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I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
Brittany Ferries
Accepts bicycles with foot passenger bookings for a small additional fee on routes between Portsmouth and France (Caen, Saint Malo and Cherbourg), Portsmouth to Spain (Santander; £75 for cycle carriage), Poole to Cherbourg, and Plymouth to Roscoff in France, or Plymouth to Santander in Spain.
For the Portsmouth to Spain route, Cycling UK has heard some reports of people bagging their bikes and taking them on as luggage when booked as a foot passenger to avoid the £75 fee.
You need to choose motorcycle if you want to take a cycle with you.tried to book a trip on line for March 2023 and the tab bicycle seems to have disappeared.
You might go bold and contact both Brittany Ferries and Discover Ferries on social media about these cycle-unfriendly practices.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!!
A lot of pilgrims on the Via Francigena have been frustrated at the ferry companies refusal to accept foot passengers on the Dover - Calais crossing in recent years. Though I think that may have changed recently. A post earlier this year pointed out the insanity of walking pilgrims having to buy bicycles just to be allowed on the boat!Prior to my cancelled Camino in 2020, my plan was to go from Rosslare, Ireland to Bilbao as a walk-on passenger. Imagine my surprise when I was told I could not take the ferry unless I was taking a vehicle!
Is there an Ombudsman that this could be reported to? Refusal of Service in some countries is actually a human rights infraction as well.I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
If you can get on the forum Motorhome Fun and put a request for a lift with a camper or motorhome going with Brittany Ferries you might have some luckI hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
I fell foul of this also. This policy was always the case with their smaller ferries on the routes to Bilbao but cyclists were welcome on the larger boat to Santander which is the route I took.I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
Yes , i know !! I live in Brittany 35 mns from the Roscof ferry terminal .., impossible to cross Roscoff to Bilbao if you dont have a vehicle!Prior to my cancelled Camino in 2020, my plan was to go from Rosslare, Ireland to Bilbao as a walk-on passenger. Imagine my surprise when I was told I could not take the ferry unless I was taking a vehicle!
I'm sure you'll get there,,I know that they usually are supposed to take bicycles - its just that when trying to book any date in March 23 - they said no bicycles because they wanted to sell the (as yet unsold spaces!!) to car/camper drivers - to ,make more money. We are meeting American friends - so have to get there mid March....
We did use BF to travel from Plymouth to Santander - with cycles - then did a one way car hire to Cadiz for the Vde P - but car hire companies now wont let us cross any borders - can't get a hire from Spain to Lisbon!!
Taking the train (which I would love!) is just too difficult. On fast trains - you have to bag your bike - have you ever tried carrying a bike bag - as well as 4 panniers and associated camping gear...?? It's impossible!
On the smaller trains - as someone pointed out above - it would take forever and the connections are dodgy.... if time wasn't an issue - we would - but we only have 90 days total in Europe (fog in channel - continent cut off...!!)
Oh - for freedom to travel and reasonable public transport ..... a first world problem!! Shouldn't grumble....
Perhaps we will try the camper van option suggested above.... thanks for all the suggestions...
Possible on March 29th Plymouth to Santander but pretty pricey at £208.I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
This is a very interesting suggestion, worth following up.If you can get on the forum Motorhome Fun and put a request for a lift with a camper or motorhome going with Brittany Ferries you might have some luck
We did use BF to travel from Plymouth to Santander - with cycles - then did a one way car hire to Cadiz for the Vde P - but car hire companies now wont let us cross any borders - can't get a hire from Spain to Lisbon!!
It may be difficult (and expensive, if even possible) to do a one-way hire between different countries. I think I looked into it once and it wasn't really feasible.Not correct. In the Schenghen zone there are no borders. Car and camper hire companies allow you to travel within the zone and even still the U.K. You seem to be putting up barriers that don’t exist.
I, too, find this difficult to believe. Car rental companies are free to decide whether you can take their cars across national borders and in particular whether they offer a drop off in another country but that is their business decision. I checked Avis.co.uk right now and it appears that they would allow this. Of course, it will cost you quite a bit but this is nothing new, see below:car hire companies now wont let us cross any borders - can't get a hire from Spain to Lisbon
I attach last reply from Europcar - I asked for estate car or small van from Caen to Lisbon.....Not correct. In the Schenghen zone there are no borders. Car and camper hire companies allow you to travel within the zone and even still the U.K. You seem to be putting up barriers that don’t exist.
