Continue straight on to seamlessly join the D323 southern bypass and in 7.5 miles turn south, still the D323, to La Fleche and on to Bauge and Saumur. Spanish supermarkets are generally ok, all offering the basics and some a bit more upmarket, such a Carrefour. Just before Biarritz, take the D932 due south to Cambo-les-Bains. OK I admit, not quite a toll free route to Spain! However this is a busy slow trucking route and takes you right through Tours, where believe me, you dont want to be. Bear in mind that you are more likely to find Spanish camping aires inland than on the coast. When we travel, we kind of end up with a happy medium of both. Visit the very modern science museum with contemporary architecture and wander the old river bed which runs right around the city. The SpanishCostas can feel crowded withtouring motorhomes over winter, as Northern Europeans seek a milder climate. b) Short crossing to northern France, motorways to Perpignan, then the Spanish AP7 coastal motorway to your destination. Try your luck and risk a break-in at the free parking spots, park underground safely and overheat, or trythis campsite, who provide a reasonably priced shuttle into the city. If a vehicle is blocking the road, use hazard lights and put the red warning triangle 30 metres from the scene to warn approaching traffic. With one of the best winter climates in Europe and friendly locals, Spain is a perfect country for a motorhome road trip. Spanish people live a more relaxed life than perhaps any other country in Europe and this is reflected in the organisation of the day. The route through Southern Norway should take you about two to three weeks. GEAR And if you need any motorhome gear for touring France or Europe, heres what we recommend. Although this was in late February, wefound all the bars and restaurants open and welcoming. This journey requires you to travel from the place that you entered France across to Rouen. You may carry a load, such as bikes on a rack, extending by up to 10% of the length of the vehicle to the rear. If you are road tripping in Spain, then visiting Seville is a must, follow our Seville one day tour here! Look out for traffic signs indicating that winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory where you are. First, you'll take one of the ferries from Dover to Calais. Traditionally it was followed by a nap, the famous. Some go for up to six months from October onwards, we prefer to spend Christmas at home and travel out in January. Campervans or motorhomes and cars with caravans or trailers are not allowed to exceed 18.75m in total length, 4m in height and 2.55m in width. If you want a different pitch, you will be charged a supplement which often wipes out the benefit of the ACSI card, so pick smaller sites for the best experience. Where to stay in France during your journey, The Long Road South A Motorhome Route Through France To Spain. We are off on a long winter stay, so a few extra days driving are insignificant and part of motorhome enjoyment is the journey itself. You can find lots of information in our guide to the best SIM cards in Europe, especially if youre planning to be away for more than a few weeks. If you are driving a motorhome or campervan in Spain and towing, and the overall length is more than 12m (which would be one large motorhome and trailer! About 600 euros have been spent on gasoline and tolls, the most expensive of the trip without a doubt. Morocco is the perfect post-Brexit escape if youre looking to spend three months out of the Schengen area. It looks horrible, smells disgusting and its a real bummer when you tread in it. This is a long drive so to break it up we suggest stopping off at Eighty Mile Beach to stretch your legs. Take your caravan or motorhome on the slow route to North-East Spain Spain France Travel Advice We're often asked for suggested routes, and the way to Spain is one which crops up regularly. You will be almost unaware of crossing the border at Irun, watch for the Espania sign, and turn south on the N121 a surprisingly fast road wriggling through the mountains to Pamplona. Complete Europe Motorhome Travel Toolkit, CHECKLIST: Dont forget to grab your FREE Europe motorhome travel checklist HERE. We stopped atCamping Osunain the east of the city, close to the airport. Are you new to motorhoming? There are speed cameras just as in the UK, and the Spanish (and other EU) authorities have been known to pursue Brits for non-payment of fines. You might even wish to fit an extra camper habitation door lock and never leave your vehicle unattended in an unsecure area. Youll often see the typical pictogram sign by the side of the road pointing you to a service point, this may be a dedicated area, within an aire or another facility. Youll probably also want some form of air conditioning or at least a fan in your camper- temperatures can get up to 40+c. From castle to castle along the Loire 6. In some places, to turn left across a dual carriageway you need to pull-in on the right and wait until it is clear in both directions. Occasionally, some sections of road have a fixed fee, so you pay when you enter. We love helping motorhome & campervan owners make the most of their time on the road, whether youre a complete motorhome newbie or planning a long tour of Europe. Here, you can easily alternate a quiet beach day with a city trip, for example with the port city of Marseille. Digital e-guides FAQ UK Car Sticker. So, if you're searching for a cheap car rental in South Africa after landing at Pietermaritzburg Airport, look no further! Why? Each route takes about a day to drive, so take this into account when planning your Spanish road trip itinerary. Barcelona is a real foodie city, with a great central market and lots of fantastic tapas bars and seafood restaurants, check out thebest restaurants in Barcelonafor an authentic gastronomic experience when you visit the city. They also have dog kennels onboard but you CANNOT keep your dog in the ferry cabin with you (like you can from Portsmouth to Caen). We parked and stayed at the Municipal Camping Car Parking (1 Av. Leave this in the inside lane and in just under a mile take the third exit signposted to Vernon. You may find that Spanish people are not as friendly towards dogs as you are used to, and youll often see dogs tied up or confined within rural properties. In Spain you can visit the Spanish National Park Aigestortes. Whether you like it or not, bullfighting is a huge part of Spanish life and culture. The new decree aims to level the rules whether youre in a motorhome or tent but there is some acknowledged ambiguity around the wording, you can find out more inthis article. If youre planning to stay to the north, youll need to bring warm clothing. Even in the middle of summer. If you wait until youre at the ferry/ tunnel, you