Preparing for the August Eclipse

[ffutures]

Found an affordable and OK-looking hotel in Santander, where there will be a minute or so of totality, and booked a room arriving on Monday 10th August and leaving on the 13th, the day after the eclipse.

Now trying to find a good flight, but as usual completely confused by the booking sites. Basically I want to leave the UK in the morning and arrive in Spain in daylight to make getting to the hotel easier. Coming back I'm not so bothered about timing. Which site would people recommend for booking the flight?

Update Sunday - thanks to timill I am probably going to take the ferry route from Plymouth to Santander and back - possibly cheaper than flying, likely to be more interesting, and a good deal more comfortable since I don't actually like flying. Adds overnight travel either side of my stay in Santander so extends the trip from 4 days to 6, but I think I can live with that. I'll try to book this tomorrow when I can talk to someone human and ask a few questions.

I also looked at rail but that appears to be horribly complicated - six changes of train in 15 hours, and at some point I'd probably doze off and miss the right stop or the next connection. No thanks...
 

Comments

[watervole]

None...

I gave up flying long ago - the carbon footprint is terrible.

Have you considered going by rail? Takes longer, but could be an interesting journey.

[timill]

Also Brittany Ferries sail from Portsmouth to Santander.

[ffutures]

I've thought about both, but I'm having trouble getting info on travel time etc. this far in advance, and I don't really want to add an extra day or two each side of the time this will take.

[watervole]

That's a good thought. I hadn't realised there was a ferry route.

[ffutures]

It looks pretty good now I've taken a closer look, travelling on the right days each way and possibly cheaper than flying. I think Timill has given me the winner.

[watervole]

All kudos to Tim :)

[ffutures]

OK, just took a closer look at this - about £300 plus rail fares if I'm reading things right, less a discount if I join their club, might work out cheaper than flying with the cost of airport taxes etc. these days. Hotel isn't affected I think, the arrival and departure days are right for my room booking if I travel from Plymouth, and the train for Plymouth is from Paddington which is handy. I think this might be a winner. Thanks for suggesting it!

[ffutures]

Looks like six changes of train for this one, on the whole I like the ferry idea better!

[bastun]

skyscanner.ie (presumably there's a .co.uk or a .com too) to find the flights (it helpfully lets you select/sort by lower carbon options), then book direct with the airline, always.

[ffutures]

Having taken a closer look I think I'm going to try the ferry - thanks for the suggestion anyway.

[watervole]

'lower carbon' short haul flights still have a pretty big footprint. Ferrys are a lot better.

(Mind you, cruise ships are the biggest carbon emitters per mile by a long chalk.)

[bastun]

Agreed, ferries ftw! I'm based in Ireland, so limited in destinations, and I therefore rarely think of using one unless it's to Wales or England.