Spain has reopened its borders to European tourists and announced that those travelling to the country from Britain will not be required to quarantine when they arrive – bringing hope to hundreds of holidaymakers that a break abroad will be possible this summer after all.
Although social distancing measures are still in place and Spain has ruled that bars may not stay open past 10pm, some hotels have started to reopen and second homes, holidays villas and short term rentals in the country offer the chance for a holiday in the sun.
For many, the prospect of going to Spain is a bright one but the thought of flying and being in an aeroplane – where social distancing can be difficult – is not so appealing.
But, for those who don’t want to fly, there is another way to get to Spain and you can do so in the comfort of your own car…
How to travel to Spain from the UK on ferries
While catching a ferry to Spain isn’t as common as taking one over to France, there are cruise ferries that travel from the UK over to Spain and carry both foot passengers and vehicles.
Brittany Ferries is the primary commercial carrier for Cross Channel ferries to Spain from the UK.
They offer routes from Portsmouth to both Bilbao and Santander and a third route from Plymouth to Santander.
Santander is the capital city of the Cantabria region and Bilbao is the de facto capital of Basque Country. Both are on Spain’s northern coast and it takes around 20 hours to sail there on a ferry from the UK.
At the time of writing, a return ticket from Portsmouth to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries in July starts from around £652, based on two adults taking one car across to Spain and back again on the ferry.
The ferry journey takes place overnight and so ticket prices include a private cabin for you to sleep in.
Brittany ferries say: ‘Travel from England to Spain with a one or two night cruise on a luxury ferry crossing. Enjoy comfortable cabins and plenty of on board entertainment including cinemas, a swimming pool and a choice of quality restaurants.’
According to Skyscanner, flights to Bilbao from London start at as little as £25 per person for a return journey with Ryanair in July.
The 14 day quarantine rule in the UK is still in place all arrivals, bar a short list of exemptions, to Britain and this would apply to anyone returning to the country from Spain either by ferry or plane.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel, and this includes to countries such as Spain, but the FCO also say that this advice is ‘being kept under constant review’.
MORE: When will travel agents open again in the UK?
MORE: How major airlines are ramping up safety precautions so you can travel again post-lockdown
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