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Subject Topic: Ferry to Spain for French campsite Post Reply Post New Topic
26/8/2013 at 2:05pm
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08
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We are hunting for our 'perfect' site for 2014 and very much like the look of the Castels site near Biarritz. Only problem is, hubby won't drive all that way (and the likelihood is that we will be with our parents who are also towing and they most definately won't drive that far).

So, another option is the Spain crossing. We've priced up the Brittany Ferries sailing to Bilbao and it comes in at just over £1,350 with a cabin each way. Ouch!

This year we drove to the tunnel and took autoroutes all the way to the Loire. Fuel & tolls cost us £400 return (tunnel crossing was free). Even if hubby did agree to drive and we did a western crossing that comes in at £856 with cabins and then there is fuel and tolls from Caen/St.Malo which would probably bring the total near the Spain crossing!

Could anyone who's done the Spain crossing tell me what it's like...is it comparable to the Portsmouth > St.Malo ferry in terms of facilities?

What to do, what to do. I suppose I need to be less fussy with campsites, but that isn't ever going to happen

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Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


26/8/2013 at 2:18pm
 Location: NE Scotland
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Ok here goes. It's many years since we did Santander crossing but the ship was excellent with cinema and kid friendly for a long journey. We stayed at Bidar just outside Biarritz. Cloud from the Pyrenees every day made the sun disappear till lunch time. Would I go again? No.

Reasons
1 cost of Ferry v £58 return with caravan to Dunkirk.
2 cloudy days
3 plenty wonderful sunny sites much nearer uk with less travel.

Unless you are sure that's the destination for you, I'd suggest reconsidering. Depends when you go but nice weather is pretty likely from the Loire on and plenty excellent locations around there
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=7&TopicID=301549

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playing at tinkies


26/8/2013 at 2:35pm
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08
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Hmm, interesting about the cloud. I know you gamble with the weather wherever you go, but the hope is always that the further south you go the more likely it is to be good.

We know Castels are high-quality campsites in France, are there other chains we should be considering?




-------------
Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches


26/8/2013 at 5:43pm
 Location: NE Scotland
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix + CRV
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Castlels are very good but if you read reviews on the sites listed here in UKCS - have you checked out the sites search tab above? - you can find wonderful gems from municipals to all singing ones with restaurant and all facilities. To each their own but for us, if the pitches are decent and the loos and showers immaculate then we are happy. Prices from 8euros to the sky's the limit or 12/14/16 per night with the ACSI card in the season beginning mid August or up till end of June - ie out with peak holiday season.

ACSI sites usually have pool and restaurant and good standard.

I believe that cloud from the Pyrenees is common anywhere around Biarritz there but we have only been once so others may comment.

Edit: you have submitted lots of reviews so you are obviously well aware of the site search facility ( and probably ACSI as well)

Whatever you decide enjoy the trip




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playing at tinkies


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


26/8/2013 at 5:51pm
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08
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Yes I always check out the reviews - they are partly to blame for my indecision..just when I think I've found what I'm looking for I read reviews which throw a damp towel on my excitement ;)

We're stuck to peak season, so no ACSI card for us.

Thanks for your comments - much appreciated.

-------------
Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches


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26/8/2013 at 6:08pm
 Location: County Durham
 Outfit: Elddis Encore 254
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Hi Claire, we've not done the Spanish crossings before but of you want France without all the travel I would strongly recommend the Vendee. If you sail to Caen it is only 250 miles. About 180 from St. Malo. We do Caen in less than 5 hours towing.

The drive is easy and if you go via Rennes and Nantes the tolls are 2 euro each way. We got back a week ago and had 14 days of sunshine up to 27 degrees.

We stayed at Le Pin Parasol and it certainly lived up to its 5 star billing. We never go back to the same place twice but we have already booked Le Pin Parasol for next year. Everybody we spoke to was on at least their third visit. We can't wait to go back.

