Drivable European cycling holiday destinations.

2

Comments

  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    The ferry to Majorca is surprisingly expensive.

    Except Dover-Calais, all ferries are stupidly expensive


    Brittany ferries (Portsmouth/Plymouth, St.Malo, Roscoff, Santander) aren't too bad if you go out of season
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,986
    bernithebiker wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    The ferry to Majorca is surprisingly expensive.

    Except Dover-Calais, all ferries are stupidly expensive


    Brittany ferries (Portsmouth/Plymouth, St.Malo, Roscoff, Santander) aren't too bad if you go out of season

    Dover-Dunkirk IIRC can be dirt cheap.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
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  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Dunkirk - Dover was free in 1940, though places were limited.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,986
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Dunkirk - Dover was free in 1940, though places were limited.


    Fair point, and well made :D

    Norfolkline used to run the service I am thinking of, not sure it has changed hands since, we tend to go from Portsmouth now since the small one arrived.

    We used to avoid the bulk of tolls and go through Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium.
    For Switzerland you need a Vignette (Spelling?) but it certainly used to be €25 for 12 months. Spectacular scenery in Switzerland too.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    Daniel B wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Dunkirk - Dover was free in 1940, though places were limited.


    Fair point, and well made :D

    Norfolkline used to run the service I am thinking of, not sure it has changed hands since, we tend to go from Portsmouth now since the small one arrived.

    We used to avoid the bulk of tolls and go through Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium.
    For Switzerland you need a Vignette (Spelling?) but it certainly used to be €25 for 12 months. Spectacular scenery in Switzerland too.

    Dover to Dunkirk is operated by DFDS. I normally use that crossing with my camper van trips because it is a bit cheaper than the Calais route with my Caravan Club discount. Prices for a planned trip in May have gone up by around 20 per cent compared with the same weeks last year. Must be due to the collapse of the pound.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Mercia Man wrote:
    Must be due to those folks who voted Brexit

    FTFY
    left the forum March 2023
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Daniel B wrote:
    For Switzerland you need a Vignette (Spelling?) but it certainly used to be €25 for 12 months. Spectacular scenery in Switzerland too.

    40CHF now = more or less 40 Euros.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    As we live in East Yorkshire we tend to go Hull Zeebrugge as within 45 mins of leaving home you are on the ferry and on holiday. It also makes similar to living further south.
    You just have to ignore the cost or go through Forces travel.
  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Mercia Man wrote:
    Must be due to those folks who voted Brexit

    FTFY

    The pound's value will no doubt plummet even more when (if) the Goverrnment triggers Section 50. With Channel crossings going up in price, a rubbish exchange rate and the prospect of the sort of border controls I remember from the 1960s, my European cycling holidays are going to be a hassle. Thank you, Brexiteers.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Webboo wrote:
    As we live in East Yorkshire we tend to go Hull Zeebrugge as within 45 mins of leaving home you are on the ferry and on holiday. It also makes similar to living further south.
    You just have to ignore the cost or go through Forces travel.

    Is that an overnight?
    left the forum March 2023
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Webboo wrote:
    As we live in East Yorkshire we tend to go Hull Zeebrugge as within 45 mins of leaving home you are on the ferry and on holiday. It also makes similar to living further south.
    You just have to ignore the cost or go through Forces travel.

    well, why didnt you say? Hull for some spring sun is the obv choice! its never dull in hull as they say!
    city of culture and some great housing estates to catch up on your '60s architecture, close to the Sea and a great bridge to admire, fish an chips and sun bathing on the foreshore, followed by a day trip to skeggy! what could be better?

    Staycation is what i say !

    i d join you but sadly im in Majorca.

    failing that and if you insist on being boring, Italy gets my vote, though its prob a 2 day drive unless you want to be hanging on arrival.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Yes it is an overnight ferry. Nice but expensive food and entertainment.
    As for staying in Dull, I have the misfortune to work in Gotham city. Other than visiting family and friends on the fringes I avoid the place like the plague in my own time.
    As for Skegness this weekend is the time to visit as it might be first time the sea has been sighted this century. Plus the army is on the streets to night.
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,424
    As ever, I can thoroughly recommend the Diois region (SE French pre-Alps) - should be plenty of riding by April (it gets Mediterranean summers, but can catch a chill from the Alps proper through the winter). It's 8-9 hours driving from Calais (tolls 75€ each way on the autoroutes). If you look at my cycling blog of the area at https://unanglaisendiois.wordpress.com/ and look down the archives, you can see all the rides I've managed at Easter. There will be one or two of the higher cols closed, but most should be open by then.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Wifey had informed me as I didn't come up with any suggestions, she has booked us on the Portsmouth to Santander ferry and we are going to the Rioja region.
    Things you have to put up with to keep the peace.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Webboo wrote:
    Wifey had informed me as I didn't come up with any suggestions, she has booked us on the Portsmouth to Santander ferry and we are going to the Rioja region.
    Things you have to put up with to keep the peace.

