This comes in at 474 miles and a traveling time of 8 hours and 4 minutes. a) Ferry to the north coast of Spain and drive south to your chosen Costa. You may take advantage of our 30 percent savings and free cancellation within 48 hours of planned pick-up to Pietermaritzburg or elsewhere in the world right now on autoeurope.com! your inbox. Of course, if you only have a week for your holiday, travelling from the UK and back leaves only a few days to explore the country, and the further south you go, the less exploring time you have. With one of the best winter climates in Europe and friendly locals, Spain is a perfect country for a motorhome road trip. Day 1 -Vron to Gron. Now that BREXIT has happened and the UK pet passport scheme is no longer valid, you will need to get an Animal Health Certificate before you leave the UK. Gas bottles are also widely available, with butane generally being more popular because of the warmer climate (butaneis more suited to milderweather conditions but propane is better for cold weather as it burns at lower temperatures). Take your caravan or motorhome on the slow route to North-East Spain Spain France Travel Advice We're often asked for suggested routes, and the way to Spain is one which crops up regularly. How four people together all talking at the same time can ever take in what the other is saying is a mystery to me, but they seem to manage it! The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. You might also find random traffic lights, which turn to red in the middle of nowhere if youre speeding and make you wait for a couple of minutes before turning to green so you can move off again. GUIDE: Stop the overwhelm with our step-by-step guide. When you sign up to our FREE newsletter, we'll send you the latest Our quintessential motorhoming in Spain road trip begins in the northern city of Barcelona, taking you through snow-peaked mountains and medieval towns, before heading south to the warmer climes of the historical Moorish region of Andalucia. Park outside and use public transport to get in. Cross the Loire and follow the fast D347 past Montreuil-Bellay and Loudun all the way to Poitiers. This first link is an award winning database about France. Motorhome hire from a local owner. Dont forget, if you are driving through France to get to Spain, you need all the kit required by France as well as the kit for that country. Head for the romantic city of Granada, and the whitewashed villages of the High Alpujarras, Pampaneira and Trevlez, the highest village in Spain. Caravan & Motorhome Holidays Abroad ; Trip along Spanish Pyrenees to . Further to the east, youll find El Chorro and the famous Caminito del Rey, one of the most dangerous hikes in the world until the H&S experts got hold of it! Norway is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever visited and a real bucket list destination. This route lends itself well to ferries which arrive from the UK into Caen or Cherbourg. The most famous French motorway connects Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva with Menton on the French Riviera. You are literally over the road from the old town and within 5 minutes, you will be at the Mezquita. Spanish people live a more relaxed life than perhaps any other country in Europe and this is reflected in the organisation of the day. Ratings and Reviews Powered by TripAdvisor. The readers of the specialised German magazine Promobil have named Fiat Professional Ducato But the Spanish government . Barcelona city boasts a rich cultural heritage, a 4km long sandy beach, fabled UNESCO architectural gems,a culinary scene the envy of the world, and all the attractions ofa modern global city alongside historic districts such as theGothic quarter. The best campsites for discovering this popular southwest county Editor's pick - The top adults-only campsites. Spain is a fantastic country for road tripping. American Express is rarely accepted but UK credit or debit cards should work (but not always, so carry cash to be safe! ), visit the Start Here page to find out how we can help you! Motorhome aires in Spain are not as plentiful as in France but they are out there! As in France, sometimes there is a fee per night but often there is no charge and basic services are provided. Featured in Experience the ultimate motorhome holiday . Check out our post on wild camping for more rules and tips for camper vans and motorhomes in the UK and Europe, and for information on where to find the best camping locations and motorhome stopovers in Spain. Some of our favourite places for motorhome trips in Northern France include: The Normandy beaches. Weve tried all sorts of kit- some useful, some not so much. Make sure you check them in advance! ferry or tunnel from UK to France (there are pros and cons to both). We love helping motorhome & campervan owners make the most of their time on the road, whether youre a complete motorhome newbie or planning a long tour of Europe. Continue straight on to seamlessly join the D323 southern bypass and in 7.5 miles turn south, still the D323, to La Fleche and on to Bauge and Saumur. In Spain, LPG is grade C, which means the percentage mix of propane to butane is approximately 30/70. You cannot book motorhome aires in advance- its first-come, first-served, so if youre visiting at peak times you might feel happier booking a campsite so youre assured of somewhere to stay. Why hire a motorhome through Goboony? The Pyrenees is best visited between May and October, unless you want to ski, as outside these times you will definitely encounter snow. The route mainly leads through the (northern) French Pyrenees, but also visits the Spanish part and Andorra. Destination. If everyone else is, feel free to join them but remember you may be asked to move on.) Make sure you have proof that you can take the vehicle across a border into another country if thats what youre planning to do. head to that area to get some winter sunshine. When we travel, we kind of end up with a happy medium of both. Paying just a few euro in tolls is a good time saver. Campervan Castaways Vanlife 44 | Expert Adventure Motorhome Travel Writing. The Peaks of Europe, so called because they were the first landmark to be seen by sailors of old on approaching the continent, are well worth a visit. Some spots are even right on the beach! So instead turn right on the N12 towards Alencon, leave most of the traffic behind, and enjoy the mainly fast dual carriageway for 34miles to Mortagne-au-Perche where you turn south. keep your dog in the ferry cabin with you (like you can from Portsmouth to Caen). However if you encounter very strong winds remember its a forest area on light sandy soil, parking under trees may be ill advised. Starting at the English Channel and continuing to the Bay of Biscay, you're sure to make the memories of a lifetime along the way. Find out about life on the road, destinations, routes and practical motorhome advice on our blog. Try a dish like. For a more authentic Spain, head to inland rural areas away from the Costas and enjoy everything the mountains and gorgeous interior cities have to offer. Out of season, you can get over 60% discount on ACSI sites. You can join this route easily if you decide to come over on a ferry to Caen, Le Havre, Dieppe or Cherbourg. Complete Europe Motorhome Travel Toolkit, CHECKLIST: Dont forget to grab your FREE Europe motorhome travel checklist HERE. You cannot book aires for camping in Spain, it is advisable in the holidays and in popular places to try and get there early in the morning or just after lunchtime. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. IMPORTANT: Drivers do NOT have to stop at a zebra crossing for pedestrians IF there are no lights. Variable landscapes, impressive mountains and picturesque villages. Anywhere near the beach will be tough all year. perfect campsite for your next trip away. This gorge is spanned spectacularly by an 18thcentury arched bridge andtall housesperchprecariouslyalong itsedges. See Through France without tolls. Set a mile from the north Norfolk coast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Kelling Heath is an environmentally aware 300-acre holiday park offering a wide range of activities for all the Yorkshires largest motorhome and campervan show returns to Harrogate, with indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. Rent the perfect van, campervan or motorhome for a family trip, with your four-legged or two-legged friend. On the way, stop atSant Carles de la Rapita,a charming Spanish town with lots of great seafood restaurants. Make sure your wild camping spot is not on private property and that you have parked respectfully of residents and other wild campers nearby. For a grown-ups-only holiday, check out our recommended sites just for adults Editor's Pick - The best campsites for dogs. Motorhome Routes Through France. In Bordeaux, the center of the famous wine-growing region, you will immerse in French cuisine and culture. If youd like to avoid campsites and aires, but dont want to risk staying off-grid, there is a scheme which connects business owners to people motorhoming or campervanning in Spain, called Espana Discovery. Here, you can easily alternate a quiet beach day with a city trip, for example with the port city of Marseille. Also, many campsites put ACSI users on lesser pitches (either bad view or no electric or drainage). Top Tip: Even if you book a standard class cabin, its possible to book into the Commodore C-Club lounge, where free hot drinks, water and wine are served, along with generous snacks, meaning you dont need to pay for expensive food on board. Motorhoming in Spain- what gear do you need to carry? You may find that Spanish people are not as friendly towards dogs as you are used to, and youll often see dogs tied up or confined within rural properties. If you're on an extended motorhome tour and time is no object, of course pottering south along the west coast of France and crossing the Pyrenees is a wonderful introduction to Spain. Dont try and wild camp in busy/ popular areas- like the Costa del Sol- unless youre visiting in the lowest of low season. You will find some petrol stations with additional facilities for motorhomes, like waste disposal, water (NOT always drinkable!) Utilise the campsite bar a glass of wine and a beer will typically cost 3, a bargain! Or, get to France any way you like and take a slow meander south using non-toll roads and spend some time exploring France as you travel. Although this was in late February, wefound all the bars and restaurants open and welcoming. Youll often see the typical pictogram sign by the side of the road pointing you to a service point, this may be a dedicated area, within an aire or another facility. READ MORE: Learn how we find and use aires and approved free overnight motorhome stopovers across Europe. Some are rustic and have basic facilities, while others are designed for long-term visitors and have entertainment, clubs, pools and bars! If