 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Trip to spain.... What route??? |
 
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193   
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Hi all. Im looking for some advice (by experience) on a travel route to Alicante.
So since having my full licence, I have wanted to do a trip abroad. I got my bike licence back in 2008 but have been riding since about 2003.. When I got married in 2015 my folks retired and moved to Spain - so luckily I now have a 'holiday home' and a cheap stop off point to aim for 
Next year my wife and I are hoping a drive over to see my folks. And we are not sure whether to go via train to France and drive to my folks near Alicante or ferry to Bilbao, then on to my folks, and take the long route back. We have a roof tent we are planning to use so are not worried about hotels etc.. And jerry cans so not too fussed about fuel stops if we go off the beaten track.. But we need to check out places we can stop over night in tent before getting to my folks. We are in no rush to get there and will have about 2 weeks to play with... Im expecting it to take 4 days to get there (enjoying the route through the mountains), spend 4 days at my folks and the take about 4 days to get home, that'll leave us 2 days or so to unpack and wind down before going back to work 
We will be taking our dog, so will need to think about jabs for him also. Any info, points to note, things to consider, places worth a visit etc greatly appreciated. Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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30th Nov 2018 4:05pm |
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| Welshsurferdude Member Since: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Newport Posts: 2402 
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Just on my way home from Tenerife to the UK, just done 2000k thru Spain, currently in Saint Naziare bloody cold up here!
I can suggest anywhere in pyrenees, Andorra, san Sebastian, Toledo, Cordoba, all lovely places and good scenery to drive thru. motorways are great in Spain, can cover big K easily. N roads are slower but quieter local traffic and more to see and more opportunities to find a nice quiet spot to camp. As for the drive thru France option or the Brittany ferry to north Spain, both are good options but middle france can be quite boring just done 800k of peage and not much to look at. did divert off 100k before our overnight stops along D roads much more interesting but slower. food on Brittany ferries is most excellent tho! and save on fuel and wear and tear but choice is yours! Google maps work perfect so make sure you have good data on the phone!  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 2008 Santorini Black 110 XS USW (Sold) 2015 Discovery 4.5 Black pack Firenze red XS 2008 Corris Grey 110 XS USW (sold) 2011 Santorini Black 110 XS USW (Sold) |
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30th Nov 2018 5:45pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Thanks for the info, most appreciated and taken on board. Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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1st Dec 2018 11:41am |
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| dailysleaze Member Since: 23 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 237 
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I took the ferry to Spain and didn't regret it. Spain is big enough to give monotonous driving, so including France would have been hell.
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1st Dec 2018 12:55pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I've driven to and across Spain a few times and the ferry is definitely the way to do it. Going through France via the tunnel in particular is a very long way around.
As mentioned, Jerry cans, are probably overkill. Spain isn't quite the final frontier. There are some very nice camp sites but, in the interior especially, away from the touristy areas, some can feel like stepping into the twilight zone. All part of the experience, though  Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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1st Dec 2018 1:22pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Its more about the journey for me... I guess id prefer a long drive there and then rest at my folks, and if I have time drive the distance back, or if it takes longer than I think, we can get the ferry back... Is the ferry quicker than driving through France????? But I have not done it before so... I guess we will have to see... Driving for long distance isn't to much of a bother, I did Bedfordshire to fort William with just 1 stop (and a speeding ticket ) (it was our honeymoon, and I couldn't wait to get there - It was early in the morning and the roads were empty - just me and another Audi driver (had my Audi at the time) Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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1st Dec 2018 1:25pm |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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As others have said the drive through France isn’t that interesting unless you really take your time, which would eat into your time in Spain. The ferry is expensive but you pay your money and take your choice! Sounds like a great trip, enjoy the planning!
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1st Dec 2018 4:24pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209
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I should say, if it is your first trip through France, it won’t be that boring, just because you’ll be excited to be heading somewhere new. The journey back might be the slog. Just thinking back to when I was first venturing into the continent, and I used to love the long slogs to new places. It’s just gets dull when you have done it before, or you just want to get home. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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1st Dec 2018 4:55pm |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589  
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I drive most years to Portugal.
