Ariel.Club Forum

Hi Steve - I've renamed the topic as requested, made sticky, added event to the Calendar 

Thanks, John. Clearer for everyone now.

S

I'm going to announce the outward boat and the return boat today or tomorrow. It's important that everyone gets their booking made quickly because there aren't many options for the outward trip, being a much longer journey and having fewer sailings.

S

OK everyone, stand by your browsers/phones. Time to book outward and return boats. There aren't many outward boats per week, so it's important we're all on the same one. The boats back are more frequent.

Both boats can be booked as one trip on the Brittany Ferries website. You'll need a cabin on the OUTWARD trip but not on the return. This is the best available outward crossing, given our dates. There is another a day later but it goes via Roscoff, is £100 more, and means two nights on the boat. Given the early departure of the Santander boat, I imagine most of us will need an overnight stop on Friday 24th near Portsmouth.

I recommend you book ASAP, if you can. Prices are pretty low right now and will only rise.

OUTWARD
Saturday 25 June
Portsmouth to Santander
Dep 08.45 / Arr 14.15 (Sunday)

RETURN
Saturday 9 July
St Malo to Portsmouth
Dep 10.30 / Arr 18.20

Thanks, Steve.

Ferry and cabin booked.

Welcome aboard, Able Seaman Evans.

If anyone hadn't already noticed, this trip is a bit longer than usual. It's because we have the 30hr boat trip down and it allows us to keep any daily mileage manageable. We can also stay a while at some of the beautiful locations. It's about 1200 miles (about 100–200 under a Swiss Alps trip) but with four more days to drive those miles.

Ferry and cabin booked!

For some reason the hotels in Portsmouth are fairly full on the night before the ferry. If you're planning on staying local to the ferry port on Friday June 24th, I'd advise sorting a booking soonish.

Remember it's pretty much the longest day of the year, so the sun will be up EARLY if you plan to drive down on the Saturday morning instead. The ferry is 68 miles from me, so I'll probably drive down about 6am.

Right...time to start researching hotels for the duration....

I'll also post a new itinerary, because it's changed since the original was put up.

OK, everyone...all hotels have been finalised (in red) and the itinerary adjusted to make the drive from Santander a bit shorter on the day we arrive. Where possible, I've put us in the mountains. Or by the beach. Or in peaceful countryside. I couldn't find a Travel Inn next to a motorway.

Because some hotels are filling up fairly quickly, I'd advise you to book (or reserve) NOW.

You can always cancel later if you need to drop out. The vast majority offer FREE cancellation (30 days or more notice).


Saturday 25 June
08.45 ferry from Portsmouth to Santander

Sunday 26 June
14.15 arrival in Santander
Drive to Onati
Hotel Torre Zumeltzegi
100 miles

Monday 27 June
Drive half of distance to Andorra, via Pamplona for lunch
Parador de Sos del Rey Catolico
130 miles

Tuesday 28 June
Drive across the Pyrenees to Vielha
Parador de Vielha
115 miles

Wednesday 29 June
Drive to Andorra la Vella
Hotel Plaza
90 miles

Thursday 30 June
Drive to Auch
Logis Hotel Le Domaine de Baulieu
160 miles

Friday 1 July
Drive to Cap Ferret
La Maison du Bassin
160 miles

Saturday 2 July
La Maison du Bassin

Sunday 3 July
La Maison du Bassin

Monday 4 July
Drive to Rochefort
La Corderie Royale
160 miles (or 125 if we take Le Verdon to Royan ferry over the estuary)

Tuesday 5 July
Drive to Nivillac
Domaine de Bodeuc
125 miles

Wednesday 6 July
Domaine de Bodeuc

Thursday 7 July
Drive to Paimpont
Logis Hotel, Restaurant et Spa Le Relais De Broceliande
52 miles

Friday 8 July
Drive to Combourg
Logis du Lac
40 miles

Saturday 9 July
10.30 ferry from St Malo to Portsmouth. Arrive UK 18.30
24 miles

New hotels added since the itinerary was originally posted: 26 June, 30 June, 4 July, 7 July, 8 July.

Itinerary is now complete!

I have now booked on this but I did not fancy the Economie crossing on the Saturday, 0800 departure, limited catering, bar, use of microwave for hot meals and cabin situation, also 30 hours sailing.

Also night in Southampton the day before.

I've opted for the sailing the day before on Cap Finistere leaving at 1700 ish so no overnight stay with Lenny Henry. I've booked an extra night at the first hotel so I will meet you there after your crossing on the Sunday. I thought an extra night in Spain had more appeal than Southampton. This crossing gets in 1700 so 6 hours shorter with better facilities.

All hotels booked.

I know it's a way off but looking forward to this trip already.

Regards

Julian

Hulio,

Did you get into La Maison du Bassin OK?

S

Yes, all of the hotels as per your list. Booked them all online through booking.com apart from that one which I did direct on their website.

Julian

Don't mind me. I'm posting for no reason...other than it's exactly 4 months until departure!

Don't forget to arrange your RAC Euro cover, insurance abroad, car servicing (or MOT), outfits, and all the usual bits and bobs.

We're going to start planning routes and lunch stops this Saturday.