South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Having 'maybe' found a 'bike... I'm looking into a mini trip in March...

Anyone taken the Plymouth ferry over to Spain?
Long trip? Decent café etc on board to kill time?
Do I need to check in or be there a wee bit before sailing?

Apologies...

M

Hello,

I did the Plymouth to santander (spain) trip via ferry liner a few years back, took about 18-20 hours, depending on weather.
i think you have to check in before hand, as its a long trip and we was there like a hour and half before sailing (its like a plane i suppos as you got to go through customs etc...)

cafes were good, and ifs its overnight trip, then theres entertainment shows etc....
bars, and a cinema too if i remember rightly..

i think you can order a room or something as its a like nearly 24 hours..


emma

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-booking-303" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

website

Yep, get a room, it's a bit too long to just hang around. They have a cinema and entertainment on board.

Be watchful when they strap your bike up, take something to go over your seat so it doesn't get cut into. Take it very easy going in/out of the boat it's a bit slippery but OK if you are careful.

Enjoy, it's great fun!

Kata wrote:Yep, get a room, it's a bit too long to just hang around. They have a cinema and entertainment on board.

Be watchful when they strap your bike up, take something to go over your seat so it doesn't get cut into. Take it very easy going in/out of the boat it's a bit slippery but OK if you are careful.

Enjoy, it's great fun!

On my budget the room is not an option unfortunately...

Thanks for the tip with the seat though...

MW2K8 wrote:
On my budget the room is not an option unfortunately...

Unless their policy has changed, you don't get to make that choice I'm afraid. On the Santander/Bilbao routes cabins/bunks are compulsory unless all accommodation is already booked and there is no other option available.......

Eh up fella,

I get the ferry over to Spain 2-3 times a year and it is the DB's. Accommodation is compulsory but that can mean a reclining seat from as little as £6 each way.

When you get on the ferry ask to upgrade to a bunk. It will cost you about £19 but gives you a proper kip and shower and somewhere safe to leave your bike gear etc.

We normally bring water on board as its bloody expensive but food and beer is a fair price.

If you are gonna crack some big miles when you get off then have the posh brekkie. Fills you up for the day.

If you want any top tips on decent routes or places to stay let me know. I don't do camp sites in Spain as you can get cheap accom and you don't have to carry all the gear on your bike.

Enjoy

Tom

TBH guys, looking at the prices... now i've been paid ( finally )... it's ALOT more than i want to spend...

Portsmouth to Caen is £50 each way, and is only 5 ish hours on the water...

Dunno...

If you guys had £500 notes and a week to kill somewhere in Europe on 2 wheels, where would you go and why?

I would rather spend my time and money on fuel and riding than a ferry trip...

I have driven a car to south of France overnight no problems from both Roscoff and Calais.

Kevitree wrote:I would rather spend my time and money on fuel and riding than a ferry trip...

I have driven a car to south of France overnight no problems from both Roscoff and Calais.

850 miles (route depending) in a day is a long way on a bike though ...... Then again that was a few years ago now .....

It all depends on what you like. Brittany is nice, as is the coast past La Rochelle and on to Bordeaux. Down the centre to around Clermont Ferrand/Le Puy is nice (mountains). Over to the East you have the vosge mountains around Strasbourg The Rhone valley down the centre is interesting, and a bit further east yyou're into the Alps.

If its a first forray abroad, I think we can heartily recommend the Mototaranis biker B&B in Brittany - great food and they can give great ride suggestions each day or even guided rides.

There's another member here called Nomad who runs a place a bit further south, but I've not stayed there (I think Smiler has though?)

MW2K8 wrote:
If you guys had £500 notes and a week to kill somewhere in Europe on 2 wheels, where would you go and why?

that sounds like a bloody good thread to me.

Me and Jolz go to the ring every year great fun and roads and people are fantastic. The place where we stay is 40 Euro a night for both of us for our own apartment with balcony find our thread on here for some great pics

How about.......................

Ride to Dover or Whitehaven and ferry it (cheapest ferries)
Do the Normandy beach landings WW2 thingy (if that's your thing)
Ride to either Cherboutg or Roscoff and ferry back,,,,,,,,

Ride magazine published a useful guide to France with a load of routes back in the summer. Most of the stuff is online now :

http://www.ride.co.uk/France/

Don't get too carried away with big miles, there is so, so much to see over the other side of the channel. You stop a few times en route and end up chasing the clock to get to your bed.

This site is good for accomodation :

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

The Portsmouth - Caen ferry is tempting... 50 each way...

Le Mans could be tempting too... Any racing on therr in March?

I really don't know... Anyone off early March is welcome to join me....


Certainly some great suggestions...

Any links for these digs?