Driving down UK to Spain.

Do you have a query about moving to Andalucia and buying property in Andalucia. Find out by posting questions and reading about other peoples experiences.
User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:40 pm

Hi all,
I will soon be driving to Iznajar (near Cordoba).

The idea is to get the ferry to Santander, then drive straight down, going around Madrid.

Is it better to book the ferry direct with the company, or are there others that do the best price ?

Similarly with hotels, I am looking for a (preferably) dog friendly hotel on the outskirts of Madrid, and recommendations, and which company is best to book it through?

Also, if anyone has any suggestions to make the experience better, or things to avoid, I would be grateful to hear of your experiences.

Thank you in anticipation.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

markwilding
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 7777
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:02 am
Location: Bilbao Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby markwilding » Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:46 pm

Dogs, driving down to the south via Madrid. Enrique is your man for that.
Where I'm often surprised is going via Santander. I would take the ferry to Bilbao if it's possible as it takes over an hour off the journey to Madrid.
Last edited by markwilding on Wed Feb 22, 2017 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

ValL
Resident
Posts: 904
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:36 pm

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby ValL » Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:24 pm

I use booking dot com for my pet friendly hotels. Remember to fill in your choices on the left hand side. I choose parking, Wi-Fi and pet friendly. Ibis Styles I find good, the lower end of their market dire.

User avatar
Enrique
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 9488
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:47 am
Location: Mytchett/Alcala La Real

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby Enrique » Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:30 pm

H brianjackson,

Thanks for the intro Mark............. :D

I've put a note together..........its up to date as of late last year.............

The Bookings..........
I'm a Brittany-Ferries Club member so 33% discount booking Direct , two trips a year and you cover Membership.
Otherwise try a Booking site to see if any deals.

If making a return trip to UK with your dog make sure the Pets Passport is filled in correctly and any mistakes are signed by Vet with Stamp.

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/infor ... -checklist

Some info on the Kennels and Pet friendly Cabins............

Have a look at the Brittany Ferries site................the light reading bit..........

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/infor ... dly-cabins

I've done the trip many times...........

Pont-Aven.........better for the not so calm crossings , I've had two "interesting" ones out of 36 crossings travelling all seasons.

Kennels are up on Deck 10, access is via key card. there is a walking area outside round the Kennel area. There is also a Dog gated dog area on the Helicopter landing pad.

Dogs go from the car deck to kennel via lift organised by a Crew member. There are stairs up to Deck 10 from the lift exit at 9.
They have tightened up on the use of Muzzles for that bit.

Cap Finistère...........will have to book way ahead to get a Pet on this one as Kennel space is limited.

Dog kennels are at one end of the deck, with a walk area, the Pet Friendly Cabins down the other end and they have a Dog area up from the cabins.

I always put mine in kennels, as they are crate trained it's home from home and they just settle down and sleep.

There are water bowls attached to the Kennel bars, and Poo bags on a roll in Kennels.

I put mine on "travel" rations so don't feed them much on the trip over. Huskies are ok with not feeding every day especially as they will be sleeping most of the time . Less in less out.....

Now the Hotel bit............

This will depend on the time the Ferry docks (Portsmouth - Santander ) and you get off, At Santander its circa 18:00hrs so the 3 hour drive to this hotel is a good bet.

http://www.hotelalisa.com/lerma%28i%29.html

Circa 33km south of Burgos, 150 miles to Santander, 120 miles Bilbao.
Used it loads of times, can have dogs in room or secure garage.

This one has been recommended by two of our Members and I've stayed there once.
http://www.hotelmilagrosriaza.com/

For the dogs comfort a water bowl that doesn't spill

DogTravel water bowl
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Prestige_Pet_P ... tAodijwALQ

The Route...........From Santander to Lerma

A-67 following signs to Palencia , at Osorno A-231 to Bergos, then A-1 to Madrid.

Beware if the sun is low at the Osorno Turn it will wipe out your vision on the slip road as you turn directly in to it.

Lerma is circa 33km south from Bergos. The journey is all Motorway

From Lerma south..............

A-1 to Madrid , M-50 round Madrid (30 mins North to South) pick up either A-4 or R-4 (Toll) south, A-44 Jaén

So all good experiences on the trips.
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:02 pm

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to have explained everything for me.

I will get thru it and see what looks best.

Thanks once more.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Fri Feb 24, 2017 3:44 pm

Update,

Using the information, I have booked successfully on the Pont Aven to travel Portsmouth - Santander. It was good to know about the Club Voyage membership, which will save me money for sure. I am just waiting of the hotel alisa to confirm details for the dog then all will be sorted.

Thank you Enrique. I will be enjoying my voyage. Your help was invaluable. Thanks again.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Sat Mar 25, 2017 12:42 pm

Update.
Many thanks Enrique.
I drove from Gateshead to Portsmouth to Brittany Ferries to board the Pont Avon. Member of the Club cos its worth it. Dog well looked after in a big kennel - lots of people not muzzling dogs in exercise area.
Very comfortable cabin and amazed bot to be ripped off ! Food was good - Full English £4:50.
Off the boat in Santander.
Drove down to Milagros the the Dog friendly hotel there. Lovely place - lovely people.
Off the next morning - thru Madrid - (slowly) to Iznajar.
Total miles 930, cost of fuel £79:01p Averaged 51mpg (cos car was well loaded)
Diesel in UK £1:21 per litre In Spain €1:10 per litre

Was a great experience and looking forward to more of the same.

Thanks once more for the excellent advice.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

Mike Lytt
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:20 pm
Location: Torre del Mar

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby Mike Lytt » Sat Mar 25, 2017 1:34 pm

Did similar myself a few years back, great fun....may well do it again in the future

ashtondav
Resident
Posts: 1776
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:10 pm
Location: Northampton Frigiliana/Nerja

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby ashtondav » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:51 pm

Club Voyage membership,
Not very generous, though. Doesn't even give you a discount on the cabins and seeing they are over £100 of the each way cost its quite a lot.

Lavanda
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 6191
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: Cáceres Province, Extremadura

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby Lavanda » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:00 am

If you do the trip again, and would like a variation and have the time, think about this route as an interesting alternative with a fabulous stretch on the Ruta de la Plata:

Santander to Burgos, old capital of Castile, 185km
Burgos to Valladolid, another old capital of Castile where Ferdinand and Isabella got married, thus uniting most of Spain, 136km
Valladolid to Salamanca, with the third oldest university in Europe, 120km
Salamanca to Mérida, old capital of the Roman Province of Lusitania, all the drive is on the Ruta de la Plata, 271km
Mérida to Cordoba, old capital of Moorish Spain, 247km
Cordoba to Iznajar, 111km

This route also crosses the Sierra de Gredos through the pass at Béjar and just after that is Hervás with the UNESCO Jewish Quarter. Very interesting. (I could go on but you get the idea — it's lovely.) It works out at 140km more than going via Madrid — but what a fantastic route for history-lovers and people who like a long stretch on a virtually empty road.

User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:25 am

Sounds good I will look into it. Thanks.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

kerbut
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 81
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:43 pm
Location: Costa del sol in winter. Uk in summer

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby kerbut » Tue Mar 28, 2017 5:17 pm

We go on the Baie De Seine to Bilbio and the dog (very small Jack Russell) sleeps in the cabin with us , then we come off we make our way to Hotel Montermoso , between Burgos and Madrid @ Km 163 which is dog friendly .
kerbut

User avatar
brianjackson
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Iznajar Spain

Re: Driving down UK to Spain.

Postby brianjackson » Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:35 pm

Thanks for that, useful to know.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests