Bilbao to Benidorm HELP

wiljoy

wiljoy

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After over 30 years motorhoming we've finally decided to head for warmer weather in Spain for a few months.
Our ferry is the brave route through the bay of biscay to balboa on December 7th. Our summer route to Spain is easy from southern France but for this trip we are from balboa down to Benidorm .
Could anyone help with a non motorway route and recommendations as to stopovers on route . I'm unsure of possible weather patterns so thought it best to ask the professionals .
I am 11 metres long which includes car/trailer .
Many thanks in anticipation .
 
It can get a bit cold in the north of Spain in December. We had a minus 3 in Burgos one night in early December.

The motorways are toll free and would be the only way for me through the mountains at that time of year.

Burgos and Haro are nice towns and worth a visit. Haro site has decent showers etc for winter weather.

Further south Aranjeuz (near Madrid) is a nice place and well worth a visit. 4e on the train to Madrid and takes around 45mins.

But Madrid is pretty high and one of the motorway passes is around 1300mtrs if I remember right so it may be a bit cold still.

Albarracin is a nice place to visit but not sure it will be open. But it has a lovely village in the mountains.

If you are going for the warmer weather you might want to dash south ASAP. :D
 
It depends what time you arrive in Bilbao but if it's evening time then stay on the docks and make an early start the next day. You have an option on sites but we head for Riaza which is an ACSI site, you will also be able to park across two pitches and leave the trailer attached. From there you will have a long run to Benidorm but doable in a day. Skirt around Madrid on the M50 and follow the Valencia sign's. Tolls are not expensive so just use your satnav set to toll roads but you will only pay a few euros.
 
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Take the AUTOVIAS as above they are free, AUTOPISTAS are Toll motorways, if you decide on National roads you will pass through the centre of many towns, some very narrow indeed and it will take forever to reach Benidorm.
Expect cold weather....in Spain its winter too....one overnight stop will get you to the Costas. Enjoy.
 
MikeD said:
It can get a bit cold in the north of Spain in December. We had a minus 3 in Burgos one night in early December.

The motorways are toll free and would be the only way for me through the mountains at that time of year.

Burgos and Haro are nice towns and worth a visit. Haro site has decent showers etc for winter weather.

Further south Aranjeuz (near Madrid) is a nice place and well worth a visit. 4e on the train to Madrid and takes around 45mins.

But Madrid is pretty high and one of the motorway passes is around 1300mtrs if I remember right so it may be a bit cold still.

Albarracin is a nice place to visit but not sure it will be open. But it has a lovely village in the mountains.

If you are going for the warmer weather you might want to dash south ASAP. :D
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I think the site in Haro closes around that date...it was 8/12/ last year,,BUSBY.

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I travelled from bilbou to Benidorm last Tuesday,after the boat docked around 8.30 a.m I travelled to Benidorm via toll roads approx 50 euros towing a 7metre caravan with a camper and I was on Raco by about 6.30 pm.
That was the zarogossa route
Alan
 
We live here in Spain and can vouch that it is a massive country - about the same size as France - and the sunny, warm bits are right at the southern and south Eastern edges in winter.
If you're coming over here for winter warmth, just blast south on the motorways to the Costa Blanca/Costa del Sol etc Mediterranean coastal strips.

On Spanish news there are already reports of heavy snowfalls over the past couple of nights/days in several northern regions.....but even in snowy weather, if you stick to daytime travel on motorways and don't go through higher mountain passes, you'll be fine (Spanish snow-clearing from motorways is really very efficient indeed, and it's almost never that a motorway here is closed due to snow)
 
The Nomad said:
We live here in Spain and can vouch that it is a massive country - about the same size as France - and the sunny, warm bits are right at the southern and south Eastern edges in winter.
If you're coming over here for winter warmth, just blast south on the motorways to the Costa Blanca/Costa del Sol etc Mediterranean coastal strips.

On Spanish news there are already reports of heavy snowfalls over the past couple of nights/days in several northern regions.....but even in snowy weather, if you stick to daytime travel on motorways and don't go through higher mountain passes, you'll be fine (Spanish snow-clearing from motorways is really very efficient indeed, and it's almost never that a motorway here is closed due to snow)
Click to expand...

Spain: 194,844 mi² (504,645 km²)
France: 247,367 mi² (640,679 km²)
Sorry couldn't resist(y)
 
kevan said:
Spain: 194,844 mi² (504,645 km²)
France: 247,367 mi² (640,679 km²)
Sorry couldn't resist(y)
Click to expand...



Jeez Kevin - which part of "about" (ie roughly/approximately) was just not accurate enough for you in my post when I at least was actually trying to help a fellow member?
 
52.523 square miles difference could hardly be called "about or roughly/approximately or any other word you would like to use, France is a lot bigger than Spain, i was only pointing that fact out, plus you got my name wrong. never mind, someone might find my figures interesting, time for a beer.;):cheers:

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kevan said:
52.523 square miles difference could hardly be called "about or roughly/approximately or any other word you would like to use, France is a lot bigger than Spain, i was only pointing that fact out, plus you got my name wrong. never mind, someone might find my figures interesting, time for a beer.;):cheers:
Click to expand...