Hope the above helps.
Graeme


26/8/2013 at 6:12pm
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08
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Thanks Graeme - we've done the Vendee and tbh we said we wouldn't go back (we stayed at Domaine de Forges which was fine, but there was just so little to do in the surrounding area). You are right though, the idea is to cut as much driving out as possible. The hunt continues!

-------------
Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


26/8/2013 at 6:33pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Volvo V70 Swift 570
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Bilbao ferry is fine and comfortable, they realise you are on there foe a while so use decent ships you'll find it a doodle as long as you have sea legs so to speak, Bay of Biscay can be fun
Its darn expensive though and for that reason i'd use Dover any day but being from Cheshire it makes little difference on this side.
Camping Le Pins is a lovely site but been there and ouch when it comes to cycling, as for beach thats a car trek. Though cant knock the pool complex but if you want a game of throwing ball for the kids its a no no   so puts them of...   


26/8/2013 at 6:50pm
 Location: Biarritz France
 Outfit: None Entered
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I live in Biarritz and it can be cloudy here from time to time but it certainly isn't an everyday occurrence. It is wetter in this area but that is why it is so lovely and green.

Some campsites clients have recommended to me are: Camping Le Ruisseau in Bidart and Sylvamar in Labenne-Océan.

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Biarritz Airport Transfers - airport transfers to the whole Aquitaine region and northern Spain.


26/8/2013 at 7:14pm
 Location: Isle of Wight
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Having towed through France for many years with 2 sometimes 3 children using the tunnel, Dover Calais and the Portsmouth Caen crossing we took the Bilbao ferry for the first time this year. It was brilliant. We liked the ship, it seemed very easy going to us and we were all much more relaxed when we arrived. The cabins were comfortable enough, it was great not having to get up early, the food options were acceptable to us and the children, aged 9 and 12 were suitably entertained. We stayed in Northern Spain but we if we were to return to south west France again we would still use this crossing.


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26/8/2013 at 8:04pm
 Location: Mid-Wales UK
 Outfit: VW + Bailey Pageant Burgundy 08
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That's interesting Naldo, where did you stay in northern Spain? We've considered Spain, but again, don't want to drive more than say 150 miles max. Great outdoor pool with plenty to do in the surrounding area (towns, markets etc).

-------------
Claire x

Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
      Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


26/8/2013 at 8:56pm
 Location: Isle of Wight
 Outfit: TAB 320
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Hi Claire, We stayed in Playa Joyel which was about 1 1/4 hours from Bilbao. Easy drive, very good A8 motorway. It is very big; 900+ pitches, which I was worried about although it doesn't feel that large once pitched. Pitches vary in size, some are quite small. Excellent facilities, good pools, really clean, lots of hot water etc, great play area for the children and truly brilliant beach direct from campsite. Friendly staff. And silence from midnight! You can walk into town but its a fair walk, friendly cafes etc. Having said all that we would quite like to take our dog next year and stay longer so we need to find a site that allows dogs. Apart from that we would go back.
Debra


27/8/2013 at 9:49pm
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I've considered the Biarritz area several times but worry about the weather. have you looked at Pavilion Royal (think that's the name) at Bidart? Beachfront too.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=12720

Post last edited on 27/08/2013 21:55:48

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug


27/8/2013 at 10:35pm
 Location: Cumbria
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 520
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Last year we got the ferry to Bilbao (a 2 night journey, had some time in Northern Spain and then drove back up through France, getting the ferry back to Portsmouth from Caen (Ouistreham). We had a Commodore class cabin (pricey, but we really enjoyed it) going out and reclining seats coming back. We had free breakfasts with the cabin both mornings, bought lunch on board and had picnics from our cool box for the other meals! As it was a posh cabin we had a kettle etc in the cabin so could have teas, coffees etc as we wanted. We had a great trip, the cabin was like a decent hotel room with a double bed, small sofa and chairs, a coffee table, TV and DVD player and en-suite facilities with the usual toiletries, and 2 large windows. For the crossings (2 adults, car and caravan), accommodation and 7 Camping Cheques we paid just under £1100, booked through Camping Cheques.
This year we're back to £58 DFDS Dover to Dunkerque, but for what we wanted it was ideal.



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