Ferry to Bilbao

[markjord]

I’m looking into a summer trip to the Pyrenees and I wondered if anyone could share any experience of using the ferry to Bilbao? It’s just an idea at the moment. Driving all the way is an option but I’d have to break it a couple of times to help my ageing back. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.

[ThomasH]

Hi Mark,

I did this a few years back, if i remember correctly it was approx 36hr on the water. If you can handle that it's worth it. Driving through France is pretty boring.

Our route took us through Pyrenees and then through Nice, up to Lake Como, through Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium then finally back to Calais.

[Derivative]

On the subject of ferries, try and get yourself on the lorry deck.
I've taken mine abroad twice and the first time was up a ramp to a higher deck and the front spoiler touched on the way up. On the way back the ferry was virtually empty and everyone was on the lorry deck.
On the second trip on the way out, the marshalls directed me to the level lorry deck without being asked. On the way back I asked and parked up with the lorries.

[cj10jeeper]

I have friends who use it for 2 return trips per year and swear by it. They dislike ferries, but it's a compromise they accept, being in their 70's, to reduce the drive to the SE coast of Spain.
Used it myself once and was at best OK, but I hate long distance ferries and would drive now making the journey down part of the trip, but as I'm retired normal holiday constraints don't apply

[markjord]

Hi Mark,

I did this a few years back, if i remember correctly it was approx 36hr on the water. If you can handle that it's worth it. Driving through France is pretty boring.

Our route took us through Pyrenees and then through Nice, up to Lake Como, through Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium then finally back to Calais.

Thanks Thomas. I appreciate your input.

[Jaguandy]

I've just booked a Brittany ferry from Santander, (an hour from Bilbao), to Plymouth for a motorbike tour end journey. Got an inside cabin included, total around £280 each for the two of us. It gives us somewhere to change out of our bike gear and have a quiet kip. I'm surprised the cabin was relatively inexpensive, I'm told they get fully booked quickly,

[stefan9107]

Just going to randomly chime in without reading any other posts...

MAKE SURE YOU DISABLE THE ALARM!
My sister and brother in law took the ferry to Bilbao last year in their Audi A3. Arrived with a dead battery as he forgot to disable the alarm.

[Cluck]

I've just booked a Brittany ferry from Santander, (an hour from Bilbao), to Plymouth for a motorbike tour end journey. Got an inside cabin included, total around £280 each for the two of us. It gives us somewhere to change out of our bike gear and have a quiet kip. I'm surprised the cabin was relatively inexpensive, I'm told they get fully booked quickly,

Hope you have a better trip than the one I had 2 years ago! The journey out, overnight, was sleepless due to the boat doing what I can only describe as micro-lurches forward for 5 minutes, followed by a smooth break for about 1-2 minutes and then the micro-lurches again. Imagine somebody stood at one end of your bed and pushing it away from them every second and it gives you an idea of the sort of experience it was. That was on one of the lower sleeping decks nearer to the back of the boat. We were one deck further up, and quite a bit further forward for the return trip and didn't have the lurches, but the whole cabin 'throbbed' for want of a better word. Brittany claimed it was "part of the experience" when they did the customary "how was your trip" questionnaire! Bear in mind, this was the first time I've slept on a boat since I was a child, so I don't know if this is normal or was isolated to that boat we were on.

I will say, though, compared to driving 1000 miles each way, for 16+ hours, to get to the same position, I'd take the ferry every day of the year even with the crap sleep.

[EnglishPhil]

Hi Mark,
I have used the Brittany ferries service to Santander a few times, the most recent being June 23. Would recommend this route over the Bilbao option as it takes much less time and if you want to go east on arrival to Spain, the motorway to Bilbao takes less than an hour. I have really enjoyed my trips, it's more like a mini cruise than a ferry with a choice of restaurants and bars and entertainment. I'd recommend going for a cabin with a window as the inside cabins are quite claustrophobic. If you haven't booked any accommodation I'd also recommend looking at Brittany ferries accommodation options; there are some really interesting places they recommend such as Paradors (mostly former castles or monasteries) and you get a discount if you book through them too. And finally, driving in Spain is AWESOME!

[markjord]

Thanks very much everyone. I’ve booked an outside cabin on the ferry to Santander in July. Then drive to the Ordesa Park in the Spanish Pyrenees. A few nights there then across to Cauterets in France for a week. Lots of top down motoring with fuse 15 out .