    Nice... the Eroica Hispania is set in the Rioja, based in Logrono... have a look at the map and take inspiration. You are also close to the Pyrenees if you want to venture that way
    left the forum March 2023
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Webboo wrote:
    Wifey had informed me as I didn't come up with any suggestions, she has booked us on the Portsmouth to Santander ferry and we are going to the Rioja region.
    Things you have to put up with to keep the peace.

    I assume that's Brittany Ferries? If you get the 'Pont Aven' it's actually very nice, like a mini-cruise. It's got a pool and the food's great. And that part of Spain is lovely.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    As I've entered the Etape du Dales I will need to get a fair few rides in and not bother taking my climbing gear.
  • durhamwasp
    durhamwasp Posts: 1,247
    Le Grand Bornand, Luz St Sauveur, Briancon.
    http://www.snookcycling.wordpress.com - Reports on Cingles du Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, Izoard, Tourmalet, Paris-Roubaix Sportive & Tour of Flanders Sportive, Amstel Gold Xperience, Vosges, C2C, WOTR routes....
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,424
    durhamwasp wrote:
    Le Grand Bornand, Luz St Sauveur, Briancon.
    A long ride from Santander... (see above).
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Webboo wrote:
    As I've entered the Etape du Dales I will need to get a fair few rides in and not bother taking my climbing gear.

    I shall see you in Grassington then... :wink:
    left the forum March 2023
  • Frank Wilson
    Frank Wilson Posts: 930
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Webboo wrote:
    Wifey had informed me as I didn't come up with any suggestions, she has booked us on the Portsmouth to Santander ferry and we are going to the Rioja region.
    Things you have to put up with to keep the peace.

    I assume that's Brittany Ferries? If you get the 'Pont Aven' it's actually very nice, like a mini-cruise. It's got a pool and the food's great. And that part of Spain is lovely.

    You do not want one of the basic cabins though!
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    She's booked a Finistere outside cabin and given what's she's paid I think we've bought the ship.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Webboo wrote:
    She's booked a Finistere outside cabin and given what's she's paid I think we've bought the ship.

    I'm sure that'll be fine, but if you have the option to swap to the Pont Aven, do it, it's a much nicer, bigger ship.
  • Frank Wilson
    Frank Wilson Posts: 930
    Webboo wrote:
    She's booked a Finistere outside cabin and given what's she's paid I think we've bought the ship.


    You will thank the Mrs for booking that regardless of the extra money. We were on the Pont Aven twice last year but for economy we booked the basic cabin with the bunk beds and it was horrendous, muggins here ended up in the top bunk and just getting in and out of it was like climbing Everest!
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Webboo wrote:
    She's booked a Finistere outside cabin and given what's she's paid I think we've bought the ship.

    I'm sure that'll be fine, but if you have the option to swap to the Pont Aven, do it, it's a much nicer, bigger ship.
    Presumably it won't be sailing to Santander on the same day as the other ship :?:
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Webboo wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Webboo wrote:
    She's booked a Finistere outside cabin and given what's she's paid I think we've bought the ship.

    I'm sure that'll be fine, but if you have the option to swap to the Pont Aven, do it, it's a much nicer, bigger ship.
    Presumably it won't be sailing to Santander on the same day as the other ship :?:

    No, they alternate them, so if your date is fixed, then that's that. Don't worry though, I'm just a Pont Aven fanboy!!
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    It's fixed. I've only managed to live this long by doing as I'm told. :wink:
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,424
    Brittany Ferries aren't known for their cheapness. At one time they were dirt cheap as a foot passenger (I think it was about £24 for a Plymouth-Roscoff return), but then they decided they were going to charge that for each way... not far off the cost of putting a car and four people on Dover-Calais.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Apparently we are booked to stay in a winery for 2 weeks. I'm not sure how I will cope. :D
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Webboo wrote:
    Apparently we are booked to stay in a winery for 2 weeks. I'm not sure how I will cope. :D

    Dangerous,

    when you taste the real Rioja, you won't be able to buy the crap they sell in supermarkets over here...
    left the forum March 2023

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