Spain via France etc,etc. - Page 2

bevo · 26-11-2009, 20:15

we use
calais
abbeville
rouen
chartres
gien
clermont ferand lovelly camp site just past Camping le clos auroy, all about the Auvergne, Puy de dome, Welcome to our site, here you can choise what you preffer to see, volcanoes, mountains, lacs and rivers. Take your time please to visit this great site

millau super aires in town
beziers
perpignan
then over the border into spain
n11 towards barcelona
it's a bit longer but the roads are very good
the a75 is exellent

chrissie · 26-11-2009, 20:20

Would agree with Jim as it being very cold in France early in the year. We went down the beginning of January intending to take our time traveling down. The heater water inlet pipe froze one night with the heater on

. Another problem if you use aires, we couldn't find any with the water turned on at that time of the year until we got well down into the south.

ScotJimland · 26-11-2009, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parcverger

You could always se the A20 Paris-Limoges-Toulouse-Spain, calling in at where else but Parc Verger (Welcome to Parcverger Limousin) en route for either a stopover (we have some drive-through pitches) or a few days to enjoy a real break. Main thing is if you want to stop at Parc Verger ring ahead to book - were open all year but we have some visitors who enjoy staaying here for months at a time, even during the French winter (which is not that bad!).

Discount for MHFunsters too!

Bob

Hi Bob

down your neck of the woods the winter does seem a bit milder, when we visited in Jan 08 it was very pleasant , quite warm.. so as you say, it's not all bad..

Looking forward to another visit ..

jim

ronald4874 · 26-11-2009, 20:54

For about 5 years we travelled to S/Spain in Feb/March and found on several occasions we were involved with bad weather. Through Le Mans minus 9 deg, another time 4inches of snow through France and part of Spain.
So now at that time of the year we now use the Bilbao from Portsmouth at about £290 one way and come back via France in May to Portsmouth with LD lines. Working out the cost of the Bilbao 2 day cruise verses road trip (fuel etc) and ferry crossing into France I found only £10 difference. So you pays your money and takes your choice.
Some go via Dover and pay for the extra mileage, if you do go that way take the east side of Paris on the A7 down to Nevers then Clermont Ferrand and over the top to Beziers. Be warned, via Millau is very cold and the motorway is higher than Ben Nevis so bad weather can be expected.
Our normal route in the old days would be Poole /Cherbourg, via St Lo, Nantes, La Rochelle (To pick up cheap fuel) Bordeaux and into Spain to Burgos, Madrid. This route is not too bad for weather and its possible, in one day, to be in Spain without rushing.
Good Luck Ron

Averhamdave · 26-11-2009, 23:17

We'll be off to Benidorm (costa blanca) again, leaving on the evening of 26th December!

This will be the third time we've done it and have previously found France so cold and miserable that we justs drive and drive.

The first time I did the 1400 miles from my driveway (using the tunnel - courtesy of Sea France who were on strike) to Benidorm in 48 hours. That was in our old Cheyenne with 2.8TD. Second time took it slightly slower - we had travelling companions and took about 60 hours and that was in our new, faster van.

I would agree with the west coast route but mainly to avoid the eastern side toll roads, the cost of which can mount up. Head for crossing the border at Bayonne/San Sebastian. From there I head for Zarragoza then Valencia then Benidorm whereas you will head south!

Good luck

savantuk · 27-11-2009, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilldweller

I thought only a woman could make a statement like that.

Hey Brian, I resemble that unkind remark

A £200 saving for a pensioner is nothing to laugh about, that's £200 for the trip back too.

That's especially true if you've had to make the trip from the Scots border to Dover as well

I feel a certain disonance here

hilldweller · 27-11-2009, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by savantuk

Hey Brian, I resemble that unkind remark

All was on main roads (except in the UK), and the saving in tolls paid for the fuel.

The way you've phrased that just doesn't quite work for me, it sort of reads, because of "paid for the fuel" it implies money was generated by not spending it. It seemed to be bordering on female or Gordon Brown economics.

You don't have to convince me about saving money, the Italian Job was shifted into Belgium FFS just to save £50 tolls. You're perfectly right, French tolls double the fuel cost.

I hope my flippant remark has caused you no long term damage and that you will continue to have you fuel paid for by the magnanimous French toll authorities.

lebesset · 27-11-2009, 10:55

I can understand people who have a couple of weeks holiday using pay motorways because of time restraints

but I take it that the vast majority of posters here are not in that category

so why use them except maybe in inclement times ?

btw , I live not far from millau on the ..down the centre ...route , and have done so for these many years

but in answer to the question , for where you are going at the time of year mentioned ....west coast , no alternative
unless , of course ,you enjoy driving around france the long way round in cold and grey weather , normal in france in the winter