A question on ferries!!??

[Giles]

I'll cut to the chase ...

If I pre-book a single journey (two up) from Santander to Portsmouth, my best quote is £194 for a given, non-refundable date.

But ... I like to wing things, and prefer the freedom of pitching up places when and how I want.

Any feed back from peepes that have just pitched up at either Bilbao or Santander?? Did you pay through the nose? Did you pitch up to find the next ferry is not till tomorrow?? Did you find yourself with a bargain and sailed straight on??

Thanks in advance ...

 

[Timolgra]

Most people I know have had to pay considerably more than the cheapest pre booked place and not been able to get a cabin unless there was a 4 berth one left.

 

[Giles]

Ok ... Thank you Hobo Tim ... my online buddy ....

 

[Timolgra]

Bakes turned up at Santander earlier this year on the off chance...surprisingly they didn't turn him away...he wasn't on a bike but may know if he had to pay over the odds these days

 

[rodsharp]

Always best to book in advance for the best price. There are several partner codes you could use to get a discount. PM me if you want one that you can use. Cracking area to go by the way.,We have been most places in Europe and northern Spain is our preferred choice, and we have always been lucky with the weather right up to mid October.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

They only operate out of there 2/3 days a week, so it would be hit and miss if you were able to get one on the day you turn up.... you could always make a note of sailing times and take it with you.

From experience, that route always seems to increase in price the nearer it gets to sailing day. Having said that, if you could get Internet access the day before I'm sure that would be cheaper than just turning up.

 

[Osprey]

Places for bikes are far more limited than those for cars, as the bikes require lashing down points. Always best to pre-book in my experience, it's not like Dover to Calais, its quite a long wait for the next ferry!

 

[Giles]

Ok ... all received. I'll Book!!

Was Bakes on one of his weird and wonderful hitch-hiking trips?

We have about ten days - my rough plan is sort of Tarn Gorge, Midi Pyrenees (my favourite part of france..) Pyrenees propper ... Picos and then ferry home ..

(I'll tell you all about it ... !!

 

[Martyn B]

Good call...!

Ok ... all received. I'll Book!!

Was Bakes on one of his weird and wonderful hitch-hiking trips?

We have about ten days - my rough plan is sort of Tarn Gorge, Midi Pyrenees (my favourite part of france..) Pyrenees propper ... Picos and then ferry home ..

(I'll tell you all about it ... !!

We've just got back from an almost identical trip except we had the good fortune to be over there a bit longer.

The ferry out from Portsmouth only had three bikes on it including ours but coming home from Santander - which is what you're doing - the ferry to Plymouth was chocker with bikers - about ten Harley's, a dozen GS/GSA's and the same again of other machines. They packed us in like sardines on the lower deck along with the artics and the campers. Everyone I talked to had pre-booked so I think you'd have had trouble just pitching up. That price you got was good as well. We had discount through Brittany Ferries club and still paid over £600 for the return trip. but that was with the luxury of a four berth cabin.

Weather in Pyrenees was hit & miss, Picos, inland Spain and north coast was brilliant - apart from the day we went from east to west (see my weather thread).

Have a great trip - we did!

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Picos and then ferry home ..

(I'll tell you all about it ... !!

If your after a bed in the Picos this place is lovely and highly recommended.

http://www.lapisa.co.uk/

 

[Giles]

Ok Thanks guys. (Trippy - looks nice, I'll not pre-book but I'll certainly print off the address and take it with me ... Ta).