We've ferried from Plymouth and St Nazaire, driven and cycled from various others ...
North coast of Spain is a favourite area of ours ... seven times, so far ... the Picos are amazing ... the beaches are great ... lots to see and do .... not the dry, arid Spain that most of the rest of the country offers in summer.
Have a look at some reviews of campsites we've used ... also indicate some of the things we've done that would recommend.
And eating out/food/drink is solo cheap ... yesterday ... three tapas, a beer and a large Fanta Lemon: 4 euros!
Quote: Originally posted by SAZZLEEVANS on 12/8/2014
I travelled with my 3 kids aged 5,5 and 3. Great crossing, simples!!
If you want my code for Spain email manager at islacanelaholidays dot com
Post last edited on 12/08/2014 19:37:07
Hi, would you be happy to give your code to me as well? I agree with your recommendation for Camping de la Cote, was there 15 years ago and have been back for the last 3 summers-its just fantastic.
Cheers.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Just returned today! Out plymouth to Santander, lovely cruise. Northern Spain is fantastic, Picos and coast, and so cheap! Returned from Roscoff, but left the sun in Spain I think!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Santander to Portsmouth
Plymouth to Santander
Bilbao to Portsmouth
I think the best route is the one that suits you geographically and time wise. We did our crossings in August / early Sept and luckily ended up with perfect weather on all occasions.
Pont Avon
Certainly the biggest ship. Has lots of indoor bars, seating etc. it also has a greater range of cabins. We did pay for the outside ones with TV tea & coffee facilities both times, it worked for us.
It has a restaurant, self service, coffee shop / snack bar. Maybe we got it ln an off day but we took picnic food the next time. It wasn't that the food was inedible but the self service wasn't good enough value for what we wanted. I'm not a meat lover and was sick of tomatoe pasta by that stage, maybe that coloured my view. My husband decided a ready meal would have been better too. He didn't rate the choices of meats in various brown sauces either. I assume they serve more variety when they do the short cruises on this ship, the self service area had more capacity.
The hot food at the coffee place seemed a bit odd too, they advertised pizza but then there's these crazy people who want it at 1pm, or early evening. Sandwiches were all meat or fish based.
Thers is a microwave in the self service that anyone can use for what what they want. Just saying.
Cap Finistiere
It is smaller and wouldn't be my first choice in November, not that you can predict rough seas.
It has a small bookable restaurant.
A small self service thing. It had drinks, pre packed salads, pasta etc. the meals like pasta were ready meal affairs to be put in the provided in the provided microwaves. They looked prefectly nice, nicer than my veggie option on the Pont Avon. We bought a nice tabbouleh salad to top up the pre bought micro food we'd brought with us.
I went to the snack bar bit and they did serve food until 9pm. Pizza, hamburgers, fries etc The specials were lamb curry and chicken Basque that day.
The inside seating areas are much smaller on this ship. The top deck has a solid roof but conservatory style walls. The heated sea water splash pool is up there, outside but well protected. It did look deep and an adult would needs to be in there with poor swimmers.
This is also.where the snack bar is, the dog walking area, a play area for toddlers / pre-schoolers. I stayed up there reading until late and it was warm enough with a jumper.
I found the Cap Finistiere more relaxed but would go for the Pont A in winter. My parents prefer the Pont A, they tend to travel off seaon.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Portsmouth/Santander or Bilboa
