June W

Can anyone help me with Ferry prices. I just priced up a return from Plymouth-santander-Plymouth with a standard car (no trailer or roof rack). I was a bit shocked when it came up as 1000 pounds.

Any advice on the cheapest methods from any UK port to any Spain port? I was looking at spending my time between the south of England and the Iberian peninsula using the 90/180 day system. But at that price I could fly anywhere in the world.

Thanks as always.

Dxf

Hola,
I use the Channel Tunnel for around 100€ spend 50€ in fuel driving through France and 60€ hotel.

Davexf

Retired in Euskadi

Doesn't surprise me that price, especially in the summer months. It's never been cheap. They want you to think of it as a cruise! Prices usually start to come down after end of August.
The ferry from Bilbao-Portsmouth has just re-opened & they don't have 'reclining chairs' to sleep on either; have to buy a cabin.
There really aren't any "cheap" ferries from Spain to Britain.

Moses2013

Summer is always more expensive as mentioned and you still have the France route. With Covid prices have also increased, be it the ferry or plane and we usually never go during summer.
It's far cheaper after summer holidays and with the weather hitting 30c here, no need to go now really.

Stingychips

I had to to pay nearly €100 in tolls alone going tthrough France. We paid about £800 for a car and a trailer one way from Portsmouth to Bilbao. That price included a 4 berth cabin.

VEDShappy

Brittany Ferries are expensive, particularly in high season, it's a trade off against driving through France.
It's not a great deal but I can save you 10% on the fare if you decide to proceed.

June W

Oooh that seems much more reasonable, thank you. I imagined the ferry would be 200-300 pounds, I am shocked at the price.

Stingychips

might be closer to that price when it’s not kids holidays. You’ll be paying full wack if you book right now.

bobd22

Timing is everything with ferries to Spain from UK as there is only one company. You really need to just work through the dates and pick the best price. I did it last September from Spain returning in November for around £430 with a cabin for 2 of us both ways plus as they changed from Portsmouth to Plymouth on inbound journey I got £60 back for fuel. All you can do is compare dates and compare cost of coming through France tolls overnight stops etc and get the cheapest. Or fly.

Greywolf

I booked to Bilbao from Portsmouth in |Sept. £300 cheaper than Santander. More sailings than STDR , could be why it's cheaper.

Barriej

Its also cheaper if you do Plymouth - Spain, but depending where you are in the Uk, its a bit of a drag to get there.

Be careful with the Portsmouth - Bilbao ferry. I went to book last year and only realised that it went via St Malo in France first (added a day to the journey but was cheaper) Not all of them do but its not made clear during the first part of the booking system.

Greywolf

Oh!! That's a bit naughty, I know when we leave Portsmouth and when we arrive in Bilbao, Where we go in between doesn't bother me , but I imagine it would if you were expecting to be there at a certain time.

frigilianafreddy

A lot of the portsmouth /spain ferries are now 35 hours. Stuff that. I dont want a cruise on what is a FERRY. A cruise would be if your meals and entertainment was included.

I wonder of the economie service will resume. That used to be about £540 to £600 return (including a cabin). France? unless you want two nights in hotels you need to factor in €100 in tolls so including hotel its near as dammit €300 each way. Same as a spain ferry but taking an extra day.

Car hire prices have gone to the moon. If coming over for 4 weeks or less i hire and fly. If 4 weeks or more i ferry - but always outside of july/august. And if it were £1,000 return ferry i'd fly and hire car.

Barriej

The issue with the economie service was that there weren't many cabins and you could book a sleeper chair. Brittany have made it compulsory to book a cabin now. This is why the prices are higher as cabins start from £100 up.
The 35 hours are because its a two stop, Portsmouth- san malo- santander, direct its just over 24hrs.

Moses2013

I checked the economie from Ireland and price was roughly 280€ for 2 people one way with the mandatory cabin to Bilbao (26 hours). The drive then is only 6 1/2 to where we go.