Ferry costs Portsmouth - Bilbao
 

Looking to shoot down to Morrocco for 2 1/2 weeks over Christmas and New Year in 2 x 110 Defenders. Got a quote for the ferry of about £730 per vehicle and 2 adults. Is this right, anybody know a way of getting a cheaper price. Would be nice to get it for less but don't want to waste lots of time searching if this is actually a good deal? Also any other options other than going to Calais and drive through France / Spain. Given we have to get there and back quickly to give a decent amount of time in Morrocco, I don't want to have to drive massive distances.

[This message has been edited by Toby2 (edited 07 August 2004).]

While we`re at it does any one know the price from Almeria to Melilla.

Thanks

Col

Hi,
We paid almost 300 GBP each way (one vehicle, two adults), last January, so that doesn't seem too bad in the busy time around Christmas.

We got to Lille in two days from Malaga (2 drivers), giving easy access to the northern Ferry ports, but it's a long and boring and usually wet drive. Malaga > Biarritz > Lille > Amsterdam.

Cheers,
Nick.

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Nick Taylor
www.exerro.com
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1996 BMW F650
1996 300 TDi 90
1997 NAS D90 ST #685
1998 Camel Trophy 110 CT47

Just got back from that neck of the woods with two 110s. We gave up on the ferry after quotes ranging from 660 quid to 1025! Perhaps if you book months in advance its cheaper... dunno.

From Calais to San Sebastian (border) you *can* do in one long day, but its a nightmare drive. French autoroutes are a bit more do-able than UK motorways and camping in their service areas is free.

If you do take the ferry Id suggest maybe Santander as a destination - Bilbao and that part of Spain are horrible industrial messes. Also they've built a new bypass round Santander that makes access to the hills behind a lot easier. Literally only finished in the last few weeks and not on most maps.

Hi !Toby2

Definitely those prices are wrong. I have some experience in driving vehicles from London to Madrid , and I can assure you that I payed about 265 for a Mondeo State + 2 persons in a inside double bed berth.

Add 100 more if its a return ticket.

Some tricks apply.

Obviosuly book early , and book online . The most convenient carrier is "P&O" , from Portsmouth to Bilbao (great Ship , with clubs ,and bars ,btw) .It takes 2.5 days.

Book inside berths , and clearly , go for the economy 2bed berth .If you are 4 of you getting 1 4bed berth would be even cheaper.

(Remember when booking you state the number of ROOMS , not the number of travellers) .

It is compulsory in P&O to book a room . (i.e. you are not allowed to sleep elsewhere)
Alternatively , Britanny ferries used to offer "reclinable seats" as an alternative to a room , but It wasnt worth the savings.

Dont try to book those special days around 7Crhistmas . Lots of Spaniards (like me) want to return to Spain for Cristmas with their imported cars.I -most of the time- found more convenient to ship around 19-22 dec.

3rd. DO NOT SAY THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR . Yep , its a trick but everyone does. There's no way for them to know which height did you state when booking , and -they dont give a sh1t neither when boarding the car-. Say you drive a state car , not a +1.85 car.Obviuously , try to make your car as shorter as possible (fit everything inside).

4 . The booking system is a standard "Amadeus daily query/book/charge" .-the same used by BMI , Iberia , and some others . etc.. That means that every book / quote , etc.. reserves -FOR A DAY- space in the ship , thus making up for the cheap rooms/tickets. Every night(at 24:00 they charge to C.Card companies , or simply reject the booking - some people just reserve the place without paying it up) so next morning there are more rooms/space avaliable again(cheaper again) . That's a fact . Book on the morning.

I guess that's all . Just remember , that -even that it sounds expensive - driving all the way doown to france is more expensive (toll roads , expensive fuel , fines , god forgive you if you have a uninsured breakdown in France !) . The tunnel only was around 100 quid also ! .

Hope this helps ,
Good luck .
Javier

Javier, thanks for the response, appreciated.

Cheers Tobias