Road trip to San Sebastián, Spain
Discussion
Hi folks, thinking about a road trip from Oxfordshire to San Sebastián over the chunnel, with a couple of stops along the way in France.
I'm really keen to do this but i fear I may be being a bit to ambitious as me and the mrs have never driven on the continent before. So wondering if we should maybe just go someone a bit closer to dip our toe in the water first? Any tips from the PH hive mind?
I'm really keen to do this but i fear I may be being a bit to ambitious as me and the mrs have never driven on the continent before. So wondering if we should maybe just go someone a bit closer to dip our toe in the water first? Any tips from the PH hive mind?
San Sebastian is only just over the French border. 1,100km each way from the tunnel, just under 700 miles.
D'you want to just get there? Autoroute, one day tonk. Or just get the ferry straight to Bilbao.
D'you want to see some of France on the way? You could take as long as you want - a couple of days upwards.
Just because it's the wrong side of the road, it's really nothing to be scared of. Lower traffic densities than the UK, more laid-back driving styles. It's easy miles.
D'you want to just get there? Autoroute, one day tonk. Or just get the ferry straight to Bilbao.
D'you want to see some of France on the way? You could take as long as you want - a couple of days upwards.
Just because it's the wrong side of the road, it's really nothing to be scared of. Lower traffic densities than the UK, more laid-back driving styles. It's easy miles.
We did that road trip. I think we broke it up at La Baule and then at Ile de Re. (And then Ile de Re & Honfleur on the return leg)
We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
If I was going to San Sebastian, I wouldn't want to start from the Chunnel! Baptism of fire if you've never driven abroad before - the roads away from the French end are far from user-friendly.
I'd go into either Caen or St. Malo - much easier to drive out of and far less traffic - and the added bonus that you're then actually on the correct 'side' of France to go down to Spain.
I'd go into either Caen or St. Malo - much easier to drive out of and far less traffic - and the added bonus that you're then actually on the correct 'side' of France to go down to Spain.
littleredrooster said:
I- the roads away from the French end are far from user-friendly.
I'd say the exact opposite. If you drop on the peage they are lovely open motorways with little traffic (compared to UK). Everything is well signed, service stations are frequent (as are rest areas).We found the French roads the least stressed of most anywhere we've driven. Expensive though, and as said earlier a tag is a real boon.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
We did that road trip. I think we broke it up at La Baule and then at Ile de Re. (And then Ile de Re & Honfleur on the return leg)
We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
interesting, what didn't you like about San Seb?We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
littleredrooster said:
If I was going to San Sebastian, I wouldn't want to start from the Chunnel! Baptism of fire if you've never driven abroad before - the roads away from the French end are far from user-friendly.
I'd go into either Caen or St. Malo - much easier to drive out of and far less traffic - and the added bonus that you're then actually on the correct 'side' of France to go down to Spain.
Yep I'd do this, overnight to st malo with dinner on the boat, La Rochelle is a nice stopover, and Biarritz is worth a look as well, don't forget to get up into the Pyrenees some really spectacular viewsI'd go into either Caen or St. Malo - much easier to drive out of and far less traffic - and the added bonus that you're then actually on the correct 'side' of France to go down to Spain.
caymanbill said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
We did that road trip. I think we broke it up at La Baule and then at Ile de Re. (And then Ile de Re & Honfleur on the return leg)
We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
interesting, what didn't you like about San Seb?We actually didn't like San Sebastian that much. (That's why there's an Ile de Re leg on the way back, we cut San Seb short.)
On our road trips we never try to squeeze more than 600 miles in a day. You can do more, but it's then a chore not a holiday!)
We loved Ile de Re so much, San Seb was a little like after the Lord Mayor's Show.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
littleredrooster said:
the roads away from the French end are far from user-friendly.
I'd say the exact opposite. If you drop on the peage they are lovely open motorways with little traffic (compared to UK). Everything is well signed, service stations are frequent (as are rest areas).We found the French roads the least stressed of most anywhere we've driven. Expensive though, and as said earlier a tag is a real boon.
Other than that - yeah - driving in rural France is an absolute delight.
gareth h said:
Yep I'd do this, overnight to st malo with dinner on the boat, La Rochelle is a nice stopover, and Biarritz is worth a look as well, don't forget to get up into the Pyrenees some really spectacular views
Spot on. Brittany Ferries restaurants are excellent, arrive relaxed and refreshed for a lovely drive ahead. Good suggestions for stopovers. too.Alternatively, what we usually do now is get the afternoon ferry Portsmouth - Caen, arrive at 21:30 local time and drive 30 mins or so to the Ibis at Falaise ready for an early start the next day. Caen is probably the easiest port to drive away from, and the roads are deserted at that time of day - it will still be just about light in May-June-July.
San Sebastián is a great place , but it's a very long boring drive down from the tunnel , I've done it both ways many times . You'll be fine driving down as it's pretty difficult to go wrong and at least you'll get some practice in for when you cross the border into Spain , I personally think the French road network is far superior to Spain's . San Sebastián is also very busy as it's a business town as well as tourist place .
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