could spend THREE times as much! Now that BREXIT has happened and the UK pet passport scheme is no longer valid, you will need to get an Animal Health Certificate before you leave the UK. You may take advantage of our 30 percent savings and free cancellation within 48 hours of planned pick-up to Pietermaritzburg or elsewhere in the world right now on autoeurope.com! If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee at the bottom of this page- we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!). This is a fascinating and ecologically diverse part of Spain withover 80species of birds livingand breeding here. Castilian (or Spanish) is the main language, with Catalan being spoken in Catalonia, Valenciano being spoken in Valencia (both being more like the French language), Galician belonging to the northern region and Basque belonging to the Basque Country. Broadly speaking from the UK you have three options. These are surprisingly effective! A perfect and peaceful escape for you and your touring caravan, motorhome or tent, or you can purchase your Editor's picks - ideal campsites for Christmas holidays. There are a number of must-sees including the Plaza de Espaa, the Real Alczar, the Giralda Tower and the Cathedral. If you like to hike, head for the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, to hike the famousCircodeSoaso. Campervanning in Spain- motorhome overnight parking, Motorhome wild camping guides for the UK & Europe. Or take a campervan route through the popular region of Normandy and Brittany! Here's a classic setup on a campsite: shaded by trees, bikes strewn, card games underway! A gorgeous city, full of colour and atmosphere. The best campsites for discovering this popular southwest county Editor's pick - The top adults-only campsites. Most hire companies allow their motorhome rentals to be taken overseas, including our recommended hirer, Spaceship Rentals. As you can see very little time difference between the routes. Valencia is a green and vibrant city, with great nightlife. Founded by the Carthaginians around 220 B.C., the city boomed during the Roman period. On the other hand, if you have 10-14 days or longer, you can get a lot further south, certainly as far as Costa Blanca or Andalucia and possibly even get to enjoy motorhoming in Portugal if youre happy to drive every day. Continue on the N12, for another three miles and take the second exit. The Peaks of Europe, so called because they were the first landmark to be seen by sailors of old on approaching the continent, are well worth a visit. Planning a driving route from UK to Spain, Hiring a motorhome or camper to tour Spain. perfect campsite for your next trip away. An unusual bit of good news for motorists ! Based on 53,609 reviews. Perhaps its because there are several options, or perhaps because theres a mountain range in the way, but its something which gets asked over and over again in Facebook groups and forums (feel free to join our motorhoming Facebook group here). If you arrive at 6pm expecting a place, then you will probably be disappointed. Rent a motorhome between individuals. Inland and in the Spanish mountains, nights can be chilly and in the north, you may well see snow. Day 5 - Virollet-Font Paillaud to Bordeaux. You cannot touch a screen while driving (television, video, DVD etc.) If in doubt, you can always ask at the tourist office or town hall- many places are happy to allow you in their car park for the night. Many Northern Europeans (like us Brits!) If under 3,500kg go straight on, otherwise the inside lane swings right down to a bridge, after which you turn left to bring you back, through the commercial area, to the main road. New to motorhome or camper travel in Europe? As in France, sometimes there is a fee per night but often there is no charge and basic services are provided. but in others it seems to be accepted as the norm. As you approach the Costa Brava, the various resorts are clearly signposted. If you are overtaking a cyclist or a group of cyclists, you must leave at least 1.5m of clearance, and also reduce speed by 20kmh (WHY Spain, WHY?) Often vegetarian means made from vegetables, not vegetarian in the true sense of the word. In the past, Spain has been VERY crowded during the winter months, especially in the south. 1861 km and about 147 in tolls (over 200 in a camper van or motorhome). If not, 1p Mobile SIM cards are widely available and a cheap option for phone calls. Very few, if any, shops are open on Sundays so make sure youve stocked up! Some larger sites or those run by corporates will have a fixed number of ACSI pitches which will have EHU but no water or drainage. There are lots of failed projects around and many, many half built houses and buildings. READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome. Avoid cities if youre driving in a motorhome- many of them are too crowded and the streets are just not cut out for large vehicles. The trade-off is the Costas where traffic ramps up and tailbacks are frequent. Top Tip: Even if you book a standard class cabin, its possible to book into the Commodore C-Club lounge, where free hot drinks, water and wine are served, along with generous snacks, meaning you dont need to pay for expensive food on board. Incredible mountain views from Banff Gondola. All UK providers now limit data usage in the EU in some way or another, and its best to check with your provider to make sure you dont run up a big bill. Normandy between cliffs and traces of war 5. Driving the Vrsic Pass Slovenias spectacular mountain road, Car crash or road traffic accident in Europe- what to do, Reviewed Best Wales Motorhome sites (& campervanning in wales tips! So dont walk out into the road thinking traffic will stop for you. If the weather is reasonable we can recommend a few nights stop for some cycling or beachcombing. The editorial team's campsites of choice in the north of England Editor's Pick - The best campsites in Dorset. If youd like to get FREE motorhome and road trip checklists, you can find them here. Spanish toll roads are pay-as-you-go and are very reasonably priced. This route is available in the Campercontact app. The long road south - a motorhome route through France to Spain You may be surprised at how many motorhomes from northern Europe travel to campsites in Spain for the winter. Users rate their experience with 4.8/5! Find motorhome and campervan sites at Pitchup that are bound to get the bark of approval With great routes across Europe, its easy to drive to Spain by car, arriving refreshed and unstressed from the comfort of your own vehicle. Its easy to find motorhome campsites in Spain and theyre much like campsites anywhere else in Europe. Unless you are in an absolute dive or the service is dreadful, it is expected that you will leave a tip, usually around 5%.