You can go to Santander from either Plymouth or Portsmouth. Portsmouth is about 1 hour by car nearer Birmingham but it takes 4 hours longer to get to Santander because you go along the English Channel around the Isle Of Wight. 24 hours from Portsmouth, and 20 hours from Plymouth. Car parking is about £10 per day at either port. Lots to do on the ship, and bar prices are not a rip off. There are 2 hotels within 5 minutes walk of ferry port. Hotel Bahia, just over the road, and Abba Hotel only a couple of minutes more. Not many people speak English in this city. But there are English menu's at lots of bars. I would not spend a week there, but a couple of days is perfect.
