Best way to Spain
We are looking at travelling to Spain in May and are undecided whether to go by ferry to Santander or drive from Caen
I remember a similar thread a number of months ago but cannot find it using google. Can anyone point me in the right direction ( yes, I know it's South 
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Comments
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Have you plenty of time? And are there places you want to visit on your way across France? If that's getting two yeses then you will drive.
But if you want to get straight there and start your touring in northern Spain then take the ferry, but pick the timings carefully. There is one sailing which requires two nights on board instead of one, and other sailings which arrive rather too late in
the day to get to where you want to spend the night. And choose a good weather forecast for crossing the Bay of Biscay.Good wishes.
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Which part of Spain? If you're heading towards the north west coast, western Spain, or the very south, then Santander might make sense. If you're going to the Costa Brava in north eastern Spain then you might want to think about the extra cost, versus the driving distance. From Caen to (say) Estartit is 693 miles, whilst Santander is not that much less driving at 512 miles.
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Westiegirl1, if you look in the first few thread at the top of the overseas section there is some really useful information about travelling to Spain in winter and routes that they take (I know you're going in May) but does give info on ferries aswell.
We came back from Spain in November through the Somport tunnel and up to Caen for ferry home, lovely drive we took our time and made stops for visiting along the way. In April we are going to try the Santander ferry so we will then have something to compare.
In May you will have the weather on your side (hopefully) and just about all sites will be open so if you are not in a rush . . . . . . enjoy0 -
The OP lives in Westmorland (happy memories before it disappeared). and is facing a long drive to south ports so I would recommend that if going to Southern Spain the longer crossing to Santander/Bilbao may be better and if you do the sums is not that much
more than using a shorter crossing. If going to Costa Blanca area then it's the Caen route for us.0 -
This comparison that I wrote ages ago compares Calais to a spanish port for both the Costa Brava and then again for further south.
Russ
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Thanks everyone for your opinions and ideas, will need to do some more research and then decide!!
Russ, one thing I do know is we will not be going to Santa Susanna. This was recommended to me by my hairdresser as being "quaint", that is the last word i would ever use to describe the place, probably our worst ever package holiday but at least it is near to Barcelona!
Funnily enough I wore my "Santa Susanna" t shirt this morning for tennis - I won it in a pub quiz at the Station Pub there
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Well we've done it, decided to book the Portsmouth - Caen return ferry after all.
Roll on May!
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Can highly recommend the Plymouth Santander ferry. 20 hours overnight, and Santander is easy to get into and out of. Roads excellent, tolls cheap and the Costa Verde is very pretty. It can be wet but the beaches are lovely, and the sea food wonderful. Relatively
few Brits in the north, but the road connections to the south are good. On the return you can park in the ferry port for free all day, go into town and then catch the ferry in the evening.Suggest avoiding the road up to Potes and the Picos Europa Mountains, if you are towing, it has some nasty overhanging limestone cliffs right over the road in La Hermida gorge and the frequent coach drivers prefer not to give way.
Peter.
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Nah, it's his better looking twin brother
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or The Stig's caravanning cousin.
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Is it safe to sleep in the port car park in a caravan? Friends want to travel back from the south of France via th route, but I'm not so sure so would love anyone's opinion
Which port please?
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