Driving to Santa Pola from northern England - Page 2

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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:34pm

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:34pm

Flyingduck81 wrote on Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:47am:
We've done the trip twice with dogs and the tunnel is just so straightforward. The first time we tried to avoid many tolls and it just isn't worth it. The second time we just paid up and it was so much easier, taking the E15 the whole way, just make sure you hit Paris in the early hours of the mo...

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...rning as its a doddle. We also used booking.com for dog-friendly hotels but the first time we booked in advance which just put extra pressure on us so it's easier to book as you go. We travelled at the end of June the second time and had no problems at all.
Please also make sure that you follow the laws for both France and Spain for driving and carrying dogs such as dog guards, muzzles, breathalyzers, spare glasses, warning triangles, spare bulbs, fuses and hi-viz jackets because foreign plates stand out and headlight beam deflectors are essential.
Also, once here, check out the rules for dogs on beaches or off the leash as they change all the time.
Michelin do a good guide for toll costs and how to avoid some or all of them.

Hi,

Thanks so much for all the excellent advice and tips, i had no idea about needing such things as breathalyzers, spare glasses etc, etc...all this info is most valuable....i'll certainly not be using the ferry to Santander at that price!!!...

Thanks again and regards,

Steven

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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:43pm

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:43pm

Hi,

thanks for the info...sounds like the tunnel or the Portsmouth ferry will be our best bet (i don't particularly fancy 20 hours on the water)...

thanks and regards,

Steven

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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:42pm

Pablovito66

Helpful member

Posts: 81

50 helpful points

Location: Sax

Joined: 19 Nov 2017

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:42pm

Hi we paid £700 for a family of 4 with pet in a cabin with a balcony I priced a trip back on my own in June for £270 with a vehicle , having travelled through France about 5 times I would pick the ferry as it cuts out a very long drive. My children love the ferry loads for them to do . And you feel refreshed getting off for the drive through Spain

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:47pm

Pablovito66

Helpful member

Posts: 81

50 helpful points

Location: Sax

Joined: 19 Nov 2017

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:47pm

Go to halfords for a travel pack for Europe triangles etc also spare bulbs stick on the toll roads to avoid trucks

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:17pm

Andrew65

Very helpful member

Posts: 728

672 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 29 Dec 2016

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:17pm

£400 with an outdoor cabin end of May Portsmouth Santander, two adults and car. I’ve done the drive through France before and it’s far more “boring” than 20 hours on a boat, especially as we have a four hour drive down to the south coast, we also have a car full of items we are bringing over so would need secure parking at hotels in France.

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:09am

youbedizzy

Posts: 86

45 helpful points

Location: Almoradí

Joined: 27 Oct 2017

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:09am

have you thought to take the ferry from newcastle to amsterdam. its cheap;

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:04am

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:04am

Pablovito66 wrote on Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:42pm:
Hi we paid £700 for a family of 4 with pet in a cabin with a balcony I priced a trip back on my own in June for £270 with a vehicle , having travelled through France about 5 times I would pick the ferry as it cuts out a very long drive. My children love the ferry loads for them to do . An...

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...d you feel refreshed getting off for the drive through Spain

Hi Paul,

thanks for all those cost figures, its certainly given me something to thing about, i also like the idea of keeping the driving to a minimum...

Cheers,

Steven

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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:08am

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:08am

Pablovito66 wrote on Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:47pm:
Go to halfords for a travel pack for Europe triangles etc also spare bulbs stick on the toll roads to avoid trucks

off to Halfords in a couple of weeks time to buy my granddaughter her first bike...i'll get the European travel packed priced up...

thanks,

steven

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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:16am

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:16am

Andrew65 wrote on Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:17pm:
£400 with an outdoor cabin end of May Portsmouth Santander, two adults and car. I’ve done the drive through France before and it’s far more “boring” than 20 hours on a boat, especially as we have a four hour drive down to the south coast, we also have a car full of items we are bringing ...

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...over so would need secure parking at hotels in France.

Hi,

yep i'm starting to think a possible 8 hour drive from Northumberland to Portsmouth, then a hopefully good overnight sleep on the ferry before another 8 hours drive to Santa Pola may well be do-able, we may have a one night stop somewhere in spain to break things up a wee bit...thanks for all the info...

regards,

Steven

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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:20am

stevenab

Original Poster

Posts: 34

3 helpful points

Location: Santa Pola

Joined: 17 Feb 2017

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:20am

youbedizzy wrote on Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:09am:
have you thought to take the ferry from newcastle to amsterdam. its cheap;

Hi,

I must say that has never entered my mind (the ferry terminal is only a 35 mins. drive from our home), I'll certainly check out the prices, although it would entail a lot more drives once off the ferry...

Thanks,

Steven