Exiting Santander Port Help (2 80 years olds)

[SamMikeJean]

Good morning fello travellers,

My Dad & his girl friend travel to Spain in September via Brittney Ferries from Portsmouth to Santander.

Both are 80 years old (perfectly with it but want to prepare as much as possible for their drive to Valle Del Este, via the Madrid ring road).

My Dad would like me to gather as much information & advice as possible for the drive. They’re planning to drive for about 3-4 hours & stay overnight on the day they arrive.

So can anyone provide best advice to questions below please?

1. It is looking like a cabin for the night on the crossing is too expensive, so they’re just have their recliners, so is there any advice re plug sockets, and if it’s acceptable to take a blanket on board?

2. What are best signs to look out for as driving out the port as well as using sat nav? I.e S10, A67, or town names.

3. Any advice on decent stop for the night? I.e is it realist to drive 4 hours, at the moment I am looking at finding somewhere at Venturada. It would be nice if they can stop somewhere not isolated and where they can take a short wander to a couple of bars/ restaurants.

Thank you in advance - Sam

 

[sueandjohn]

I can’t help but I’m sure someone will be along soon

 

[Neil S]

A basic comfortable cabin air conditioned with ensuite is less than £100
sorry but they wont get much rest in those reserved seats and its a two night crossing leaving at around 11 pm ish and not getting in until 8am not the next morning but the morning after

 

[SamMikeJean]

Hi Neil,

It’s an under 24 hour crossing (I did check as thought maybe they had it wrong).

Also as it’s only been booked recently and there are no cabins left that Brittney ferries have quoted for under €500.

Thanks for the heads up though regards the recliners & sleep, I am aware that they may find this hard.

Sam

 

[Chris]

They really do need a cabin.

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[Peter and Julie]

Forget the recliners! I couldn't use em at 56 year old let alone 80.
Cabarceno the Elephant Aire is supposed to be good with a few bars and a restaurant in the town. Not too far from Port to get them used to the roads etc.

 

[SamMikeJean]

Forget the recliners! I couldn't use em at 56 year old let alone 80.
Cabarceno the Elephant Aire is supposed to be good with a few bars and a restaurant in the town. Not too far from Port to get them used to the roads etc.

Many Thanks - I’ll take a look

 

[varaizian]

Definitely need a cabin. Anywhere else on board is better than reclining seats. They are uncomfortable after a while and do not allow you to find a good position. Everyone else in the reclining seat lounge seems to be a fidget, have a cough or find it necessary to stage whisper to someone else every few minutes. AND they are crossing the Bay of Biscay which can be quite rough. There have been storms out there the past 2 nights.

 

[varaizian]

Have you looked on the Brittany Ferries web site? I think they have info on the roads around the ports.

 

[Bailey 15]

Where are you based?
Would it be easier to drive 3hrs to Plymouth and leave from there? It’s only 1 night cabin then
Good luck

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[Go_buddy_go_]

Def get a cabin… when we went we got a 4 berth for the 2 of us basic but ok ( we’re 60)… friends went for the commodore lounge cabins and they were v nice and quite lux..

 

[olley]

If they book the Pont Aven from Portsmouth it's a 1 night crossing, all the other ships are two I believe.
Cabin for definite.
Arrival time will determine where they stop, for us it was around 16.00 and I drove to a free aire at Palencia about 125 miles away and then to Madrid the next day.

 

[Nanniemate]

Many Thanks - I’ll take a look

As departure dates would not be fixed as I assume they are retired a cabin is a MUST
even a tightwad like me would do the cattle class seat thing. But if they do maybe consider the cinema that's normally quieter

 

[Barclaybasher]

Did the recliner last month - first and last time! and it was just one night

Gave up and slept on a bench seat.

Just booked again and preferred crossing was seats only - booked a different crossing with a cabin....

Change the crossing

 

[Riverbankannie]

I rang up on day of crossing and changed an inside cabin to outside. They said they keep a couple by the lifts free in case of anyone with mobility issues. Try ringing the French number, I read they are very helpful

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[Speve]

I think four hours driving is to much after that ferry crossing I would suggest as short a distance as possible after arrival then rest up and continue onwards after a good rest

 

[Riverbankannie]

Coming out of Santander port I would think their route to Madrid would be S10 then A67.
If you use google maps yourself, you could use that and select preview and get snapshots of junctions. Make a note of road number and direction for them.
We found lots of roadworks going on as we left the port in March.
Being of similar age, a cabin is a must and after disembarking, we only want to travel a short distance. I would look for something no more than 2 hours away. We are all assuming they have a motorhome as you have posted on here?
Somewhere in Valladoloid direction?

