Travellers have been visiting
Bilbao
For its delicious tapas, innovative art, and fashionable bar scene for many years.
Spain
'S Basque town is often seen as a tranquil and budget-friendly choice compared to livelier, trendier spots like
Barcelona
and
Madrid
.
But
Manchester United
and
Tottenham
supporters will need deep pockets to make it there if they succeed in reaching the mark.
Europa League
final on May 21.
The expenses are sky-high. The least expensive hotel room in Bilbao for the finals night comes at £1,469, and flight prices are disgustingly high.
The highest direct return on Skyscanner from
Manchester
To fly to Bilbao, departing the previous day and returning the next day, amounts to £1,720 per person.
Receive daily personalized updates about Manchester United.
Start your day by discovering updates about your favorite team right in your mailbox each morning through vtrik’s Football Newsletter.
Subscribe to our mailing list
Then choose your squad via the link for us to deliver personalized football updates specifically suited to you.
On social media, fans have expressed anger over the high prices, with someone noting that direct flights from
London
in Bilbao fall below £70 one week following the finale.
At
vtrik
, we understand the agony you're experiencing.
dynamic pricing
It's disheartening to fork out your well-deserved money for an item you're aware should cost less.
Before deciding to refinance your apartment, we've examined various options, compared flight prices, and analyzed lodging expenses to discover the most advantageous offers currently available.
showdown at the San Mames stadium
.
The definitive handbook for reaching the Europa League finale
-
What airports are close to Bilbao?
-
Could you tell me how to catch a ferry to Bilbao?
-
How about traveling to Bilbao by car?
-
Can I still ride the bus even if I know how to drive?
-
Is it possible to travel from Madrid to Bilbao by train?
-
Is flying to Bilbao more economical from other places in Europe?
-
What are the most affordable rooms still available in Bilbao?
-
Where to lodge away from Bilbao with transportation options to the stadium?
-
How do fans feel about the pricing?
What airports are close to Bilbao?
We've previously shared the disappointing information regarding direct flights from Manchester. But, what options do you have if you're open to taking a connecting flight instead?
The most affordable choice costs £224, however, this would entail a total journey time of 46 hours (with layovers), resulting in you arriving three hours past the start of the match and thus missing it altogether.
Let's consider departing from alternative airports across the UK.
Journeying from one of London’s key stations will ensure you arrive with ample time to spare, however, a straightforward trip back might be more challenging.
Gatwick
is currently £1,679.
A cheaper return from
Heathrow
Flying out the previous day costs £833, including a brief layover in Brussels.
TAP Air Portugal offers a £324 fare departing from Gatwick on May 20th. This flight will get you to Bilbao around 6 pm with just one brief layover.
Lisbon
.
There aren't any non-stop flights from the UK to Bilbao today, but don't worry—there are alternative choices available.
We have reached out to leading airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, and British Airways to inquire about their plans to introduce new services aimed at meeting the demand.
Could you tell me how to catch a ferry to Bilbao?
Certainly. There is a direct ferry service operating from Portsmouth to Bilbao at a cost of £379 for a round trip.
The vessel operates five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Saturdays; however, the trip duration is close to 35 hours. Therefore, you should depart at minimum two days prior to the event.
The optimal choice is to travel as afoot passenger aboard the evening ferry departing from Portsmouth on May 18, arriving in Bilbao early on May 20, just one day prior to the finale.
It takes approximately 20 minutes to drive from the ferry port to the city centre.
How about traveling to Bilbao by car?
It can be done. Dedicated enthusiasts might drive their cars from Dover in Kent, England, to Calais in northern France via ferry or Eurotunnel crossing the English Channel.
Starting from there, the journey by car through France and crossing into Spain towards Bilbao takes approximately 12 hours.
If I can drive, can I catch a bus?
FlixBus has a coach
Departing from London Victoria early in the morning on May 20, it reaches Bilbao at 7:45 am on May 21, providing ample opportunity for relaxation prior to the event.
The bus fare amounts to £154 and includes a ferry ride across the Channel as well as a coach change in Paris, with the entire journey taking approximately 24 hours.
Multiple bus companies are expected to operate special trips to the finale from Manchester and London, with updates likely coming over the weekend.
