Driving to Spain
Discussion
My elderly mother lives in Spain, and is currently in hospital having tests for a serious illness.
It’s fair to say I’ll prob be spending some time out there in the coming months, she had a fall approx 3 weeks ago, my brother and I flew out for a couple of days, my goodness what a ballache, I’m a wheelchair user when using airports, was the worst I’ve experienced for yrs.
So, due to my wife being a teacher it’s going to be early August before we can get out for a few weeks, and I’m thinking of driving.
Unsure of dates at moment as she’s waiting for an OP, but even booking some rough dates now to fly down is over £700 for the 2 of us, then we have car hire when there, plus a hotel, that’s if we can get one, where as if we take my truck we can take stuff that would allow us to stay at Mums.
It’s been over 10 yrs since I’ve driven overseas, and then that was only down to Geneva, so, what’s changed, is it as simple as through the tunnel, onto the toll roads, bang south to Spain, over the mountains and then down to Alicante, she’s just south by 30 mins.
I’m guessing the fuel isn’t that mush cheaper anymore, at 1308 miles from North Essex we plan to stop for a nights rest halfway, or is two nights better, are there “Travelodge” style hotels on the toll roads.
Did look at the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry but that was almost £1200 return, with over 400 miles still to do.
So, any pointers, dos, donts, suggestions, blah blah blah.
It’s fair to say I’ll prob be spending some time out there in the coming months, she had a fall approx 3 weeks ago, my brother and I flew out for a couple of days, my goodness what a ballache, I’m a wheelchair user when using airports, was the worst I’ve experienced for yrs.
So, due to my wife being a teacher it’s going to be early August before we can get out for a few weeks, and I’m thinking of driving.
Unsure of dates at moment as she’s waiting for an OP, but even booking some rough dates now to fly down is over £700 for the 2 of us, then we have car hire when there, plus a hotel, that’s if we can get one, where as if we take my truck we can take stuff that would allow us to stay at Mums.
It’s been over 10 yrs since I’ve driven overseas, and then that was only down to Geneva, so, what’s changed, is it as simple as through the tunnel, onto the toll roads, bang south to Spain, over the mountains and then down to Alicante, she’s just south by 30 mins.
I’m guessing the fuel isn’t that mush cheaper anymore, at 1308 miles from North Essex we plan to stop for a nights rest halfway, or is two nights better, are there “Travelodge” style hotels on the toll roads.
Did look at the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry but that was almost £1200 return, with over 400 miles still to do.
So, any pointers, dos, donts, suggestions, blah blah blah.
do this quite regularly from essex
euro tunnel friday night - midnight crossing
drive with some stops to southern france - via rouen and le mans and angoleume vicinity
sometimes we stop in bordeaux or bayone
if we don’t stop then we go across the pyraneese on the west side .. and then stop in zaragoza or pamplona …
overnight stop and next day onwards to murcia …
french toll tag : https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4a...
deducted direct from bank account like our dartford tag ….
we tend to arrive in murcia about sunday 5pm …
euro tunnel friday night - midnight crossing
drive with some stops to southern france - via rouen and le mans and angoleume vicinity
sometimes we stop in bordeaux or bayone
if we don’t stop then we go across the pyraneese on the west side .. and then stop in zaragoza or pamplona …
overnight stop and next day onwards to murcia …
french toll tag : https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4a...
deducted direct from bank account like our dartford tag ….
we tend to arrive in murcia about sunday 5pm …
I would do the 24 hr ferry. when you add up the extra 1800 miles of fuel, toll roads and overnight stop, there won't be a lot in price difference.
I live around 30 mins south of Alicante, fuel is a bit cheaper than the uk. The Spanish goverment are extending the 20 cents fuel discount till September. I pay around €1.65 a litre with the discount.
If you go on the Costa Blanca forums, somebody will give you a discount code for Brittany ferries. You will get around 10% off ferry price.
I live around 30 mins south of Alicante, fuel is a bit cheaper than the uk. The Spanish goverment are extending the 20 cents fuel discount till September. I pay around €1.65 a litre with the discount.
If you go on the Costa Blanca forums, somebody will give you a discount code for Brittany ferries. You will get around 10% off ferry price.
The Portsmouth -> Bilbao / Santander ferries are pretty tedious. Going out there it's 2 nights on the boat and there isn't enough restaurant capacity for the number of passengers the boat can take.
The Plymouth -> Santander route looks a lot better - it's a one night crossing and it's a better boat - I've not used it for a fair few years, but am booked on it for September this year.
Alternatively how about Portsmouth -> St Malo. This is a straight overnight and the route down to Spain from St Malo is very straightforward. There are plenty of dual carriageway N roads which aren't peage, so you can make pretty good progress without paying tolls.
The Plymouth -> Santander route looks a lot better - it's a one night crossing and it's a better boat - I've not used it for a fair few years, but am booked on it for September this year.
Alternatively how about Portsmouth -> St Malo. This is a straight overnight and the route down to Spain from St Malo is very straightforward. There are plenty of dual carriageway N roads which aren't peage, so you can make pretty good progress without paying tolls.
omniflow said:
The Portsmouth -> Bilbao / Santander ferries are pretty tedious. Going out there it's 2 nights on the boat and there isn't enough restaurant capacity for the number of passengers the boat can take.
Is that recent experience? We’ve just got back and they have two brand new ships on these routes which we found much better, and they seemed to have plenty of room in the restaurants. Very smooth journeys - we found the new ships better in every way to be honest. But it does take a while and the cost has crept up over the years. It's a long long drive - so as long as you can sit comfortably for that length of time in your car, then go for it.
As above, a toll tag is great & you can get one that will cover France & Spain. I got mine via APRR, but there are other companies.
For hotels, I just use the Accor site. I work out roughly where I want to stop & then use a map search for a hotel near a motorway exit.
https://all.accor.com/united-kingdom/index.en.shtm...
I also then use google maps to locate the nearest fuel station to the hotel - off the motorway they are usually a good bit cheaper. Though fuel in Spain is likely still cheaper than in France.
Waze on your phone is great for speed cameras.
It's a long way - likely 2 full days of driving and then a couple of weeks looking forward to the return trip. I don't mind it, but it's not for everyone.
As above, a toll tag is great & you can get one that will cover France & Spain. I got mine via APRR, but there are other companies.
For hotels, I just use the Accor site. I work out roughly where I want to stop & then use a map search for a hotel near a motorway exit.
https://all.accor.com/united-kingdom/index.en.shtm...
I also then use google maps to locate the nearest fuel station to the hotel - off the motorway they are usually a good bit cheaper. Though fuel in Spain is likely still cheaper than in France.
Waze on your phone is great for speed cameras.
It's a long way - likely 2 full days of driving and then a couple of weeks looking forward to the return trip. I don't mind it, but it's not for everyone.
mcm87 said:
omniflow said:
The Portsmouth -> Bilbao / Santander ferries are pretty tedious. Going out there it's 2 nights on the boat and there isn't enough restaurant capacity for the number of passengers the boat can take.
Is that recent experience? We’ve just got back and they have two brand new ships on these routes which we found much better, and they seemed to have plenty of room in the restaurants. Very smooth journeys - we found the new ships better in every way to be honest. But it does take a while and the cost has crept up over the years. Personally I don't like the new ships and the queues for the restaurants at mealtimes were just crazy. Dinner is pretty bad, when it's included in the ticket price. At least 20 minutes queuing. But lunch is really something else. Just one till open.
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