Spain 505,782 square kms.
France 547,030 square kms.
(Source Wikipedia: Area and population of European countries).

Ergo Spain's surface area is 92% of that of France.
In my book that's "about" (approximately/roughly) a similar size.
 
I suggest you do this over two days. First overnight stop is a Truck stop at Marlofa (At the roundabout as you come off the A68). There is a fuel station here, plus a shop and bar/restaurant, including showers A huge parking area at the rear used by many trucks and Motorhome bays at one end of the parking area. Used to be free Lecce but this has now been disconnected. There is also a service area for the motorhome. All free.
I assume you have a Sat Nav so just select Non Toll and put this place in it for your first stop, about 4 hrs driving. Like wise for Benidorm another 4 Hrs from here.
Safe Travels.
 
You dock at 12:45, allow an hour or so to disembark, maybe less, maybe more, so how far you go depends on whether you like driving in the dark. The stop at Marlofa sounds good, but I would take the Autopista, even though it'll cost around €30 (according to ViaMichelin), but it'll be much more relaxing.

If you're very late there's an Aire at Vitoria-Gasteiz, which is about an hour away. You might be too long to get in to the actual aire, but as it's in the corner of a huge car park you would be able to park up in the main car park.
 
The Nomad said:
Spain 505,782 square kms.
France 547,030 square kms.
(Source Wikipedia: Area and population of European countries).

Ergo Spain's surface area is 92% of that of France.
In my book that's "about" (approximately/roughly) a similar size.
Click to expand...
AH Wikipedia the font of all knowledge and normally inaccurate, no more please am bored now(y):)

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PhilandMena said:
I suggest you do this over two days. First overnight stop is a Truck stop at Marlofa (At the roundabout as you come off the A68). There is a fuel station here, plus a shop and bar/restaurant, including showers A huge parking area at the rear used by many trucks and Motorhome bays at one end of the parking area. Used to be free Lecce but this has now been disconnected. There is also a service area for the motorhome. All free.
I assume you have a Sat Nav so just select Non Toll and put this place in it for your first stop, about 4 hrs driving. Like wise for Benidorm another 4 Hrs from here.
Safe Travels.
Click to expand...
 
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Kevan said:
AH Wikipedia the font of all knowledge and normally inaccurate, no more please am bored now(y):)
Click to expand...
That's a least two of us then @Kevan not sure if rule 1 has been transgressed in the recent the criticism of the op posts about the size of Spain vs France. ...
 
woodstock said:
Have you got co ordinates for this truck stop. Thanks
Click to expand...
41°44'15.5"N 1°04'00.6"W
When do you plan to visit ? If before end of Feb could you confirm it still being used by Motorhomes and they have all the services, less lecce. Fairly sure it will have as it is a very large truck stop and more or less in constant use.
 
Kevan said:
Spain: 194,844 mi² (504,645 km²)
France: 247,367 mi² (640,679 km²)
Sorry couldn't resist(y)
Click to expand...

As a Former holder of the award, I am qualified to award you:

PEDANT OF THE (........INSERT APPROPRIATE PERIOD.........):love:
 
There's a new Aire at Carinena just off the A23 Zaragoza-Valencia dual carriageway.
Co-ords are: N41.338012 N1.2298312
Calle del Carmen, 40
50400 Cariñena, Zaragoza
Not used it yet but I found it this morning and it just could be stop for our journey home from Calpe, next month.

http://www.furgovw.org/index.php?topic=296142.0
 
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PhilandMena said:
This location is in the middle of a field off the N240 ?????
Click to expand...

Sorry about that.

Changed the Co-ords. Duff info at the top of the Furgo site which I copied, Doh!!!
 
Not a problem. I had a look on Google maps but could not find the Aire. I guess the map is older than the Aire.

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PhilandMena said:
Not a problem. I had a look on Google maps but could not find the Aire. I guess the map is older than the Aire.
Click to expand...

The Aire is apparently beside the Sports Centre and when the OP on Furgo went, the Janitor at the Sports Centre was kind enough to allow the Furgo (Van) user to use the 'Facilities' the use of the ones in the Centre.
 
PhilandMena said:
Unable to find sports centre on google maps ?
Click to expand...

I will not comment on your fitness to find the Sports Centre, either fitness wise or ocular.
Suffice to say, the address (which I have posted) viz.
Calle del Carmen, 40
50400 Cariñena, Zaragoza

should guide you to the address.
 
Although it gives that address number the google strret view plonks you in the centre of the stree outside the dereclict plots. The sports centre is at the end of road on the right , green roofed building with the woman & child in road in front of .
Here is a link to the area de pernoctos showing the actual site in front of sports centre. (That end of road appears to be number 52 ? )

http://www.areasac.es/carinena/zaragoza/carinena_3762_1_ap.html

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