Advise on driving from UK to Almeria

Hi. Have driven from Bilbao a few times but 2 weeks ago drove from Dieppe in France using non toil route via Somport Tunnel. Very long winded and with 4 night stops still cheaper than ferry. Did it to matriculate UK car. If you don't have much time I'd go to Bilbao/Santander. Best is to fly and tent car in my view. Good luck. 

We did ferry (24/26 hrs) from Portsmouth to Bilbao, overnighted in Madrid which took roughly 4 hrs from docking, in an air b n b then drove the remainder to Almeria province in roughly 4 hrs in pouring rain, the further south, the wetter it got lol.

Roads are great as you will find out, well signposted too.

As regards cheapest dates for ferry crossings you'd be best off checking the various ferry company websites.

We just arrived from uk for a month... To mojacar... We took euro tunnel to France and did 2 over nights because of dogs with us... Tolls In France cost €94.00 euros tolls in Spain €20.00 plus two tanks of fuel... €140.00.. We stayed in Airbnb with dogs.. Was very easy roads to follow we could have done it with one over night but decided to take it easy... 

Hope this helps 

Beauty of retirement means there is no need to break your neck getting here!! After all we are all here to enjoy the mañana experience!! 

Depends in which part of the UK you are based.  We came from devon so our best route was Brittany ferries from Plymouth to Santander.  Travelled to a motel outside Madrid then down through la mancha, Albacete, by passed Alicante and onto the road for Almeria.  Had a good crossing on the ferry with a cabin and likewise in the motel.  Arrived in Vera playa on the 2nd day.  Left Plymouth on 20th October and arrived here's ,22nd.  That was 20years ago!

We drove last October, we used a ferry to France as the Spain ferries were all booked up for taking a dog with us, we drove through France from Cherbourg,we took 2 days to do the journey and it was a pleasant journey, ill get the exact route from my hubby if you require it , we drove through a few villages in Spain, some of the food we ate was beautiful and very cheap compared to the cost of things in Vera. .. Therefore i recomend you book the ferry of choice to spain very early on 

Hi all, we are finding it difficult to get ferry timetables, we want to travel late November 2020 and back maybe Feb 2021 with our dog but no ferry crossings after the end of October with Brittany Ferries? Has anyone done the ferry later than October and if so how far in advance did you book your cabin? 

Looking forward to our first taste of early retirement! And meeting loads of new peeps! 

Linda and Paul

Hi, we drove from Folkestone channel tunnel to Calais onto Vera Playa. We booked in advance to get a better rate. Fuel and tolls were reasonable. They’ve scrapped tolls north of barcelona since we drove over. Lots of places to stop off for a break on route. 

Seems like everyone/anyone wanting a pet friendly cabin has to book now for any kind of date 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE !!!, PEOPLE do thisjust to get the cabin and lots of times don't need nor use the facility leaving genuine families the scramble of constantly foning the ferry companies to enquire about cancellations. Not very fair.