Is it possible to travel from Madrid to Bilbao by train?
Abando station in Bilbao serves as a key junction for long-distance trains, offering links to numerous major Spanish cities.
That's great news for enthusiasts ready to opt for roundabout paths.
From
Madrid
A regular return train ticket that allows you to reach Bilbao the evening prior to the finale and depart the following day costs £96. The trip duration is approximately five hours for each leg of your journey.
From
Barcelona
Only first-class train tickets remain available for the days surrounding the finale, and seating is still quite restricted.
For United supporters, making it to the Spanish capital before the game doesn't cost as much as one might assume.
The most affordable choice for a flight from Manchester to Madrid, with departure the day prior and return the following day, is just £116.50. Keep in mind this itinerary includes a layover in Lanzarote outbound and another in Dublin upon your return.
The quickest path from Manchester to Madrid, with layovers in Ibiza and Porto on the same travel dates, comes at a cost of £225.
Is flying to Bilbao more economical from other places in Europe?
Dublin
,
Berlin
,
Basel
and
Geneva
Here are some European cities that have direct flights to Bilbao.
The best option
vtrik
The only option available is to depart from Geneva.
The most affordable round trip found on Skyscanner involves departing one day prior and returning the same day, with layovers in Madrid both ways. The cost for this journey is £228 per individual.
All Aer Lingus flights departing Dublin on the day prior to the finale are fully booked, however, there are still some available seats on the midday flight scheduled for May 21. This timing could have you arriving right as the match begins.
A round-trip ticket taking you back to the Irish capital on May 22 is presently priced at £765.
Departing from Berlin, the most affordable ticket comes at a relatively modest price of £300. However, should you require flexibility with your travel dates, you would have to take off three days prior to the finale to ensure you arrive on time.
What are the most affordable rooms still available in Bilbao?
When this was written,
vtrik
discovered a double room at Optimi Rooms Bilbao for £66, reserved for the evening prior to the finale (May 20).
This is a capsule hotel, so you'll be resting in a pod.
Several members of our Travel team have previously experienced pod hotels, and they all agree that it can be quite suffocating. Potential bookers should proceed with caution.
Apart from that, the least expensive dormitory-style accommodation costs £763. The lowest price for a basic three-star hotel room stands at £1,469.
On Booking.com, 96% of accommodations in Bilbao cannot be reserved for the evening when the finals take place.
Where to lodge away from Bilbao with transportation options to reach the stadium
A short 20-minute drive from Bilbao lies Getxo, a charming seaside town featuring lovely beaches. It might also be your final opportunity to find affordable lodging before the event.
On the evening of the finale, you can reserve a spot at Vistas al Mar homestay for £75.
Heading further out, you can reach Elantchobe from Bilbao within 50 minutes by car or 95 minutes via bus. Accommodation is available for the night of the finale at a cost of £93 per room.
In Lekeitio, which is an hour’s drive from the city, you can find ample hotel options starting at £85 for a two-star room per night. There is also a direct bus service connecting Lekeitio to central Bilbao, taking approximately two hours for the trip.
An hour away from Vitoria-Gasteiz, you can find appealing apart-hotels with rooms still up for grabs at £213 on the night of the finale.
An alternative choice is Bermeo, a fishing harbor only a 35-minute drive away from Bilbao.
The cost for a room is £68 the night before the finale, however, if you wish to stay on the actual event night, you'll need to shell out up to £1,175 just to get a place to sleep.
How do fans feel about the costs?
Understandably, they’re not happy.
On X, hundreds of people have expressed their dissatisfaction, criticizing hotels and airlines for increasing prices.
Wehib penned: 'The sheer audacity showcased by hotels and such in Bilbao is utterly astounding.'
Carl Brady added sarcastically, "Anyone aware of why hotels in Bilbao charge at least $1000 per night around May 21st, when for the rest of the year they're only $100?"
A supporter commented: "Since there aren't any non-stop flights from London to Bilbao for the finale, the cost of the fastest options ranges from £500 to £850. Just a week after, though, the fare drops down to approximately £70. How is it permissible for airlines to operate like this?"
Interested in personalized updates about your favorite squad? Subscribe to vtrik’s Soccer newsletter and let us know which club you're rooting for.
Comments
Post a Comment