Northern Spain

[Aquilaboy]

Currently visiting Northern Spain (sadly not in my EB). Been here for over two weeks and only seen 1 bay window kombi (& it was from GB!). It's a really top place and I wondered if anyone out there had brought their kombi here and had any thoughts or advice?

 

[Clem]

I sailed to Bilbao twice and stayed in San Sebastian which was brilliant, we moved on into France afterwards to the Biarritz area etc but I would love to go back some time.

 

[AircooledKate]

I've been thinking about doing this for a while, grab a ferry over direct to Spain and drive around. The ferry is really expensive but could be worth it, I haven't been to north west Spain and would love to explore in my EB, maybe even a one way ferry and drive back through France.

 

[mike202]

We went to Spain last year. Got the ferry to Santander and stayed here for a couple of days at a campsite. Then we made our way east and back up through France getting the return ferry at St Malo. We stayed for two nights at each of the seven campsites, along the way.

 

[Clem]

First time I did it we got a return ferry so we moved up the French S/W coast as far as Arrcachon and then came back down to sail home.

Second time we sailed one way and moved up to La Rochelle/Isle de Re and then drove across to Paris/Disney and then home via Calais - Dover.

I looked recently and a return ferry was about £1000 - expensive but compared to flights/hire cars etc its not so bad and is a very simple way of getting your bus abroad without the monumental drive. When I went you could use Tesco Clubcard points at 4x face value which made it cheap, sadly those days are long gone.

 

[mike202]

I just looked on the Brittany ferries site and prices for next July (2024) are cheaper than what I paid for September last year. I thought July would be the most expensive month so I was surprised by the cost. You are right about the return fare though around £1000 for two plus campervan, Portsmouth to Santander. Still not a bad way to get your bus into Spain and a mini cruise there and back home

 

[Huyrob]

Portsmouth to Bilbao return is about £1000 but agree, taking into account time, mileage, overnight stops it totally makes sense. Plus the trip is great, definitely worth paying the extra £60 pp to get aplace in the club lounge think it’s called the Commodores Lounge ( spaces go quick ) This gives free breakfast, lunch evening meal, unlimited wine coffee and soft drinks ( No Stella Oz !) and various nibbles, very nice as mainly French food . Also best getting a 4 berth even if there are only 2 of you. You will arrive relaxed, refreshed ,well fed and ready to go ! Don’t treat it as an expense but a great part of the journey.

 

[Albie5]

The crossing will depend on the weather (and time of year) I did the crossing to Santander once (winter) and arrived hung over from sea-sickness. Calais to Bilbao overland (return) should be half the £1000 ferry costs. The motels in France are quite cheap (but not as cheap as 25 years ago when I regularly made this trip - I have family in northern Spain) Fuel costs today have really put a dent in the expense of long distance T2 camper travel.

 

[Clem]

We went through the Bay of Biscay in a heavy storm one time. I was ok as I have to
take sea sickness pills as a matter of course but it was mental. I went for a meal and the place was deserted
I genuinely couldn’t think at one point that my van wouldn’t have been on its side as it must have toppled over It was fine, of course

 

[70-CA-Panel]

Hi @Aquilaboy I’m in northern Spain right now, Noja just east of Santander!
I love this coast and have been coming to Costa Verde since my late teenage years. My best buddy has a T3 that we drove down yearly back then.
Haven’t taken my bus over yet, but difficult with two wee little ones.
We flew to Santander and staying in a mobile home on a campground £1000 for 4 weeks, flights for whole family was £500.
Surfs up today and through the weekend up to 3m!
Let me know if you’re this way.

 

[Aquilaboy]

Hi @Aquilaboy I’m in northern Spain right now, Noja just east of Santander!
I love this coast and have been coming to Costa Verde since my late teenage years. My best buddy has a T3 that we drove down yearly back then.
Haven’t taken my bus over yet, but difficult with two wee little ones.
We flew to Santander and staying in a mobile home on a campground £1000 for 4 weeks, flights for whole family was £500.
Surfs up today and through the weekend up to 3m!
Let me know if you’re this way.

Hi 70-CA-Panel, just picked up your message (sorry). We flew into Madrid, drove up to Salamanca, the to Santiago de Compostela, then to Lastres, then to Bilbao on to San Sebastian and next to the Rioja region and then back to Madrid. Glad to hear that the surfing was good . We watched some guys today and they were pretty good!
We've found the roads very empty (& good). The food is great ( though struggling to understand when the kitchen is open ). We will definitely be back. The comments about the ferry costs Vs the travel time/ fuel costs by driving are interesting.

 

[70-CA-Panel]

There’s a classic car meet in Noja today just east of Santander. Seem to be all vintage VWs and one Chevy truck .
Mostly Beetles, several T3s two T2bs and one T2a, a lovely Doka.
First meet organised by these guys and seems to be the only all VW meet in Spain.
Local group is called Scrap Homies.
Really nice guys, they’re hoping to continue over the next few years.

 

[mike202]

Looks like a great show, weather looks fantastic wish I was there!