hi patrick
i see you list 'the out-doors' as an interest.
from that i assume, maybe wrongly, that you would prefer to wildcamp.
last year i spent a couple of months in portugal. mostly wildcamping in the northwest of the algarve. it's great walking country and no one asked me to 'get off my land'.
i have the satnav co-ordinates for all the places i stayed if you want them.
the tunnel is my preferred crossing because i travel with a dog. the wife stays home to pay the bills
i avoid the motorways except when they are free and around san sebastian.i just drive until i'm tired or there's a football match on tv. stop in a layby or service area for a few hours kip. i try to do the big towns, Rouen & Bordeaux,at night.
on entering portugal via Elvas i stop at an aire at Teraguem, about 5 miles further from Elvas. I can still receive BBC TV etc via satellite there. I went to one of the bars there one evening on the way back - 2 bottled beers & a coffee 2 euros 10 cents
have a great trip