driving to spain

Storm123

Storm123

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can anyone tell me the cheapest way to drive to spain in july ie ferry drive threw france was looking at ferry in the motorhome and its like a thousand pounds . thanks
 
If you can allow a fair bit of time to travel then avoid the autoroutes with tolls. You'll save a fair bit on tolls plus possibly have better fuel consumption by travelling slower, although that may get eaten up by the stop/start through the towns, plus you will have cost of sites/aires on the route.
But be warned, France's back roads are however now a real pain as most small places have speed bumps that hurt and you are limited to 30kph over them (yep - I do mean kph, which is slow), and France does now love its roundabouts.
 
thanks guys just been looking at the prices a grand just for the ferry is mad think ill stick to france thanks anyway friends
 
I always use the N10 from Poitiers to Bordeaux and it is now virtually all dual carriageway, hardly any travel time difference to the toll road. Fuel en route is cheaper as well.

Because of the ‘gilet jaune’ protests I used the N10 from Tours to Rouen instead of the toll road which I have taken previously, okay there are a lot of sections of single lanes and there are traffic islands but I didn’t find it too unpleasant, and saved a bob or two on toll charges. If you travel this section on Sunday there will be very few lorries around which makes travel easier.

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Storm123 said:
thanks guys just been looking at the prices a grand just for the ferry is mad think ill stick to france thanks anyway friends
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If you are going to france enjoy the drive on non toll roads and go to spain - only gonna cost fuel then - about 120 lts is what it costs me dieppe to irun little bit more in fuel from calais which is a cheaper crossing
 
We always use the Tunnel - either after Dinner in the evening, park at Citi Europe and have a full day the next day or the opposite going back to the UK - park at Citi over night and early train home - Tunnel price seems to vary slightly peak / off peak etc.

As others have said - it's easy missing the Tolls, just takes longer - I echo fuel being cheaper too.
 
Cheaper fuel is a gamble i'd say similar with uk price may be slightly cheaper in some places and more expensive in other areas of france get to irun and it is cheap
 
mfw said:
Cheaper fuel is a gamble i'd say similar with uk price may be slightly cheaper in some places and more expensive in other areas of france get to irun and it is cheap
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We came out to Spain on the 28th of Dec and haven't been out since the Summer, however I was surprised by the fuel price in France - seems cheaper atm, the most I paid was €1.38 and I seem to remember it touching €1.50 in some places earlier in the year.
 
£1.28 diesel down the road from me at moment which is why i said prices are very close

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Simon Richardson said:
We came out to Spain on the 28th of Dec and haven't been out since the Summer, however I was surprised by the fuel price in France - seems cheaper atm, the most I paid was €1.38 and I seem to remember it touching €1.50 in some places earlier in the year.
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That's because oil prices have dropped, fuel prices down everywhere.:xsmile:
 
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Storm123 said:
thanks guys just been looking at the prices a grand just for the ferry is mad think ill stick to france thanks anyway friends
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We use the chunnel.. It only takes 2.5 days to get to Benidorm or 3 days to get right down to Cadiz..
 
I see you drive an RV. Unfortunately the road from Poitiers south has large sections for no overtaking and 80km for +3.5tons, leaving you in convoys of sometimes slower trucks. This route however, is perhaps your best option and turning for Mont de Marsan after Bordeaux should keep you off toll roads but is slower than the main road. Pamploma and Valencia are choice roads for me and I do not worry too much about Spanish tolls with are much cheaper than French ones.

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Ive just arrived back in the U.K. about an hour ago, driving from Algarve to Calais.
On toll roads in France diesel is €1.52, off toll is €1.33
Spain was €1.20 on toll, €1.10 off toll
Portugal was €1.38 off toll.
FYI, hot off the press!
 
