Driving to Spain from England

It is a Matter of choice. However i travel the rout every six to eight weeks. If you want to avoid tolls then you can, but obviously it will be quicker using them. But there is a cost for that.

I come from the Midlands and usually go from Portsmouth to le havre. Then go through France towards Le Mans, then Tours, then Poitiers then, Bourdeaux. You can avoid the Toll if you wish, or you can get on the toll almost all the way down.

Then cross the Pirinies through the Somport tunnel towards Jaca in Spain. Then pick up the signs for Huesca ,Zaragoza, Teruel, Velencia......there is now a free Motorway all the way to Valencia. From Valencia you will pick up the signs to Murcia A7 still all Motorway.

Noneck

Hi Noneck being as you drive over so regularly to Spain I wonder if you could give us an overall cost and the time involved. Would be very interested to know this as we have never driven over yet but might need to in the future.

John

Jontee,

The cost depends on your vehicle, and wich way you go. I go back for my bussines  so cost matters.

Therefore i go what i think is the cheepest way. Usually from Costa Calida where i am, back to the Midlands is about 1000 Euro return. But if use the tolls then it is more.......but i do have a big Van, so a car will be less. Usually because i have the dog, i am limmited to go through France.

The way i said before is about the best on average!! No tolls, good route,for the cost.

However if you dont have any animals, then if its cheep enough on the day, Portsmouth to Bilbao is good.

One day to Costa Calida from Bilbao about 10 hrs... but from France to spain its two days

Pete 

I drove to Alicante last weekend to deliver our car for the Summer, flew back on Monday evening.

Took the Norfolk Line ferry to Dunkirk on Thursday evening and picked up a cheap hotel. Early start Friday to get through Paris before the Friday afternoon rush and arrived in Clermont Ferrand at about 1600. Could have easily driven a few hours more.

Next day left at 8.30 motorway all the way to Barcelona and then down the coast to Javea arriving at 1900.

My Mondeo averaged 46mpg at average over 70mph and we stopped every few hours for a break and coffee.

I used the Viamichelin.com web site to plan the route. This site allows you to choose the route depending on preferences and will calculate exact costs including fuel and tolls and work out the timings. Its a brilliant site and will even print out the driving instructions..

My recommendation is to buy or borrow a TomTom with euro maps and speed camera alerts, it makes circuiting Paris on the periphery so easy and the speed cam alerts probably saved us a fine or two

All in cost door too door including Ferry, 2 nights in hotels, all meals for two and fuel was 451 euros

For those who don't want to drive on the Péripherique around Paris at any time of day or night, try the A86.  It's a sort of outer ring road.  Just be careful you don't end up on the road out to EuroDisney (Marne la Vallée) instead of the road to Calais!

Diane

I know this thread is over a year old, but I was wondering if I travel from England to Spain over December if I need to take chains for my tyres (for a car) or if the motorways and route thru the Pyrenese is pretty good

take them just in case would be my opinion although if you go the route down the eastern half of france missing out the millau bridge route you should be alright

No, it will be down the West as we need to hit Bilbao!

No you should be ok its pretty flat that side i presume you are going via bordeaux then down to the border crossing

Yep something like that!  I was hoping it would be ok round that way as I'll be passing thru midnight  in the middle of winter.