Driving Calais to Ibiza!!

[Simon_5109057]

Im setting off in my veedub camper, the plan to catch ferry to Calais then through France to Barcelona, catch another ferry to Ibiza to meet family and friends.

I will be doing the drive alone, im 27, male so if anyone has any safety pointers then please let me know.

Im unsure of the best route to take from Calais down to Barcelona, i want a direct route there as i dont want to be late, but can spend more time on the return journey.

I really want as much scenery as possible on the way down though as well, if head towards Montpellier i would come down through the eastern side of the Pyrennes, im really keen on driving through some amazing scenery on route, is this region of the Pyrennes more flat?

I really dont want to miss out on the Pyrennes and want to drive through on way down as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! First time doing it alone...i have aloud 5 days to get down there, i know it can be done in 2, and i want to soak up as much as poss on the way down but dont mind getting there in 3/4 days, but still direct... : o

Thanks,

Simon

 

[sharpy]

Simon, we have travelled calais-barcelona several times and have, so far, gone calais-reims-dijon-lyon-montpellier-perpignon-figures-barcelona. we use the A roads exclusively and i beleive the distance this way is 1060 miles. this route takes us 24hrs driving, plus stops and until you get to lyon (about half way), is pretty flat and featureless. this year we are planning to try going down the middle, through limoges, because i reckon i could shave a bit of mileage off.

which ever way you go, france is, on the whole, prettier, quieter and more caravan friendly than the uk, so enjoy it.

 

[OldBean]

Why not go down the A75 instead of down the Rhone Valley - the scenery is much more interesting. You could stop off around Clermont Ferrand and do the Puy du Dome (volcanos) and area, then just a bit further south and see the Gorges du Tarn area. The A75 is a stunning motorway - and you get the advantage of going over the Millau viaduct (highest road bridge in the world) which is truly spectacular. Worth a detour after you've driven across it, down from the next junction back into Millau, where you see it across the valley, and then drive under it - gives you more idea of the scale of it. You could always then do a detour into the Pyrenees, as you cross into Spain, rather than just going down the autoroute.

 

[Simon_5109057]

Thanks for the info, i think i definately prefere the scenic route! Does anyone know about the ferry crossing from Barcelona to Ibiza, i have searched the net but get alot of different dates, some say only at 11.30pm others only on certain days, as i am not sure what day i will be arriving in Barcelona (around 11th/12th May) i want to make sure i can hop on a ferry without having to wait a week! (which would be a nightmare as meeting family/friends on the 13th May in Ibiza)

Thanks again for your help!

Also just another quickie...im guessing i will be safe on my own on the drive through Spain?

Definately taking the Calais route as the ferry to Santander is to expensive..i think even with tolls etc..

 

[Lutz]

In May there are usually 2 sailings a day from Barcelona to Ibiza, one at 4pm the other at 11pm. Have a look at the website of the ferry operator, Transmediterranea:

http://www.trasmediterranea.es/index.asp?section=home

 

[Simon_5109057]

In May there are usually 2 sailings a day from Barcelona to Ibiza, one at 4pm the other at 11pm. Have a look at the website of the ferry operator, Transmediterranea:

]http://www.trasmediterranea.es/index.asp?section=home

http://www.trasmediterranea.es/index.asp?section=home[/quote
Thanks! Ill have a look now...dunno what i was looking at then maybe some old info, cheers.

 

[EvansofSprot]

Montpellier is not in the Pyrenees. So don't expect mountains. lol.

 

[EvansofSprot]

Montpellier is not in the Pyrenees. So don't expect mountains. lol.

 

[Simon_5109057]

Montpellier is not in the Pyrenees. So don't expect mountains. lol.

wow...thanks for that...

 

[Simon_5109057]

Thanks Val! Thats the route im taking! A75...

 

[OldBean]

Thanks Val! Thats the route im taking! A75...

Simon - see the message about Millau/Tarn - for details of the first part of the route.

Have a great time.

 

[Simon_5109057]

Just had a look, thanks!

I was wondering if you would be so kind as to list the major towns so i can pin point them on my map, this is my first trip on my own and i am also well known for getting lost and taking the wrong route!! - so a list would be brilliant, heading down to Toulose then through the Pyrennes onto Barcelona(it is this part im not sure on) will i go through Andora?

This is the list i have come up with!!

Calais, Pass Paris to Orleans (then not sure if its onto Limoges or Clermont Ferrand), Toulouse....and then after that im abit lost....

Want to drive over huge bridge though, but if thats in Milliau then i guess i would cut down to Perpignan onto Barcelona, but by doing this wouldnt i miss out on the Pyrennes?

Sorry about this, leaving Monday, cant wait but need to have a clear idea of what way im going, would not be so bad if i wasnt meeting people on the 13th and dont want to get lost/late!

Thanks : )

 

[Simon_5109057]

Just had a look, thanks!

I was wondering if you would be so kind as to list the major towns so i can pin point them on my map, this is my first trip on my own and i am also well known for getting lost and taking the wrong route!! - so a list would be brilliant, heading down to Toulose then through the Pyrennes onto Barcelona(it is this part im not sure on) will i go through Andora?

This is the list i have come up with!!

Calais, Pass Paris to Orleans (then not sure if its onto Limoges or Clermont Ferrand), Toulouse....and then after that im abit lost....

Want to drive over huge bridge though, but if thats in Milliau then i guess i would cut down to Perpignan onto Barcelona, but by doing this wouldnt i miss out on the Pyrennes?

Sorry about this, leaving Monday, cant wait but need to have a clear idea of what way im going, would not be so bad if i wasnt meeting people on the 13th and dont want to get lost/late!

Thanks : )

thinking about it Millau, Perpignan then Barcelona makes more sense, i think i have in my mind the idea of driving through the moutains, but maybe im wrong about the Pyrennes anyway...!! he he

 

[OldBean]

thinking about it Millau, Perpignan then Barcelona makes more sense, i think i have in my mind the idea of driving through the moutains, but maybe im wrong about the Pyrennes anyway...!! he he

Simon, see my earlier posting for the towns on the way - you want Clermont Ferrand, not Limoges, which is way too far West. Why not ask mappy.com, or viamichelin for a route. Put in Calais - Evry, Nemours, Clermont Ferrand, Millau, Perpignan as 'stops' on the route, and you can get a very decent step by step print out.

Why not try a detour once you get to the border, and go through Andorra - it's not a bad route, even with a caravan, although it can be busy with 'shoppers' after the duty free. It's mountainous enough to be worthwhile, but not your 'alpine' jobs. There's still likely to be some snow around when you get higher up, though.