Ferry Costs and Cost of Towing Considerations
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Something we hadn’t really thought of before but has become more apparent the closer we get to our summer trip in a few days time:
If your considering towing something as large as we are with the caravan - even smaller like a trailer - it adds to ferry costs and fuel, will probably slow you down, get you stuck, strain your vehicle, reduce your braking distance, increase maintenance, reduce parking choices, restrict maneouvering, restrict route choice, make you think about recovery (e.g. winch in our case - more cost and weight) and possibly encourage you to bring tons of crap you don’t need (which we’re trying very hard to avoid).
Meantime, our plan remains to bring our caravan - if nothing but for the challenge - this summer at least though we’re still planning for the long haul also. For our France, Spain, Morocco leg we’ve been looking into 3 ferry costs as follows:
Dover to Calais - about £92 total including vehicles and passengers - 1 way (not bad)
Bilbao to Portsmouth for journey back to UK from Spain - £465 - 1 way (24-hour) - expensive but leisurely after long drive through Spain on return from Morocco and we felt worth it rather than the rush back through France for the sake of it.
But then….
660 Euros for a 30 minute (return) trip on specified dates from Algeciras to Ceuta during August - Ok so it’s for 2 adults, 2 children and 2 vehicles during the peak period but for a 30 minute trip?
We worked out that the costs break down as follows:
Ferry operators we have checked (Algeciras to Ceuta) are very expensive. We have received quotes of circa £1,000+ just for this 30 mini trip.
Transmediterranea for example quotes 1018 Euros (fixed return) with caravan and 622 Euros without.
We have found that going via the agencies such as www.directferries.co.uk, www.aferry.co.uk etc. more expensive than going direct to ferry line website direct and booking.
Cheapest quote we found direct with Balearia is approx 660 Euros - includes both vehicles, 2 adults & 2 children (fixed return dates).
Still a huge amount for this 30 minute journey.
Anyway, broke this down in more detail and works out as follows:
Per Child costs approx: Euros 30 each way / Euros 60 return
Per Adult costs approx: 45 each way / 90 return
4×4 Vehicle: 112.50 each way / 225 return
Caravan: 58.50 each way/ 117 return
Maybe not so bad when you break it down and we have pretty tight requirements in terms of entry/exit dates and given the 2-vehicle/high season/busy period scenario we’re in, worth considering.
We’ve been tempted to book but are hanging on till we get to Algeciras to see a man called Carlos who is based near Lidl’s, off J12. Many on the Morocco vehicle overland route seem to know him and rate him as the cheapest and best option to consider. Wish us luck as we’re a bit nervous about winging it in high/busy season.
Meantime, we are looking forward to our trip. Jessica has asked where we are going to wash our clothes and how we are going to go to the toilet. He he!
