Terrible holiday! Need advice

[Fishy54]

We are currently on a road trip which is not going well.

the plan was to drive to though France to get to Spain but the journey is taking too long and we are ending up booking into cheap affordable accommodation in awful places to break up journey and we are all stressed. No exercise. Too much time on the road and stopping in places that are making us feel depressed.

we have done this sort of journey before through Europe but for one reason or another this year we have failed.

we all got really upset last night that we have experienced nothing and we are already 4 days into journey with only 7 days left, not where we planned on being plus having to take into consideration the journey back home.

we don’t know what to do. Driven too far. We are 2 hours from Biarritz and was meant to exploring the north of Spain. My son was upset and wished we had stayed at home but being very mature and helping with ideas, my husband has come to a standstill and tired from driving, I’m stressed do to driving passed all the beautiful places to get to where we currently are.

if we carry on we feel like our time will be spent r in much the same way when we get to Spain as we have not allowed enough time to relax and and just be in between visiting places.

we have driven so far that we are at a loss as to what to do. My heart is not in the journey. I don’t think anyone’s was really . It was my husbands idea a while back and my husband and son speak Spanish.

we discussed other more restful options before we left home. I feel awful
that we didn’t pursue them. Nothing I can do about that now. But what should we do now. My husband is suggesting we just stay put. Find somewhere in France and stay here for a few days then drive back home.

we have already lost one day of accommodation as w weren’t going to make it in time for check in.

Alternative is we move on and carry with the plan. Our accommodation for first few 2 days now is quite remote. Which we wanted but now we fed up with the driving. Then we have 3 more days booked elsewhere to explore a different area. Then we have to make our way home. The only way we can get home now in good time is to take the long ferry ride home. Which will kill another two days. My husband seemed to think we first left home that we had enough time to do a loop and drive back through France visiting some lovely places. we now can’t do that.

I can’t sleep and don’t know what to do.

I feel awful for my son. He needed a good break as much as we did.

we are all wishing we had just cancelled this idea and had a single location holiday somewhere peaceful.

what should we do?

not My idea. Husbands. Kept saying we need a good 2 weeks. Flight were more expensive. Didn’t fancy flying.

Anyway, it’s done now - but yes we have had words.

Sorry it's not gone to plan. However you've asked for advice and been given really good suggestions but not sure you're considering them? Lots of mentions for San Sebastian which sounds super, but sounds like you're still pursuing the original two bookings even though they don't seem right now?

Hope you are regrouping properly - I would cut your losses and get somewhere you can enjoy for a few days.

Considering them all. Which is why I’m not responding just yet. All been read and discussed with family.

Do you usually find other family's misery so entertaining?

Good luck OP

Go to Arcachon - beautiful beaches and the weather is going to be hot for the next week.
Pop to San Sebastián for the day for your shopping & culture hit.

You are so close to the Spanish border I wouldn’t give up now! providing you can get the ferry back from Santander/bilbao. San Sebastián is a wonderful place for a few days.

I'm only on page 1 (have read all OP's posts though) so I imagine it's been suggested, but can you get a ferry home from Santander and it sounds like you and your DH are in panic mode so try and take a breath...

Happy to change either of these bookings if makes more sense to be elsewhere.

I to get a couple of hikes in one in picos. bilbao, Guggenheim museum, San Sebastián coastal village. …. I want to make sure we don’t have any more bad days or disappointing experiences. As time is now really precious.

@Fishy54 You are reenacting the Abilene Paradox.

We have decided on getting ferry home. Looked at cost vs time vs satisfaction vs convenience

There was one cabin left on ferry from Santander

Glad you’ve had time to discuss options but I think it’s better if you just go for it, get in the car and head for Spanish border. Otherwise you’ll just all spend longer ruminating on what to do. You need to cut off the serious and sad toned discussions and just start doing something to improve the vibe. Go for it OP!!! Wine when you arrive

We do a lot of very long road trips but I always plan them to death before we go with lots of interesting stops and knowing where we are going to sleep at night.
It doesn't sound like you were really up for this type of trip if you had to stop 2 nights in La Rochelle because you were tired. That's very early in the trip.
At this point, I would abandon the original plan as it doesn't seem like you have enough time.
I'd suggest two alternatives - either spend a couple of days in/near Biarritz to recoup energy then start heading back north. Google a few places enroute and plan a bit of a route with some interesting places to make the most of your drive back.
Or you could keep heading south. Get as far as Bilbao or Santander so you son can practise his Spanish. It can be done in a day from Biarritz. Stay there a couple of days then take the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth. It runs most days at this time of year and is rarely fully booked so you should got on if you're flexible on days. Not the cheap option but might suit you as this point.