BreweryDave said:
Ive just arrived back in the U.K. about an hour ago, driving from Algarve to Calais.
On toll roads in France diesel is €1.52, off toll is €1.33
Spain was €1.20 on toll, €1.10 off toll
Portugal was €1.38 off toll.
FYI, hot off the press!
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It's the only thing that will be HOT :cool:
 
rosalan said:
your best option and turning for Mont de Marsan after Bordeaux should keep you off toll roads but is slower than the main road. Pamploma and Valencia are choice roads for me and I do not worry too much about Spanish tolls with are much cheaper than French ones.
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We just did this route to Benidorm, Gemozac to Benidorm 994kms only toll was between Valencia and Benidorm because I made an error with the twitnav. Gemozac to Bordeaux, Mont de Marsan, Orthez, Oloron saint Marie, Huesca, Zaragoza, Valencia and finally Benidorm where sadly we hit the AP7 where we paid 13 euros toll instead of the N332 which would have been free.

Difference between this toll free route and the all toll route approx. 2 hours more driving and 54kms less distance. The route between Oloron St Marie and the 8 kms Somport tunnel is a little challenging but the scenery is just WOW!! This will remain my route of choice for the future whilst keeping an eye on snow reports.
 
Total toll costs for us in a 3.5t 7.5m MH from Benidorm to Gemozac France via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Biaritz, Bordeaux.

Spanish tolls 49.71e
French tolls 22.80e
Total tolls 72.51e

To Benidorm fuel + toll Valencia and Benidorm 154.83e - 0.16e per km - 11.94 L/100km - 23.76 mpg - 994kms
Return all toll roads 247.92e - 0.24e per km - 13.43 L/100km - 21.13 mpg - 1031kms

We had an overnight on the way to Benidorm which incurred a cost of 25 euros whilst the return was done in one hit of 14 hours with a one hour break. Speed to Benidorm was max 95kph, frequently at 80kph or below, whilst the return was mostly at 95-100kph

These are costs incurred between 21/12/2018 and 03/01/2019.

Hope this helps.

Phil
 
jetlag03 said:
We just did this route to Benidorm, Gemozac to Benidorm 994kms only toll was between Valencia and Benidorm because I made an error with the twitnav. Gemozac to Bordeaux, Mont de Marsan, Orthez, Oloron saint Marie, Huesca, Zaragoza, Valencia and finally Benidorm where sadly we hit the AP7 where we paid 13 euros toll instead of the N332 which would have been free.

Difference between this toll free route and the all toll route approx. 2 hours more driving and 54kms less distance. The route between Oloron St Marie and the 8 kms Somport tunnel is a little challenging but the scenery is just WOW!! This will remain my route of choice for the future whilst keeping an eye on snow reports.
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Its well worth paying the toll from Valencia to Benidorm,,the alternative is very slow,,BUSBY,
 
Driving through France to get to Spain is OK if you have the time and like driving all day for 2 or 3 days.

Ferries to Santander or Bilbao every time for me(y)

Less wear and tear on me and the MH(y)

You get to Spain rested and fresh

Extra cost yes ............... but worth it;)

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jetlag03 said:
and the 8 kms Somport tunnel is a little challenging but the scenery is just WOW!! This will remain my route of choice for the future whilst keeping an eye on snow reports.
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Yes it is stunning all the way from Langon on the A65 around Pau & onto Oloron. Which is the route I use after circumnavigating Bordeaux .You can see why they steadfastly refuse to have it upgraded or allow a Mway to be built.
 
Portsmouth Santander outbound Bilbao Portsmouth return for us, we are members of Brittany Ferries club voyage so enjoy a 30% discount on fare. Just booked from Portsmouth to Santander in August returning Bilbao to Portsmouth November, with outside 4 berth cabin on each crossing, 7 metre Motorhome £797 all in. We get £8.30 toward breakfast each and 10% off meals, quite happy with this saves the drive through France. Each to their own.
 
Stewart J said:
We get £8.30 toward breakfast each
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I wouldn't PAY that for breakfast:)

Stewart J said:
Oh and before the ferry bashers start on me I also have an Emovis tag and use Paeges, a heinous crime I know but is so relaxing to drive on almost deserted motorways,
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Any motorway in spain is almost deserted as are dual carriageways. The A23 across to Sagunt gets quite lonely.
 
I like touring in the van so driving through france is all part of the trip for me mileage and wear and tear doesn't come into it at all - it is there to be used - the other problem for me is being stuck on a ferry for 24hrs i'd get so bored bad enough 4 hrs on ferry

But we are all different and enjoy different things some like sitting on a site for weeks some have had enough after a couple of days and continue touring

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