Traveling to Spain

Spain is a very popular destination for holidaymakers and those stopping off as part of wider travels throughout the region. The obvious choice for getting there is to jump on board one of the many budget airlines that will have you from London to Madrid in less than three hours. However, for those concerned with reducing their carbon footprint, or who have a hunger for romance and adventure, or just have the time (and patience) to spare; there are plenty of other unique and enjoyable ways of getting to the country. You may even find that the journey itself can become part of the holiday! This guide will provide you with the information you need to decide on the most suitable form of travel to Spain, taking into account the time taken, the cost of travel and the hassle. Not all methods are suitable for everyone and any specific restrictions or requirements that would make a particular method of travel unsuitable for a particular type of traveller are mentioned.

Airplane

Time: Under 2½ hours from London Luton to Madrid Barajas
Cost: Typically £50 each way with easyJet. (RyanAir can be cheaper but with extra charges.)
Hassle: Fairly high
Suitable for: Family`s with young children
Unsuitable for: The adventurous, the romantic, the environmentally minded

In spite of the environmental implications, flying is still the most popular method of traveling to Spain. Whilst it is the fastest of all the methods, it is the most monotonous and, unless you are an eager child, incredibly boring and anonymous. Barajas airport in Madrid could be an airport anywhere else in the world and the days of air travel romance and luxury are truly over with budget airlines charging you for the privilege of taking luggage on board! However this method does get a mention because, for a family with children getting away for a half-term break, it is by far the most practical.

Boat

Time: 24 hours
Cost: From £50 each way
Hassle: Very Low
Suitable for: Couples and those with plenty of time
Unsuitable for: The impatient or those susepticale to sea sickness.

If you want to add a touch of cruise-line glamour to your travels, without the inhibiting cost of a fully-fledged Mediterranean cruise, Brittany Ferries offer a fantastic boat service from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander. The boat is not a typical cheap ferry affair - it offers a swimming pool, plenty of excellent dining options and comfortable, well-appointed cabins. 24 hours may seem a long time to get to Spain, however for the open minded the time at sea will offer plenty of opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and enjoy the brilliant on-board facilities.

Train

Time: 2.5 hours from London to Paris, then overnight from Paris to Madrid or Barcelona or futher.
Cost: From £69 to Paris by Eurostar and about £60 on Elipsos` Train Hotel to Spain. These fares may vary considerably. Check first.
Hassle: Low
Suitable for: Couples looking for romance, young groups of travellers.
Unsuitable for: Lone travellers or those who can't sit still for long periods.

By far the best of the green ways to travel to Spain is by Elipsos` deluxe Train Hotel from Paris. The journey begins at the fabulous St Pancreas International Station in London where you can enjoy a glass or two of bubbly at Europe`s longest champagne bar before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. It is now just 2 hours and 20 minutes to make the journey, which will give you an entire day to explore the romantic city. Come the evening you will board the luxurious, 4 star Train Hotel which will be your accommodation for the night. On board you can enjoy a fine 4 course a-la-carte dinner served in the Restaurant car, sip cocktails in elegant surroundings in the bar and relax and enjoy the facilities in your suite before sleeping comfortably for the night in a full sized bed. You will wake up fully rested in a new country and ready to enjoy your time in Spain. There is no other form of travel to Spain that encapsulates the romance, the luxury and the elegance of a day in Paris and a night in a luxury hotel on wheels!

So, whatever your reason for traveling to Spain, be it escaping for last minute holidays, taking a family summer vacation or wider travels throughout the region; before you book your plane tickets remember there are other enjoyable and unique ways of getting there.