Starting to plan a week long trip to Spain September 2021. Will be sailing to Santander and staying for a week in one place and doing day trips out and about. Can anyone recommend accommodation/towns worth staying in? Don't mind if it's self catering or B&B/Half Board but would like somewhere with atleast a bar and restaurant nearby and ideally a pool aswell. There will be 3 of us and would like a room each. Any tips?
Firstly do it!! Best biking holiday I've had. Better again that you are going with 2 others as this will reduce the cost of ferry (cabins) September, I thought when booking last year, would be glorious, not the heat of July or August....but would be mid 20's. This didn't happen. Bad luck really as the weather had been lovely there until the day after I arrived. As you are at highish altitude, there can be lost of mist/fog or rain about. Was cool in the early mornings (4-6c) but rose to the mid to high teens by afternoon. Road surface is excellent, tarmac like finish which glistens in the sun. Alot of technical twisty roads, so don't be trying to show off to your mates on your first day. I stayed at https://centro-de-turismo-rural-vegalion-es.book.direct/en-us This was a lovely old rustic Hotel/B&B that served evening meals, had secure parking in a garage & was run by a lovely couple who were very helpful. They lit the stove in the bar so that my clothes cold dry out. I had a double room to myself with en-suite & nice views. Right outside my door was the infamous N-621. I ended up staying an extra night due to ferry delay. There is no pool, but you could take a dip in the river across the road. I paid €32 per night for B&B. Evening meal was about €15. From other YouTube vids on the area, lots of people stay at http://www.hotelinfantado.com/EN/home.html near Potes which does have a pool but will be more expensive. Make sure your bike is well serviced before you go, roads are severe on things like tyres & brake pads Enjoy the planning.....I'll be starting the whole process again very soon.
Will you be needing a luggage rack ? I have one of those Hepco & Becker sport rack things that you can have - just collecting dust. Worked a treat on the back of my Blade.
I'd bloody love one please mate, how much? Ive just done a trip round Scotland with my Kriegas strapped to the pillion seat. Spent most of my time checking and double checking they weren't rubbing on my plastics.
Is that an SP ? It should still fit - mine was the stock 2015 Blade. I will find out what the postage is going to cost. To be honest it has served its purpose and it is only collecting dust at the moment so may as well get rid of it. I will find out this week how much it will cost to post and let you know.
Thanks very much Mattie. No, mine is a standard 2015 model aswell. I'll drop you some extra aswell as the postage, PM sent with my address.
Fills me with a warm feeling all this brotherly love and generosity in these shit times, well done Mattie
Big thankyou to @Mattie660 ! Arrived this morning and its perfect. Postage and beer money sent. Brilliant gesture.
That was quick - it was only posted yesterday lunchtime ! and thanks for the 'beer tokens' !! I used a roll bag mostly and secured it to the rack with cable ties - would take a bag of them with me and used one in each corner. Plus a strap or two over the top, and a little multi tool to cut them off at the end of the day. I bag of cable ties could easily last a week long trip. The luggage sits behind you out of the airflow, and the bike is still narrow enough to filter through traffic. I passed BMW GSs stuck in traffic with their wide panniers ! Sturdy piece of kit and I am glad it has gone to e new home !
All booked. Just incase anyone else is planning a trip to Spain.....here's what i've booked and the costs. Sailing from Plymouth to Santander on 12th September 2021, returning on the 20th. Cost for the return ferry with a large cabin both ways based on 2 people sharing was £464. Ferry crossing is 18hr30min We are staying at the Hotel Infantado in Potes for 7 nights B&B at a cost of £370 per person. Anybody on here wanting to go on holiday next year but struggling for company is more than welcome to join us.
Goo Good for you. Nice having something to look forward to. I have booked also for next May for 7 nights. Ferry was €400 based on 2 sharing. Also staying in the same hotel . Twin room with B&B was €240 each. Counting down the months,weeks,days
Yeah, Yeah, use a Garmin. Stick to the N621 or N625 and you won't be disappointed. I just explored each day, but next year I might pre plan daily routes as I'll be riding with a buddy.
I do a Spanish trip every year from Santander. You are going to a great area. Do not underestimate how far you can cover in a day so do not limit your route planning. Technically Picos European is only a small part of the larger area. As a tip we plan a route then look at google street view to get a look at the roads and adjust from there. Not wishing to throw cold water on it but do take some good waterproofs and warm clothing it's a little late in the year for being in the mountains. It can get cold and wet. On the other side it can be very pleasant. Just very hit and miss that time of year.
Yes I know what you mean about the weather, it was a conscious decision to risk going that late mainly because I wanted to give the Covid nonsense as much time as possible to dissappear.
Loving reading this thread, it’s been a couple of years since I went but hoping to get this year. We usually sail to Bilbao then head down West through to Portugal where we used to see a mate that has sadly passed now. After we go to Salamanca for the night then head NE up through San Sebastian and sail home from Santander. Usually do 10 nights. If you stay in more than one place only advice I would have is to book a hotel the night before so you know where you are heading and have somewhere to stay. We spent many night roaming round lucky to find a place to lay the head. I’m excited for you!
This looks brilliant. Does it simply clip on where the seat would normally go? Can’t be that easy can it??
