Kent To Algeciras Or Malaga
 

We are thinking of riding down to our place in southern spain next july but so far the costing is greater than if we flew.
Has anyone done this? Suggestions appreciated.

We did it last year - bought 2 XT's in the UK and drove them from Nottingham to Riogordo (north of Malaga), but made a holiday of it driving through France and Andorra.

We did the tunnel, but I think you'll find that Cheap ferry tickets, online ferry booking - LD Lines do some cheap ferries, unless you can pre-book the tunnel and turn up on time. Get through France as fast as you can - a lovely country, but if you're on a budget fuel/food/accommodation is more expensive. Once you're in Spain, most things are cheaper. Spain has some lovely campsites, or pensions are a cheap alternative if you prefer a comfy bed.

At the end of the day, there's no fun factor in flying. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

Just returned from a similar trip. Wife flew to Malaga (she's trying to tell me something), I biked to Mijas where we met up and spent a great 5 days.

It cost her 60 quid to fly (return). It cost me several hundred in fuel, crossing and hotels. Not to mention the beer en route. Still reckon I got the best deal though.

France and Spain are stunning to ride through if you are not on a long duration trip neccesitating a tight budget.

I used the tunnel as a crossing (£65 return and a 40 min crossing time).

Stayed in Ibis type hotels which are relatively inexpensive, clean and usually have secure parking for the bike.

Worth a go but having now done it twice I will probably fly with the wife next year.

Guess old age is just catching up with me!

Like Off-On-One, I did the same last week - she flew, I rode.

The route I took was Calais - Paris - Orleans - Clerment Ferrand - Narbonne - and south close to the Spanish coast. It takes two very full days riding. I left London lunchtime, staying in CF and Murcia and arrived at Malaga airport 2nd day lunchtime. I got grief for being 45 minutes late!

From Clermont Ferrand to the Med is a quite empty, toll free Autoroute apart from 3.5Euros for the Milau bridge. French tolls for bikes are about 55% of that charged for cars, but Spain charges bikes the same as cars (unfair!). That makes Spanish Autopistas quite expensive. There are various Web sites detailing and calculating distances and costs.

Fuel is quite cheap in Spain about 1.04Euro/litre wheras in France it is about 1.42Euro/litre, just about the same as in UK.