Driving to Mallorca - Help & Advice please. - Page 5

Sparky · #61 10-04-2011, 19:48

So glad you made it back safely Tonsyl, it was lovely to meet all three of you and i look forward to seeing you again on your next visit.

Tonsyl · #62 10-04-2011, 20:42

How did it feel Favie? Really good is the answer, the more we looked, the more we found and the more we were made welcome.My Spanish is not good but if we used it the locals really did make us feel like we were "locals" ourselves. Wether we actually ever get to be residents full time I don't know but if it happened I know now it would suit us very well.

favie · #63 10-04-2011, 20:50

Really glad to hear that Tonsyl.....I real friendly place and also pleased to hear doggy made lots of new friends too.

Jilly · #64 03-01-2012, 00:45

Found this thread really useful as we're thinking of doing this journey in the summer.

Considering going Cherbourg down to Barcelona with 1 or 2 stopovers.

I was wondering if anyone has recently used the Balearia ferry from Barcelona to Palma ?

Seems reasonable quality ferry but can't seem to book a cabin and it appears you have to arrange this once on the ferry - is that correct and does anyone know how much it costs ?

Any other advice / tips also greatly appreciated

Many thanks

barefoot · #65 03-01-2012, 09:54

Jilly, not sure where you got that info from, but when we brought our car over when we moved here, we couldn't book the tickets without booking a seat or cabin. Have you looked direct at the Acciona/Balearia websites?

whaleywanderer · #66 03-01-2012, 12:23

As we will be undertaking the drive from the UK to PP around March/April this year, I have just re-read this thread. Lots of interesting and informative information, one thing that I did notice however, was that everybody seems to have taken the Barcelona ferry to Palma and not Alcudia, is there a reason for this?

We will not be on a time limit so we plan to take our time and make a holiday out of the trip. We thought we would take the Britanny Ferries ferry to Santander (so as to shorten the drive) and then drive to Barcelona from there.

We would be pleased to hear from others who have done this journey recently, any help and advice on hotels, best route, etc.

Thanks

Sparky · #67 03-01-2012, 12:46

Hi Whaley the reason we did Barcelona/Palma was that in winter there was no Alcudia ferry, of course that was 3 years ago so it might have changed.
Good luck with the planning, i had a lot of fun doing it for when we came out but didn't pre-book hotel for overnight stop or the Barcelona/Palma ferry because we wanted to just take it as it came.

whaleywanderer · #68 04-01-2012, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

Good luck with the planning, i had a lot of fun doing it for when we came out but didn't pre-book hotel for overnight stop or the Barcelona/Palma ferry because we wanted to just take it as it came.

Sparky, do you know if its cheaper to book in advance for the ferry? If not then we will do as you did and just book our tickets when we get there or might there be a chance it will be full up, it's around Easter?

Sparky · #69 04-01-2012, 11:36

Hi Whaley i have had a look at the Acciona Ferries website and can't see anything about different prices for online bookings. The crossings are at night, leaving Barcelona at 11pm, you have got to have a seat or cabin, i got a quote for 2 people with seats + car, one way in April for £255. It also says that once it's booked and paid for you can't change anything so maybe another good reason to do it on the day at the office.

I would think it may be busier in Easter week but not as bad as in the summer.

clinkham · #70 04-01-2012, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by whaleywanderer

As we will be undertaking the drive from the UK to PP around March/April this year, We thought we would take the Britanny Ferries ferry to Santander (so as to shorten the drive) and then drive to Barcelona from there.

We would be pleased to hear from others who have done this journey recently, any help and advice on hotels, best route, etc.

Thanks

We did a Brittany Ferries holiday last year - out via Portsmouth-Santander and back via Caen-Portsmouth with prebooked b&b inbetween.

The outward trip on Pont Aven was excellent - as they advertise, a cruise rather than a bog standard ferry crossing. Food also excellent and well priced, from the cafeteria/snack bars to the top class restraunt.

If you are thinking of the journey as a holiday rather than just transport then Santander or Bilboa are well worth considering.

Can't get Mrs Clinkham to consider driving to PP, unfortunately.

p.s. Obviously depending how long you are going to be away, but no harm in asking

If you book a ferry and a couple of nights b&b as a BF holiday, you seem to be able to extend your stay with extra independent nights and still get a good deal compared to just booking a return ferry crossing.

whaleywanderer · #71 05-01-2012, 11:18

Sparky - Thanks for the info, probably better to keep our options open at this stage, price sounds reasonable though.

Clinkham - Thanks for this info, I wondered what the ship Pont Avon was like and sounds really good, definitely a good start to the trip. As our trip will be one way the return suggestions are not an option!

Sparky · #72 05-01-2012, 11:41

You are welcome Whaley

.
Clinkham is spot on re The Pont Aven, we used it many times for a mini cruise from Plymouth, sadly for us it was moved to the Portsmouth/Santander route just before we came out here. For comfort i would advise you pay extra for a 4berth cabin as the 2berth is like a broom cupboard with 2 bunks (not enough room to swing a mouse let alone a cat

) and an outside cabin is even better

.
Oh!! i am getting quite excited for you and Terry and can't wait to hear all about your adventure when you get here

.