The proliferation of budget air travel operators
means that Spain is now more accessible than ever.
Travellers on the routes of Asturias and Cantabria
and also the Rioja route generally arrive at Bilbao Airport where
they are met by our pick up service. Some companies fly directly
to Bilbao from the UK and other European airports.
It is often possible to take connecting flights
through Spanish airports such as Madrid or Barcelona or through
other European cities. This is particularly true for US customers.
Our nearest airport is Santander connecting with Madrid and Barcelona,
although flights are not so frequent.
The most convenient airport for the Andalusia
trips is Malaga or possibly Granada.
You may like to extend your holiday with a mini-cruise.
Brittany Ferries runs a service from the UK to Santander and P &
O Ferries sail from the UK to Bilbao.
Please note that we do not get involved with
travel arrangements as we feel that the customer will get the best
possible deal either by searching the Internet or asking the local
travel agent to check all possibilities. We will be glad to lend
a helping hand.
Perhaps the best way to shop for and compare flights, hotels and car rentals is Kayak.com. Simply enter your trip requirements in the form.
By
Air
There is now a great variety of airline companies offering flights
to Spain - many at very reasonable prices. For the IberoWalk
Picos de Europa route, cycling routes around Northern
Spainand also the Rioja
/ Ebro Route, the nearest airport is Santander.
Due to its small size this airport handles just a few national flights
per day and no international flights. From abroad the airport can
be reached by connecting in Madrid
or Barcelona. At present, Ryanair
is negotiating a possible route to Santander.
The best option for these routes is
the airport of Bilbao. Here
we have a selection of international flights and we will gladly
transport passengers to and from the airport which is just a 75
minute drive from the start of the cycling route and around 140
minutes from our walking route. One of the most popular options
is EasyJetwith direct
flights to Bilbao from Stansted, Gatwick & Bristol. EasyJet
also links to Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow,
Inverness, Liverpool & Newcastle.
By Ferry
Another
alternative for these routes is a mini-cruise on the ferry. P
& O run a service from Portsmouth to Bilbao which
takes 36 hours. Brittany Ferries
sail from Plymouth to Santander. The new ferry being brought into
service in 2004 will do the crossing in 19 hours. Again, we will
pick you up from the Santander or Bilbao ferryports.
For cyclists on the Andalusia Routes,
the most convenient airport is that of Málaga
where again cyclists will be transported at the beginning and end
of the tour. Other nearby airports include Jerez and Gibraltar.
Many companies do not fly directly to Bilbao or Málaga. However,
it is often possible to catch a connecting
flight in another Spanish or indeed European city. This
means that it is worth having a good look around. some cyclists
have arrived by courtesy of companies such as Lufthansa or Swissair
with connections in other European cities. Visitors from outside
Europe would probably fly to Madrid or Barcelona and then transfer
to the national airports of Santander, Bilbao or Málaga.
You may even like to extend your stay with a couple of days in another
location such as Madrid or if you are on the Andalusia Route to
visit Granada, Córdoba or Seville. Spain has an extensive
bus and train network for travelling within the country and we will
be only too glad to help you book tickets and check timetables.
Most companies will allow you to transport your own bicycle - check
with individual companies for their policy on this.
The following table should give you a good idea of what is on offer.
Click on the logos to connect directly to the companies. Don't forget
your local travel agent who may be able to give you a good deal.
Trains & Buses
If
you are travelling within Spain, there is an excellent network of
road transport. The Spanish Intercity train service is called Renfe.
The local train service along the coast of the Basque Country, Cantabria
& Asturias is called FEVE.
The major coach companies, depending on where you are travelling,
are Alsa
and Continental
Auto.
(Click on the names for websites.) Please contact us if you wish
us to help with booking.
If you need any further help or advice please do not hesitate to
contact us - info@iberocycle.com
or info@iberowalk.com
.
Click on the logo for the website.
Company
Web
From
To
Aer
Lingus
Dublin
Major
cities
Air
Europa
Gatwick
Palma
de Mallorca & Madrid (connections to major cities).
Direct
flights from Bilbao to Bristol, Gatwick & Stansted. Links
to Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Inverness,
Luton, Liverpool, Newcastle
Bilbao,
Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Ibiza, Alicante &
Palma de Mallorca.
