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Ferry Spain
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Ferry to Spain
If you want to get a ferry to Spain, then you would have to get a crossing to either:
Both of these are situated on the northern coast of Spain and are near to each other. In order to get to the Costa Blanca region, it is necessary to travel south some 500 miles.
What is the Difference?
The main difference is the ferry operators that travel to these. For Santander, the operator is 'Brittany Ferries' which travel from Plymouth in Devon.For Bilboa, the main operator is P&O, which operates from Portsmouth.. There has recently been a number of new operators traveling to Bilboa.
A Day at Sea
Both routes are around a full day of traveling by sea. You cross the English channel, then down the Bay of Biscay - which can get rough. You will need to sleep overnight. You cannot describe the ships as ferries though. They are literally small liners, with shops, restaurants, cinemas, bars, cabaret shows and even a small swimming pool. Food is good and well priced, from self service to silver service. Some people just go for the crossing and then go back again...for around £49 each!
Ferry to France
An alternative route is by getting a ferry to France, which is a much shorter crossing, especially if you travel Dover to Calais. The drawback is however, the extra miles you will have to drive across France before you enter Spain. Then you will have many hundreds of miles to travel to the South Coast of Spain. Very scenic, but make sure you have something to keep the kids amused! |
Getting the Best Deal - Ferry to Spain
There is very little in the crossings from Plymouth - Santander, and Portsmouth - Bilboa. The main factor will be where you are heading from in England in the first instance. The cost of the routes does vary however, and will differ dependent on the size of your vehicle and type. There are height markers at the terminals, so be honest!
I would recommend, checking out the all the operators for the routes. Read the detail re costs for vehicles and then make a decision. You will also need to arrange breakdown cover for your car. You won't find the AA, or RAC in Spain. So get covered beforehand and shop around.
I have found the following site the best for checking out the operators when getting a ferry to Spain. They also offer very good prices for 'European Breakdown Cover' for your car.
Here is the web site for P&O Ferries, if you want it:
How Do I Get to Costa Blanca?
The roads are of a very good standard.
From Santander
Take the N623 south to Burgos (2-way across, with sleep rises at times. Is also very windy and goes through numerous towns & villages), then join the N1 to Madrid
From Bilboa
Take the A68 and A1 to Bilboa (Part is a toll road - around €40)
From A1 to Madrid, (gets very confusing around Madrid - so have a navigator & map)
Take the N111-E901 South East, the A31 and N301 to Albacete, then the N340 and N330 south.
Total journey is around 500-550 miles (800kms) and will take you around 12 hours with stops along the way. It is however a very scenic route.
Tips re Journey
Don't stop in the service areas, unless they are at the side of the motorway and they look new. The older style service areas are for the truck drivers and can be quite rough and ready. There are numerous petrol stations along the way, most have excellent service facilities and are of a much higher standard.
You will need to take with you, 2 x warning triangles, reflective jackets for the driver and passenger (in case you break down), spare set of outside bulbs, insurance documents and make sure your spare tyre is legal.
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