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This may work from major international airport to same...! But try it from a ferry port! I have tried several companies and loads of different places. But the fact is I need to get from home in Devon to the coast near Lisbon..... No company has allowed this so far. But as everyone is so adamant - we are going to go to a Europcar depot in Exeter and ask in person..... I don't see why all these companies would refuse on their websites when they actually do it.....!! But we will try....(there is a Hertz too - I think they are international so we will ask there too...)I, too, find this difficult to believe. Car rental companies are free to decide whether you can take their cars across national borders and in particular whether they offer a drop off in another country but that is their business decision. I checked Avis.co.uk right now and it appears that they would allow this. Of course, it will cost you quite a bit but this is nothing new, see below:
View attachment 134295
Ooops ... apparently there is something. Seen on the avis.co.uk website: "With effect from 14th July 2022 we have stopped selling continental cover, meaning that it’s no longer possible to take our vehicles outside of the UK. We’ll honour cover for any reservations made prior to 14th July 2022, but are unable to offer it to any reservations booked from 15th July 2022 onwards." And sixt.co.uk for example does not allow their Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Volvo, or Jaguar cars to be taken to a group of certain EU countries ... I think that it's called free enterpriseOr is there anything in the blurb of the car rental companies that says that one can't hire a car or van in the UK, drive to Portugal and back again to drop it off where one had picked it up initially?
We are looking into sending the bikes from home direct to Lisbon - some van companies go up and down - so that might be ok
Sounds brilliant, if you don’t need aNot sure if this is real and certainly would not part with money until properly researched.
A new sustainable ferry service from Dover to France is about to set sail
It will take just 12 passengers and is open to foot passengers and cyclistswww.holidaypirates.com
That looks great for future travels on French coast!!Not sure if this is real and certainly would not part with money until properly researched.
A new sustainable ferry service from Dover to France is about to set sail
It will take just 12 passengers and is open to foot passengers and cyclistswww.holidaypirates.com
Thanks - I have looked at them - but the only dates they have are in october and all the bike slots are taken - or it says no bike slots left.... so either very popular or they don't want bikes on! I did email to find out for dates in March - but they cannot say - you just have to wait and see!!This is a possibility:
View attachment 134317
Hi - I live in France and have just thought of a way that might help you out, depending on the dates that you have to travel. I live about 60kms from the ferry port at Ouistreham and know that Brittany do take cycles to there from Portsmouth. So long as the dates were ok (I have a visit to UK booked at the end of the month) you could stop over here and take a train from Saint Lo. (I haven't checked out the bike situation on the trains, but in theory, it should work). I used Rome2Rio for Saint Lo to Biarritz, but there are many other options, depending where you want to meet your friends. Good luck and do PM me, if this will help you out.Thanks - I have looked at them - but the only dates they have are in october and all the bike slots are taken - or it says no bike slots left.... so either very popular or they don't want bikes on! I did email to find out for dates in March - but they cannot say - you just have to wait and see!!
We may have to just wait until february and then get there by hook or crook - which will be stressful - as our American friends need to book flights now!!
I did look at taking our car - so we could use the Santander ferry - but we would have to leave it at Lisbon somewhere for weeks, then get back to pick it up - with or without bikes as we don't know if we can book the coach with bike yet....then do the same with France, leave car for 4 weeks, find a way back to pick it up - my husband just said a flat 'no' - and I can't blame him - it would put an extra £1000 price on the journey - and be really complicated....DFDS are a reliable, unfussy and indeed cheap option. To be honest though I can’t help thinking it would be much simpler to use their own car with a bike rack (assuming they have one). Stress free and without all the hassle and changes.
