Hello all,I'm after some advice on a touring holiday in Spain,is it still do'able? We want to go to southern Spain driving from Lincolnshire to Dover across to Calais through France onto Spain,all advice(good and bad points)is needed n very welcome.thanks in advance.
Thinking of a Spanish holiday
- Thread starter Newvanbie
- Start date
We did a tour of Central Spain earlier this year and had no problems with driving there, the roads were excellent and compared to the UK generally very quite. The lorry drivers do drive quickly and a little agressively but I soon got used to that. We chose to get the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao and it worked well for us, as it saved two days, driving, approx 900 miles and we arrived in Spain fresh. It cost us about £100-00 more than driving through France,, but this will depend on when you go. if you do this make sure your van is inside the ship, or it will be covered in salt as ours was. We then drove back through Central France to return via Calais.
Depending on your time available for the whole trip, I think it will be better to plan a route south through France, using the Peage were necessary. If your route takes you through Clermont Ferrand you then get a free motorway to Beziers, not too far from Spain.
The scenery in Spain is not a good as France, but the old towns are all very interesting with many old buildings untouched by war and the weather should be better.
Well worth doing.
Depending on your time available for the whole trip, I think it will be better to plan a route south through France, using the Peage were necessary. If your route takes you through Clermont Ferrand you then get a free motorway to Beziers, not too far from Spain.
The scenery in Spain is not a good as France, but the old towns are all very interesting with many old buildings untouched by war and the weather should be better.
Well worth doing.
Hi Newvanbie, the drive from Calais to Spain is a long way, but is doable, George, I went from Beziers to Clermont Ferond in October purley because that highway was non Paege, and I wanted to see the Milleaue viaduct. never again as the temp was in the mid 30c and on some of the long high sections, 1170 meters, my car was struggling as we had a heavy caravan, posibly up to its max allowable, and the same with the car.. I should have gone the other way and met up with you in loche. 2000 miles, over six weeks and a Paeage bill of just over £300, which I recieved after I got home. Sorry to hot and dry for me in the south of France at that time of year.
Hutch.
Hutch.
Hello Hutch,
We did have an exceptional late summer this year, on the rally we only had rain on one day. On my return trip from Spain in May I used the Bezier motorway to Millau, where we stayed for a couple of days, one of which we drove over the bridge, without the van, to experience it. I had no problems with towing as I have a near 85% match.
Did you see my report on the Rally in the Events, Rallies & Owners Clubs section ? I have to say it went really well and it's a pity you did not stopover with us.
Regards,
George
We did have an exceptional late summer this year, on the rally we only had rain on one day. On my return trip from Spain in May I used the Bezier motorway to Millau, where we stayed for a couple of days, one of which we drove over the bridge, without the van, to experience it. I had no problems with towing as I have a near 85% match.
Did you see my report on the Rally in the Events, Rallies & Owners Clubs section ? I have to say it went really well and it's a pity you did not stopover with us.
Regards,
George
Routes depend on what you want to see and at what time of year.
If you just want a relaxing break in reasonable weather then anytime October to May should be Ok if you keep to coastal areas. Central plateau can be pretty cold in winter.
Large area of the central plateau relatively few sites particularly not in low season.
Ignoring the Somport Tunnel and Andorra routes there are two basic ways into Spain - at the top right hand and left hand 'corners'. Right hand corner - east - is fine for the resorts down the Med. coast say to Alicante.
If you want to go further south than this, or to Madrid area or the south coast - Granada etc. then the more direct route is to use the left hand side - west. Here you have a choice of direct ferry UK to Santandar or Bilbao or road down the west cast of France, or slightly inland e.g. via Poitiers but reaching Spain at Irun.
For these you may lie to consider the western route (Brittany ) ferries from Portsmouth Poole or Plymouth. More expensive than Dover but you may save time and distance. from Lincolnshire you could avoid the likely hassle of the London and Kent areas - I would guess Portsmouth might even be nearer than Dover.
Suggest you look at the Caravan Club Europe/Spain handbook which will show many of the sites and also provide other useful information.
