Tomorrow afternoon my three year old daughter and I will board a very big boat (or a ferry, as the experts call it) and head to Spain. Because my teacher husband has to work, I am taking my mum and dad with me instead.

The purpose of our trip? To discover a part of Spain totally new to us and to see if travelling there on a ferry is a less stressful way to journey than by plane.

We’re taking the Plymouth to Santander route, on Brittany Ferries’ flagship ferry, the Pont-Aven. They call it a “cruise ferry” and, to be honest, I’m just as excited about this element of the trip as the rest. I’m looking forward to sampling the food and wine, while my daughter is counting down the minutes until she jumps in the on-board swimming pool. 

When we arrive in Spain, we’ll be heading to the little seaside town of Noja, in the Cantabria region. I’ve never been to this part of Spain before but my research tells me it’s popular with Spanish holidaymakers and is still relatively unspoilt. This pleases me.

The guidebook talks about “cottage crafts” in a “rural region” where “ancient towns and churches” sit alongside “pretty fishing ports”. It sounds like the perfect kind of place for a multi-generational family holiday, with plenty to keep everyone happy. I’m looking forward to finding out if this is, indeed, the case.

We’re in Spain for three nights and then have two nights on the ferry – one getting there and one coming back. In total, it’s a five night break, just long enough to feel refreshed and decide if it’s somewhere we might return to.

Five nights on holiday with my daughter and parents… what could go wrong?!

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Disclosure: We will be guests of Brittany Ferries, for the purpose of the review. This includes our travel and accommodation costs.