Help with trip to Spain please

[PrincessTinker]

Hi,

We are thinking about taking the car to Almeria in Spain in August, simply because there are 7 of us and to hire a 7 seater for 2 weeks is very expensive, also so are flights for that many.

So...... there are a couple of options I believe,

Take eurotunnel to France and drive all the way

Take eurotunnel to France then go on the motorail (which I think may have even stopped running) to southern France, then drive all the way

OR

Take the ferry straight from home to northern Spain then drive down, I think this may be the best option but just wondered if anyone had experience with any of these journey's and could help me out with 3 main factors........time scale, cost and ease.

Any help or ideas would be greatfully received!

Or by chance if anyone could come up with a very cheap car rental company then maybe we could fly?????

Hi, not sure if this is the advice you are looking for really, but my DH and I once booked a holiday to Spain with travel by coach ( ferry across Chanel) this was nrly 10 yes ago when we were teenagers n couldnt afford to fly.. It was hard work!! A very long journey, are u sure u are prepared for this? Especially with DC?? I don't want to put u off, just want to make sure u have fully thought about this!!!! Whatever you decide, enjoy!! X

I'm quite laid back and really wouldn't mind the trip that much, I am starting to think though that maybe it would just be best to fly, the kids would be OK I think in the car for that amount of time they are 5, 9, 2x13 and 15, so would be worse if they were little.

Just not sure, don't want to make the journey then find out that with fuel, tolls etc etc it would have been the same cost to fly and hire a car, oh well

Princesswe do this trip twice a year from southern coast of UK to southern spain with two DCs, 3.5 and 5.5.

Flights are crazy prices as is car hire, and if like us having a car during your holiday is essential the cost of flying vs driving does save you loads in money, but could cost more in time spent travelling.

We drive to dover (about 1.5 hours for us) and take the eurotunnel to calais. Its £150 return, which l pay for using saved tesco clubcard reward vouchers (£50 worth pays for the return crossing). We then take the toll roads through france, aiming to stop near the france/spanish border after about 9 - 11 hours of driving. We stay over night in a Formula one hotel at about 50 euros per room for the night (has one double and one single bunk) per room.

Next morning we cross the border and drive though spain arriving early evening at our place in southern spain. Its 1200 miles door to door and takes two days travelling to get there, so we need to go for at least 10-14 days to make the trip worthwhile. Cost wise:-

6 tanks of diesel at average £50 per tank = £300
European insurance for car = £50
Two overnights = £100
Toll road charges = £250
Total = £700

Flying would cost us £800 and care hire about £300-350.

We time our car service so its done the month before we go. We also can take plenty for the kids to do in the car and when we stop for breaks ie. their scooters. The french service areas are great and we take loads of food and snacks for a picnic on our first days travelling. Many ahve BBQ areas also.

You get to see parts of france you never would otherwise. We do three hour driving stints, me and DH taking shifts in turns. Tried doing it overnight once without the overnight stop and it was awful. Goodluck

The furthest we have driven south is Costa Blanca with 5 of us in a people carrier. Definitely agree with not trying to do overnight driving. It is dangerous. Make the drive part of the holiday. Research the route.

Cheese's is advice is spot on I think.