Re: Santander Ferry
 

Aug prices are some what different !!!

Re: Santander Ferry
 

We travel to the U.K. using the ferry last October. Found the cabin quite ok. Had an outside 4 berth to ourselves. Entertainment was mainly in the form of Bingo, pub quiz, pub singer and some dancing. There is also a cinema. Meals were ok, but nothing to write home about. We did not make any purchases at the bar as we took our own bottle of wine with us. Service was pleasant and unobtrusive.
When calculating the route back to the U.K. do not forget to include the channel crossing back to the U.K. When you do you will be surprised at how good a value the Spanish sailing is. Plus the journey cost/time in the UK, the M25 can be a bit like a car park at times. Arriving in Portsmouth/Southampton cuts that bit out for you if you are heading Northwards.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

I selected June with both crossings as it was the first thing that came into my head. ;)

Still you mention getting a discount on the fares so that would help a good piece, any links ?

Re: Santander Ferry
 

Basically it's horses for courses.

For a kick-off, Portsmouth is shorter, quicker and easier than Dover from almost anywhere in the UK except the extreme S.E.

I need to reckon on almost a full day drive from the North to get to either.

This makes the Portsmouth/St Malo ferry ideal for me, with a good overnight kip in a cabin, waking up fresh and ready to go at first light.
From St Malo to Valencia,(my location), is a SAVING of 350 kms as against the route from Calais making it a no brainer on both sides of the channel and a much easier route in any event.

I travel South on this route, as for me in early Feb its actually a day shorter than the Santander/Bilbao ferry which would have meant 1 night before boarding the ferry,1 night on the ferry and 1 night in N.Spain due to the ferry timings (4 days on the road/sea and 3 nights).

Going back North is a different kettle of fish, but in any event a toss up between driving the West of France or the Santa/Bilbao ferry.

The Dover route is a most definite non starter for reasons already explained.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

Used to do it that way as well but now we make the second stop at the Travel lodge at Ashford which is only 11 miles from the tunnel, then we are fully refreshed for the journey to Birmingham the next day.

We also stop at the travel lodge on the way back, early morning tunnel then one stop in France. As you say to be faced with a long journey in the UK after a full days drive in France does get very tiring.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

The discount comes with membership of the Brittany Club Voyage but this costs £200 first year and £100 pa after that. This gives the member a discount of about 30%. However guests can book on the membership but get 10% discount. Not to be sneezed at on £7-800. PM me if you are interested.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

The santander ferry is great 24 hour crossing in comfort, just take travel kettle and something to eat with you if you want to minimise costs, we just pain 2,20 for 2 people with a inside cabin for 4, not worth the extra miles going through France for us, but everyone to their own :)

Re: Santander Ferry
 

We came to that conclusion after many trips through France/Spain.
We costed both alternatives carefully outside school holidays and decided that the difference was too small to suffer the hassle of the long drive. We prefer Cap for the boat and Santander for departures leaving Ayamonte and stopping overnight in Salamanca.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

I think there's a link on the site. We use someone elses as a guest, and it usually saves us about £30 iirc
Yes I seem to remember the prices vary a bit, although as far as I could see they only want a one way sailing

Re: Santander Ferry
 

If I departed Dinkirk to Barcelona, down teh toll free A75, it would be 881 miles, plus £60 ferry with a caravan.
If I arrived by ferry to Santander, then the drive to Barcelona is 443, toll free miles.
My difference is 438 miles.
I only get 20 mpg, towing a 4 wheel caravan, and that will cost me roughly £140 fuel.
So, if the ferry costs is more than £140, plus the £60 channel ferry, then it makes more sense for me to do the channel crossing.
I am not sure I can get to Santander for £200.00 with towing a 4 wheel caravan.
Sure fuel is expensive, but teh Santander crossing is still more proportionally expensive.

or am I missing some thing?

Vette

Re: Santander Ferry
 

We travelled both ways via the Plymouth to Santander and return route in 2010. The sea was like a mill pond both ways, so we were very lucky. The ship was very good. The meals were excellent value and quality. We had an outside cabin, but it was really basic - marginally better than sleeping in a car.

Boarding at Plymouth (3 hour shorter sail than Portsmouth) and Santander was a breeze. Coming off at Santander was a breeze. Coming off at Plymouth was a total nightmare. Goodness knows how long we waited to get through customs and after the relief of actually getting through, we were straight into Plymouth rush hour and the drive north (what a tin pot country this really is).

We stayed overnight in a decent hotel in Santander which was just a 2 minute drive to the ferry.

Personally, if I did it again I wouldnt even consider driving all the way.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

I have done the sums on numerous occasions. Its probably going to be more costly at Santander in the summer months for sure, but when you take absolutely everything into consideration there is very little in it other than all the hassle of driving for two days in France & maybe two hotels depending where you live in the UK. We have done it in the spring and around Christmas and I would always choose that now rather than the driving. The tolls here to Santander are not great, and its a more pleasant drive

Re: Santander Ferry
 

Big wear and tear on your car especially with a heavy caravan:thumbdown:

Whilst cars will tow caravans and trailers they really are not designed for it and I would estimate the wear and tear towing max permitted weight is like multiplying your mileage by five , there are a few 4x4s that will do it comfortably but not many.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

Sometimes it just boils down into what you like.
Me, I love that ferry, takes all the stress away, and (if you get up early) you may see dolpins, porpoises and (I am told) whales.

Re: Santander Ferry
 

It takes all the stress away until you hit upon a really rough one and start thinking about meeting the dolphins and whales face to face.

As for saving wear and tear on the vehicles etc, I think there would be a lot of Harley riders might disagree with that, after picking up bits and pieces from their bikes which had been tossed all over the car deck on a crossing I did last Summer.
I was struggling just to make two or three steps from bunk to bog, whilst I made no attempt at all to visit the mutt in the kennels up on the top deck.

That was on the Pont Aven, which I've used many times previously in better conditions and in further contrast I made the crossing last December in perfect calm on the Cap Fin. and even had the luxury of a dog friendly cabin, which the P.A doesn't seem to have for some reason.