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So for whatever reason you wish to bring your car to Ibiza, well we have number of ways of doing this.

1. Leave the UK very early take the Eurotunnel from Folkestone and drive like crazy all day arrive in Barcelona late evening- search for the ferry terminal - get angry and frustrated at the 'lack of organisation' and different directions you are given just to collect your tickets or boarding cards, chase around the terminal looking for your boarding area, arguing with partner/spouse shouting at children etc is all in full flow - (well it's always somebody else's fault if you are the driver!). Finally board the ferry, sleep in an airless cupboard, arrive in Ibiza next day early morning - voila!! Sun is shining - all tiredness frustration disappears (well almost you need a few days to recover but what better place), you even find yourself telling anyone who will listen 'yes nice journey easy really' - ha!!

2. Drive to Portsmouth board the 2 day ferry to Bilbao, this is supposed to be part of your holiday - so relax and enjoy it...... well as long as the Bay of Biscay is not too choppy and you don't spend all your hard earned money on the slot machines to 'while away the long hours'. Drive across Spain (about 7 hours straight driving ) to Denia - board any number of boats 4/5 hours voila in Ibiza. This time not so tired - but oh dear took 3 days and the 'mini cruise somehow is not all it's cracked up to be'.

3. Leave home at any time that suits, take the Eurotunnel (or ferry) to Calais - they run almost every hour day and night. Arrive in France depending upon the time, either drive a few 100kms then find a small hotel/pension have a nice relaxed evening meal, wake up refreshed, drive most of the day and again possibly spend a night in a local hotel /pension - set off maybe mid day after a wonder around the local town/vineyard wherever you happen to be. Then drive on preferably down the coast to Denia (you could even spend the night in Spain - there are some beautiful places along that coast drive (miss out the motorway) . Take the ferry to Ibiza. Voila arrive in Ibiza albeit a few days on, but relaxed smiling and you have seen some new places.

Ok so you can now decide which way, below I have included some useful information for the successful journey - it's all very well planning this at home, but often even when bookings have been made it is necessary to call the Ferry Companies, hotels etc to change timetables etc. (I remember on one occasion being on a motorway in France on a very hot summer's day there was an accident some miles in front, it took 6 hours for us to reach an exit point a mile up the road) the moral is : these things can and do happen and on that particular occasion it meant changing quite a few schedules!

Leaving UK :
The more advanced planning the cheaper the prices: Eurotunnel do some excellent rates but you need to search for them - Eurotunnel is fast and easy you do not have to get out of your car it takes 20/30 minutes into France, customs is sorted in the UK so you just drive away. Go to: http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk

Or by ferry takes a little longer - but some prefer being above the water, it will be cheaper. Try either: www.poferries.com they have lots of ferries travelling daily and prices are generally very good, or: http://www.seafrance.com/seafrance/opencms/uk/en/passenger/ Seafrance also very well priced. Again the more advance the booking the cheaper it becomes.

From Portsmouth www.poferries.com direct to Bilbao - this ferry is classed as a 'mini cruise' booking well in advance gives huge savings - but it doesn't run all winter, even when it does it can be cancelled due to bad weather.

Arrival in France:
The easiest way to spend the night without going crazy driving in circles looking for a hotel is to look/book in advance: Europe has a great network now of hotels catering for the traveller, starting from budget (Formula 1) they are clean, have vending machines for drinks and snacks, but a shared toilet and bathroom. The same hotel chain has 'Premiere class' - which is similar - with own shower/toilet. Great if you arrive late and are rushing off the next day most of these hotels now have 'automated entrances' - key in your details and credit card - and it gives you a code to enter the hotel and room! Easy and convenient.

The next 'chain of hotels' is the Ibis group - they all are a little more expensive, but have real people - a reception desk 24 hours, a coffee bar, and small restaurant - great if you want a relaxing evening without having to search for food. (Some Premiere Class have restaurants as well).

The beauty of these hotels is that they are easy to find, once you have the idea you can almost find your own way without maps, as they are always located near (a few minutes) from the main motorways and usually on industrial sites/ commercial centres, and they are huddled together - generally 3 or 4 and on most occasions predominately displaying the price for a night. There are more hotel groups - you will find them with the above information.

So unless you are a frequent traveller to France - and have been lucky enough to have found your ideal little hotel/pension tucked away in a beautiful place! Then these hotels are perfect for the traveller.Take a look at these French hotels - you will find maps prices etc. Once you find one of these types of hotels on your travels you will find others. They all have free booklets in the reception area which list all the locations of each hotel together with directions and prices - very handy to keep in the car for future travels.

So finally in Spain the ferry timetables and journey times, well to Ibiza you have: TransMediterranea/ Acciona follow this link for the site in English:

Trasmediterranea
They travel from Barcelona, Valencia (although expensive from Valencia -generally better to go to Denia). And Denia.
Telephone for information timetables and bookings: In Spain: 902 454 645 See Ferries page

Balearia
They travel from Barcelona or Denia.
Telephone for information timetables or booking In Spain: 902 119 128 See Ferries page
Outside Spain: Barcelona: + 34 933248980 Denia: +34 966428600

Iscomar
They travel from Barcelona or Denia - usually a little cheaper. Telephone for information timetables or booking: in Spain 902 119 128 -
Outside Spain +34 971437500 See Ferries page

Be careful when 'trawling' the web for these companies because 'agent companies' are often above them on the search engines - and you will pay extra! Best to go to the companies direct.

Again booking well in advance means cheaper travel, and if you are travelling in the peak season it will guarantee you a place (they all get very full in July/August - especially the 'fast ferries' which are great but are more expensive. All the web sites display timetables - but the web sites are not brilliant and although the booking can be made on the web sites, in my experience the site has often 'fallen down' before the booking is complete. Each year there is more improvement though.

I wish you a pleasant and safe journey.

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