Driving to Spain - looking for route suggestions
Discussion
We are driving down through France to the east coast of Spain this summer, and would be interested to hear you favorite routes. We plan to have maybe four overnight stops from Caen to Alicante so could pick the west coast via Biarritz, or the east/central route maybe passing Claremont Ferrand and on past Barcelona.
What do suggest? Would also like to hear about nice hotels (with parking).
Cheers
GG33
I've only done one return journey on it over a decade ago, but the A75 autoroute that leads down to the Milllau viaduct from Clermont Ferrand was fantastic for gradients and turns. The Millau viaduct (and nearby gorge) are really worth seeing. Ignore the WWII connection and the spa town of Vichy was a beautiful place to stop over. And/or Carcassonne with its medieval fairytale architecture.
On the other hand, the southwest route from around Bordeaux to Biarritz is flat and boring. There's enough flat-and-boring in northern France
On the other hand, the southwest route from around Bordeaux to Biarritz is flat and boring. There's enough flat-and-boring in northern France
Also interested in hearing some recommendations as driving to a wedding in Spain in July. Was contemplating stopping off around Poitiers on the way down for a night before driving to Barcelona on day 2 (via Bordeaux and Toulouse).
On the return trip thought a similar route back stopping in Bordeaux.
Any thoughts on if that's a good route to take and what to expect regarding tolls etc? First time driving in France.
On the return trip thought a similar route back stopping in Bordeaux.
Any thoughts on if that's a good route to take and what to expect regarding tolls etc? First time driving in France.
Mr_Megalomaniac said:
Also interested in hearing some recommendations as driving to a wedding in Spain in July. Was contemplating stopping off around Poitiers on the way down for a night before driving to Barcelona on day 2 (via Bordeaux and Toulouse).
On the return trip thought a similar route back stopping in Bordeaux.
Any thoughts on if that's a good route to take and what to expect regarding tolls etc? First time driving in France.
IIRC tolls for both ways will be at least £50 (probably more depending on how much time on autoroute) My advice is to get an Emovis Tag which allows you to go through the high speed gates. The amount is debited from your nominated bank account.On the return trip thought a similar route back stopping in Bordeaux.
Any thoughts on if that's a good route to take and what to expect regarding tolls etc? First time driving in France.
When In July are you travelling?
GG33 said:
IIRC tolls for both ways will be at least £50 (probably more depending on how much time on autoroute) My advice is to get an Emovis Tag which allows you to go through the high speed gates. The amount is debited from your nominated bank account.
When In July are you travelling?
I usually try to plan routes avoiding tolls, and sometimes avoiding motorways altogether. Much nicer to drive in rural areas - quite often the roads are arrow straight.When In July are you travelling?
magpies said:
I usually try to plan routes avoiding tolls, and sometimes avoiding motorways altogether. Much nicer to drive in rural areas - quite often the roads are arrow straight.
perfectly reasonable thing to do for a pleasant journey.however, there's a lot of villages in France and so you continually have to slow to 70 then 50 or lower. even if the roads are parallel you'll easily double the time.
The RN between Troyes and Reims is Roman straight and the A26 meanders all over the place, yet it will take twice as long despite being 90 or 110 part of the way. It's a balancing act and sometimes a motorway gets you to a walk and dinner in time! My preference is for the non-straight bits, some of those curvy country roads are heaven
Given the mention of Caen, I assume you're taking the overnight Ferry there. If that is the case, then I wouldn't, I'd do St. Malo instead, the timings for the crossing are just so much more civilised than the Caen crossing.
After that it's Rennes, Nantes, Niort, then down to Bordeaux.
You should definitely stop in San Sebastian - the Hotel Sansebay has an underground car park, accessed by a lift.
San Sebastian is an easy 1 day drive from St. Malo, and then another easy 1 day drive on to Valencia. I would imagine you could add on the extra bit to Alicante and it would still be an easy day's drive.
