We are shortly to sail from Dover to Dunkirk and travel through France to Mojacar, nr Almeria. Two oldies and dog, in our trusty motorcaravan. Does anyone have any good routes which don't use the French toll roads? Also, are the Aires okay to use, or are campsites better? Any advice would be welcome.
Dunkirk to Mojacar - Help please
- Thread starter sheila.d
- Start date
I did this trip a few weeks ago, one way was no toll roads at all and the other way was as fast as I could get home. The no toll roads took a week and the return journey two days, never again would I personally not use toll roads as the savings were nil when you compare overnight stops.
For routes I have a good sat nav but always plan my route meticulously using google maps so I know every twist and turn and toll or no toll before setting the sat nav.
I am going with the caravan on Tuesday to Alicante and already know every inch of the roads I will travel and what is free all planned on google maps.
A word of advice about travelling in Spain never under any circumstances ever leave your outfit unattended even if you are sitting in it your tyres could get stabbed and you are a sitting duck, I have slept on the side of the road but I make sure I am as safe as can be, even then I have left at 3 am because i was not sure.
I prefer to travel using sites as I am too old to fight it is not worth trying to save a pound only to lose it to thieves. Good luck I full timed for years in Europe in all sorts of outfits and yes we have been robbed several times, the last one was a spike in his shoe and he kicked the tyre as he walked past, two miles down the road I was parked changing the wheel and they pulled up to help, got nothing that time as I carry certain protection now and they lost their nerve.
I still do it so do not be put off
For routes I have a good sat nav but always plan my route meticulously using google maps so I know every twist and turn and toll or no toll before setting the sat nav.
I am going with the caravan on Tuesday to Alicante and already know every inch of the roads I will travel and what is free all planned on google maps.
A word of advice about travelling in Spain never under any circumstances ever leave your outfit unattended even if you are sitting in it your tyres could get stabbed and you are a sitting duck, I have slept on the side of the road but I make sure I am as safe as can be, even then I have left at 3 am because i was not sure.
I prefer to travel using sites as I am too old to fight it is not worth trying to save a pound only to lose it to thieves. Good luck I full timed for years in Europe in all sorts of outfits and yes we have been robbed several times, the last one was a spike in his shoe and he kicked the tyre as he walked past, two miles down the road I was parked changing the wheel and they pulled up to help, got nothing that time as I carry certain protection now and they lost their nerve.
I still do it so do not be put off
…… whether you use aires is up to you.
I do quite often but you have to be prepared for anything.
I have been woken up at 2 am to my caravan being violently rocked to and fro by a gang of youths.
They dispersed when I set off my 100-decibel alarm siren.
Worse could happen!!
Here are some sites I use that are open all year and will accept late arrivals.
They are one days driving apart for me.
http://www.camping-le-futuriste.fr/#
http://www.larrouleta.com/gb2.html#
http://www.campingsonline.com/aranjuez/index.asp
Whether you use toll roads between these sites is again up to you and you will find there are alternative toll free roads between them.
I usually mix and match if the toll free road is good enough.
E.g. Going to the first site via Rouen and Chartres will limit your tolls to around 15€
Proceeding to the second via the N10 can be done for 10€ or less.
A good Satnav can be programmed to help you.
I do quite often but you have to be prepared for anything.
I have been woken up at 2 am to my caravan being violently rocked to and fro by a gang of youths.
They dispersed when I set off my 100-decibel alarm siren.
Worse could happen!!
Here are some sites I use that are open all year and will accept late arrivals.
They are one days driving apart for me.
http://www.camping-le-futuriste.fr/#
http://www.larrouleta.com/gb2.html#
http://www.campingsonline.com/aranjuez/index.asp
Whether you use toll roads between these sites is again up to you and you will find there are alternative toll free roads between them.
I usually mix and match if the toll free road is good enough.
E.g. Going to the first site via Rouen and Chartres will limit your tolls to around 15€
Proceeding to the second via the N10 can be done for 10€ or less.
