Dieppe to benidorm (1 Viewer)

[Springer 52]

Hi we are travelling to benidorm at the beginning of Dec in our motorhome we have not done this before and are looking for best route and also stopovers we are not planning on rushing and hope to be there in 1 week we arrive in dieppe at 4 am in the morning so will probably drive for a couple of hours then look to stay somewhere overnight thanks in advance for any help

 

[tonka]

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/resources/tonkas-western-route-to-spain.99/

Just be aware... Most motorways and roads dont have overnight lights and the French dont do cats eyes.. Also weather could be poor.. So night driving for a few hours is very different than in UK. If any doubt stop somewhere safe and well lit and rest till daylight..

 

[DavidG58]

Good advice above, not a good way to start a long journey when possibly already tired

I would expect there to be somewhere on the docks to stop for a couple of hours, better that than finding yourselves in the middle of nowhere with no easy option to stop

If not going far on day 1 I would recommend la Mailleraye sur Seine, newly discovered (recommended) to us last year, now used three times, pretty location, possibly a bit quiet this time of year, but free because of it

Nice bakers, bar, restaurant (not used never seems to be open) and a vet that we will use next time cant recall the price the advertise right now but it would be the cheapest we have used to date (all you need now is a dog )

enjoy the trip

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[Springer 52]

Thank you that is really helpful as we have not drove abroad before and don't know what to expect thanks

 

[Springer 52]

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/resources/tonkas-western-route-to-spain.99/

Just be aware... Most motorways and roads dont have overnight lights and the French dont do cats eyes.. Also weather could be poor.. So night driving for a few hours is very different than in UK. If any doubt stop somewhere safe and well lit and rest till daylight..

Thank you helpful advise we dodnt realise about cats eyes and lights thanks for help

 

[tonka]

Thank you helpful advise we dodnt realise about cats eyes and lights thanks for help

It's a little thing but especially when you go for first time..
It will be dark till about 8am ish..
Your driving on the wrong side of the road for first time.
You have never been that route before.
Dark roads due to lack of lighting and no cats eyes to guide you.
Add in any poor weather and it all adds up to give more potential problems..

Dont let it put you off but at least you are now prepared and once you have driven over there for the first time then you will be more aware for your next trip.. May even see you in Benidorm at some point if we visit "Tonka towers"

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[roncab]

There are two very good Aires in Dieppe both two minutes from ferry perhaps stop there get a few hours kip carry on in daylight

 

[Theonlysue]

And don't forget, after a stop, to drive on the wrong side of the road.
I'm sure we've all made that mistake lol

 

[Ivory55]

There are two very good Aires in Dieppe both two minutes from ferry perhaps stop there get a few hours kip carry on in daylight

The aire is very close , as you leave the ferry and get to the roundabout turn right and with the cliff on your left follow the road towards town. Approximately 1/4 mile along is the aire on your left under the cliffs.

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[tonka]

The only issue i see with the aire,, they will arrive at about 4.30am in the dark.
Never been on an aire before, it's a pay aire (€7) so have to mess about getting a ticket in case they come around checking in the morning..

I have never been to Dieppe but a quick look on Google maps and I see there is a big Carrefour supermarket a short drive away and on the route for Rouen.. If it was me, I would head for that. Great big car park and have a few hours until daylight came..

 

[Ivory55]

Good shout that.

 

[PhilandMena]

Agree with Tonka's route in general and use much of it myself which you will find in this attachment that may help you with other route planning in France, and for good measure I've added a second covering Spain (both in the resources section).

http://about-france.com/routes-from-calais.htm
http://about-spain.net/travel/map.htm

As you coming into Dieppe you may want to consider crossing the seine at Rouen using the N1338 via the A151. This is a very easy route with no complicated junctions and mostly duel carrageway right up to the crossing and as you cross the bridge (N1338) you immediately enter the express way that takes you down onto the A13 and away you go.
For an overnight stop between Dieppe and Rouen you may want to consider the Aire at Cleres just north of Rouen.
I tend to make my first stop at Chateaundun (about 5 hr Drive from Calais) there is a good Aire there and a Fuel stop on the roundabout as you enter the town. I then do a big drive the next day that gets me down to the Aire at St Geoure Maremne (about 8. 1/2 hrs drive) and that puts me just above the Spanish Border. I avoid the tolls on the A63 south of Bordeaux by exiting at Jct 18 rejoining at 17 and exiting again at Jct 12. Refuelling (and Autogas if required) the next morning at the fuel station(and supermarket) on the D810 a few K's south of St Geoure Maremne.
In rejoin the A63 at Jct 6 and pay the last two tolls and exit onto the N121a immediately after the border that takes me through to Pamplona and I overnight again at the truck stop at Marlofa. Next day onto Zaragoza and down to Valencia and take the A7 to Benidorm.
Tolls : I pay no tolls in Spain. In France I pay a couple of euros to get through one section of the A13 south of Rouen 2.5€ and the same again at Tours Joining the A10 at Jct 19 and existing at Jct 23. I pay around 5-6 euros to get through the bottom tolls on the A63 (Going non toll down here is a nightmare). The whole route, apart for about 100 K's in France is duel carriageway/toll free motorway. It is snow free at this time of the year because of it's proximity to the Atlantic (the French bit) and we have yet to hit snow on the Spanish side route.

If you want any co-ords for the stop overs I use let me know.
Safe travels, Beni is a blast in the winter.

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[Rob and Val]

And don't forget, after a stop, to drive on the wrong side of the road.
I'm sure we've all made that mistake lol

Yes, guilty! After our first night abroad. Left overnight campsite and drove about a quarter of a mile on the LHS of road! Luckily there was no other traffic.

 

[Springer 52]

Thank you very helpful info we really appreciate it thanks

 

[Hollyberry]

The only issue i see with the aire,, they will arrive at about 4.30am in the dark.
Never been on an aire before, it's a pay aire (€7) so have to mess about getting a ticket in case they come around checking in the morning..

I have never been to Dieppe but a quick look on Google maps and I see there is a big Carrefour supermarket a short drive away and on the route for Rouen.. If it was me, I would head for that. Great big car park and have a few hours until daylight came..

Not 100% sure but I think the Carrefour has height barriers.
I'd just st have €7 ready in change, drive the few hundred metres to the Dieppe Aire and sleep for a few hours, have a leisurely breakfast and carry on.
There'll be Motorhomes leaving to catch the ferry you've just left so you'll not disturb people.

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[EuroTrotters]

Pull over, do it in the morning!

Its so much easier than the UK

Driven in Europe since I was 22 - love it.

 

[tonka]

Driven in Europe since I was 22 - love it.

YES.. But your only 23 now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EuroTrotters]

I wish!

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[Springer 52]

Thank you for your help we wish we had been doing it for years

 

[PhilandMena]

Thank you for your help we wish we had been doing it for years

Rather than sending messages of thanks, use the little icons at the bottom of posts to indicate gratitude etc.

 

[tonka]

Rather than sending messages of thanks, use the little icons at the bottom of posts to indicate gratitude etc.

OI!!! Some of us like the fully written words of thanks..

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[PhilandMena]

Just helping a new member with the protocols we use !

 

[Springer 52]

Sorry new to this so thought we had to reply to everybody but thank you all for your help we now know what is expected