Spain via France

[Innkeeper]

Hi. Going to be unexpectedly free this winter. So may head to Spain. Never been on the chunell. So what the drive from there in to Spain like. Always been told it can be a nightmare?

 

[Twogirls]

Its wonderful if you've got plenty of time, access to internet to find aires/park ups to stop along the way, and you're up for an adventure. Done it several times all the way from Chunnel into Spain and Portugal using different routes. The fun is the journey, theres no set destination.
Never booked any stops/sites on advance, no need in winter, especially this winter.
Bon voyage

 

[simsy56]

Just amble along, don't try to be somewhere each day, it doesn't work. Roads are good, free aires along the way, relax and enjoy to journey. It's amazing how far you get just rolling along .

Aiming to get somewhere by a certain time you will start to rush, and your frustration builds up , you become tired and the journey becomes a pain .

Craig

 

[Reallyretired]

The drive down through France is delightful, give around 5 days or more if you stop at interesting places. It can be done in two if youre prepared to not enjoy it, its a long way.

 

[Tigertom]

The drive down to the tunnel is normally the only unpleasant part of the trip..........oh and the drive from the tunnel back home as well .

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[Innkeeper]

Ok let's put it another way given the choice. Would you guys get ferry to Spain or chunell then drive. ?
And thanks for the replies so far

 

[Gaston aires]

Don’t rush to get anywhere fast. Personally we like the Eastern side of France tracking the German border. So much to see. Alsace, the Mosel just into Germany, the Jura, Rhône alps, and Provence area in Particular. The Tarn gorge area is worth a few days alone, just make sure you stay on the aire at Peyre for amazing views of the Millau bridge.
Once into Spain, the costa brava area is really nice just avoid lloret de mar.
Phil

 

[Gaston aires]

Ok let's put it another way given the choice. Would you guys get ferry to Spain or chunell then drive. ?
And thanks for the replies so far

Chunell to see France, don’t miss it, too much to see.
Phil

 

[Jenka]

Why avoid Lloret de mar ? Just interested

 

[Speve]

We use the tunnel for a couple of reasons we have two dogs and dog friendly cabins are like hens teeth also not a fan of ferries, we enjoy the fast crossing of the tunnel and you are straight out onto the roads in France, it’s a very enjoyable experience driving down to Spain we probably go a different route every time.

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[Gaston aires]

Why avoid Lloret de mar ? Just interested

With many nice places close by, Tossa, Roses, Cadaques, etc, why go to a tatty place like Lloret.
Phil

 

[Nomadian]

Ok let's put it another way given the choice. Would you guys get ferry to Spain or chunell then drive. ?
And thanks for the replies so far

my choice, Chunnel and then drive through France. Why? I’m never in a rush to get anywhere, I like french wine, butter, bread, cheese, croissants the journey is part of the holiday. Some fantastic free aires all the way down.

 

[SMB]

Another for the chunnel, very easy experience and quick. We spent 16 days in August driving to the Costa del Sol using rural aires all the way, really enjoyed taking our time and felt very safe. About-france.com is a useful website for planning your trip and places to see.

 

[Pickygame]

We used the tunnel last month. Not busy at all and great for social distancing

 

[tonka]

As your planning a winter trip, here are the minus points to take note of.
It can be as cold or even colder in France than UK so dont be fooled because it's "abroad" fog, ice, snow can all be possibilities.
Lots of campsites are closed, Aires are available but lots have water turned off in winter so keep a good supply.
Cats eyes and road lighting is not as common as UK so night driving can be a bit harder.
Costa Brava, it aint as warm as you think and pretty much out of season Nov - Easter time.

Otherwise done it dozens of times and always an adventure. I drive when it gets light and stop before it gets dark. Use aires just for overnight stops and have breaks in the day wherever I see somewhere nice.

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[namwaldog]

As above, Tunnel for us every time. But make sure to try and keep your water tank full as some of the Aires turn their water off for the colder weather.
Keep an eye on the weather in France and act accordingly. We have travelled down in October, November and December and have never had a problem by being flexible. Example... it is invariably windy around Narbonne & Perpignan. Last year it was forecast to be very windy as we approached to we laid over before we got there and let it ease off!
That feeling of the warmth as you cross into Spain at Jonquera is unforgettable
Have a great time if you decide to go.

 

[simsy56]

Been on the ferry to Spain, and driven through France to Spain. France is lovely to wander through, non toll roads for me. Great roads, food, wine, sights etc; Ferry is relaxing, unless it's a stormy crossing.
The choice is yours.

Craig

 

[bellabee]

We'd prefer to take the ferry on the outward route in February. France is cold and dreary at that time of year and we find the ferry to be more relaxing. We also find the drive to Portsmouth from the West Mids to be far preferable to the slog around the M25.
However, because we have an elderly dog, we use the Tunnel and drive through Fance in about 3 days. I can't say we enjoy the drive, but we like to get to the good weather fairly quickly. Aires are easy to find but we always leave home with a full tank of water.
We take up to a fortnight to make the return drive through France, in early May, when the weather is usually lovely.

 

[Nomadian]

With regards to the water being turned off at aires, if you’re struggling for ‘eau’ look out for graveyards they always have a tap and a lot of petrol stations do as well.

 

[Jenka]

With many nice places close by, Tossa, Roses, Cadaques, etc, why go to a tatty place like Lloret.
Phil

You dont go to Benidorm then its a joke by the way .

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[MikeD]

We also use the ferry to go to Spain.

But I would especially now as most of France will be cold and probably wet and as we don't dash about it would take us at least a week.

I suspect you will need to at least get to somewhere near Alicante to get 1/2 decent winter weather in Spain for the winter.

 

[Reallyretired]

Always the tunnel, but then we have dogs too.

 

[EzeeRider]

Ok let's put it another way given the choice. Would you guys get ferry to Spain or chunell then drive. ?
And thanks for the replies so far

Chunnel and drive every time.
ezee

 

[busby]

We also use the ferry to go to Spain.

But I would especially now as most of France will be cold and probably wet and as we don't dash about it would take us at least a week.

I suspect you will need to at least get to somewhere near Alicante to get 1/2 decent winter weather in Spain for the winter.

It's usually decent from south of The Ebro Delta..BUSBY.

 

[gus-lopez]

Would you guys get ferry to Spain or chunell then drive.

Ferry to France ,always.

Why avoid Lloret de mar ? Just interested

3am in Lloret is the same as a packed christmas saturday shopping in any UK city.
you can run through France in 12,5hours at a steady lorry speed if you need.

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[gus-lopez]

It's usually decent from south of The Ebro Delta..BUSBY.

I came back in late december last year & the weather was better from Bordeaux on & once into Spain was sun all the way home.

 

[Viennese]

Do you have to quarantine after leaving France and entering Spain?

 

[busby]

Do you have to quarantine after leaving France and entering Spain?

No,,BUSBY.

 

[Speve]

We also use the ferry to go to Spain.

But I would especially now as most of France will be cold and probably wet and as we don't dash about it would take us at least a week.

I suspect you will need to at least get to somewhere near Alicante to get 1/2 decent winter weather in Spain for the winter.

Not at all it’s usually good around Tarifa and along to Almeria and even along the other way to Cadiz I can honestly say in the last 8 years we have not had particularly bad weather in those areas apart from one year that was exceptionally cold but still sunny most of the time.

 

[busby]

Not at all it’s usually good around Tarifa and along to Almeria and even along the other way to Cadiz I can honestly say in the last 8 years we have not had particularly bad weather in those areas apart from one year that was exceptionally cold but still sunny most of the time.

That's much further than Alicante..BUSBY.

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