A good Satnav can be programmed to help you.
I’ve never quite understood this argument that the cost of using the toll roads is cancelled out by less overnight stops. When I have a 21 day trip between crossing & return I spend 20 nights on campsites. Whether that is at the main site or an overnight is irrelevant. If anything, overnight sites tend to be municipals and quite a bit cheaper.bopeep said:
chrisbee 1 said:
Depends if you want 10 or 18 nights at the destination site, When we had 4 children holidaying with us I know which I'd prefer
I live in France so can't really help as to routes. But, as for overnights, I would never use an autoroute aire - especially further south. What I do is to leave the main road ( I rarely use autoroutes) and find the nearest village or small town. There, you will invariably find a town/village square where you can put your feet down with little fear of interruption. It's not like UK where someone will inevitably try to move you on! The only time the police have knocked on my van door was to ask if we liked his village and did we realise that,just around the corner was a first class restaurant! Usually, you will also find a cafe/bar and a baker nearby. I do this throughout the year when I just need somewhere to sleep. Can't see the point in paying for a site in those circumstances.
I can endorse those who warn you to be vigilant in Spain. NEVER leave your outfit unattended on autoroute carparks, and be prepared for all sorts of tricks to try to lure you away from your unit ( so that an accomplice can ransack it ). As ever, beware the Autoroute round Barcelona! A magnet for respectable looking young people in cars waving you down. Only stop for clearly marked Police vehicles.
Sounds daunting, doesn't it, but we 've been doing it for many years now and the pleasure of being there does outweigh the need to be extra vigilant.
I can endorse those who warn you to be vigilant in Spain. NEVER leave your outfit unattended on autoroute carparks, and be prepared for all sorts of tricks to try to lure you away from your unit ( so that an accomplice can ransack it ). As ever, beware the Autoroute round Barcelona! A magnet for respectable looking young people in cars waving you down. Only stop for clearly marked Police vehicles.
Sounds daunting, doesn't it, but we 've been doing it for many years now and the pleasure of being there does outweigh the need to be extra vigilant.
Many thanks for all your helpful advice. I think when we reach Spain, we will go Burgos, Madrid, Albecete as this looks straightforward, and will keep us away from Barcelona! I hope the fact that we have a dog with us would put off any would-be ransackers. The decision between aires and campsites will be taken as we go along. Also, the village squares sounds a good option.
There are many stories floating around Spain for the last few years about thieft to and of motorhomes and caravans. All the advise is good except for the police stopping you - it would be an unusual accurrance for this to happen, continue to the next toll booths and then pull over. If you have to stop leave your engine running and the doors closed, view their card through the window and phone to check. This is the advise given by Spanish police. There are now speed cameras alone these routes and they do not tell you like over here. And they also have hand held cameras.
If you end up traveling none toll down the 340 look for the new road, It should be fully open from Taragona to Valencia, eventuall it will replace the 340 starting at Barccelona. If you do go down the 340 you will see the ladies of the night durring the day, A brolly and a plastic chair at the side of the road - if she's not sitting there she is otherwise engaged, you will not miss them they are every 100yds in places. And be careful if you stop for food along the lorry routes, your ok no problems but don't be shocked to find a brothal at the back.
On a serious note the Spanish do not like the situation they see it as a slight against Spain but are powerless because of their laws.
PS I would not stop on Aires
If you end up traveling none toll down the 340 look for the new road, It should be fully open from Taragona to Valencia, eventuall it will replace the 340 starting at Barccelona. If you do go down the 340 you will see the ladies of the night durring the day, A brolly and a plastic chair at the side of the road - if she's not sitting there she is otherwise engaged, you will not miss them they are every 100yds in places. And be careful if you stop for food along the lorry routes, your ok no problems but don't be shocked to find a brothal at the back.
On a serious note the Spanish do not like the situation they see it as a slight against Spain but are powerless because of their laws.
PS I would not stop on Aires
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