If I didn't fancy spending all the time in San Sebastian (which is exactly what I would do), then other places more or less en-route are St. Emilion in France and Logrono in Spain. I don't have any hotel recommendations for St. Emilion, but in Logrono stay at the Áurea Palacio de Correos, right in the middle of town with another underground car park accessed by a lift. Biarritz is also a nice place to stop, but it's only about 30 miles from San Sebastian.
If you fancy bumbling along the foothills of the Pyrenees, then I would recommend this hotel as somewhere to stop - Hotel Viñas de Larrede
Lastly, and not strictly a recommendation as we've not stayed there yet, but I've booked this hotel (Hotel Cresol in Calaceite) for the return leg of our upcoming roadtrip to break the journey between Valencia and San Sebastian.
After that it's Rennes, Nantes, Niort, then down to Bordeaux.
You should definitely stop in San Sebastian - the Hotel Sansebay has an underground car park, accessed by a lift.
San Sebastian is an easy 1 day drive from St. Malo, and then another easy 1 day drive on to Valencia. I would imagine you could add on the extra bit to Alicante and it would still be an easy day's drive.
If I didn't fancy spending all the time in San Sebastian (which is exactly what I would do), then other places more or less en-route are St. Emilion in France and Logrono in Spain. I don't have any hotel recommendations for St. Emilion, but in Logrono stay at the Áurea Palacio de Correos, right in the middle of town with another underground car park accessed by a lift. Biarritz is also a nice place to stop, but it's only about 30 miles from San Sebastian.
If you fancy bumbling along the foothills of the Pyrenees, then I would recommend this hotel as somewhere to stop - Hotel Viñas de Larrede
Lastly, and not strictly a recommendation as we've not stayed there yet, but I've booked this hotel (Hotel Cresol in Calaceite) for the return leg of our upcoming roadtrip to break the journey between Valencia and San Sebastian.
GG33 said:
IIRC tolls for both ways will be at least £50 (probably more depending on how much time on autoroute) My advice is to get an Emovis Tag which allows you to go through the high speed gates. The amount is debited from your nominated bank account.
When In July are you travelling?
Thanks! That's helpful, I'll look into it. Travelling late July, about 26th to early August.When In July are you travelling?
Went to a wedding in Seville last July. Drove on my own (old Boxster 986S), wife and sons flew down for the wedding. 3281 miles all in, channel tunnel.
EMOVIS tags, one for France, one for Spain invaluable.
Had originally planned to stay in major cities, but driving in the major cities is now 'difficult' due to emission controls, permits etc, after spending a few hours looking into driving in Barcelona and having booked the trip in AirBnB's I cancelled the lot and started again and stayed in smaller places. Highlight was up to Andora and the Pyrenees but don't under estimate the time the good driving roads will add to the overall time. I took a week to go down and 4 days to get back up, 3 days in Sevilla for the wedding etc. In Spain Salamanca was particularly great.
EMOVIS tags, one for France, one for Spain invaluable.
Had originally planned to stay in major cities, but driving in the major cities is now 'difficult' due to emission controls, permits etc, after spending a few hours looking into driving in Barcelona and having booked the trip in AirBnB's I cancelled the lot and started again and stayed in smaller places. Highlight was up to Andora and the Pyrenees but don't under estimate the time the good driving roads will add to the overall time. I took a week to go down and 4 days to get back up, 3 days in Sevilla for the wedding etc. In Spain Salamanca was particularly great.
hi all
used to drive to spain twice a year until about 8 years ago
tried lots of different routes
depended on roads, tolls, time taken i tended to stick to one main route
head down though franc via lillie, paris towards toulouse
cut inland to Pau
over to france to zarragoza then straight to valencia
the reason i went this route is good french motorways to toulouse (tolls)
nice drive in the mountains
Free tunnel into france
motorway nearly all the way to valencia toll free
hardest part is negotiating round zarragoza
used to drive to spain twice a year until about 8 years ago
tried lots of different routes
depended on roads, tolls, time taken i tended to stick to one main route
head down though franc via lillie, paris towards toulouse
cut inland to Pau
over to france to zarragoza then straight to valencia
the reason i went this route is good french motorways to toulouse (tolls)
nice drive in the mountains
Free tunnel into france
motorway nearly all the way to valencia toll free
hardest part is negotiating round zarragoza
Hi GG
Some great suggestions..so far
Here’s my proposed route which is unashamedly google maps too. I guess you’re also coming back.
