I'm thinking of taking the caravan on a crossing to Bilbao in March and leaving it there for the season. Has anyone any experience of doing this? How did it go? Are the sites any good up that end of Spain?
Or, I'm potentially thinking of going to Bilba and then driving over to Costa Brava to drop it off - how difficult is it to tow from Bilbao to Costa Brava, or is it easier to just drive down from Calais? I'm thinking of mountains in the way in Spain! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Lindsey
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you want to tow from Bilbao to Costa Brava you can do it all by motorway, either through Spain or France avoiding mountains. Either way it's over 400miles. From Calais its about 750-800miles all motorway.
When you've already 'done' all the beautiful places here then you may expand your horizons. Often those who are doing a 'season' are retired people who have plenty of time to do whatever they like and can afford, and if this includes a season in Spain then why not.
There are several reasons for going to Europe for longer periods - living is cheaper, the weather is better, and you get a change of culture.
If it's sunshine she's looking for, and has a whole season to do it, then I would drive down from Calais, spending some time driving through the lovely parts of France en-route, stopping wherever the sunshine is. The north-western part of Spain is known as the Costa Verde (Green Coast) and that's because it has a lot more rain than many other parts of Spain.
Iveetee, the drive from either Bilbao or Santander across to the Costa Brava is straightforward. It's motorway / dual carriageway all the way with very few mountains to cross. I live in southern Spain and have towed a caravan all the way up to Calais. It's a long way, you have to get over the Pyranees and have only done it once - that was enough!
I have also driven, without the caravan, up to Calais on numerous ocassions, but now I find it's less hastle and just as cheap to use the Brittany Ferry to either Santander or Bilbao. I have recently joined their travel club in order to get discounted rates. I can recoup the cost of membership quite easily as I use the ferry two or three times a year and offers my friends and family a 10% discount.
Incidentally, the toll fees on the Spanish side will be less than 10 euros, compared to over 130 euros on the French side. These prices are based on a car with no caravan. Hope this information helps you make a decision.
How many times do you think you will get over there iveetee? Or are you planning on staying all Summer? I suppose it will come down to whether the site fees for leaving it there are cheaper than the cost of taking it for X number of trips.
If it were me and I was planning on spending the whole summer there, I'd be driving down from Calais, taking my time, as there is so much to see en route, and save the ferry money!
If it's a pitch you want and you will then travel back and forth as work allows, then I guess I'd prefer somewhere a little closer than hauling my backside down to Spain for the odd week here and there. But then we love France!
Good luck.
------------- Amanda
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 08/11/2015
How many times do you think you will get over there iveetee? Or are you planning on staying all Summer? I suppose it will come down to whether the site fees for leaving it there are cheaper than the cost of taking it for X number of trips.
If it were me and I was planning on spending the whole summer there, I'd be driving down from Calais, taking my time, as there is so much to see en route, and save the ferry money!
If it's a pitch you want and you will then travel back and forth as work allows, then I guess I'd prefer somewhere a little closer than hauling my backside down to Spain for the odd week here and there. But then we love France!
Good luck.
I'd agree with all that - I was going to post something similar, but with the addition that if you're retired and have all the time in the world then why not travel down through France. If you're not retired and can only spend limited times in Spain then it may be cheaper and easier to hire an apartment for the times when you're there, and fly out rather than haul the caravan all the way down there, and then pay site or storage fees for the whole season.
The Bilbao ferry isn't a cheap option - I got a quick quote earlier which came in at nearly £800 return. Driving through France using non-toll roads, and finding sunshine en-route would probably be cheaper, and you never know you may find the sunshine much further north and decide not to bother going all the way to Spain!
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: March/April 2016
