Driving to Mallorca - with a dog .....

[scotslizzy]

Brilliant

Your descriptions of your travels really hit the spot. I was engrossed .

Would love to see a picture of the dog if you can upload one.

Cheers

Scotslizzy

 

[Jilly]

Driving down again this year, with the dog , oh, and the kids , and just wanted to know if anyone has been on the Acciona ferry from Barcelona to Palma ? We have gone with Balearia last few times and facilities onboard are minimal to say the least, so wondered if they were any better / worse on Acciona ?

Also, does anyone know where the Acciona entrance is in Barcelona. The main port entrance (on the roundabout) appears to be for Balearia ferries only, the Acciona ferries seem to be further down but can't quite work out from google street view if we have to go past the terminal and then swing back again - had real trouble finding out ferry last time.

Thanks again for any help

Mr Jilly

 

[Sparky]

We used Acciona when we moved over here but that was more than 5 years ago so things might have changed.

We did the overnight sailing so booked a cabin, it was basic but comfortable with an en-suit shower and toilet. The boarding area was a long way from the main entrance but there is secure parking nearby and also a bar/restaurant in the Acciona building .

Be on your guard for thieves!!!! .

 

[Jilly]

Thanks Sparky, recall your story about the thieves and as its an 11.00pm sailing and we have printed our boarding passes then we shouldn't have to leave the car alone.

On the ferry, is there a decent bar / restaurant ? Balaeria facilities were very poor for such a large ferry and food was only available for the first hour of the 7-8 hour crossing which is bizarre - just trying to plan the food parcels we need to carry on board to feed the kids

Thanks

 

[Sparky]

There was a nice bar, a cafeteria and a proper restaurant, we were very late boarding as the weather was bad and they were delayed from Palma so we were lucky to get a meal in the restaurant which was lovely and the cafeteria was closed, however it was December so it could be different in summer.

 

[Jilly]

Well, we made it again this year, about 53 hours door to door so not too bad - but dreading journey home through France on the last weekend of the summer !!!

Main highlights:

- early morning visit to Somme, Thiepval and Ulster Tower, 3 boys even got it, very moving place especially in this year

- taking the plunge and driving right through the middle of Paris - well, it was Sunday afternoon. Drove up to the Arc de Triomphe, onto the 10 lane no signalling, every man for himself, horn honking, roundabout, missed our turn and end up on the Champs Eleysee - result - then hook a right to the Eiffel Tower - centre of Paris all done in 15 minutes !!!!

- driving over the 2.5km long Viaduc de Millau bridge in mid France, stunning place

- long shift next day down to Barcelona where we found Acciona ferry terminal first time, it was well organised, clean, efficient, decent ferry, 2 cabins reserved for us - although I think the dogs air conditioned kennels were slightly better standard than our cabin. Very decent boat with good passenger facilities, few Estrella at the outdoor bar overlooking Barcelona at night after a long day and disembark (eventually) at Palma around 7.30am, in PP for 8.30am

All in all, a 2 night trip down that was tough going and as short as we would want to do it.

French Service areas are still dirty , poo covered blots on the landscape though !

 

[TheWoodFamily]

In the same boat!

I just have to start by agreeing that your posts have been brilliant to read, and very funny (although I'm sure when you're in the moment, it's not quite so funny). We have a holiday home in PP and our main stay is around 5 weeks in the summer. We have 2 girls, aged 10 and 6, and just to add to the madness we have decided to get a family dog (Cockapoo coincidentally) which we pick up at the end of August. At this early stage, our plans for next year is to take said dog with us for the summer. My initial thought of lets fly her over, have lost some enthusiasm, with the first quote at around £1,100, just for the dog! We are considering driving, but know it won't be easy and actually not cheap either - but it means we'll have our car for the whole holiday!

Have you ever done the Ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, then drive across Spain, Barcelona-Alcudia? It'll work out around the same price as flying, but we'll have the car, so trying to way things up. It would be cheaper to do Le Shuttle then across France, but not sure the wife and I would survive the journey! I have seen on the Portsmouth-Bilbao, you can get pet friendly cabins, which seems like a great idea - presumably these sell out very quickly though!

I understand before you return from PP, the dog needs worming and to be checked over at a local vets - can I ask who you used and what kind of money do they charge to do this? Also presumably when you first took your dog to PP, did you register with a vet as soon as you arrived?

Any help, advice and more funny (and honest stories) most welcome.

 

[Sparky]

There is more info on this thread from last year :- http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com/members-area/12506-travelling-our-dog.html

 

[Sparky]

More info re vets here :- http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com...nsa-area/11995-vet-recommendation-please.html

 

[debz1]

I just have to start by agreeing that your posts have been brilliant to read, and very funny (although I'm sure when you're in the moment, it's not quite so funny). We have a holiday home in PP and our main stay is around 5 weeks in the summer. We have 2 girls, aged 10 and 6, and just to add to the madness we have decided to get a family dog (Cockapoo coincidentally) which we pick up at the end of August. At this early stage, our plans for next year is to take said dog with us for the summer. My initial thought of lets fly her over, have lost some enthusiasm, with the first quote at around £1,100, just for the dog! We are considering driving, but know it won't be easy and actually not cheap either - but it means we'll have our car for the whole holiday!

Have you ever done the Ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, then drive across Spain, Barcelona-Alcudia? It'll work out around the same price as flying, but we'll have the car, so trying to way things up. It would be cheaper to do Le Shuttle then across France, but not sure the wife and I would survive the journey! I have seen on the Portsmouth-Bilbao, you can get pet friendly cabins, which seems like a great idea - presumably these sell out very quickly though!

I understand before you return from PP, the dog needs worming and to be checked over at a local vets - can I ask who you used and what kind of money do they charge to do this? Also presumably when you first took your dog to PP, did you register with a vet as soon as you arrived?

Any help, advice and more funny (and honest stories) most welcome.

We've driven over the last three years albeit without a dog. I really want a Cockapoo but hubby doesn't

We do the Portsmouth to Santander crossing which saves the VERY long drive across France. which we did the first year. We enjoyed it but France is huge and the drive was tiring.

We arrive in Santander around 6.30 and usually spend a night in Castro Urdiales which is only about a 40 minute drive away and a very pretty resort. We then do one more over night stop before getting the overnight Barcelona - Palma ferry. The Brittany ferry is good with a nice al carte restaurant and a self service cafe. We have been up on the deck where the kennels are and have seen people exercising their dogs... both them and their owners appeared happy! I think there are pet friendly cabins too. My favourite part of the journey is dolphin and whale spotting in the Bay of Biscay. We've seen lots of dolphin pods but no whales yet!

When you allow for what you would spend on car hire (we go for a month in June) the ferry etc doesn't work out that much more. It's also a nice way to see parts of Spain that you may not have visited.