UK to Valencia/Alicante?

[ReaderScars]

Does anyone have any suggestions or reccomendations for the cheapest route from the UK down to the beaches between Alicante and Valencia at all?

This should be happening next month, perhaps a little sooner, in a medium hatchback diesel rental. If anyone can give any advice that would be great (longest I've ever driven was Derbyshire-St.Ives).

[RESSE]

We have driven UK to Costa Blanca a couple of times via Eurotunnel.

I am not sure of the 'best' route as I know other PHers have done the trip, but the following may help?

TOLLS (2014)
Calais to Paris A26/A10 21.40
Paris A10/Orleans to Viernon 19.10
Brive to Montauban 12.50
Montauban to Toulouse 4.00
Toulouse to Le Bou Lou 20.20
La Jon Quera to Granolers 14.00
Barcelona to Valencia 53.40

AP7 Valencia J50 to Barcelona J25 36.55 Euros
Barcelona 1.61 Euros to Grand Prot
AP7 J13 Granolles to La Jourquera J2 14.25 Euros
A7 J43 Le bouton to Tolouse A61 20.70 Euros
Tolouse J12 to A20 Montauban J68 3.30 Euros
Montauban J60 to Brive J54 12.70 Euros
Vierzon A71 to St Arranlt (Paris) A10 19.40 Euros
A1 J18 to A26 Bethune J6 15.70 Euros
A26 Bethune to Calais 6.00 Euro

DISTANCES (approx.)
Calais Eurotunnel to Bethune A26 51 miles/1 hour
Bethune to Narbonne via Paris/Limoges/Toulouse A1 A10 A71 A62 A61 647 miles/9 hours
Narbonne to Moraira via Barcelona/Valencia A9 A7 450 miles/6.5 hours

FUEL (3.0i BMW X5)
105 Euros at Calais
118.39 Euros at Mount Lucon
115.28 Euros at Gorina

[ReaderScars]

Thank you fo your comprehensive reply, this will definitely help - driving through France and then Spain isn't something I've done before so there is plenty to consider.

[marshalla]

Rental car - make sure you have permission, and proof of permission, to take it abroad.

If it weren't for the time of year, I'd be suggesting getting the ferry to Spain and driving across instead of going to France and driving all the way down.

And if you're going to use the Autoroute in France, get a toll tag from www.saneftolling.co.uk , it'll make the péages a lot easier.

[FourRings]

Here's a link to whet your appetite, from a trip of mine in 2011. Whilst your route will be slightly different, my advice is to enjoy it!

http://a1-forum.co.uk/a1forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&am...

[ReaderScars]

Thanks for the toll link Marshalla, did have a couple of questions about arranging payment for them. I did consider the ferry actually but decided against it.

[ReaderScars]

FourRings said:

Here's a link to whet your appetite, from a trip of mine in 2011. Whilst your route will be slightly different, my advice is to enjoy it!

http://a1-forum.co.uk/a1forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&am...

Just read your write up, you made some good points for me to consider and I'm going to have to do something about the boredom factor.

That's if I can get permission for a rental to be taken abroad, as Marshalla pointed out!

[R8VXF]

Just got back yesterday from driving down to Sintra (near Lisbon) through France then back via Santander and the ferry. Stopped off for a day in both Andorra and Madrid. Drove 2000 miles before I encountered any significant traffic (Toll bridge towards Lisbon), within 30 minutes of driving in the UK came to a standstill on the A3. Then the M25. And also the M4. The road quality here sucks, the traffic is awful and people have no lane discipline. Enjoy your time on the continent, it is brilliant.

This is roughly the route I took: http://binged.it/1P4BJCQ

[ReaderScars]

R8, I've been taking an envious look at your map a few times through the day.

Perhaps this is a bit premature but it looks like this trip may not be happening. This is due to the cost as it looks like it will be in the region of £850 excluding fuel, if my reckoning is right (this includes airbnb'ing it for six nights.

The road trip isn't actually a definite requirement - it was strongly considered in order to circumvent potential damage or theft/losses of equipment being flown to the UK.

The options I've got are:
A) Fly to training destination anywhere warm, fly equipment back with me to UK
B) Have equipment brought to the UK, undergo training here, hope equipment doesn't get damaged etc en route)
C) Drive to warmer climate, undergo training, drive back with equipment

After looking at what the final costs are likely to be, I'm leaning towards A or B. The money not spent will be put to good use as this is more or less a precursor to a business venture, rather than a pure holiday.

[ReaderScars]

I would just like to say again RESSE, thank you for the concise info you shared, very much appreciated.

[RESSE]

ReaderScars said:

I would just like to say again RESSE, thank you for the concise info you shared, very much appreciated.

You are most welcome.

(We tool the motorway route as we were under time pressure (I would have preferred the back roads)).

Calais Eurotunnel to Bethune A26 51 miles/1 hour
Bethune to Narbonne via Paris/Limoges/Toulouse A1 A10 A71 A62 A61 647 miles/9 hours
Narbonne to Moraira (Costa Blanca)via Barcelona/Valencia A9 A7 450 miles/6.5 hours

Edited by RESSE on Thursday 29th October 09:53

[Super Slo Mo]

What kind of equipment are you transporting that you're worried about it being damaged in transit?
I say this because we quite frequently travel with expensive and delicate equipment without much issue. It is, however, packed in peli type travel cases which are incredibly robust and durable.

[RESSE]

Super Slo Mo said:

What kind of equipment are you transporting that you're worried about it being damaged in transit?
I say this because we quite frequently travel with expensive and delicate equipment without much issue. It is, however, packed in peli type travel cases which are incredibly robust and durable.

1. Small dog.
2. Wife



We packed the boot carefully with run of the mill suitcases and one of those plastic storage boxes from Argos (strong enough to stand on type of thing).

[RESSE]

ReaderScars said:

I would just like to say again RESSE, thank you for the concise info you shared, very much appreciated.

I have some information on the (relatively inexpensive, but reasonable) places we stayed on our trips if that would help?

[ReaderScars]

I should explain a little. I ordered recreation equipment which has a four month production to delivery period. If damage or loss/theft occurs during transit, this will cause issues rather than the replacement - obviously it would be insured - but it would impact the intended start up of a business.

The item is about 6'x2', 14Kg. The manufacturers do fly them around the world but I just want to minimise risks - this is the reason for the trip, to a warmer training location than the UK in November.

The equipment is accompanied and delivered to the customer anywhere in the world, this is built into the purchase price - so I've decided not to pay twice and just have it delivered here.