Bilbao Travel Forum

We will be travelling from Portsmouth to Bilbao by the P&O Ferry on the 7th October. Can anyone tell me what to expect re the crossing over the Bay of Biscay. We are pretty good travellers but Ive heard some horrid tales of bad storms and gales at this time of year.

Has anyone experienced this first hand?

We have done this crossing more times than I care to remember both with P&O and Brittany Feries to Santander. Many of our crossings have been in the winter - late Jan; Feb; and March.
On one crossing when we went to the restaurant for a very early breakfast before disembarking there were few poeple about - apparently there had been a storm force 10 during the night! We had not felt a thing.
If the forecast is really rough - Don't eat or drink too much; get to your cabin and lie down asap -- and take a ginger tablet or capsule an hour or two before. My husband (ex-RN always does,I don't bother).

The less you worry about it the better you will be in the event of a rough passage but, if you have previous experience of sea sickness, when up on your feet try to keep your eyes on a fixed horizon or lie down and sing a cradle song in your head.
Seriously the crossing can be the very best start to a wonderful holiday. I do hope it will be for you too.

The Bay of Biscay is renowned for it's storms but it is much more likely to be a fairly smooth crossing. If it is it can be a fascinating trip. The Pride of Bilbao has plenty to entertain you and when the weather is good as it should be as you travel further south some nice sunbathing areas and bars. The best part if the weather is good has to be the whale spotting. There are humpbacks, minkies, porpoises and even occasionally Blue whales to be spotted. There are usually a number of people from the British Dolphin Research Centre(apologies if this is the wrong name)who are very keen to point sightings out and the crew make announcements of sightings.

Thank you both so much for the info...will certainly keep eyes open for the marinelife.

Altho Ive lived in Spain for nearly 30 years Ive never done this crossing, so Im flying back to the UK then with brother and sister, taking the ferry back and driving down thru Soria, over to Barcelona then down the coast to Valencia and back to the north of Malaga.

Really looking forward to it.

If you are in a spending mood -treat yourself to a "top of the range" cabin for the crossing - I think they are still called Club Cabins on P&O. A touch of real comfort can ease away any disturbance from the crossing.

You are going to be travelling along a fascinating route.
We stayed in Soria some years ago and found a wealth of history and beauty in the old quarters. We were glad that the hotel we had planned to make our overnight stop was full - it turned out to look like a modern office block in the centre of town ( we were not using the internet then!) where there was a conference going on.
We went instead just out oftown and uphill to Meson Leonor - smallish, next to a little chapel or hermitage and with lovely views over the Duero Valley and to the town below.
Just had a look at the website and seeit has been recently refurbished.

http://images.leonardo.com/hotels/HA/MESON%20LEONOR.html

There is also a Parador in Soria which has also had a refurb. It looks very modern now. Great views there too and often very good special offers ( but you will have to wait until at least one of a couple sharing a room is 60 to qualify for Golden Days discounts )

Enjoy the trip.

http://www.parador.es/en/cargarAplicacionBuscadorParadores.do

Thanks for that Barbara.

Yes we have booked special cabins and we are staying in the Parador in Soria. Have been thinking about taking some time to have a look at Burgos, which although isnt on our route, still looks interesting enough for a visit.

All very exciting now.

Christine

The historic old centre of Burgos is fascinating - 20 years or so since I was there - a big leather centre if I remember correctly. You will have to drive through the modern industrial surroundings to the heart of the city.
I have a couple of tips on my Soria page if you want to take a peep.
Smooth crossing and safe journey.

I have crossed several times and the weather can be anything to a lake-like clam to fierce storm; they actually had to put us overnight in a Portsmouth Hotel because the ferry was delayed for hours fighting its way through a gale.
However, that is rare.

If you are bringing your car, you might like to stay really off-the beaten track in a casa rural; they are now everywhere, and almost of all the ones I have stayed have been very unique and of exceptional quality. You have to be fond of villages and countryside though.

Some websites that I have used for booking are

http://www.ruralgest.net/
or
http://www.toprural.com/

There are some wonderful ones in Soria, Burgos and Cantabria (as places within easy reach of Bilbao).