I had a similar problem getting from Santiago to Santander for the ferry with my push bike in 2020, ending up getting a one way hire,I did look at taking our car - so we could use the Santander ferry - but we would have to leave it at Lisbon somewhere for weeks, then get back to pick it up - with or without bikes as we don't know if we can book the coach with bike yet....then do the same with France, leave car for 4 weeks, find a way back to pick it up - my husband just said a flat 'no' - and I can't blame him - it would put an extra £1000 price on the journey - and be really complicated....
I'm hoping that maybe the EU will let long distance cyclists have visas - so we can just cycle - it would be so much easier!!
Highlighted bit above no longer true. 2 CP trains daily go Badajoz>Entroncamento and return. Then you can get on a train just about hourly from Entroncamento down to Lisbon. The cross-border service is the only one connecting Spain and Portugal at the moment. The night train from Lisbon > Madrid was cancelled in 2020 and has not been reinstated.So if car hire is out, there are two possible options once you get into the Caen/EU.
1. At Caen, box up the bikes and get DPD/Seur to send them to Lisbon (about €100 per bike). BikeIberia who are in Lisbon send their hire bikes all over Spain and use DPD/Seur to get them to Pilgrims. And back again to Lisbon.
With the bikes out of the way, you can use the TGV's to get to your destination.
2. The slow way if you want to have your bikes with you. SNCF within France to Irun (TER or the faster trains , capacity permitting). In Spain use the Media Distancia trains (capacity permitting as only 3 per train) all the way to Badajoz (Have taken a bike on this line. Good trains). You'll have to cycle across the border to Portugal as AFAIK there are no cross border trains Spain/Portugal. Then onto the CP system to Lisbon.
Media-Distancia (MD) (Spain) | ShowMeTheJourney
How to travel on the Spanish trains which are specifically branded as 'MD' services.showmethejourney.com
Never said it was fast. The Badajoz > Entronc section is interesting, though!Checked Rail Europe for Caen - Entroncamento. 5 changes and 31h and 56 minutes.
Caen > Paris St Lazare > Valence TGV > Barcelona Sants > Madrid (overnight) > Badajoz > Entroncamento
You'll need sandwiches and some reading.
I don't understand this "supposedly-better-thn-flying". I would definitely fly directly to Lisbon from the UK. I have flown my bike twice from my home in W Australia to Perth, and then Perth-Madrid with no problem. All this ferry and rail seems like a big hassle to me by comparison.I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
People choose surface travel for a number of reasons. Some enjoy the actual business of slower travel and watching the landscape gradually changing. Others point to the pollution impact of flying. Some years ago my wife decided not to take flights for environmental reasons. Which meant that when she decided to visit family in Thailand and China she made the return journey overland from the UK. Something she has now done twice. Almost certainly an even bigger hassle and cost than getting a bike on a ferry to Spain!I don't understand this "supposedly-better-thn-flying". I would definitely fly directly to Lisbon from the UK. I have flown my bike twice from my home in W Australia to Perth, and then Perth-Madrid with no problem. All this ferry and rail seems like a big hassle to me by comparison.
Fair enough. But I still disagree.People choose surface travel for a number of reasons. Some enjoy the actual business of slower travel and watching the landscape gradually changing. Others point to the pollution impact of flying. Some years ago my wife decided not to take flights for environmental reasons. Which meant that when she decided to visit family in Thailand and China she made the return journey overland from the UK. Something she has now done twice. Almost certainly an even bigger hassle and cost than getting a bike on a ferry to Spain!
We don't wnt to fly for environmental reasons too - and as we are semi-retired we do have more time (in general - just not in EU!!)People choose surface travel for a number of reasons. Some enjoy the actual business of slower travel and watching the landscape gradually changing. Others point to the pollution impact of flying. Some years ago my wife decided not to take flights for environmental reasons. Which meant that when she decided to visit family in Thailand and China she made the return journey overland from the UK. Something she has now done twice. Almost certainly an even bigger hassle and cost than getting a bike on a ferry to Spain!
I'll send you a private message so we don't derail the thread!That's great your wife went overland to Thailand - I would be interested in how she did it!!
