Driving to Spain

Taz

Lifer
 Saddleworth
In November I’m considering driving through France and heading down into Spain - possibly to my aunts in Malaga

Are there any good roads I should consider, as anybody got any ideas, suggestions etc.?
 
As you are going to be in a hot climate longer, I assume you are taking the OEM Z and not the afterthought? ;)
 
Taz said:
ranski said:
Avoid Paris and make sure the passenger has a long left arm

the passenger will be a blow up doll :cry:

You can always borrow my bear if you like Taz !
A good listener and doesn't eat or drink much and never argues, - Unlike the Wife
Navigates about as well as the wife too !
 
Number5 said:
Taz said:
ranski said:
Avoid Paris and make sure the passenger has a long left arm

the passenger will be a blow up doll :cry:

You can always borrow my bear if you like Taz !
A good listener and doesn't eat or drink much and never argues, - Unlike the Wife
Navigates about as well as the wife too !


loli had thought about that but i don't want a sloppy teddy bear
 
Ive been looking into this for next years hols
Heading down the west of France towards the border of Spain at Biarritz / San Sebastian
i Then head down diagonally via Pamplona / Zaragoza / Madrid
The return plan is to go over the Pyrenees towards Lourdes / Pau before heading back up the West coast again
i find this route up through France the easiest , the cheapest for tolls & for the most part more scenic
The road up via Tours / Le Mans & Paris is pretty tedious by comparison & almost twice the price in tolls
 
When I was a student I took two long road trips around France and Spain. Firstly in a Transit minibus and then in a short wheelbase Land Rover. the places that impressed me and particularly stayed in my memory are travelling through Andorra, Grenoble, Pamplona. But that was 40 years ago!!

I'm pretty sure they'll be more up to date recommendations on the forum :lol:
 
For the last couple of years we ended up just north of Benedorm after cruzin thro france, , Switzerland, italy , the route we like to take home,, in reverse order, calais, cognac, skirt bordeaux, segos ,laruns, over the pyrenees to,sabinagio, Zaragosa,then the choice is yours to Malaga,
Its a nice route over the pyrenees, if its not shrouded in mist ont french side, usally sunny ont Spanish side.
Not found any roads like the stelvio tho,
If you want those roads need to get yourself over that area, weve bin for the last 5 yrs, not in Nov tho, unless youre into ski hols, :D
M
 
If you aren't set on getting to Spain & are content to just enjoy some great roads , sights & scenery then from Normandy i would head down to Limoges & visit Oradour S glane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oradour-sur-Glane then on to Mt Ventoux http://www.drivingforpleasure.co.uk/roads-and-tours/euro-road.php?s=2011-09-16-mont-ventoux
Next Grenoble & the Alps from where you could go a variety of routes .
Ive only driven from there to Grasse & the Med but maybe others can recommend a route into Italy/Switzerland/Lichtenstein/Germany & back towards the channel ?
 
I fancy the Pyrennes area and the Millau bridge, (just N/West of Montpellier) at some point.
It would be worth trying to work those into your route for the scenic value.
 
LE092012 said:
We went to Spain last year via the Millau Bridge. A fantastic experience.

Ive done this route before,during & after its build
It is something special but in the years it was being constructed when you had to navigate down the valley into Millau then up the other side you got a much better sense of its scale as opposed to driving over it where its sheer creation in the landscape is kinda lost on you ?
There are viewpoints both sides to stop off at for pics but while driving over it can be a slight letdown especially if youve travelled far just for the experience
The Pont d Normandie bridges near Le Havre is also quite impressive & fortunately for Taz he will be crossing on them as part of his Oct/Nov jaunt :driving: :thumbsup:
aero1_cle293685-102-5b4f9.jpg
 
ranski said:
Avoid Paris and make sure the passenger has a long left arm

Subscribe to https://www.bipandgo.com/en

If you use the link on the eurotunnel site there are some savings too.

https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/Sanef-Tolling/?utm_source=Homepage&utm_medium=Menu&utm_campaign=SANEF

Used it myself this year, we never actually came to a stop at any motorway toll, they emailed an itemised invoice at the end of the month and debited my bank account in sterling.

Also be aware (according to my bank) there's a problem with UK mastercards that stops their use at any unattended fuel stations and we had problems in the spring with the card at tolls, this Bip & Go sytem completely bypasses it, yes it costs a little bit more but IMHO well worth jumping any queues at the tolls and having no aggravation reaching up to the tolls, risking kerbing alloys etc. etc.

Wish I'd known about this before!
 
There are some nice roads through Andorra. I can't remember the numbers, but a zoom in on google maps will assist. Just look for any too and from the ski resorts.

I'd echo the above about driving roads though. Head to the Alps. Went down this August and had a blast, especially fun going through the Tunnels around the Alps with the top down.

If you're going to use the toll roads at any point, then buy the Sanef Liber-t tag thing. Saves quite a bit of time and no messing about at the toll booths for change. You just get billed via direct debit. V easy to set up and the U.K. Has an office in Harrogate, so good customer service if you need it.
 
Are you getting anywhere with your plans Pete ? If you have decided to head towards the Alps
there was a stage in this years Tour De France called Lacets du Montvernier which looks well worth a go
"shoelaces" a very apt description for a road carved into the mountainside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=160qwlWGyWU

chaussy1.jpg
 
mr wilks said:
Ive been looking into this for next years hols
Heading down the west of France towards the border of Spain at Biarritz / San Sebastian
i Then head down diagonally via Pamplona / Zaragoza / Madrid
The return plan is to go over the Pyrenees towards Lourdes / Pau before heading back up the West coast again
i find this route up through France the easiest , the cheapest for tolls & for the most part more scenic
The road up via Tours / Le Mans & Paris is pretty tedious by comparison & almost twice the price in tolls

I do Biarritz and San Sebastián every year , just a few days break from the dordogne , Biarritz is ideally where I wanted a holiday home , however , even if I sold the dordogne house I would still be half a million euros short :cry:
San Sebastián is tapas heaven but it's easy to end up leathered as there are so many bars , 1 euro for a freezing cold dry white to wash your tapas down you easily get carried away .
Hondarriba in between the 2 is also worth a visit .
Obviously visit Pamplona mid July for the running of the bulls , it's an amazing atmosphere , but do your homework if you intend to take part , we didn't and ended stood in the street and more watched the bulls run past us than ran with them !
Just make sure you book hotels in all 3 places with parking , they are all a nightmare to park in .
 
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