driving to Portugal from UK with kids in tow... anyone ever done it?

[sammyjayneex]

It's all in the title really. Just wondering if anyone has ever done it. DH has been invited to a family wedding In Portugal (Lisbon) and wants us all to go. He doesn't want to fly because of all the fiasco that comes with flying for example... Luggage allowance and all the extra costs, the flight tickets cost so much for 4 children and 2 adults and trying to keep children quiet and occupied on a plane ect and also because it's just after Christmas and the wedding was announced last minute it's going to be difficult to get flights at short notice. Also he said it's an experience because kids will get to see parts of France and we will spend the day in Spain on the way back and sleep over there. He also wants to do something special as it's our daughters 5th birthday on the 29th December.

Now I'm worried about it all. He's said he's thought it through and has every bit of the trip planned. I don't want to say no because I never went on any trips and never went abroad when I was a kid and I want my kids to experience things. He said we will be getting the ferry at Dover and we will sleep over in small hotels on the way and one of them will be in France. On the way back we will stay in a hotel in Spain too. Accommodation in Portugal is being sorted out by his family.

It's a long journey but I'm prepared to do it for my kids and we will make lots of preparations and make regular stops. He doesn't mind driving and has drove to London and back on the same day ( picking his family up at airport). Has anyone ever done it and how was it?

We have had a lot of problems recently and I'm actually surprised he's suggested us all to go.

Is it a stupid thing to do?

I told my mum and she said its sounds exciting and will be fun for the kids if planned properly and their dad has said she's welcome to come along ( if she can contribute to her hotel costs ect). if she can get time off work and it's extra help for us with kids. ( he has a 7 seater car)
She likes the idea of coming too.

It's actually cheaper adding it all up than going by flight and with us sharing the cost too.

So has anyone got any tips or ideas I would be grateful.

Who has said you can drive to Portugal with an expired passport?

The whole trip will be 10 days and you think you'll have 7 days in Lisbon?? So you think you'll get from Manchester to Lisbon in 36 hours?? Sorry op, but you're in some kind of fantasy world

People are saying how unsafe driving is but flying isn't exactly safe these days either. Especially with what's going on in the world as well. I don't like flying if I'm honest, it terrifies me ( this is not the reason why are are not flying though btw) but if I had to fly i would but I don't enjoy it.
Also if we flew we would have to stay in Lisbon for 9 days before being able to return!

But you're planning on being away 10 days, so why is it a problem to stay in Lisbon 9 days, when you'd be staying with family so minimal hotel and eating out costs?

Flying is far, far safer than driving, statistically

Costacoffeeplease have you actually done the trip yourself? If you haven't how can you say that? And yes we have spoke to be relevant people in regards to expired passports.
My husband has spoke to a guy online who has done the exact same trip and has said he got there way less than 4 days. If you plan the trip properly it doesn't take 4 days

We will have cash in hand for spare yes. Hopefully it won't need to be used but like you said it's there for emergencies.
The car has had some checks and tyres changed not Long ago.

Yes I have actually - when we moved to Portugal we drove down with our two dogs. We left from the south of England, across on the channel tunnel, 3 nights in hotels, and arrived in the Algarve on the 4th day - and that was just two of us and two dogs, no kids, and at the beginning of October, not in December/January

As I said earlier in the thread, my husband drives to the uk every 6 weeks or so - I think I can speak from experience, is that ok with you?

Who exactly told you you can drive to Portugal with expired passports? U.K. Border agency, French?

A possibly misinterpreted EU regulation seems to indicate that a British passport is sufficient for travel within the EU where only official ID is required. Whilst this would seem to fit within the ideals of the EU where a country’s ID is sufficient to travel, on more than one occasion French immigration officials have refused entry to UK travellers using an out of date passport. The UK is also not a part of the Schenegen agreement.

How long are you allowing for the journey down to Lisbon?. How long does your H think its going to take getting there?.

Many more people are killed in road accidents daily than are killed in airline accidents. If you are really terrified of flying then consider doing a fear of flying course and address your fears properly.

Is this really all your DH's idea in the main and are you just expected to go along with this because this is what he wants?.

Your mad

A) you will 100% not have 7 days in Lisbon for 10 day trip. It's 100% longer that 1 1/2 days to get there driving. It's 6-7 hrs to drive to Dover alone. Plus waiting time for ferry 60 mins and ferry crossing of 90 mins. That's 10 hrs approx just to arrive in Calais

B) if trip is 10 days long, why does it matter if your in Lisbon 9 days?

It's December. You will have 7-8 hrs max a day of sunlight also.

Fly out Boxing Day. Stay with family, explore area, go to wedding, return.

Oh and you cannot return to the country without passports. That's the point of them. All of you will need valid passports to travel
By plane, car, bike, foot if your hoping return back ( and leave). So yes your older two def need new passports

Who is the relevant person who said you can enter France without a valid passport and then re-enter the UK without a valid passport?
Surprised at that given the current climate of border control.
It would be v convenient all round if an expired passport met the criteria for Schengen agreement.

My older two do have passports be have expired by about 6 months. We ha e been told it will be fine to use. We have spoken to people in the phone and we have been told it's fine. They still have passports. In date passports only applies to flying.

But who are these people who've said it's ok?

Have I proved my credentials for commenting on your plans op?

From official website:

• That you can travel to Europe without a Passport or with a Passport that is expired (Not True)

Many British Citizens believe that you can still travel to Europe on an expired passport or that they can simply use their driving license or valid photo ID. This belief often stems from reports of European citizens using identity cards to both travel in Europe and visit the UK. In many cases European citizens do have the right to do this, but it is often restricted by certain conditions and time limits and unfortunately this does not apply for British Citizens looking at travel abroad, you must have a Full UK Passport in order to travel outside the UK.

I don't know what your trying to prove? Do you mean ' have i ruined your trip with horror stories and lots of negatives OP?'
Yes you have

Oh and that's quoted from official passport office. Honestly. You cannot get home with an out of date passport driving.

You need to get new passports asap but will have to pay for fast service as they take 3-6 weeks for normal which you don't have

Why would a website say that if it wasn't true? K think your just trying to make it even more officially for me
why would it say it's ok but then a random person on Mumsnet comes and tells me on fact that info isn't true? How do you know?

You seem to be refusing to answer who actually said this to you about them being able to travel on expired passports.

You are not readily willing or able to spend out the money to get their passports renewed but are still thinking about driving to Lisbon from Manchester?. How much do you think that is going to cost you in terms of time, money and effort.

Who exactly are these people you have spoken to or are they going to remain unspecified?. Its not them who is going to be potentially caught out if you have actually been given duff information.

I haven't read a website I've spoken to someone.

Who would I rather believe? An official person or a lady in Mumsnet? Lol

What's the point in giving up over a few obstacles ?

Well indeed but you will be the ones to pay dearly for duff information if you have indeed been given that.

You are leaving the UK to travel within the EU; the UK is not a part of the Schengen agreement so correct documentation is needed. The ferry company does not want to be potentially fined for carrying passengers who are not carrying the correct documentation.