Euro tunnel and down via Bordeaux, San Sebastian and down to Badajoz. 3900 miles in 2 weeks last summer. I use a TOM TOM and never had any issues. Me and the wife my son 7 and my daughter 10. Fabio |
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1st Dec 2018 5:00pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Thanks again all for the info..
As it is my first time, perhaps ill do the France part, and then ferry home... Any particular thoughts on taking a dog on the train? or ferry back? I heard the pet cabins go fast and to book early...??? Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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2nd Dec 2018 9:54am |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209
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At the moment, taking a dog is easy, just go to your vet for the passport at least a month before you travel. Dog will be wormed and vaccinated and there is a delay period for the vaccination to become effective. They don’t even look at your dog or pet passport on the tunnel on the way out. Coming back you need to see a vet abroad within about 48 hours (ish, can’t remember the exact rule) of your crossing. Vet will check the dog over and give it a tablet and most importantly stamp the passport. If you don’t do this, or get the timing wrong you won’t be able to travel. I’ve seen it happen loads at the pet desk at Eurotunnel Calais. Alll the Ferry company do is scan your dog’s chip and check the passport as you book in.
What happens after Brexit no one knows at the minute. If we get a deal it should carry on the same, if no deal, might need different paperwork and vaccinations. There is some not very helpful vague information on gov.uk about it. And I’ve had a couple of equally vague emails from Eurotunnel. The Tunnel is great because it only takes 35 mins and you are with the dog and car the whole time. On the Dover to Calais ferries you have to leave your dog in the car and you can’t access it at sea, but that is only 90 mins to 2 hours. On some of the longer ferries from Portsmouth etc. you can take your dog onboard with you (including sleep in your cabin) or they have a kennel where you can go and see your dog during the crossing. Depends on the boat. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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2nd Dec 2018 10:19am |
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| Tompoole Member Since: 05 Jun 2011 Location: Bucks Posts: 827 
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Portsmouth ferry then take north of Madrid route via Zaragoza 👍 Have fun be happy
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2nd Dec 2018 10:21am |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5695 
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If your taking your dog, go via eurotunel would be my advice. It works really well, and you get to sit with your dog for the half hour train ride. It costs £18 each way for the dog and you will need to see a vet in France or Spain 5 days to 1 day before you travel back. Make sure they fill out your paperwork correctly. We take our own worming tablet, as it’s then a nice flavoured chewable one. That way our dog just gulps it down and avoids horrible tablet that may not be eaten which leads to an injection instead that they charge more for. Vet visit will cost €10-€30. We don’t book vet, or any of our campsites when we travel, just the crossing. Get a app satnav that you load the countries onto, and the same with a few camping apps, that way you aren’t smashing your data, and reliant on signal. We always drive rather than ferry to Spain if heading in that direction, and especially so now we have a dog. I’ve rarely heard good things about the Spain crossing especially with a dog. I understand it’s different for different people, but to us the drive IS our holiday, and not just a way of getting to a holiday. If you are going to drive France, and especially if you are going to use the motorways there get a toll tag, brilliant things and you get a deal if bought with your eurotunel crossing.
Andy |
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2nd Dec 2018 10:22am |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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Thank you all, some great useful info there...
All will be taken into consideration. Appreciate it all. It sounds as though ill be going train both ways, I don't like the idea of kennelling my boy - he didn't fair to good last time, and I vowed never to kennel him again... Awful experience for him and us. I didn't know about seeing a vet on the way back - I guessed before we left for vacs etc... so thanks for that. And agreed the driving is the holiday for me! seeing my foilks is a bonus 
If its all round easier, may see if the in-laws can watch him again, my folks have cats also, so do need to think about that... Regards Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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2nd Dec 2018 2:31pm |
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