Ferry to Santander: the no-fly group holiday
There is a door in the south of England that opens onto Green Spain. Direct sailings from Portsmouth and Plymouth dock in Santander, and the house is under an hour from the ramp.
Who the ferry is made for
- Cycling clubs: bikes travel assembled in the van; no boxes, no oversize fees, no prayers at the carousel.
- Riders and painters: boots, hats, easels and wet-weather everything, all just thrown in the boot.
- No-fly travellers: a growing contingent in every club; the crossing is the holiday's first chapter, not a chore.
- Dog owners: pet-friendly crossings exist; ask us about bringing the club mascot.
How the crossing works
It is an overnight mini-cruise: cabin, dinner, a film, and Spain in the morning. Groups book a block of cabins the way they would book the house: early for school holidays.
The arithmetic
Two drivers per car, costs split four ways, and no airport transfers at either end often beats budget flights for kit-heavy clubs, in money and certainly in sanity.
Pair the crossing with a whole-house week and the entire holiday is two bookings. Start with the house.