Probably a good number of UK DDs heading to Extremadura this year.

1. Road trip

Sledge: I'm thinking of organising a road trip for travelling to Caceres in July for Debconf 9. If you're interested in joining me, please add yourself below. The details so far are:

1.1. Trip out: dash down through France

2009-07-22

(Eli also suggests stopping off to visit her en-route between Le Mans and San Sebastian, maybe even staying there.)

2009-07-23

1.2. Debconf!

1.3. Trip back: more leisurely tour in Spain

2009-07-31

2009-08-01

2009-08-02

2009-08-03

I'm expecting fuel costs of ~GBP 300 for the trip; the ferry including a 4-berth cabin costs ~GBP 370. And there are 3 overnight hotel stops: 1 out and 2 back. Assuming reasonable prices for sharing hotel rooms, I'm estimating a cost per person of *roughly* GBP 300 to GBP 400 per person for the travel. It'll be more expensive than the train or plane options, but it includes more sight-seeing and a couple of post-Debconf days in Spain. I'm in for the road trip, and Neil says he probably is too.

1.4. Interested people

I'm wanting to book by the middle of April, so don't take too long.

Name

Nick

DD?

Location

Willing and able to drive?

Car available?

SteveMcIntyre

Sledge

Yes

Cambridge

Yes

BMW 3-series estate, space for 4 people

NeilMcGovern

Maulkin

Yes

Cambridge

Yes

Renault Megane family hatch, space for 4

ChrisButler

Crispy

Yes

Sheffield

Yes

ChrisWalker

??

ish

Cambridge

Yes

Volvo estate

2. Train

Ian Jackson is suggesting the following: Wookey is going out this way too (but returning a different way)

July 2009 Wed 22nd

Thu 23rd

£159 or £194 door-door

Debconf

Thu 30th

Fri 31st

As you see I'm leaving a day early - this is because I have another con to go to in Cambridge.

The times above are provisional (I used the dates in April rather than July as bookings are not yet open for travel in July) but something along very similar lines should be possible. I have done a similar journey before - to Seville - and it worked well apart from spending slightly too much time sightseeing in Madrid on in the afternoon, and catching the once-a-night sleeper to Paris by two minutes - shaving it much closer than I intend to repeat.

The return via Barcelona is for (a) variety and (b) to avoid hanging around in Madrid all afternoon. There is the following alternative:

Thu 30th

Fri 31st

If you have the time and inclination to do some actual sightseeing in Madrid you could stay an extra day there.

3. Flying from Ireland to Madrid, train from there

Noodles suggests:

I'm going to end up flying, because otherwise I'll have to allow several weeks for transport from N.Ireland. While I have no times decided yet I'm aiming to fly into Madrid on Thursday 23rd and out again on Friday 31st.

I have a preference for flying from Belfast, but can do Dublin if there's actually anyone else on list travelling from (N.)?Ireland. Otherwise it would be nice to meet up with others who might be flying in order to get the train.

4. Flying from elsewhere to London and on to Madrid, train from there

Neil Williams (codehelp) - flying from Plymouth to London, London to Madrid - meeting Noodles in Madrid to take the train to Extremadura. No definite times yet - likely to be flying in to Gatwick so a flight out of Gatwick to Madrid would be my preferred choice.