Over the summer holidays, after Ryanair changed the dates of our flights so that we were unable to fly, we knew we would end up driving across Spain. Thanks to Brittany Ferries saving our holiday, the six of us took a ferry (and our car) from Portsmouth to Santander. The 24 hour boat trip on board Pont Aven, complete with swimming pool, cinemas, shops, restaurants and entertainment, really kickstarted our excitement.
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The following day commenced the first leg of our family road trip, driving across Spain. Our destination was the province of Girona in Costa Brava. Bordering Barcelona, Lleida, France and the Mediterranean Sea, Girona was the most beautiful part of our drive. The total journey time from the port of Santander to our Eurocamp resort of El Delfin Verde in El Mas Pinell, was seven and a half hours. Having four children in tow, we had to break this journey up.
We started off by driving from Santander to Zaragoza, with just one stop at a service station, for toilets, snacks, drinks and in Baby Bear’s case, breastfeeding. All four children had slept from port to service station, so apart from the Santander traffic, the torrential rain and the steep hills, it was quite a peaceful three and a half hour drive. At Zaragoza we checked into a huge four star hotel (The Diagonal Plaza Hotel), for a good nights sleep and a hearty buffet breakfast.
The next section of our journey was Zaragoza to Barcelona. This was a three hour drive, and we stopped twice to stretch our legs, use the toilets and get refreshments. We passed one of the Osborne Bull’s in Aragon, which used to advertise brandy, before advertising laws were changed. Aragon also boasts quite an impressive wind farm. I’ve never seen so many turbines in one place; literally hundreds and hundreds.
Despite asking for recommendations from friends, we weren’t that impressed with Barcelona. It’s quite a daunting city to drive through, with big ugly factories spewing out black smoke, numerous lanes, turnings here, there and everywhere and traffic lights every 50 yards. After reading advice about British cars being targeted by thieves in Barcelona, we parked in a secure, monitored car park, which we booked and paid for online with Parclick. Just a ten minute walk away, we found the Familia Sagrada, Barcelona’s top tourist attraction. The children let off steam in a playground just across the water from it and we ended up in KFC of all places, because we were hungry, tired and felt a bit lost and overwhelmed with the size of the city.
In hindsight, I feel like we went to the wrong part of Barcelona. We had wanted to go to Las Ramblas, but being only a few weeks after the terror attacks, we knew there’d be flowers and tributes and didn’t want to have to explain terrorism to two five year olds. The part of Barcelona we were in, was not really what we had expected. It was busy, noisy, polluted and not very pretty. The sound of constant sirens filled the air and a man started shouting at the twins and reached out like he was going to try to grab hold of one of them. We went back to the car after only an hour in Barcelona and couldn’t wait to leave. It didn’t feel like a safe place to take children.
The last section of our drive (one and a half hours) was much prettier; as was our drive into the City of Girona a few days later. Hills, mountains, vineyards, quaint Spanish villas, a castle (Castell de Mongri) and fields full of sunflowers. The beautiful province of Girona was a world away from the chaos of Barcelona, the industrial areas we passed through and the busy motorways of Santander. This was what we came for. Now it really felt like we were in Spain.
In total, by the time we got home in England, we had driven over 2000km, but because we had broken the journey up into sections, the children didn’t moan or get uncomfortable at all. The one thing which we hadn’t anticipated was how much the tolls would cost us. In total we spent £150 on toll roads. Add to this the £200 we spent on diesel and driving across Spain quickly becomes much more expensive than flying. We had an adventure though and we have a wealth of photographs, memories and experiences to take away from it.
This one photo though… this one photo made driving across Spain worthwhile. This photo really makes me smile. And this to me, captures the spirit of how beautiful Costa Brava is.
Sorry to hear you didn’t have such a great experience in Barcelona. It must have been scary to have an unfamiliar person reaching for your children. It seemed you made the most of unexpected changes to your travel plans though. The photos of the sunflower fields are so pretty!
Wow, you have my utmost respect for driving that far! So glad it didn’t feel like a chore. Our kids moan and argue so much I just couldn’t imagine braving a drive that long.
Sorry that you didn’t enjoy Barcelona, it sounds like you probably were in the wrong bit. Barcelona is actually the only part of Spain I’ve visited, but your photos make me want to see more!
Such a shame about your experience in Barcelona. Do you think you would return again? #MondayEscapes
ah what a shame you dind’t see the best of Barcelona it can be such an amazing city. Well done to you though to continuing with the trip! Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
It is such a great adventure to travel across Spain, we Travelled down France last year and had the best time it was wonderful thanks so much for linking up #MondayEscapes x
I think it’s very easy to have a difficult experience in what should be a great destination when you’re travelling with kids, things tend to be more complicated! Sounds like a fun adventure nonetheless. We loved Girona and the Costa Brava when we went there. Would love to return one day. #familytraveltips
I’m so sorry you didn’t get a chance to explore Barcelona! We loved it, though I think the timing of our visit was probably better.
Bummer about Ryanair! But pleased it all worked out (apart from Barcelona). Your photos are very lovely! #familytravtips
It sounds like this was a great experience – I love the photos of the sunflowers. It is a shame that you did not enjoy Barcelona though #familytraveltips
We visited the Costa Brava and Barcelona pre-kids. Wonderful area and I really liked the city. Would love to return with our son. Too bad the timing for your visit to Barcelona wasn’t right. But sounds like your trip was one to remember nonetheless. That sunflower picture is amazing! #familytraveltips
Oh my goodness, good tip about the toll roads, that’s extortionate! I love your photo of the sunflowers too. Sorry you didn’t have a great experience in Barcelona, I’ve never been but I can imagine I would feel a bit overwhelmed too. Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips
Nat.x
Hi. Wow your trip looked absolutely amazing.Planning on doing this route on the way home from el delfin verde to Ireland. Usually drive through France to Roscoff but thinking that maybe Santander might be a better option. Only thing is the ferry leaves at 5.30 in the evening.The drive going by via Michelin is 8.5 hrs. Did you guys make it in that time frame?