Santander to Algercera, help please

[Jacal]

Catching the Plymouth to Santander ferry on the 25th May and traveling down through Spain to catch the ferry from Algercera to Ceuta.

Can some of you kind knowledgeable travelers please recommend accommodation and best route from Santander to Algercera, not too fussed if it's over two days. Also any help and advice for any part of the trip in Spain or Morrocco would be much apreciated.

Just 3 bikes going up to press, a r1200rt and two Blackbirds.

 

[Kahuna]

Catching the Plymouth to Santander ferry on the 25th May and traveling down through Spain to catch the ferry from Algercera to Ceuta.

Can some of you kind knowledgeable travelers please recommend accommodation and best route from Santander to Algercera, not too fussed if it's over two days. Also any help and advice for any part of the trip in Spain or Morrocco would be much apreciated.

Just 3 bikes going up to press, a r1200rt and two Blackbirds.

Jacal - if you just want to blast it you can do it in a day.

Santander to Burgos (and if you want a lovely twisty road take the 623), then head for Madrid - straight through the centre of Madrid and on down to where the motorway splits to Jaen on the left and Cordoba on the right. My fav is right and through Cordoba.

From Cordoba you can head for either Malaga and ride on the coast (busy all the time though) or stay inland and follow the road heading for Ronda which then splits off for Algiciras.

I've done all the routes a couple of times and can give you some maps etc if you need more. But half the fun is plotting the route yourself I find!

Just came back from Ronda last week and stopped off in Toledo for a night - which is a VERY historic city and worth the visit. Doing that route you can take quite a few OFF Motorway stretches and really enjoy Spain on the way.

I never book hotels in Spain any more (Toledo being the exception this time cause I wanted to be smack in the town centre), they are easy to find and you get some great experiences just rocking up and asking for a room.

Was worried about Santander this time - but after being turned away from 2 I found a cracking little place just 6kms out of town, a proper hotel and for €32!!!

Leave the Morocco advice to others more experienced than I!

Enjoy.

 

[Daffy]

We did it last year but in reverse, I would suggest Santander, salamanca, seville to algeceras.

About 600miles of mixed roads (M'way & fast A roads) and easily doable in a day.

I wouldnt do the madrid route as it is as boring as boring can be and i think further (some more learned soul will correct me)

 

[brianmaslen]

I dont know about the route but if you take Daffy's advice and go via Seville you should make time to look around the town. Its a great city with a wonderful church and quaint streets and culture, great food and typical Spanish hospitality. Alternatively if you do decide to go via Madrid then again the city is absolutely fabulous with great museums, galleries and architecture and some of the best inner city parks ever. Great music and nightlife. Downside is the Euro rate at the moment.

 

[brianmaslen]

Here's a picture from Seville.

 

[brianmaslen]

And another from the main park in Madrid, think its called The Retero Park (spelling?)

 

[Jacal]

Cheers lads for the knowledgeable advise

Although it's "Doable" in a day we would still like to split it into two, that would give us time to take in a bit more sightseeing, also we would be arriving for the ferry crossing to Morocco mid morning, that way we're not rushing things on the Moroccan side re hotel for the first night.

So if I can just ask one more favour. If it was you, where would take your overnight stay on the way to Algerceras? We will probably take the Saville route outward and return via Madrid, so recommendations on both would be much appreciated guys.

I owe you guys a

 

[Steptoe]

Off the santander ferry. Down to Algerciras for the evening, nice hotel 3 miles from the port, with a restaurant. Ready for the 10am ferry to ceuta.

Two years ago even the 4 wheel drives (UKGSER sand up your bum run) did it in ease from Santander. We were on the bikes, and we rode from bordeaux, arrived Algerciras 8pm.

 

[Speggo]

Don't underestimate the time it will take to get through the Morocco border at Cueta. Allow 2-3 hours.

Don't bother with hotels in Cueta. Expesive and no offroad parking. There is a newly opened Ibis hotel at Moussafir, about 1km beyond the border into Morocco.

beyond that, you will find a few new tourist hotels down the coast toward Tetuan, but if you have time, press on to Chefchuan. It's an intersting town with a good souk and is a more manageable size than Tetuan. There is camping in Chefchuan and on the coast near to Tetuan.

Check out Tim's Morocco pages for more info.

For the Spain bit, you can easily do it in a day, but take your time and enjoy Salamanca, the Picos and Sevilla. it's a wonder anyone ever gets beyond the pleasures of Spain!

 

[Tim Cullis]

I normally go via Madrid. Crossing the city is easy. You come in from the north on the A-1, follow the M-30 through the city, then head out to the south on the A-4 signposted Córdoba, Bailén and Granada.

So: A-1 > M-30 > A-4. Easy peasy.

I use the hostels in the service roads of the motorways. They are spotlessly clean, have bar and restaurant downstairs and are about €25 per night single ensuite. Menu of the day might be €10 incl wine.

When you get to Bailén you need to choose whether to go south on the A-44 via Granada or west on the A-4 via Córdoba. I chose Córdoba this trip and suffering from man flu I stopped early that night at Montoro (between Bailén and Córdoba) where the hostel (N38 00.528 W4 22.958) was €20.

As Kahuna writes, Ronda is worth a look and it saves trying your luck on the A-7 "motorway of death".

 

[Jacal]

Thanks a again lads but I must stress I and the better half will not be doing over 650 miles in a day, I honestly can't see the point on starting your holidays doing that kind of milage Hopefully this will be more of a leisurely ride than an Iron Butt ride.

If it's split into two days we can arrive fresh at the port for the crossing to Cueta and hopefully on our way on the Moroccan side for late afternoon, giving us time to find somewhere on route from Cueta.

So a couple of suggested hotels on the run down to Algerciras would be great if you could lads.

 

[Two wheels good]

Ruta de plata

Hi

I think Extremadura is fascinating - historical town such as Merida, Plasencia Trujillo, twisty mountain roads in the Gredos (and other mountain ranges), enormous natural parks (with vultures and eagles). Empty roads.

Part of the colonial Ruta de Plata (Silver Route)
http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Grandes+Rutas/Rutas/Rutas/0/Ruta+Via+de+la+Plata?Language=en

If you think the detour west is too much, I'd suggest Castille-La Mancha is worth a look - the region around Cuenca and the source of the Tago. I've only passed through once and would like to see more. Lots of twisties.

I can't help you with hotels. I've always trusted to luck in Spain and have never failed to find somewhere.

buen viaje
David

 

[IGJ]

Bit late for a reply but in case you use a pc on the way...

As an experienced Brit in Spain, definately the Ruta de la Plata, then cut across to Caceres, Merida and hook on to the A66 to Seville. From Seville I would get on to the AP4 (Toll motorway) towards Cadiz and then onto the A381 direct to Algeciras. By far the most visually appealing and mix road route. Unfortunatly its raining gatos y perros this May which is great for this dry country, not to good for your trip I,m afraid. I will be posting more asiduously when I pick up my new F800 next week. YEEESSSS!!! Can,t wait.