Info on Driving to the Algarve
Discussion
Any advice?
Don't like flying & spending a £1000 & on arrival hiring something soulless for another £700, so I am trying to convince the real boss it makes sense...you know nice stop off en route somewhere in the southern end of france, few glasses of wine , next morning continental breakfast & a drive through the pyrennes and late that evening arriving with all our kit/bikes etc in Salema, Western Algarve.
Rac Route planner says 23 hours driving! the wife says I am mad.....am I?or is there anyone that can sell this potential journey.
PS- I am about 1 hr from calais & normally do between 90-95 when driving in France.
Thinking of getting a Friday afternoon Ferry, drive till late, then crack on early Saturday morning hoping for a late Saturday arrival?
I have a day or so to plan my route with some facts or the flights & Fiat Panda await.
Don't like flying & spending a £1000 & on arrival hiring something soulless for another £700, so I am trying to convince the real boss it makes sense...you know nice stop off en route somewhere in the southern end of france, few glasses of wine , next morning continental breakfast & a drive through the pyrennes and late that evening arriving with all our kit/bikes etc in Salema, Western Algarve.
Rac Route planner says 23 hours driving! the wife says I am mad.....am I?or is there anyone that can sell this potential journey.
PS- I am about 1 hr from calais & normally do between 90-95 when driving in France.
Thinking of getting a Friday afternoon Ferry, drive till late, then crack on early Saturday morning hoping for a late Saturday arrival?
I have a day or so to plan my route with some facts or the flights & Fiat Panda await.
Last year I drove an artic back from Parc Algar, some truly stunning scenery, a great opportunity to visit the Milau bridge (if you chose the right route 
)which is incredible and probably the longest game of 'eye spy' you will ever play! ha ha ha
No really, do it - in terms of fuel and tolls etc it may not be much cheaper but the experience will be awesome.
)which is incredible and probably the longest game of 'eye spy' you will ever play! ha ha haNo really, do it - in terms of fuel and tolls etc it may not be much cheaper but the experience will be awesome.
Edited by Ben Magoo on Wednesday 21st July 22:20
Do it! Awesome experience. I done it last year, here to the south of Spain. Stopped at Bordeaux and Burgos over night on the way. Petrol soon adds up and the tolls cost a lot too. Petrol was more in France than the Uk last summer, not sure on now? Think i remember paying about 1.49euros a litre. Although worth it as the French roads are great for hooning!
Remember your high vis jacket, bulbs etc...
Such a weird feeling having your car on holiday with you! I will certainly do it again.
Remember your high vis jacket, bulbs etc...
Such a weird feeling having your car on holiday with you! I will certainly do it again.
I can only tell you that my dad drives from South Wales to just outside Montinhos da Luz a couple of times a year and tries to do it in a couple of days; he's usually absolutely knackered when he gets there.
Bear in mind also that like people have said, petrol is dear and the GNR love pulling over British-registered cars, especially on the Almadena-Sagres road. Make sure you have all the necesary kit - reflective jacket, warning triangle etc - because it's a fine for each item you don't have and they know the Brits aren't that clued-up on it.
Bear in mind also that like people have said, petrol is dear and the GNR love pulling over British-registered cars, especially on the Almadena-Sagres road. Make sure you have all the necesary kit - reflective jacket, warning triangle etc - because it's a fine for each item you don't have and they know the Brits aren't that clued-up on it.
deffo drive it. I used to drive down to about half way through france every summer. Wife and Daughter would fly from stanstead so I used to hack it down in a day and meet them when they landed around 4.30 so would then have the car there with us. Loved it so would always vote to drive.
Oh yes, well worth the drive. I've driven this route (well... to southern Spain) many a time in varying degrees of cars too.
My route was as follows:-
Day 1: Calais - Bordeaux
Day 2: Bordeaux - Madrid
Day 3: Madrid - Granada
It's a solid 3 day drive, I didn't pay much attention to fuel consumption but I did notice that the tolls were really adding up in France, they are pretty expensive. You need to be careful of the speed cameras in France too, they are signposted but still in unfamiliar surroundings they can take you by surprise, they're all front facing too. The police tend to hang around the straights of the toll roads with lazers too, so watch out. Make sure you carry cash incase you are stopped, you need to pay the fine on the spot.
