On our recent family road trip from the UK through Portugal and Spain, we needed somewhere to break up the long drive from Sedella in the Andalusian mountains to Santander on the north coast.
Segovia was an easy choice.
My husband had wanted to visit for a while, mainly to see the famous Roman aqueduct, which is one of the best-preserved in the world.
The only issue was time.
Continue reading “Is Segovia Worth Visiting for a Day? What We Saw in Just 6 Hours”
Colourful striped houses right on the beach, it looks like one of the most photogenic places in Portugal.
But what’s it actually like to visit?
We spent two nights in Costa Nova as part of our Spain and Portugal family road trip in April, arriving late in the dark after our overnight ferry crossing and a long drive across Spain and Portugal.
The next morning we were visiting family in Viseu, then heading all the way south to Salema in the Algarve.
That meant we only had one full day here, and so the weather was just whatever it was going to be.
And honestly, our experience wasn’t quite the sunny postcard you might expect!
Continue reading “Visiting the Costa Nova Striped Houses & Cool Architecture in Portugal”
Sedella isn’t somewhere you stumble across by accident.
It’s a small white village set high in the mountains of southern Spain, and you really have to want to go there, or know about it.
Continue reading “Sedella, Spain, in April: Return Visit for 2 Days to the Andalusian Mountains”
You know when you return somewhere and hope it feels just as good as the first time?
That was Salema for us.
We’d visited Salema in February once before and loved this quiet pocket of the Algarve. We’re not fans of built-up, tourist-heavy places, and Salema offered a peaceful escape that felt completely different from the busier parts of the region.
On that first visit, we stayed at NAU Salema Beach Village and honestly felt like the only guests there. It was that quiet.
So coming back again during the UK school Easter holidays in April, how would it compare? Would we love it just as much?
Continue reading “Salema, Portugal, in April: Return Visit for 3 Days on the Algarve”
We recently travelled on the Pont-Aven overnight ferry with Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander and decided to try two of the higher-end cabins, one for each leg of the journey.
A Commodore suite on the way out, and a 4-berth deluxe cabin on the way back.
Here’s how they compare, and whether paying extra is actually worth it.
Continue reading “Brittany Ferries Pont-Aven Cabin Review: Commodore Suite vs Deluxe Cabin”
13 days.
1982 miles.
48 hours of driving.
42 hours on a ferry.
5 beautiful locations.
We recently returned from a UK to Spain and Portugal road trip, travelling by ferry with our own car and staying in a mix of coastal and rural locations.
One of the biggest questions when planning a trip like this is simple: how much does it actually cost?
So here’s our full, honest breakdown.
This isn’t a stripped-back budget or a luxury getaway. It’s what we really spent as a family of four, balancing comfort, convenience and cost while travelling and working remotely.
This UK to Spain and Portugal family road trip cost breakdown includes ferry, accommodation, food, fuel and tolls over 13 days.
Continue reading “UK to Spain and Portugal Family Road Trip Cost Breakdown (13 Days)”
13 days.
1982 miles.
48 hours of driving.
42 hours on a ferry.
5 very different locations.
This trip was a mix of everything, long travel days, quiet coastal villages, mountain stays, and one standout city stop.
We travelled from the UK to Spain by ferry, drove through Portugal and back across Spain, and returned the same way.
Here’s how it all played out, day by day.
Continue reading “13 Day European Family Road Trip Diary: Overnight Ferry, Portugal and Spain”
If you’re thinking about driving from the UK to Spain and Portugal, it can feel like a big trip to plan.
Where do you stop?
How long should you allow?
And is it actually doable as a family?
We recently did this exact route over 13 days, combining an overnight ferry with a mix of coastal and mountain destinations.
We’re a family of four, and on this trip, our daughter was 13 (almost 14), and our son had recently turned 11.
Most of the trip worked out well, but there are definitely things we’d do differently next time.
Here’s the full itinerary, plus what to expect along the way.
Continue reading “13 Day Europe Family Road Trip Planner: UK to Spain and Portugal”