You join the Poitiers ring northwest of the city and leave it just four miles later on the N10. 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. We will tell you more about nine selected places on this route. Be prepared for amazing scenery, an abundance of wildlife, unspoilt Atlantic coastline and Spain's stunning 'Picos de Europas' mountains. Don't . Gas bottles are also widely available, with butane generally being more popular because of the warmer climate (butaneis more suited to milderweather conditions but propane is better for cold weather as it burns at lower temperatures). Find it here). As with most countries in Europe, you have four options when it comes to where to park your motorhome or camper overnight: Sadly, Spain is getting tougher about free overnight motorhome parking spots and many places now ban them completely. You can find out more information here. On the way, stop atSant Carles de la Rapita,a charming Spanish town with lots of great seafood restaurants. We're driving a big vehicle on the wrong side of the road, so avoiding city centres is also preferable. Be warned- the hot water in the shower is on a timer- usually between 3-5 minutes per token. Valencia then the N340 where the A7 goes peaje. It is not a fight breaking out or a lovers tiff, its just everyday conversation! 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. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. Caravan & Motorhome Holidays Abroad ; Trip along Spanish Pyrenees to . If you arrive at 6pm expecting a place, then you will probably be disappointed. The author is giving their chosen route from the ferry port. 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. Weve been touring Europe in our motorhome for several years. About 600 euros have been spent on gasoline and tolls, the most expensive of the trip without a doubt. Santiago de Compostela is a stunningly beautiful city full of twisting alleys, elegant squares and historicreligious buildings, with interesting nooks and crannies everywhere. On hills, use the crawler lanes to get out of the way of faster-moving traffic. We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices and excellent service. *We work hard to make this the best motorhome blog and road trip website possible, full of helpful content for you. As a result I'm looking for as much help as I I can get. Join our email list here and get access to our FREE resource library. Main roads (mostly modern single carriageway roads) are in green. Not only is this a noteworthy hike along the route of the river Guadalhorce, but it is also in an area of outstanding natural beauty worth exploring further. 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). Continue to Pont-de-lArche where you cross the river and keep going, still on the D6015, for 4miles to a round-a-bout. Seville is hot, steamy and so very Spanish! 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. the packaging is unbroken unless in current use. Get lost wandering the streets and alleys, soaking up the heat and atmosphere whilst stumbling upon gorgeous plazas and cool bars around every corner. The Gap Decaders are participants in a number of affiliate programmes. These are usually exceptionally good value and will give you a taste of the local and seasonal flavour and cooking style. You can find out more informationhere. You can either have two small boards or one large board but they must be placed at the back of the outfit between 50cm and 150cm off the ground. Bigger supermarkets may be open, but will close at lunchtime. Due to the huge swathes of nothingness in the interior, tolls are definitely worth taking if you are trekking from one side of Spain to the other in your motorhome. You can park a motorhome during the day anywhere parking is allowed (as long as there are no signs banning motorhome parking) and as long as you arent overhanging a space or blocking the road. We work hard to make this website the best it can be. These caterpillars can kill dogs and small children, and will most definitely spoil your motorhome trip if you bump into one! Nor is getting out the awning and putting up your TV aerial. If you wait until youre at the ferry/ tunnel, you could spend THREE times as much! But let's get down to practicalities. Not all spaces are level and the majority were originally designed for cars so have kerbs in what is now the middle of the space! You will fall in love with this captivating and romantic city. - Travelling down the coast is one of the best France motorhome routes If you've got the staying power, then get yourself down to the south west of France where this cool coastal town, not too far from the Spanish border, can offer you a few days of sun, sea and surf. If youd like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. All across Spain, you will find a network ofVia Verdes literally translated as the green ways. French campsites are mostly open in the summer, and motorhome aires available all year. The Spanish Pyrenees are absolutely stunning. ive been looking through some discussions about driving down but none that