It's a crazy set up BF run, it's a pity there isn't some sharing system where cyclists could contact willing drivers of mobile homes to see if the bikes could be stored for the journey on the mobile homes or in them.cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
I guess you can go for the journey and the destination or just the destination. Often governed by time and increasingly environmental concerns. Yes I have caught the train from London to Beijing* stopping at a few points. 2 weeks to get there and 10 hours to fly home! I was hoping to go to Tokyo Olympics by catching train to Vladivostok but sadly Covid put paid to that! But where there is opportunity to catch long distance trains I gladly dive in. New York to San Francisco, Toronto to Vancouver, Delhi to Mumbai and Johannesburg to Cape Town for example. Oops gone off topic.People choose surface travel for a number of reasons. Some enjoy the actual business of slower travel and watching the landscape gradually changing. Others point to the pollution impact of flying. Some years ago my wife decided not to take flights for environmental reasons. Which meant that when she decided to visit family in Thailand and China she made the return journey overland from the UK. Something she has now done twice. Almost certainly an even bigger hassle and cost than getting a bike on a ferry to Spain!
Media distance trains from Santiago to Santander and ferry ok for return but to start? …
1. At Caen, box up the bikes and get DPD/Seur to send them to Lisbon (about €100 per bike). BikeIberia who are in Lisbon send their hire bikes all over Spain and use DPD/Seur to get them to Pilgrims. And back again to Lisbon.
HiI have spent HOURS looking on the French train websites and come to the conclusion that there is no way to travel all the way to even Spain with bikes!! You have to make the journeys so short to ensure you stay on TER trains - then they just don't seem to connect up....
Having one last shot at finding a van company who will take bikes and kit direct - so we could take the fast trains.... I assume I would have to book a B&B/hotel in Lisbon and ask them if they will take delivery of our bikes and keep till we get there...!
No wonder everyone flies......
I have given up and changed my plan!!Hi
Just checked my SNCF app and I can book a train ticket from Paris to Hendaye with change at Bordeaux - fully assembled bike paid space possible to Bordeaux- free onwards but I agree - what happens next …? Have found media distancia train to Madrid (assembled bikes accepted) but haven’t sorted what happens afterwards since I want to get to Sevilla. Let me know if you find further solutions?
I read the tread you have started, and I smiled wide. Personally, I consider touring an extreme sport. You have to have nerves of steel to do it. We are sorry but we do not take bikes today because it is Olympics, this bike is not packed properly we won't take it on the plane, we understand that you travelled from this airport seven times, but we changed our rules two months ago, no this train doesn't take the bikes - can't you just leave it at the station???I hope not too many pilgrims were planning to travel by ferry (supposedly better than flying i thought...) to Spain or Portugal.....
We cycled from Lisbon to SdC many years ago.
But - recently I tried to book the ferry from the UK to Spain to do another cycle trip (down the rest of the Portuguese coast) and was told that despite the ferry having many spaces - it would not be possible to book at all in March for 2 cyclists.....they said that they needed to keep the bookings for car/camper drivers who may book it...!! I argued that we took no room on the car deck, were happy to not book a cabin - if they wanted them for drivers.... but we would still be spending money in the restaurants and bar.....but they still refused us - so I suppose walkers would be the same...
This seems very mean - especially when we are all being told to cut carbon and travel more lightly......!
What do others think?
And any bright ideas on getting to Spain/Portugal - with a bicycle - I would be delighted to cycle all the way there and back - but at my age I just can't do it in the measly 90 days.....
Thank you so much - it works! It’s a real puzzle try to sort routes even with the connection map in front of you - with the arrival leg sorted now thank goodness… I’ve looked at getting back from Santiago and it’s problematical - is it sensible to consider packing my bike into a box and sending it back home via correos ie the Post Office?To get to Seville from Madrid on MD, you go Jaen > Cordoba > Seville. Think it’s about 8 hours with changes. I have a spreadsheet somewhere with the details
Is it sensible to consider packing my bike into a box and sending it back home via correos ie the Post Office?
Probably could - but I’m anxious that my bike could arrive damaged when I want to start cycling and taking time to fix - not so critical on my return? Would be interested in the experience of cyclists who have used the service?Yes. And it is probably worth checking with La Poste to see if you can do it the other way too.
Would be interested in the experience of cyclists who have used the service?
Bag also useful for buses too.
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