How do we get to the Algarve from Santander??

[Afrodizziac]

We have a week booked in the Algarve over Christmas. We'll take the ferry from Plymouth to Santander [has anyone done that? are there stuff - play areas etc. - to keep children occupied?], but are stuck on how to travel onwards. Is it possible to hire a car in Spain and return it in Portugal? Does anybody know whether trains or buses/ coaches go that route?

I've taken the ferry to Santander several times as I'm from northern Spain so often go on holiday there. The ferry is very good, there's a play area and plenty of stuff to entertain the kids. You get on at about 4pm and by the time you find your cabin, go round the boat, a bit of playing, then it's dinner time and the to bed. Then you wake up, have breakfast and it's time to get off so it goes very quickly.

BUT the journey from Santander to the Algarve is going to be really long! I wouldn't recommend the train in Spain as it's quite slow in the areas where they don't have high speed lines (i.e. most of Spain). The main bus company in Spain is Alsa. I just checked (www.alsa.es) and they have buses from Santander to Seville, but that's as far as I can find and there would still be a longish journey from Seville to the Algarve. The bus journey would take 14 hours just to Seville, leaving at 8.30am (which means you'd have to stay overnight in Santander) and arriving after 10pm (another night in Seville?)

I think your best bet would be to hire a car and drive. It is possible to return it in the Algarve but they normally charge a fair amount for that facility.

According to the route planners it would take over 10 hours to drive between Santander and Faro, but you'll need to add breaks, etc.

It would be A LOT cheaper to fly there, but I'm assuming that's not an option if you're looking at ferries.

Thanks, Vacaloca, for that information. The flights just before Christmas are SO EXPENSIVE, even on EasyJet and the like. We're doing the ferry for the novelty value, and will get a car from Santander to Seville, use it while in the Algarve, and then return it to Seville a day or two before flying back. Really only 10 hours's drive - it looks further on the map!?

Yes, I would have thought it'd be further than 10 hours but that's what the router planner at viamichelin.com said. Remember you'll need to add stops to the journey, lunch, etc. so it's more likely to take 4 or 5 hours more. It should be a very exciting trip though. Enjoy!

My mum has recently made this journey and it was 10 hours travelling and they made 2 30 minute stops although no children in tow. TBH my mum thought the whole journey was awful (sorry!) but there was no choice as my brother can't fly. However, he and my mum's partner thought the journey was ok. They took their own car on the ferry. Have a great holiday!