Don't feel too down OP. You all sound tired and just not in the right place for this trip. It does happen especially when everyone is trying very hard to balance each other's happiness. You sound like a nice family. The next trip will be better.

Is Larasoana is a good place for exploring the region?

We have decided on getting ferry home. Looked at cost vs time vs satisfaction vs convenience

There was one cabin left on ferry from Santander

Is Larasoana is a good place for exploring the region?

We have decided on getting ferry home. Looked at cost vs time vs satisfaction vs convenience

There was one cabin left on ferry from Santander

i think Larasoana is only a couple of hours from where we are now.

We drive a lot in France and have also driven through Spain and Portugal and have been on every cross channel ferry route. I would strongly recommend taking the ferry back from Spain whatever you do as your son will probably really enjoy the ferry at the very least. In the summer holidays there are activities on board such as dolphin watching, quizzes and bingo and it is also really relaxing. The route from Santander to Plymouth is a shorter crossing but on the Brittany Ferries flagship. The other options are Bilbao or Santander to Portsmouth. At this stage just check Brittany ferries website to see which rout is available on the day you are travelling and I would book an outside cabin if possible. However it will be expensive probably at least £600 for the single crossing and cabin but a wonderful experience for your son and he would see Spain. Santander is a prettier port to depart from than Bilbao which is more industrial. If you’d rather go back from France the Saint Malo to Portsmouth crossing is good and Saint Malo is a nice place to spend a few hours. With regards to where you are now Biarritz is an excoplace to spend a day. We always book Accor hotels eg Novotel/ibis styles and you can pay the higher rate to change them up to 6pm on arrival day. Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip.

This would make a wonderful TV sketch - OP meandering along in the world’s slowest car, pulling over at a hint of dusk, tears, frustration and atmosphere building…..
Meanwhile, others regale her of intrepid tales where they drove to Everest Base Camp in three hours, tri-lingual 3 year old took the wheel while daddy breastfed the 6 year old and mummy popped off a few hundred postcards. All in RP, obviously..
Having had my share of visitors over the years (I’m an hour north of Bordeaux) I can confirm there is more than one type of road trip driver. Some arrive frazzled, reach for the wine and are talking to partners after two days, others - fresh as a daisy after blasting 500km and asking what jobs we want doing 😂
My advice is big group hug, till you all smile, no matter how tempted, keep any snarky comments inside, put some cheesy music on and crack on for San Sebastián. You will be there in time for lunch and you can laugh at this over Rioja and paella.
Good luck - it will turn out fine x

Only spent a night in non place…. The bull ring in the centre of town was what tipped me over the edge.

Only spent a night in non place…. The bull ring in the centre of town was what tipped me over the edge.

I've been to that area. We stayed in Bilbao and San Sebastian and we did a daytrip to Biarritz from San Sebastian. As I recall, it was only a couple of hours drive. Biarritz is nice, but it's very expensive. If you're on a tight budget I wouldn't stay there, I'd power on to Spain today, which was your intention and your DS might start enjoying it more once you get to the country where he speaks the language. I'd find somewhere to stay near SS, if the city itself is too expensive, although it's a nice place to stay - plenty to do, a nice old town to wander, lots of good restaurants, a nice beach, etc.

Hi,

I’m approximately an hour North of Biarritz so exactly where you are. Things to do here:
https://atlantic-park.com
https://adrenalineparc.fr
Dax is famous for its Madeline’s - they’re delicious and is also an old Roman Spa
Molliets is a surfers paradise (I’m a cyclist not a surfer but my kids love it).
Saint Jean de Luz is the most picturesque place you could imagine and well worth an explore

I used to drive down in 2 days and would stay in an Ibis Budget. They are always clean and normally close to chain food places. However I find driving soporific and as I’m having to get divorce I now use Brittany Ferries. Usually I go to Bilbao and normally spend the day before exploring the city. The Guggenheim is incredible. That said so is Santander and the northern section of coast along there is wonderful.

If you do take the option of getting the Ferry back I can strongly recommend using the commodore class. I booked it for the first time this year and all the free food (all meals + snacks and alcohol in the evening) more than paid for itself despite it being an £80.00 fee per person. My kids just grazed for free all day. The boat also has a lot of entertainment and for us is definitely part of the holiday.

Good luck and PM if you want more info. Off for a cycle now.

When have you got the ferry booked for and what are you doing until then? Get to Spain so it’s not been a total washout.

Go to biarittz, there's some lovely eurocamps near there that may have last min availability. Have a few days to recharge by a pool, and then maybe have a dive ito San Sebastian which is technically Spain, but not far from where you currently are. Biarittz is lovely. Expensive but lovely, with fabulous beaches.