you want to learn a few works, Castilian is the one to pick as it is the most widely spoken. On roads with single carriageways,the speed limit establishedmay not be exceeded by more 20km/h when overtaking. Mobile Phone and Internet Its usually possible to use your UK phone and data in Spain, but do check with your provider. We will tell you more about nine selected places on this route. A prosperous and cosmopolitan city with a great vibe. Either way, travelling through France to Spain could be the perfect European route for you. Autopistas are marked red on the map and they will have the letter P next to the number, Toll-free motorways are marked with the letter A and are marked blue on the map, Main routes /dual carriageways (green on the map). Spain has a number of different languages. This is designated motorhome parking, well-lit and manned with CCTV and services but no EHU. In over twelve years we've had no problems, if it doesnt feel right move on. Incredible mountain views from Banff Gondola. Country information - all the info for your trip, Developed by: NKC - travel guides (the NKC is the Dutch parent company of Campercontact), Total length of the route: 910 kilometres. Then you have two main routes through France to Spain. We have been using and recommend ConnectPlus for cloud sim connectivity in the UK and Europe. More than 340 kilometres of the A75 (Clermont-Ferrand - Bziers) are toll-free apart from the Millau Bridge. Main roads (mostly modern single carriageway roads) are in green. In practicality, youll find that the further than civilisation and the beach you are, the better your chances of finding a quiet, free overnight parking spot will be. Sin Plomo 95 is Regular Unleaded, Sin Plomo 98 is Premium Unleaded and Gasoleo (sometimes called Gasoil A)is Diesel and sometimes its also called diesel in Spain! Rent a motorhome between individuals. Had however been in France and Spain in the January/February. Is there a straighf. From the stunning Alps, the Black Forest with its gorgeous romantic road, to medieval cities, fairytale castles and magical Christmas markets this surprising and interesting country is a must-see road trip destination for campervans and motorhomes. Expect to show your passport or identification on arrival and many places require you to leave one passport behind the reception. Some go for up to six months from October onwards, we prefer to spend Christmas at home and travel out in January. In practice, this could mean towing your car while its fixed to a trailer, although there is ambiguity around this and differing advice can be found on the internet. Just like other tolls in Europe, youll usually get a ticket when you enter the toll route, then have to pay when you exit at either a manned or automatic toll booth. motorhome wild camping heres everything you need to know to stay safe and find free spots. There arent quite as many aires in Spain as in France and theyre often a little more out of the way, but the network is still very useful and easy to use. Spanish cooking is very regional, with fish, shellfish and pork featuring heavily on most menus. Ile de Re and La Rochelle A motor home route through France to Spain." I read this on another site, " OutAndAboutlive. Book this hike well in advance and go with a guide, for an extra few euros you will learn so much. If you love adventure and raw nature, then Norway is for you! If youre new to our website (welcome! We are booked on the ferry to Bilbao and have 5-6 weeks. Basically we need to get past the Pyrenees and driving over the inland passes in winter is risky. However, now that BREXIT has happened and rules have changed (more on that later too! Let this tour take you on a journey of discovery through Northern Spain and Portugal as we show you some of the best of the lesser-known gems. If you're planning a UK campsite stay then visit our Campsite Finder, with over 5,000 campsites to search you'll be sure to find the perfect place to pitchup to in your Motorhome. Motorhome routes through France France is the perfect place to plan a motorhome route, for example along the country's southern coast . The long road south - a motorhome route through France to Spain You may be surprised at how many motorhomes from northern Europe travel to campsites in Spain for the winter. The tolls on this route will cost you an estimated 180; it could be more if you're driving a big motorhome of upwards of 3,500 kgs. Park your campervan, set up your mountain or road bike, fill up your water bottle, and get exploring! We parked and stayed at the Municipal Camping Car Parking (1 Av. Fruit and vegetables are seasonal; if you want something exotic you will have to search it out and it will be expensive. When it comes to reaching the Spanish Mediterranean coast there's basically two options - drive through France or catch a ferry to Northern Spain. Check out our guides to travelling in France where you'll be sure to find lots of ideas and inspiration, get our 2 week motorhome itinerary France complete with a motorhome route map of France, or check out our French destination ideas. A selection of campsites for Christmas breaks Make the most of your motorhome this winter by relaxing at campsites that welcome you all year long, Campsite review: Tyddyn Llwyn Camping, Caravan & Touring Park. See Motorhome Fall Into River Amid Catastrophic California Storms Man City want 100m Liverpool target at all costs with current star ready to 'pack up and leave' for Spain 'You can't trust .