Stopping points either way tried and tested on our travels
Near Tours: Domaine de la Tortinière (Secure Parkinhg on site)
Near Bordeaux: Les Source de Caudalie (Secure Parking on site)
Cap Breton: Baya Hotel (Underground parking on site)
In San Sebastián: Hotel Maria Cristina (Valet parking)
Along the Spanish coast if you go that way..(not on above route)
Recommend Sitges and/or Cadaques
Agree on Millau Viaduct too
I can recommend a 'western' cross country route from Logrono to Alicante. I mentioned it in another thread 'Spanish Roadtrip'. Hopefully the link below to the thread works.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If you are coming down the West side of France, this route incorporates the best roads I've discovered:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMzPBTxvRyGm5cce7
The best part runs from Logrono to Alicante. Along that route I've stayed in a few places:
Around Logrono 1) Marques de Riscal. Amazing experience, with a price tag to match. Car parking secured by gates with security but uncovered. 2) Finca de los Arandinos. Modern, quirky, decent food. Parking uncovered, but rural, so felt secure. 3) Hotel Virua. Modern, architecturally interesting, feels like a lower cost version of Marques de Riscal. Parking uncovered and has a relatively steep entry. I cleared it in a 981 Boxster Spyder, but it was touch a go. Parking uncovered and unsecured, although in a tiny village, so again felt secure.
Also stayed in a parador in Siquenza, a couple of hours south east of Logrono. Nice old building reasonable food. Unsecured parking, which was limited (possibly due to building works). I ended up parking on the street. More generally for accommodation, I'd recommend checking out the Parador website (Paradores.es), they have a range of interesting older buildings at reasonable prices. Service and food will probably be shy of some hotels, but the buildings and or locations often are spectacular.
You'd want to be around Logrono to make Alicante in the day, and that's still circa 8 hours driving. So requires some commitment from both driver and passenger(s).
If time pressed, you could use motorway all the way to Teruel and then go cross country to Utiel and Almansa on the N-330. There is very little difference in time between that route and following motorway all the way to Valencia and then Alicante.
I appreciate that you have probably already booked cross channel travel, but I'd recommend considering the Brittany ferries routes to Spain. I've run the numbers and it is very similar to driving through France, once you factor in fuel, tolls and a hotel stop. For me, it cuts out the efficient but monotonous auto routes and drops you straight in the 'action' of more interesting routes. I use the two night Thursday to Saturday crossing as I can work on the ferry, then set off from Northern Spain first thing on a Saturday morning - saves me taking a Friday off work just to sit on a motorway through France.
Finally, to whet your appetite, I'd recommend checking out Harry's Garage (Evo magazine's founder) and the video he did to Spain. He drives several of the roads mentioned above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4anhPIyQncc
I will dig out the eastern Spain routes later, and post them tomorrow.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If you are coming down the West side of France, this route incorporates the best roads I've discovered:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMzPBTxvRyGm5cce7
The best part runs from Logrono to Alicante. Along that route I've stayed in a few places:
Around Logrono 1) Marques de Riscal. Amazing experience, with a price tag to match. Car parking secured by gates with security but uncovered. 2) Finca de los Arandinos. Modern, quirky, decent food. Parking uncovered, but rural, so felt secure. 3) Hotel Virua. Modern, architecturally interesting, feels like a lower cost version of Marques de Riscal. Parking uncovered and has a relatively steep entry. I cleared it in a 981 Boxster Spyder, but it was touch a go. Parking uncovered and unsecured, although in a tiny village, so again felt secure.
