NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011

[GoldSyncro]

The list of deffinites so far....

Syncropatrick.........off road
Terryvanman.........camping only
Essex Nige............either way (depending on numbers)
V-Lux..................off road
Syncrodoug...........off road
Axeman...............off road
Peninsulakid..........off road
HarryMann............off road
Dai....................off road
PetenAli..............off road

Awaiting confirmation;

Jebiga41..............off road

[Peninsulakid]

Hi Guys

I have travelled Western France quite a lot and love just bimbleing around the back roads, especially after September as the roads are empty. I would really like to go on the Portsmouth to St Malo overnight sailing giving me 3 days to get to the meet without too much stress or any tolls. Would definitely come back to Portsmouth. Another joy of the overnight St Malo trip is that there is a top quality restaurant, 4 courses for £19.50 and its real quality. Boat leaves at 20.30 hrs so I can get there from South Wales without having to take a day off work. The sailing is slowed down and lands in St Malo at 7.30am so fresh for a full days drive as long as you haven't taken too much advantage of the reasonably priced wine or cognac. For me this is the start of the holiday.
I have an overseas property owner membership with Brittany Ferries. Would you like me to see if I can book everyones crossing and get my discounts applied? Will also ask if they can split group discount across different sailings so everyone is happy.
Maybe a mystery guest on board the Peninsula Bus. Working on trying to persuade him, don't think it will take much. Definitely a good man to have a round, like the rest of us he suffers with syncro fever.
Really looking forward to the trip, and big thanks to Rob for putting all the effort in.
Cheers Rich

[GoldSyncro]

Hi All

Now we've got a clearer idea of numbers I think now's a good time to discuss when in October you want to come and deciding how many want to come via Brittany Ferries into Santander, etc, etc.

Has anybody confirmed when October half term week is yet? I think this week would suite everyone best. If anyone fancied coming over longer then I'm more than happy for you to park up at my place near Santillana del Mar. If you'd rather have a solid roof over your head then we also have apartments.

Rich (Peninsulakid), you mentioned that you've got an overseas property membership with Brittany Ferries so please feel free to contact them on our behalf. I'm sure this would be the best way of getting a group discount.

Cheers

Rob

[PetenAli]

We would be up for the plan as suggested by terryvanman on 4 Feb. That is half term week week in Cornwall. We could be a bit flexible though.

Pete

[GoldSyncro]

If you arrive here on the 24th October and leave on the 29th then you will only have 4 clear days in the Picos. Do you think this is enough?

Rob

[terryvanman]

If you arrive here on the 24th October and leave on the 29th then you will only have 4 clear days in the Picos. Do you think this is enough?

Rob

I agree its not enough, but if those with kids want to just use the half term week there are no other sailings to get there and back within the holiday week...[its a bit stooopid of Brittany Ferries to not think about holiday times] the only alternative is to take the kids out of school early and get them back late, that way everyone can have a full week or more....personally I was thinking of coming down midweek before and leaving up to a week later,,,as I retire in April I'll have the time
if everyone goes on the brittany ferries site and put in the dates they will see the sailings for that week,,then its up to them to make the decision to take there kids out of school or not,,,or drive down through France from say St Malo, [still an 8 hour cruise] unless there's a see cat running from Poole.

[syncropatrick]

Has anybody confirmed when October half term week is yet?

There is not a national standard AFAIK, but the small random handful of LEAs I checked this morning http://www.halftermdates.co.uk/index.html had all chosen 24-29 Oct. Hope this helps.

[v-lux]

Rob, those dates 24-29th are just the time off school.

There's a weekend at each end of those meaning people could 22nd - 29th leaving a day each end for travel. (as long as there's ferries....?)

[GoldSyncro]

Unfortunately, the Brittany Ferries route from Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander doesn't run everyday. If you wanted to use this route the best option would be to leave from Plymouth on Sunday 23rd October and return to Portsmouth on the Tuesday 31st. This will give you 6 full days here in Spain. Those with kids could leave earlier but that really would be a pity especially for the sake of missed 2 school days (I'm sure the kids wouldn't mind).

Rob

[GoldSyncro]

I've just had a quick look at Brittany Ferries web-site and another option could be their new Portsmouth to Bilbao route. There's a ferry which leaves on Friday 21st and gets back on Sunday 30th. This also gives you 6 full days but with the loss of only 1 school day (depending on what time the ferry leaves).

Coming into Bilbao only adds just over an hour to your journey. May also be better for some as you won't have to drive all the way to Plymouth.

You could always use Portsmouth to Bilbao on Friday the 21st and Santander to Portsmouth on Tuesday 1st November. This would give you 8 full days.

Sorry my last post should read 'Tuesday 1st November' and not 'Tuesday 31st'.

Hope that all makes sense!!

Rob

[GoldSyncro]

Brittany Ferries travel options;

Plymouth to Santander - Depart Sun 23rd Oct, Arrive Mon 24th Oct.
Santander to Portsmouth - Depart Mon 31st Oct, Arrive Tue 1st Nov.

6 Full days in Spain
2 missed school days
Cost for 2 adults, 1 child, van & 4 berth cabin - 630 GBP

Portsmouth to Bilbao - Depart Fri 21st Oct, Arrive Sat 22nd Oct.
Bilbao to Portmouth - Depart Sat 29th Oct, Arrive Sun 30th Oct.

6 Full days in Spain
Possible 1 missed school day (Ferry departs Portsmouth 5pm)
Cost for 2 adults, 1 child, van & 4 berth cabin - 750 GBP

Portsmouth to Bilbao - Depart Fri 21st Oct, Arrive Sat 22nd Oct.
Santander to Portsmouth - Depart Mon 31st Oct, Arrive Tue 1st Nov.

8 Full days in Spain
Possible 3 missed school days (Ferry departs Portsmouth 5pm)
Cost for 2 adults, 1 child, van & 4 berth cabin - 690 GBP

Rob

[Essex Nige]

How long does it take to drive from calais?

[GoldSyncro]

Around 14-15 hours using tolls. Add another 5 hours if you don't.

Rob

[Peninsulakid]

Hi Guys

Got some info from Brittany Ferries.

Group discount of 10% will only apply if 10 vehicles or more are all on the same sailing both ways.

If everyone books through me I can give a guest voucher that will give a discount, and we can have crossings to suit all individuals.

Example given to me was

Outbound on 21st from Portsmouth to Bilbao and return on 29th, Camper less than 5m long and less than 2.6 high with 2 berth cabin both ways. Normal £646. With voucher £594.40. I make this to be just under 9%. It would have to come down to £582 to be 10%.

Sorry I can't do any better but it does mean we can have flexibility with the crossings and get a discount.

Only other bonus is that the voucher number can be used again up to 10 times a year so reckon that will be on a first come first served basis.

Cheers Rich

[syncropatrick]

Rich, please count us in on your guest voucher deal you have, for the Portsmouth-Bilbao 21st-29th route. Originally I was planning to drive Bristol-Dover then Calais-Spain but the thought of 5 days hard driving in a 13 day period got the better of me. If I was doing it over 28 days that would be a different matter. I'd like to customise my ferry booking a little, but that sounds like it is possible. cheers Patrick.