SKI-er or Sk-ater. We know how to enjoy ourselves

Neil_Taylor

MW, we had a great holiday last year driving around Galicia etc.
Drove west along the coast to Ribadeo, then to Santiago de Compostella, Leon and back into the Pecos de Europa.
We were never in a queue of traffic.
The roads are brilliant.
Other drivers were relaxed and courteous.

In short - go for it!

seven-day-weekend

RIGHT! We've decided!

We are SKI-ing to the UK in January for my husband's 60th birthday.

We were going to fly, but the return flights are not terribly cheap, so we've decided to ferry it again. We much prefer the ferry to flying anyway.

Unfortunately we can't afford the Pride of Bilbao again so soon, so we've decided to drive through France and go from Le Havre-Portsmouth. This route gives us a bit less driving in both France and UK.

Our preferred route (after Bilbao-Portsmouth) is actually Dieppe- Newhaven as we have friends who lives in Seaford (next to Newhaven) and it would be nice to spend the night with them, but there are no crossings to Newhaven in January.

Anyway, we should be in our home city in the Midlands on 9th January; my husband's birthday is on the 16th and he wants to play in his old band at the party (this is all organised).

Also on the 20th January it is the 70th birthday of the Pastor of the church we attend in the UK and he is also retiring. We want to be there for this too.

So....we will book the crossing tomorrow!!

Merrywidow

SDW - Have you tried Easy Jet for flights, they are cheap. Why don't you go Calais/ Dover, remember that Wonderful B&B I recommended. Its only an hour from Dover and 20 minutes from the M25 and the route 'up North'. Midlands would take about 3 hours from there. Tink about it!!

I am all booked up for my trip to Galicia. The coach takes 35 hours all told, but that doesn't phase me when I think about avoiding airports, trains and the rest, not to mention lugging my suitcase on and off planes and trains. Now just got to hope the rain holds off. Leave on 30th September. Can't wait. MW

seven-day-weekend

Hi Merry Widow!

The cheapest flights to Birmingham that came up were with Monarch and they were just under £200 return (Two of us including taxes). I used www.skyscanner.net. Easyjet does not appear to fly into Birmingham.

We didn't really want to go into to Dover. Portsmouth is far better for us in the West Midlands, just straight up the A34 to Oxford and then the M40. It is only £20 dearer going from Le Havre and there is much less driving at both ends.

donny-gal

Hi 7DW

Just a couple of thoughts, have you tried Thomsonfly who go into Coventry? Also have you tried the flight finder which Martin offers on here?

Sorry if I'm teaching Grandma to suck eggs!

On the Ski-ing front, well we are back out in Spain for a couple of month in 10 days ish, driving through France, and have booked to go with our caravan to Calvados, France in June/July. Exactly how long we will be there yet is still in my head, IYKWIM, the rally with our group is for two weeks, but will probably have time out there before and after. May link it with another trip to Paris, to make the crossing with the caravan worth while.

DG

seven-day-weekend

Thanks Donny-gal.

We have tried Coventry before, but the airport (a collection of prefabricated huts with no planning permission) is miles away from the Centre and the railway station, so by the time we have spent money on a taxi it negates the savings on the flights.

We much prefer driving anyway, even if it is slightly more expensive.

Merrywidow

Hi all, guess you are just the same as me, hassle free travel. Which is why I have booked Euroline Coach to Galicia. Found a great little pillow and a picnic rug for the journey, couple of good books, a picnic bag for en -route sustenance and I am happy. Glad I stopped smoking last December otherwise it would have been purgatory.

Next trip I will bring the car - even less hassle.

7DW - that B&B will keep for the future - hope you eventually use it.

Looks liike the rain has left Pontevedra for a while - roll on. Hope my mother behaves herself.

seven-day-weekend

Hi Merry Widow, I've only just realised which B&B you mean!

Yes, it will keep and I'm sure we'll get there one day.

Your trip to galicia sounds great. Have a wonderful time and enjoy the shellfish.

Savvy_Sue

Isn't it fascinating how different we all are?

I can think of NOTHING worse than 35 hours on a coach ... :rotfl:

After a 3 hour trip to London I am creaking down the steps to get off like an old lady. Which I'm not.

Our SKI-ing becomes slightly more difficult from October because the older two boys will both be away at Uni while the youngest has just started 6th form. We've left all 3 of them 'home alone', we've left the older 2, we've left the younger 2, and we'd leave either of the older 2 on their own without a qualm

BUT

we're not sure we trust the youngest! which of course makes him quite indignant. But there you go. I think I do trust him, just not quite certain of his friends, and his friends' friends, IYKWIM.

Anyway, I take DS1 back to his rented house later today, and DS2 at the end of the month, so on Saturday we're off to Dartmoor for a few days leaving DS2 and DS3 at home. Didn't want to be too far away in case of problems. Not this time!

IF it goes well, then we may try to sneak the odd weekend into our schedule. But I don't want DS3 to feel neglected or abandoned ...

donny-gal

IKWYM Sue, if your DS3 is just going into 6th form he is 16/17 and at that age boys in particular do no have their heads attached at times.

As you say it is others not him, and would he be strong enough to stop folks talking advantage. You are right to be cautious.

DG