Also stayed in a parador in Siquenza, a couple of hours south east of Logrono. Nice old building reasonable food. Unsecured parking, which was limited (possibly due to building works). I ended up parking on the street. More generally for accommodation, I'd recommend checking out the Parador website (Paradores.es), they have a range of interesting older buildings at reasonable prices. Service and food will probably be shy of some hotels, but the buildings and or locations often are spectacular.
You'd want to be around Logrono to make Alicante in the day, and that's still circa 8 hours driving. So requires some commitment from both driver and passenger(s).
If time pressed, you could use motorway all the way to Teruel and then go cross country to Utiel and Almansa on the N-330. There is very little difference in time between that route and following motorway all the way to Valencia and then Alicante.
I appreciate that you have probably already booked cross channel travel, but I'd recommend considering the Brittany ferries routes to Spain. I've run the numbers and it is very similar to driving through France, once you factor in fuel, tolls and a hotel stop. For me, it cuts out the efficient but monotonous auto routes and drops you straight in the 'action' of more interesting routes. I use the two night Thursday to Saturday crossing as I can work on the ferry, then set off from Northern Spain first thing on a Saturday morning - saves me taking a Friday off work just to sit on a motorway through France.
Finally, to whet your appetite, I'd recommend checking out Harry's Garage (Evo magazine's founder) and the video he did to Spain. He drives several of the roads mentioned above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4anhPIyQncc
I will dig out the eastern Spain routes later, and post them tomorrow.
Did this last year, ferry to Caen
1. https://www.booking.com/Share-7mHgdJ ** stunning
2. https://www.booking.com/Share-EXeSfk
3. https://www.booking.com/Share-9h9BpA
4. https://www.booking.com/Share-zMSAch ** wow
5. https://www.booking.com/Share-eVypmla
6. https://www.booking.com/Share-Q7FR7RZ *really great, secure car park with big spaces.
1. https://www.booking.com/Share-7mHgdJ ** stunning
2. https://www.booking.com/Share-EXeSfk
3. https://www.booking.com/Share-9h9BpA
4. https://www.booking.com/Share-zMSAch ** wow
5. https://www.booking.com/Share-eVypmla
6. https://www.booking.com/Share-Q7FR7RZ *really great, secure car park with big spaces.
Pleasure. As you are coming back via Brittany ferries, I might suggest you come down the east coast of France/ Spain on the way there, then you can do the west side of Spain on the way to the ferry. I tend to do the Alicante to Logrono route on the way to the ferry. It leaves you in striking distance of the ferry the next morning, so you can take the direct motorway to the port in a few hours, or depending on appetite for driving and ferry time, extend it over the backroads.
This is the route I typically take down the eastern side of Spain from Lleida - Alicante
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1R8brGpAYoziVQmb6
It incorporates some of that N-330 road I mentioned on the previous post Logrono to Alicante route. I've previously cut across from Perpignan to Lleida on this route https://maps.app.goo.gl/mv2bZTRN9bFLwuMz8 as well as just taken the motorway.
As I travel both ways from Santander/Bilbao, I mix up the routes. This year's outbound leg I am actually heading across the Pyrenees on day one, then heading down the east coast. Obviously you could reverse it for your trip. Appreciate that some of these times are again quite long, but you can see the decent roads if you wanted to take a few days winding your way back to the ferry.
Day 1 Santander - Lleida
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ojz897RviBg4orao9
Day 2 Lleida - Alicante (slightly less direct than the above suggestion as I have done that multiple times and want a bit of variety)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xAYZt4kzuw943xjD6
Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
This is the route I typically take down the eastern side of Spain from Lleida - Alicante
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1R8brGpAYoziVQmb6
It incorporates some of that N-330 road I mentioned on the previous post Logrono to Alicante route. I've previously cut across from Perpignan to Lleida on this route https://maps.app.goo.gl/mv2bZTRN9bFLwuMz8 as well as just taken the motorway.
