Drive to Spain

kitchwamaji

We are getting fed up with all the hassles with flying and so for the summer holiday this year would like to drive to our apartment in Murcia. We have 2 young kids, so a quickish but scenic route would be preferable. Does anyone have any ideas on routes / ferry crossings and more importantly the cost? We live in Somerset by the way. Thanks for any help! Mo

sad_gills_fan

One of my colleagues has an apartment there too and he started off driving with his wife and 3 young children (all under 10 .. the children, not the wife!)

Anyway, he did it twice but now flies as it's such a long journey for the children. They would stop overnight on the way which broke up the journey a little but just added expenditure really.

I'm not sure of which directions he went in, I just know he doesn't do it anymore!

Enjoy

wallacebob

I looked at this for Marbella after meeting a guy who drove from Edinburgh. Trouble is he and his wife were retired and took three/four days to get there, so it only works if you have lots of time.
The cost of the Santander ferry is prohibitive IMO, but Speedferries to Boulogne is very good but longer drive.
We met a couple last year in France who drove every year to Portugal, again they were retired!
Sorry to be negative, but on the positive we drove from Scotland to Loire Valley and made it part of holiday, taking "A" roads - we would do that again anytime.

Barter

I find http://www.viamichelin.co.uk very useful: you can choose your options - quickest, most economical or scenic route etc., & enter your car type, fuel type & price, & it will give you a choice of routes as well as time & costs.

For example, here's the summary of one option:

Somerset Destination
MurciaStopovers
Date: 04/01/2008
Vehicle type: Automobile, Hatchback
Route type: Recommended by Michelin
Time and distance
Time: 22h28 including 19h11 on motorways
Distance: 2275km including 2125km on motorways and 41km on scenic roads

Costs311.01 EUR
Toll costs:107.25 EUR
Petrol costs:203.76 EUR
Road tax cost:0.00 EUR
Change route | Return route

© Michelin 2007
© Europa Technologies Ltd

DKLS

Is flying that much of a hassle?
Get to airport
Check In
Go through Security and Passport Control (Its not that bad)
Browse Duty Free
Get on Plane

brodev

I have driven every year from Scotland to Costa del Sol for the past 13 years. If you are only going for a short spell I would not recommend it as it is tiring. I have used Plymouth/Santander ferry many times and I have no complaints, except for the expense. With 2 children I would not consider driving from Santander in 1 day, so you will need an overnight somewhere. If you go through France you will need at least 2 overnights. As I said it is not worth it IMHO unless you are going for a couple of months or so.

LesD

We have a holiday-home in Murcia and one of our neighbours who lives there does courier work between there and the UK.

He usually does it via Newhaven-Dieppe and the western France route - crossing into Spain at Hendaye. That way avoids the most expensive tolls.

But he says the cost of hotels and fuel tends to even out the various routes. He actually sleeps in his van most times! He also has a second fuel tank so can fill up with cheaper Spanish/French fuel!

Unless you want to visit places on the way down (which of course takes time out of your holiday), it's a hell of a way to go with kids! 1200-1300 miles!

hartcjhart

take a look here,although to Almeria its virtually the same

http://www.vivacv.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1198788852

kitchwamaji

Thanks for the many really helpful comments. Having read them, I think we will put up with the hassles of flying! We used to enjoy the adventure until we discovered SleazyJet.