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///My Euro Road Trip (pics page 5)

Planned road trips and road-trip reports go in here
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Popey
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///My Euro Road Trip (pics page 5)

Post by Popey » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:11 pm

My fathers recent ill health has prompted my self and the family to get together for what could be the last holiday as a family. We have decided to back to a resort we all went to a lot as children, Estartit on the costa brava.

So while the rest of the family fly out, myself and the mrs will be driving through France onto Spain. This is the first time I have attempted anything like this so wanted to get a little advice.

1) Cost, I estimate 2400 miles round trip minimum, does £600 sound like it would cover it + what toll costs to expect?
2) Ferrys - any issue with catching or damage while on board?
3) Safety - what are do's and don'ts?
4) What do I need, Warning triangle, bulbs, spare parts, oil etc?
5) Preparation, service / general check over?
6) Speeding - fines / bans?

Any other advice would be great, we will be making 1 stay over in France.

PS this will take place early July this year
Last edited by Popey on Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by rossonr » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:18 pm

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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by mr wilks » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:30 pm

2400 minimum miles I would be braced for closer to £1000 for fuel & tolls in the ///M
No issues with car on / off ferry or train
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by Popey » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:36 pm

Wowzers that a bit more than expected, I was looking at routes that avoid most tolls. My thought on this where to A, save money and B, more interesting roads.

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///My Euro Road Trip

Post by Simo » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:43 pm

K
Last edited by Simo on Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
?

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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by autobahner » Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:29 pm

Millau a must. Like driving through the sky! Also need a breathalyser. Tolls so quick they are hard to ignore. I'd fit euro number plates as well so not as conspicuously a tourist. Enjoy.

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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by mr wilks » Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:33 pm

Popey wrote:Wowzers that a bit more than expected, I was looking at routes that avoid most tolls. My thought on this where to A, save money and B, more interesting roads.
If you avoid the tolls yes you may see more but its far more strenuous & will take far longer to do the big miles
Take the ferry into Dieppe,Le Havre or Caen to cut down the mileage with St Malo the best for heading straight down the west coast for least toll costs . It docks at 8am & makes it easy to get to the Spanish border late afternoon / early evening
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by jpeeters » Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:02 am

Get yourself a Liber-t toll Tag. It enables you to take the Telepeage "fast lane". Can make a big difference when you're hitting holiday traffic in July!

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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by gasman » Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:11 am

Or take the ferry to Spain if you don`t like the long drive thru France.
Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao, and Plymouth to Santander.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry ... y-to-spain

If you use the ViaMichelin routeplanner, you can see the cost of toll and the fuel (maybe the fuel calculation is a bit optimistic for an M :rofl: )
toll is €80 oneway.
http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Routes ... &corridor=
Last edited by gasman on Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by Smartbear » Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:25 am

Put your spare key in the mrs handbag just in case...
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by srhutch » Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:30 am

gasman wrote:Or take the ferry to Spain if you don`t like the long drive thru France.
Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao, and Plymouth to Santander.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry ... y-to-spain
Might as well fly if you going to do that.
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by gasman » Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:46 am

Well, flying is obviously the cheapest option.
Ryanair from London to Girona is £30........
But I don`t think that was the intention.

Parking at the airport, or public transportation to the airport :cry: :roll: is usually more expensive than the plane ticket......
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by srhutch » Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:56 am

gasman wrote:Well, flying is obviously the cheapest option.
Ryanair from London to Girona is £30........
But I don`t think that was the intention.

Parking at the airport, or public transportation to the airport :cry: :roll: is usually more expensive than the plane ticket......
That was my point :wink:
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by mr wilks » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:23 am

gasman wrote:Or take the ferry to Spain if you don`t like the long drive thru France.
Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao, and Plymouth to Santander.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry ... y-to-spain
Still leaves a good 700mile drive to destination + the ferry cost itself can be mega expensive & it takes around 30 hours :cry:
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Re: ///My Euro Road Trip

Post by Lance » Thu Jan 28, 2016 9:14 am

Grand Hotel at Le Mont Dore is a good overnight stop. Nice small town in a nice area, plenty of bars and restaurants.

If you've driven abroad then I guess you have no real worries about the actual driving aspect. If you haven't, don't worry, you quickly adapt.

Rules and Regs - you don't need to take as much legal stuff as you'd expect or as people tell you. Hi Vis vests for each person in the car and the vests must be in the car, Warning Triangle is a yes as is log book, Insurance paperwork, MOT, Licence. Bulbs are not required, nor is a first aid kit or fire extinguisher, technically a breathalyser is required, however the french openly admit they don't enforce the law on this. If using a sat nav the speed camera option should be off.

Road laws - if you drive like a dick, then you'll attract trouble. Drive reasonably and you'll be fine. Be careful if crossing solid white lines, get seen you will get fined. Personally, and after at least 30 trips to and through France I've never once been stopped by the police.

Tolls, your choice. Avoid the autoroutes and pay nothing, however with the mileage you need to do, it's highly likely you'll need to spend a few hours on them. I'd suggest autoroute the north section and look for better routes after about 200-250 miles. The Auvergne is a nice region to drive through off the autoroutes.

Couple of tips, on the N roads (our A) be careful pulling out of petrol stations/cafes etc as this is where you can end up back on the UK side of the road. Spare key in the Mrs bag has been already mentioned and I agree.

Spares - Oil and a few simple tools.

Long trips abroad are nowhere need as daunting as some would make out, just go do it and don't worry. Apply common sense and you'll have a great time.

Oh and consider the Chunnel, so much easier and quicker than the ferry.

Cheers

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