As I travel both ways from Santander/Bilbao, I mix up the routes. This year's outbound leg I am actually heading across the Pyrenees on day one, then heading down the east coast. Obviously you could reverse it for your trip. Appreciate that some of these times are again quite long, but you can see the decent roads if you wanted to take a few days winding your way back to the ferry.
Day 1 Santander - Lleida
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ojz897RviBg4orao9
Day 2 Lleida - Alicante (slightly less direct than the above suggestion as I have done that multiple times and want a bit of variety)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xAYZt4kzuw943xjD6
Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
Edited by SDoran on Tuesday 9th April 14:39
SDoran said:
Snipped
Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
If you book a "premium" cabin on one of the LNG powered boats then the Commodore Lounge is included in the price - which makes the those cabins a bit of a no-brainer. If you're really early with booking the ferry, you might be able to snag one of the 3 cabins with a double bed. Definitely worth it. A premium cabin also allows you to book priority disembarkation for £15. I've not tried it yet (6 weeks to go), but hopefully it means early embarkation too, so you can get on the boat and get settled.Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
Edited by SDoran on Tuesday 9th April 14:39
As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
omniflow said:
SDoran said:
Snipped
Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
If you book a "premium" cabin on one of the LNG powered boats then the Commodore Lounge is included in the price - which makes the those cabins a bit of a no-brainer. If you're really early with booking the ferry, you might be able to snag one of the 3 cabins with a double bed. Definitely worth it. A premium cabin also allows you to book priority disembarkation for £15. I've not tried it yet (6 weeks to go), but hopefully it means early embarkation too, so you can get on the boat and get settled.Final suggestion/tip. The commodore lounge on the newer Brittany Ferries boats are worthwhile IMO. Private seating area at the front of the boat, includes snacks, buffet options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some drinks. It's around £60-£80 depending on season.
Happy to try and help if you have any other questions.
Edited by SDoran on Tuesday 9th April 14:39
As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
O/T I used to travel between N. Ireland and Scotland and priority boarding/disembarkation was worth its weight in gold. You didn't want to be at the back of a ferry load of HGV traffic on the single carriage A77/A75! Thankfully the road network is fine from these ports.
omniflow said:
If you book a "premium" cabin on one of the LNG powered boats then the Commodore Lounge is included in the price - which makes the those cabins a bit of a no-brainer. If you're really early with booking the ferry, you might be able to snag one of the 3 cabins with a double bed. Definitely worth it. A premium cabin also allows you to book priority disembarkation for £15. I've not tried it yet (6 weeks to go), but hopefully it means early embarkation too, so you can get on the boat and get settled.
As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
Also not a fan of the new LNG ships, much prefer the Pont Aven if you can get it. Commodore Lounge is a must the other areas are poor.As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
I find the problem with the 3 double bed cabins is that they are right at the rear of the ship and the fore and aft position of the double bed isn't ideal as you seem to roll about in them far more due to the roll and yaw of the ship.
omniflow said:
If you book a "premium" cabin on one of the LNG powered boats then the Commodore Lounge is included in the price - which makes the those cabins a bit of a no-brainer. If you're really early with booking the ferry, you might be able to snag one of the 3 cabins with a double bed. Definitely worth it. A premium cabin also allows you to book priority disembarkation for £15. I've not tried it yet (6 weeks to go), but hopefully it means early embarkation too, so you can get on the boat and get settled.
As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
Just seen your comment on the £15 priority disembarkation.As I've said on other threads, I'm not a fan of the LNG boats, but I do tolerate them for the journey back to the UK.
Is this a new option.
I am a BF club member have done this route every year since 2009 and always book Commodore class. I have never noticed the priority disembarkation
will certainly look this year 
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