Driving in Spain is gerneally pretty easy apart from near large cities. Many 4 lane roads are not toll (yet). May be quite a distance between filling stations.
Sites usually have a sliding scale of charges depending on how long you stay. Single nights can be expensive, but discounts may start at 3 nights. Pitches may be small by UK Club standards. Electricity sometimes erratic in more rural areas. Supermarkets do not sell road fuel but are generally of good quality e.g. Mercadona.
If you get a few more specific ideas together and repost I'm sure you will get plenty of helpful replies.
If you just want a relaxing break in reasonable weather then anytime October to May should be Ok if you keep to coastal areas. Central plateau can be pretty cold in winter.
Large area of the central plateau relatively few sites particularly not in low season.
Ignoring the Somport Tunnel and Andorra routes there are two basic ways into Spain - at the top right hand and left hand 'corners'. Right hand corner - east - is fine for the resorts down the Med. coast say to Alicante.
If you want to go further south than this, or to Madrid area or the south coast - Granada etc. then the more direct route is to use the left hand side - west. Here you have a choice of direct ferry UK to Santandar or Bilbao or road down the west cast of France, or slightly inland e.g. via Poitiers but reaching Spain at Irun.
For these you may lie to consider the western route (Brittany ) ferries from Portsmouth Poole or Plymouth. More expensive than Dover but you may save time and distance. from Lincolnshire you could avoid the likely hassle of the London and Kent areas - I would guess Portsmouth might even be nearer than Dover.
Suggest you look at the Caravan Club Europe/Spain handbook which will show many of the sites and also provide other useful information.
Driving in Spain is gerneally pretty easy apart from near large cities. Many 4 lane roads are not toll (yet). May be quite a distance between filling stations.
Sites usually have a sliding scale of charges depending on how long you stay. Single nights can be expensive, but discounts may start at 3 nights. Pitches may be small by UK Club standards. Electricity sometimes erratic in more rural areas. Supermarkets do not sell road fuel but are generally of good quality e.g. Mercadona.
If you get a few more specific ideas together and repost I'm sure you will get plenty of helpful replies.
Thank you for the help so far,I know we are going late July early august next year(school holidays),I also know we are crazy doing it then but I work lots n the schools don't allow out of term hols,we are hoping to do the traveling in a couple of days,I drive for a living so this shouldn't be to difficult lol,and have a nice family holiday somewhere nice and friendly where me n the girls can relax.
Prepare for site prices to be pretty high, especially for short stays. Our winter site gets above 30 euros/night at that time. However, and perhaps not unrelated, plenty of space.
Be prepared for some late nights - the natives wait for the cool of the evening. Not unusual to go out to a restaurateur at 22.00 and I guess the same will apply on sites. Some have a 'rule' about quiet after midnight but I wouldn't rely on much enforcement.
Be prepared for some late nights - the natives wait for the cool of the evening. Not unusual to go out to a restaurateur at 22.00 and I guess the same will apply on sites. Some have a 'rule' about quiet after midnight but I wouldn't rely on much enforcement.
Newvanbie said:
Trust me.............this will not happen
............if you are travelling in a car towing a caravan that journey will take 5 days to get there and 5 days to return.
Gaffer is absolutely right - even 5 days might be pushing it in summer. We manage to get to Almeria area in 3 days i.e. with two night stops using the overnight ferries, but this is between Christmas and New year with virtually no HGV traffic, 4 lane virtually all the way and two drivers one with coming up 50 years of towing and the other with about 10.
We take home made but ready to eat meals, pitch eat, sleep and start before daybreak.
This is not as hard as it sounds because we are used to it, know the roads, know the sites, know the filling stations for lunch and comfort breaks. We have fall back stops should we have delays but rarely sue them.
We take home made but ready to eat meals, pitch eat, sleep and start before daybreak.
This is not as hard as it sounds because we are used to it, know the roads, know the sites, know the filling stations for lunch and comfort breaks. We have fall back stops should we have delays but rarely sue them.
Best time to go April,May and June or Sept,Oct .Why not try long sea route out to either Santander or Bilbao and return via say Le Havre .We are hoping to do it in early spring and return end of June,going to Portugal and Southern Spain .
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