A night in Bordeaux is excellent, after quite a long day (and surviving the Paris Périphérique) it's great to kick back and have a nice meal and some excellent wine. It's great crossing over into Spain and everything changes, it renews your driving energy and spirit. Watch for the Spanish police upto 100km after the border, they are keen to stop you for whatever reason they can manage. I've always found this particular stretch like this. Make sure you've got all your required documents on you!
Into Madrid - An overnight there, head into the city if you're upto it, but for me by this point it's a meal and early night with the last leg looming. I always fuel the car before I park up in Madrid so I can make my one last sash down to the south. An early start on the empty toll roads and you can give it some gas that'll make up some time. I've always found getting out of Madrid quite difficult, it's a bit of a maze, even with GPS and up-to-date maps.
Roll into your destination - Admire the dirt on your car and take in where you've just come from in your car.
Given the choice of plane + crappy hire car I'd drive anyday. Fantastic experience no matter how many times you cover it.
If you got the time, drive it!
Braziller.
My route was as follows:-
Day 1: Calais - Bordeaux
Day 2: Bordeaux - Madrid
Day 3: Madrid - Granada
It's a solid 3 day drive, I didn't pay much attention to fuel consumption but I did notice that the tolls were really adding up in France, they are pretty expensive. You need to be careful of the speed cameras in France too, they are signposted but still in unfamiliar surroundings they can take you by surprise, they're all front facing too. The police tend to hang around the straights of the toll roads with lazers too, so watch out. Make sure you carry cash incase you are stopped, you need to pay the fine on the spot.
A night in Bordeaux is excellent, after quite a long day (and surviving the Paris Périphérique) it's great to kick back and have a nice meal and some excellent wine. It's great crossing over into Spain and everything changes, it renews your driving energy and spirit. Watch for the Spanish police upto 100km after the border, they are keen to stop you for whatever reason they can manage. I've always found this particular stretch like this. Make sure you've got all your required documents on you!
Into Madrid - An overnight there, head into the city if you're upto it, but for me by this point it's a meal and early night with the last leg looming. I always fuel the car before I park up in Madrid so I can make my one last sash down to the south. An early start on the empty toll roads and you can give it some gas that'll make up some time. I've always found getting out of Madrid quite difficult, it's a bit of a maze, even with GPS and up-to-date maps.
Roll into your destination - Admire the dirt on your car and take in where you've just come from in your car.
Given the choice of plane + crappy hire car I'd drive anyday. Fantastic experience no matter how many times you cover it.
If you got the time, drive it!
Braziller.
MCFADDEN said:
Don't like flying & spending a £1000 & on arrival hiring something soulless for another £700, so I am trying to convince the real boss it makes sense...you know nice stop off en route somewhere in the southern end of france, few glasses of wine , next morning continental breakfast & a drive through the pyrennes and late that evening arriving with all our kit/bikes etc in Salema, Western Algarve.
A friend of mine used to do UK midlands to Malaga a lot.Overnite in Bordeaux on the way. Avoid Paris.
He's done it a few times in a Transit van.
It's a doddle, apparently.
MCFADDEN said:
Rac Route planner says 23 hours driving! the wife says I am mad.....am I?or is there anyone that can sell this potential journey.
PS- I am about 1 hr from calais & normally do between 90-95 when driving in France.
French plod aren't going to bother you at that sort of speed.PS- I am about 1 hr from calais & normally do between 90-95 when driving in France.
They only seem to bother when they have to, i.e. over 160 kph.
So much more civilised than the speed obsessed UK.
MCFADDEN said:
Thinking of getting a Friday afternoon Ferry, drive till late, then crack on early Saturday morning hoping for a late Saturday arrival?
I have a day or so to plan my route with some facts or the flights & Fiat Panda await.
To sell it to the management, just tell her that if youI have a day or so to plan my route with some facts or the flights & Fiat Panda await.
take the car, you'll be able to bring back far more stuff
than you ever could by airplane.