 

[SamMikeJean]

Thank you very much, I think 2 hours max driving is great advice after seeing so many comments about a cabin. I think a cabin is not an option due to the cost, so I will advise them 2 hours max drive on the day they arrive.

 

[Speve]

As a matter of interest what are they driving

 

[Neil S]

Hi Neil,

It’s an under 24 hour crossing (I did check as thought maybe they had it wrong).

Also as it’s only been booked recently and there are no cabins left that Brittney ferries have quoted for under €500.

Thanks for the heads up though regards the recliners & sleep, I am aware that they may find this hard.

Sam

which route ? because I can assure you if its Portsmouth to either Santander or Bilbao its a two nighter
I've sailed both routes frequently and the crossings now take over 30 hours

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[Nanniemate]

Thank you very much, I think 2 hours max driving is great advice after seeing so many comments about a cabin. I think a cabin is not an option due to the cost, so I will advise them 2 hours max drive on the day they arrive.

Maybe reconsider their options. Try a different crossing having done that kind of thing in my 20's to save money the first 2 days will be lost due to exhaustion.

If the cost is concerning stay away a shorter time and reduce costs that way.

Due to the cost I don't take the van over the water as I can fly hire cars and book accommodation which at present is a better option for me.

Keep us updated please it will be interesting to see how your plucky pensioners are getting on.

 

[SamMikeJean]

which route ? because I can assure you if its Portsmouth to either Santander or Bilbao its a two nighter
I've sailed both routes frequently and the crossings now take over 30 hours

Hi Neil,

They’re both out at the mo but I do plan to double check as I am concerned there’s a mistake & will let you know.

 

[PaulW2]

Good morning fello travellers,

My Dad & his girl friend travel to Spain in September via Brittney Ferries from Portsmouth to Santander.

Both are 80 years old (perfectly with it but want to prepare as much as possible for their drive to Valle Del Este, via the Madrid ring road).

My Dad would like me to gather as much information & advice as possible for the drive. They’re planning to drive for about 3-4 hours & stay overnight on the day they arrive.

So can anyone provide best advice to questions below please?

1. It is looking like a cabin for the night on the crossing is too expensive, so they’re just have their recliners, so is there any advice re plug sockets, and if it’s acceptable to take a blanket on board?

I'm considerably younger and wouldn't even consider doing that trip without a cabin

 

[Barclaybasher]

If they do decide against a cabin they will need to take blankets and pillows - aircon on all the time.

They won't enjoy the trip - please persuade them to get a cabin

 

[Brains]

Get a cabin.
Recliners are for teenage insomniacs with a cough only

Set the sat nav whilst waiting to load in the UK!
Do not leave it until you arrive, as they dont work inside a ship.

Once they chuck you off the ship, it's a fast drive straight out of the port and onto the motorway, with no where to stop.
We had a choice of direction and with a 50/50 chance we went the right way,
Soon after the co driver then had the sat nav working.

In terms of a 'map' you need it from the offloading ramp on the ship to the first motorway cloverleaf.

After that, it's conventional driving.

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[Neil S]

Hi Neil,

They’re both out at the mo but I do plan to double check as I am concerned there’s a mistake & will let you know.

seriously two nights without a proper bed to sleep in ??
It will exhaust them
Only other option is the Plymouth to Santander which around 20 hours

 

[varaizian]

Do you know if they have any guide books for Aires or campsites in case Plan A falls through? Perhaps they are internet savvy and can search that way? A good map is essential in my opinion and you can highlight the route if necessary, in advance, so they would see quickly if they were going wrong.

 

[scotzsue]

No way would i try a recliner. would change my booking date first. Would need a couple of days to recover before driving too. Other than that 2 hours is plenty to drive, have done more, but like to relax and enjoy the drive and the places we see.
A few years ago met a couple with their first caravan, both well into their eighties.

 

[ChrisL]

I did Portsmouth to St Malo in a recliner, never again.

 

[DBK]

It is a bit complicated leaving the port, you are very quickly onto dual carriageways so need to be alert from the outset. You can rely on a SatNav but it can be confusing. My advice would be to look for signs to Bilbao then when they arrive there turn south for Burgos and Madrid.