Driving from Santander to Alicante, advice welcomed

[sue-g]

Hi

we are doing this trip in a couple of months, taking the evo for it's first trip abroad, and just wondered if anyone had done it going via Zaragoza. any advice would be welcomed, especially on things like the availability of good super unleaded petrol on the way down and in the area and good places for stopovers etc

many thanks

sue

[Kermit power]

I did exactly this trip, but unfortunately nearly 20 years ago!

My main memory was of the road from Santander up to Burgos. Lots of climbing, lots of tight bends, and lots of truckers who would indicate in to the side of the road when it was safe for you to pass them, and in to the centre when it wasn't. It took a while to summon up the confidence to overtake on blind bends, but once you accepted their direction, it didn't half increase our pace!

[sue-g]

cheers, will remember that! think some of the trip will be toll roads so hopefully that will help speed things along too!

[Kermit power]

We went via Burgos, Madrid and Valencia. As I recall, the only part which didn't have excellent motorways was the part from Santander up to Burgos.

[P.J.]

if you can do a detour can highly recomend staying in laguardia in rioja. a hill top village with wine cellars dug out of the rock below. wine was about 40p a glass at the exchange rate 3 years ago.
we stayed at the Sercotel Villa de Laguardia for a reasonable price. only a 10 min walk into the centre of the village.

[JCW]

Super unleaded is common, particularly on the autovia/pistas so don't worry on that issue. Take a TomTom or similar with you if it has the speed camera facility as there are plenty about, but having said that I've not been taken to task driving a UK registered vehicle but have received fines driving Spanish registered cars.

If you don't want to get snarled up driving round Madrid (the quicker route, I'd have thought) then take the western toll road which will cost you about €12.00 but save time by avoiding traffic. Its an easy day's drive, but if you do want to stay overnight somewhere then I'd recommend the Paradores, usually old converted buildings such as monasteries that have been turned into hotels during and after Franco's regime.