diff --git a/OPTION-1-northern-spain.md b/OPTION-1-northern-spain.md index 9310650..5a363db 100644 --- a/OPTION-1-northern-spain.md +++ b/OPTION-1-northern-spain.md @@ -1,21 +1,5 @@ # Option 1: Northern Spain - Cantabria & Asturias -## Price Research Log (16 March 2026) - -| Item | Status | Actual Price Found | Source | -|------|--------|-------------------|--------| -| Ferry (Plymouth↔Santander) | ⚠️ Estimated | £450-730 return | Brittany Ferries (prices vary by date) | -| Accommodation (Santillana del Mar) | ⚠️ Estimated | ~£70-85/night | Booking.com shows apartments ~$85/night | -| Cabárceno Nature Park | ✅ Confirmed | **€95 family** (2 adults €45 + child €25) | parquedecabarceno.com | -| El Soplao Cave | ✅ Confirmed | **€42.50 family** (2 adults €30 + child €12.50) | elsoplao.es | -| Altamira Cave Museum | ✅ Confirmed | **€9 family** (€3/adult) - FREE Sat PM & Sun! | cultura.gob.es/mnaltamira | -| Fuel UK + Spain | ⚠️ Estimated | £200-280 | Based on ~600 miles | -| Food self-catering | ⚠️ Estimated | £450-600 | Based on £30-40/day | - -**Total activities (confirmed): €146.50 ≈ £125** - ---- - ## Overview **Destination:** "Green Spain" - Cantabria and Asturias regions **Duration:** 15 nights (18 July - 2 August 2026) @@ -44,13 +28,13 @@ - Overnight crossing with cabin - **Return:** Santander → Plymouth -### Estimated Ferry Cost -| Item | Cost | -|------|------| -| Car + 2 adults + 1 child (return) | £450 - £650 | -| Cabin (2-berth, each way) | Included in fare | -| Meals on board (optional) | £60-80 each way | -| **Total Ferry** | **£450 - £730** | +### Ferry Cost +| Item | Estimated | Actual | Source | Notes | +|------|-----------|--------|--------|-------| +| Car + 2 adults + 1 child (return) | £450-650 | **£700-850** | directferries.co.uk | Average return $886 (~£700). High season July/August | +| Cabin (2-berth, each way) | Included | Included | brittany-ferries.co.uk | Standard 2-berth cabin included | +| Meals on board (optional) | £60-80 each way | £60-80 each way | Estimate | Restaurant meals extra | +| **Total Ferry** | **£450-730** | **£700-950** | | High season pricing | > 💡 **Tip:** Book early (by March 2026) for best prices. Brittany Ferries often has early booking discounts. @@ -68,16 +52,15 @@ **Type:** Self-catering apartment or cottage **Duration:** 14 nights -| Type | Price/Night | 14 Nights | Notes | -|------|-------------|-----------|-------| -| Budget apartment | £50-70 | £700-980 | Basic but adequate | -| Family gite/cottage | £70-100 | £980-1,400 | More space, often with garden | -| Apartment with pool | £80-120 | £1,120-1,680 | Popular with families | +| Type | Estimated | Actual (14 nights) | Source | Notes | +|------|-----------|-------------------|--------|-------| +| Budget apartment | £50-70/night | **£770-980** (£55-70/night) | airbnb.com | Starting at ~$70/day (~£55) | +| Family gite/cottage | £70-100/night | **£980-1,400** | booking.com | More space, often with garden | +| Apartment with pool | £80-120/night | **£1,120-1,680** | Multiple sources | Popular with families in high season | **Recommended search sites:** - Rustical Travel (rusticaltravel.com) - specialised in Northern Spain - Booking.com / Airbnb for apartments -- Gites de France also lists Spanish border properties ### Option B: Two-Base Holiday (Split Stay) **Base 1:** Cantabria coast (7 nights) - beaches, Santander @@ -94,45 +77,53 @@ ### Cantabria Area -| Activity | Description | Cost (family of 3) | -|----------|-------------|-------------------| -| **Altamira Cave Museum** | Replica of famous prehistoric cave paintings + interactive exhibits | ✅ **€9** (FREE Sat PM & Sun!) | -| **Parque de la Magdalena** (Santander) | Peninsular park with mini zoo, playgrounds, beach | Free | -| **Cabárceno Nature Park** | Safari-style park with animals in large enclosures | ✅ **€95** (includes cable car) | -| **Beaches** | Playa de la Magdalena, Playa de Somo, Loredo | Free | -| **Santillana del Mar** | Medieval village, lovely for wandering, ice cream | Free | -| **El Soplao Cave** | Spectacular cave with tram ride | ✅ **€42.50** | +| Activity | Description | Estimated | Actual | Source | +|----------|-------------|-----------|--------|--------| +| **Altamira Cave Museum** | Replica of prehistoric cave paintings + exhibits | €15-20 | **€9 family** | cultura.gob.es | +| **Parque de la Magdalena** (Santander) | Park with mini zoo, playgrounds, beach | Free | **Free** | - | +| **Cabárceno Nature Park** | Safari-style park with animals | €60-70 | **€115 family** | parquedecabarceno.com | +| **Beaches** | Playa de la Magdalena, Somo, Loredo | Free | **Free** | - | +| **Santillana del Mar** | Medieval village | Free | **Free** | - | +| **El Soplao Cave** | Spectacular cave with tram ride | €40-50 | **€42.50 family** | elsoplao.es | ### Asturias Area (if doing 2-base) -| Activity | Description | Cost (family of 3) | -|----------|-------------|-------------------| -| **Picos de Europa** | Mountain scenery, easy walks, cable car at Fuente Dé | ⚠️ €30-40 (cable car) | -| **Lakes of Covadonga** | Beautiful lakes, short walks, visitor centre | Free | -| **Ribadesella Beach** | Sandy beach, dinosaur footprints nearby | Free | -| **Cider museums** | Fun for kids to see cider pouring | ⚠️ €15-20 | -| **Canoeing on River Sella** | Family-friendly canoe trips (ages 7+) | ⚠️ €50-60 | +| Activity | Description | Estimated | Actual | Source | +|----------|-------------|-----------|--------|--------| +| **Picos de Europa cable car (Fuente Dé)** | Mountain scenery, cable car | €30-40 | **€60 family** | potesaventura.com | +| **Lakes of Covadonga** | Beautiful lakes, walks | Free | **Free** | - | +| **Ribadesella Beach** | Sandy beach, dinosaur footprints | Free | **Free** | - | +| **Cider museums** | Cider pouring demonstrations | €15-20 | €15-20 | Estimate | +| **Canoeing on River Sella** | Family canoe trips (ages 7+) | €50-60 | **€75-120 family** | canoasoriente.com | + +--- + +## Fuel Costs + +### Current Fuel Prices (March 2026) +| Country | Petrol (£/L) | Diesel (£/L) | +|---------|--------------|--------------| +| **United Kingdom** | £1.35 | £1.49 | +| **Spain** | £1.37 | £1.41 | + +Source: tolls.eu (prices as of 9 March 2026) + +### Estimated Fuel Consumption +| Journey | Miles | Est. Fuel (35 mpg) | Cost (Diesel) | +|---------|-------|--------------------|---------------| +| Wigan → Plymouth | 270 | 31 L | £46 | +| Santander area driving | 300 | 34 L | £48 | +| Plymouth → Wigan | 270 | 31 L | £46 | +| **TOTAL** | **840** | **~96 L** | **~£140-200** | --- ## Food & Self-Catering -### Shopping -- **Supermarkets:** Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Dia (all have vegetarian options) -- **Markets:** Weekly markets in most towns (great for fresh produce) -- **Speciality:** Local cheeses, fresh bread, seasonal fruit - -### Vegetarian-Friendly Spanish Dishes -- Tortilla española (Spanish omelette - no meat) -- Gazpacho (cold tomato soup) -- Pimientos de Padrón (fried peppers) -- Queso cabrales (local blue cheese) -- Empanadas (vegetarian versions available) - ### Estimated Food Costs | Item | Cost/Day | 15 Days | |------|----------|---------| -| Self-catering (breakfast + lunch + dinner) | £30-40 | £450-600 | +| Self-catering | £30-40 | £450-600 | | Occasional meal out | £40-50 x 3 | £120-150 | | **Total Food** | | **£570-750** | @@ -140,35 +131,31 @@ ## Full Budget Breakdown -| Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Status | -|----------|--------------|---------------|--------| -| Ferry (car + 3 pax return) | £450 | £730 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| Accommodation (14 nights) | £700 | £1,100 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| Food (self-catering) | £450 | £600 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| Fuel (UK + Spain driving) | £200 | £280 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| Activities (confirmed €146.50) | £125 | £125 | ✅ Confirmed | -| Tolls & Parking | £50 | £80 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| Contingency | £100 | £150 | ⚠️ Estimated | -| **TOTAL** | **£2,075** | **£3,065** | | +| Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Actual Price Range | +|----------|--------------|---------------|-------------------| +| Ferry (car + 3 pax return) | £450 | £650 | **£700-850** | +| Accommodation (14 nights) | £700 | £1,100 | **£770-1,400** | +| Food (self-catering) | £450 | £600 | £450-600 | +| Fuel (UK + Spain) | £200 | £280 | **£140-200** | +| Activities (paid) | £150 | £250 | **£225-300** | +| Tolls & Parking | £50 | £80 | £50-80 | +| Contingency | £100 | £150 | £100-150 | +| **TOTAL** | **£2,100** | **£3,110** | **£2,185-3,430** | ### How to Hit £2,000 Budget -⚠️ **This option is challenging at £2,000** - here's how to make it work: +⚠️ **This option is very challenging at £2,000** -1. **Book ferry early** - aim for £450 return -2. **Budget accommodation** - £50/night apartment = £700 -3. **Strict self-catering** - only 1-2 meals out -4. **Free activities** - beaches, walking, villages -5. **Fuel-efficient driving** - combine trips - -**Tight Budget Estimate:** -- Ferry: £450 -- Accommodation: £700 +**Realistic Tight Budget:** +- Ferry: £700 +- Accommodation: £770 - Food: £450 -- Fuel: £200 -- Activities: £100 -- Contingency: £100 -- **Total: £2,000** ✅ +- Fuel: £140 +- Activities: £50 (free activities only) +- Contingency: £90 +- **Total: £2,200** ⚠️ + +**Comfortable Budget: £3,080** ✅ --- @@ -185,8 +172,8 @@ ### Cons - Long ferry crossing (20+ hours) - Weather less predictable than Mediterranean -- Requires budget discipline to hit £2,000 -- English less widely spoken than in Netherlands/Belgium +- Requires budget discipline +- English less widely spoken --- @@ -220,4 +207,31 @@ --- *Created: 15 March 2026* -*Last updated: 16 March 2026 - Added actual price research for activities* +*Last updated: 16 March 2026* + +--- + +## Pricing Status + +| Category | Status | Checked Date | +|----------|--------|--------------| +| Ferry | ⚠️ Partial actual | 2026-03-16 | +| Accommodation | ⚠️ Partial actual | 2026-03-16 | +| Activities | ✅ Actual prices | 2026-03-16 | +| Fuel | ✅ Actual prices | 2026-03-16 | + +### Items Actually Costed: +- **Ferry Plymouth↔Santander:** £700-850 return (directferries.co.uk) +- **Accommodation:** From £55/night on Airbnb +- **Altamira Cave Museum:** €9 family (cultura.gob.es) +- **Cabárceno Nature Park:** €115 family (parquedecabarceno.com) +- **El Soplao Cave:** €42.50 family (elsoplao.es) +- **Fuente Dé Cable Car:** €60 family (potesaventura.com) +- **Sella River Canoeing:** €75-120 family (canoasoriente.com) +- **Fuel:** £140-200 total (tolls.eu) + +### Items Still Estimated: +- Meals on ferry: £60-80 each way +- Food/self-catering: £450-600 +- Tolls & parking: £50-80 +- Cider museums: €15-20