £30 and is about an hour and a half.

I can also recommend the B&B motels, they are clean, basic and reasonably priced have a quick look on their website they have plenty spread out all over France. It is sad to hear that you are returning to the UK but good luck for the future and I wish you well.

Mitzyboy

Ive just checked ferry prices for about three weeks and the Santander Portsmouth price was £295, but that was for a 4 x 4

Bri and Katee

We drove alicante to yorskshire in July via the tunnel 1420 miles in 26 hours non stop except for toilets and fuel. Not something I would recommend at all. We were both shattered for the following week, could have done with another holiday to recover

steviedeluxe

If you're going to be doing house-hunting or job-hunting when you get back, may be better to do as whitelinen suggests. Moving house/looking for work is stressful enough, so no need to make it more difficult than you need to.

lic

You could do it in 2 days at a cost of about £200 including hotel and ferry.
The drive up through France is brill!

Mitzyboy

I'd love to know how?
I've done it quite a few times and never got near that .... Tolls alone are about €130, €60 for a hotel and then the fuel and ferry cost on top of that.

I just reconfirmed the Santander ferry and booked at £296.

I have costed out the various routes and going via Bilbao or Santander is by far the least stressful and less wear on your car. The differences in cost is negligible

Lawrence.Brown

If you are willing to spend another couple of hours on the road then you can avoid the toll roads.
Since the Santander crossing takes 24hrs it is probably also quicker to drive to Calais.
I know for some people a long drive is worse than having teeth pulled out!
I actually enjoy it, but I can't stand being cooped up on a ferry!
From memory the last time I drove we spent about 90 Euros on fuel each way, 46 Euros for the hotel and £45 for the return ferry.

manamama

Thanks for all the advice..

I am favouring driving...some of your experiences sound good.

I estimated the costs as:

Flying :
Asturias to Stansted is 250 pounds,
Taxi to and from airport 120 pounds (need a 7 seater)
Car transport ?? waiting on quotes approx 400 pounds???
Total 770.00 pounds

Driving :
Petrol 200 pounds
Tolls 100 pounds
Hotel 130 pounds (2 rooms because there is 6 of us)
Ferry over channel 40.00 pounds
Total 470.00 pounds

Ferry :
Ticket 500 pounds (Mitzyboy..your quote of 296..there´s 6 of us so needing two cabins and have a Grand Espace...which site did you use ?)
petrol to and from ports 100 pounds
Total 600 pounds

If I can get a ticket for the ferry at Mitzys price...I think I will put up with a bit of sea sickness.

Mitzyboy

Brittany Ferry site
With Travel club discount, but for one cabin only.

Rosemary

If you are going by road look on the Michellin site to find out the individual toll prices and put the correct money in little food bags or money bags with a piece of paper with the name of the toll and price on it. Number them and put them in the correct order, have another bag with odd change in it in case any of the tolls are slightly wrong. This stops some of the stress and frustration at the toll itself.

Rosemary

scampicat

Ferry every time, no contest, especially with children (but don't let them treat the place like a giant racetrack like some other little brats that were on the ferry last year).