Ok it'll cost you money and time in the shops, but at very
least if you try it and you don't like it, at least you will
know why.
madala said:
...another option is to go via Santander on the overnight crossing either from Portsmouth or Plymouth.....it's the way I would go.....still gives you a lot of good driving.....
f
king expensive ferry though, personally i'd nip down through france, It's a piece of piss and will work out cheaper.There will be zero traffic so the driving is stupidly easy.
Like others have said, It's a great feeling having your car with you when you're away, much more fun than a hire shed.
I'm going down to southern Spain next weekend. V early ferry to Calais, drive down to Millau for overnight stop, then up early again and onto Almeria.
A lot in two days, but then have three weeks to rest! Wife and daughters are flying, the boys coming with me.
V8 petrol bills will add up, but I reckon I'll get around thirty to the gallon, and we can take as much stuff as we want.
A lot in two days, but then have three weeks to rest! Wife and daughters are flying, the boys coming with me.
V8 petrol bills will add up, but I reckon I'll get around thirty to the gallon, and we can take as much stuff as we want.
Edited by rgracin on Thursday 22 July 08:48
Thanks for the advice so far.
The Millau bridge sounds great & I would love to see it!
Sounds like a Friday afternoon start with 1 stop over & drive the next day, would be a struggle, with the Guv & two kids.
She would like the journey over by Saturday evening.
Is the RAC Route the best (& does it take in the bridge)
What distance from Calais to the bridge?
Any accomodation you can recommend around there?
The Millau bridge sounds great & I would love to see it!
Sounds like a Friday afternoon start with 1 stop over & drive the next day, would be a struggle, with the Guv & two kids.
She would like the journey over by Saturday evening.
Is the RAC Route the best (& does it take in the bridge)
What distance from Calais to the bridge?
Any accomodation you can recommend around there?
Not been quite as far as Portugal but I did London - Murcia in southern Spain in two days, that wasn't two bad. London to Narbonne on the first day (was originally going to stay in Perpignan which is much nicer, but the cheapo hotel chain place there was fully booked) then Narbonne to Murcia the next. About 13 hours driving the first day and 10 the second, although had it not been for the traffic we'd have managed Narbonne in more like 11 hours.
I'd thoroughly recommend trying to find fuel stops off the motorway, just a few miles off at a hypermarket can bring a saving of 20 cents a litre, which will make a huge difference if you're filling up a full tank. Also do bear in mind that there are tolls in Spain, and they are just as expensive as those in France. I think the toll bill for a trip last year was nearly as much as the fuel.
I'd thoroughly recommend trying to find fuel stops off the motorway, just a few miles off at a hypermarket can bring a saving of 20 cents a litre, which will make a huge difference if you're filling up a full tank. Also do bear in mind that there are tolls in Spain, and they are just as expensive as those in France. I think the toll bill for a trip last year was nearly as much as the fuel.
Edited by norman156 on Thursday 22 July 11:26
I'd be inclined to take the ferry if you have kids.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
davepoth said:
I'd be inclined to take the ferry if you have kids.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
As already mentioned by someone else, the ferry is bloody expensive. I just had a look on the P&O sight (slow day at work!) and you're looking at £800 in August. Adding to that, looks like there's usually only 2 crossings a week so it's hardly flexible, and I think the cabins may be extra. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
Adding to what I said before, petrol was quite a bit cheaper in Spain than in France last year, cheapest I filled up for in france was eur 1.22 ish, whereas in Spain 1 euro a litre seemed pretty common (both of these prices off the motorway) so if you do go bear that in mind before you give it a tank near the Spanish border and then kick yourself when you see the prices over there. Not sure how the price difference has changed since then, will be worth checking.
The ferries to Spain are expensive, I did Portsmouth - Bilbao a few years ago on Brittany Ferries, apart from being BLOODY boring the service was good and the cabins not bad, mind i didn't get much change out of a £1000 for a car and two adults.
I prefer to drive, i can stop and get out at my own pleasure, the ferries are big and full of things to do but it does feel claustrophobic after a while. Though if you have kids there is entertainment.
P&O are supposed to be shocking on the routes to Spain.
I prefer to drive, i can stop and get out at my own pleasure, the ferries are big and full of things to do but it does feel claustrophobic after a while. Though if you have kids there is entertainment.
P&O are supposed to be shocking on the routes to Spain.
Edited by MidlandDan84 on Thursday 22 July 12:10
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