Getting to Madrid

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Options, options. Anyone done this and how?


I'm guessing Santander but any offers or vouchers?

[KAgantua]

I think Natwest do credit cards on quite easy terms, use that for the flights?

[TooLateForAName]

KAgantua said:

I think Natwest do credit cards on quite easy terms, use that for the flights?

Have you seen the excess baggage fees for a motorcycle?

Or do you think he can get it in an overhead locker?

[croyde]

TooLateForAName said:

KAgantua said:

I think Natwest do credit cards on quite easy terms, use that for the flights?

Have you seen the excess baggage fees for a motorcycle?

Or do you think he can get it in an overhead locker?

I was going to do this with my bike a good few summers ago but not only were all the ferries fully booked, the prices were crazy.

[HBelder]

Took the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry last May and would recommend it.

Two of us, one bike, £660 including meals etc.

We were lucky, the weather was good so spent most of the full day on deck enjoying the sun and watching dolphins.

[Triaguar]

Done this loads of times. Always Santander. Makes a great start to the trip. Like a small cruise. Check sailing times carefully they differ quite a lot. Give yourself AT LEAST an hour to get off the boat and through passport control. 30 minutes then gets you onto some fabulous bike roads. There are a thousand different ways to get to Madrid, and with a little research all brilliant. Enjoy

[black-k1]

I've looked at the options for getting to Northern Spain a few times before (and to get to Madrid, you'd need to ride from Northern Spain). The cost of the ferry from Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander/Bilbao and back, is pretty much the same as the cost of riding through France when you include tyre wear, fuel, overnight stops etc.

If time is important then the ferry is the best answer. You can get there just as quickly through France but it's not really going to be a fun ride, especially if you don't have a bike that'll be happy sat on French autoroutes for mile after mile.

If you have the time then taking several days to ride through France on nice roads is an option and there are some nice roads to ride, but it'll add a fair bit to your journey time.

[Triaguar]

Try and fit in a stop at Asador Guillermo, at Puerto De La Cruz Verde. A biker cafe/restaurant on a roundabout junction of M505, M512 and M533. Great start finish place for some good rides.

[slime bomb]

I'm off to Santander via Plymouth one way ticket in 2 weeks for the fist time, I normally ride down through France but the weather has put me off this time. I'm coming back when I feel like it.

[croyde]

I'm jealous.

If I didn't have to work, that's what I would do, either car or bike.

I'd cross Spain and get the ferry to Tenerife and only return once I'd run out of meds

[cava]

I did the Plymouth to Santander ferry last April. Something to bear in mind is that if the crossing is rough, you could spend the whole 24 hrs as sick as a dog. This happened to me on the way back.

I don't know when you're going, but in April it was sunny but extremely cold in the central region until well after lunch (not much above zero).

Edited by cava on Monday 8th April 16:09

[romft123]

black-k1 said:

I've looked at the options for getting to Northern Spain a few times before (and to get to Madrid, you'd need to ride from Northern Spain). The cost of the ferry from Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander/Bilbao and back, is pretty much the same as the cost of riding through France when you include tyre wear, fuel, overnight stops etc.

If time is important then the ferry is the best answer. You can get there just as quickly through France but it's not really going to be a fun ride, especially if you don't have a bike that'll be happy sat on French autoroutes for mile after mile.

If you have the time then taking several days to ride through France on nice roads is an option and there are some nice roads to ride, but it'll add a fair bit to your journey time.

The cost of a ferry is the same as riding down..............WHAT !

[Hugo Stiglitz]

The comment fly? It appears only Ryanair do direct flights now to Madrid from most of England.

[Omaruk]

romft123 said:

black-k1 said:

I've looked at the options for getting to Northern Spain a few times before (and to get to Madrid, you'd need to ride from Northern Spain). The cost of the ferry from Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander/Bilbao and back, is pretty much the same as the cost of riding through France when you include tyre wear, fuel, overnight stops etc.

If time is important then the ferry is the best answer. You can get there just as quickly through France but it's not really going to be a fun ride, especially if you don't have a bike that'll be happy sat on French autoroutes for mile after mile.

If you have the time then taking several days to ride through France on nice roads is an option and there are some nice roads to ride, but it'll add a fair bit to your journey time.

The cost of a ferry is the same as riding down..............WHAT !

Yep P&O have a monopoly on the route and fully take the piss.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

P&O don't sail to Spain

[slime bomb]

I think he meant Brittany ferries. I worked it out that it would cost around £100 more to take the ferry with an inside cabin rather than ride down. I shall miss riding through France though but hey, I'll take my time on the way back.

[romft123]

A ferry, fuel and 3 overnight stops Dont equal 1/2 the cost of a direct ferry.

[slime bomb]

Depends on your accommodation and how thirsty your bike is I suppose.

[ChocolateFrog]

Whenever I've looked the Santander ferry has always been prohibitive price wise.

Just grin and bear it through France on the Autoroutes is what I'd do unless I was retired and had the time.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Dieppe to Madrid states 14 hours. So two overnight stops. I'm not mad enough to go 2xgoes.