fit my criteria; Utilise the campsite bar a glass of wine and a beer will typically cost 3, a bargain! For information on how to find good wild camping places, WHAT to do when youre there and how to stay safe, check out our step-by-step guide for motorhome wild camping in the UK and Europe, complete with database of 250+ overnight spots weve stayed with our motorhome. All Rights Reserved. ), visit the Start Here page to find out how we can help you! The device is no larger than a slimline smart phone, connects with up to ten devices, is charged easily with a USB and can be delivered within a few days of ordering. Castilian is most common, but there is also Basque, Catalan and some smaller dialects. a) Ferry to the north coast of Spain and drive south to your chosen Costa. 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. However, now that BREXIT has happened and rules have changed (more on that later too! If you are staying longer, then it is likely that the sites own rate will be better value the longer you stay the cheaper it becomes. The area has hardly any mass tourism. Spain is not as finished as you might be used to. MMM is Britain's best-selling motorhome magazine and it has been for over 55 years. We stood looking at these tinyvessels in awe of the courage and belief it must have taken to start that famous voyage. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UKs largest motorhome travel websites or get a cocker spaniel. If you do find any discrepancies, please do let us know. Unlike other countries in the continent, in the UK there are no Areas enabled for overnight stay for motorhomes or campervans. All rights reserved, Gift ideas for motorhome & campervanners, Our favourite motorhome & road trip gear, (Already purchased a guide or course? To find out where to stay during stage 1 - click here. If youre feeling brave, go to Valencia during Las Fallas, the famous fire festival. Dont try and wild camp in busy/ popular areas- like the Costa del Sol- unless youre visiting in the lowest of low season. However, with a little common sense and staying within the restrictions, its often possible to stay off-grid with your motorhome or campervan. Garmin Camper 760LM 7" - Lifetime Europe Maps Sat Nav - Camper You may find that if youre in the mountains in winter, this mix causes your boiler to sound like a freight train unless you have a specific altitude setting which some models of Alde boiler have as an extra. Spanish supermarkets are generally ok, all offering the basics and some a bit more upmarket, such a Carrefour. Aires are just approved motorhome overnight parking places- often provided and maintained by the local commune. If youve been motorhoming in Italy, you might surprised to learn that aires are called Aires in Spain, just like in France (theyre called Sostas in Italy). For Spanish gas bottles, you will need a different regulator, available from most DIY or camping shops. A spare wheel (and tools to change it! LPG for refillable systems is available in many garages, use the myLPG app to search near where you are. Number of days: Two to four. Is there any other city throughout the whole of Europe that offers visitors a more diverse range of things to do than Barcelona? However if you encounter very strong winds remember its a forest area on light sandy soil, parking under trees may be ill advised. Planning to take your motorhome to Europe? Our route only involves one major junction so, outside rush hour, traffic should be reasonably light. The beautiful capital city of Spain has to be visited. TOP TIP: Buy these essentials for driving in Spain in advance. Motorhome rental between Individuals Theyre not often allowed on public transport, even with a muzzle, which made visiting places difficult. Exit at junction 29 and drop down a hill. There is a lot of diverse hiking here but the weather can be unstable and the terrain unforgiving. Reception at the campsite will give you more information about the Metro and explain the different types of tickets. Why? 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?) Its easy to find motorhome campsites in Spain and theyre much like campsites anywhere else in Europe. motorhome routes through france to spain - rulonenterprises.com c) Short crossing but drive across country through France and Spain. For a more authentic Spain, head to inland rural areas away from the Costas and enjoy everything the mountains and gorgeous interior cities have to offer. Many camping sites will provide desalinated water instead of potable water. > Guide + 20 Routes to Travel Through France by Motorhome In practice, this could mean towing your car while its fixed to a trailer, although there is ambiguity around this and differing advice can be found on the internet. We fancied maybe staying at camping oyambre the other side of Santander and doing a car trip into the Picos and surroundings then down to Haro to taste some Rioja. ), Motorhoming in Germany- everything you need to know, REVIEWED: Best Motorhome or Caravan TVs (How to choose), Reviewed: motorhome Essentials every van needs. Route 1 is via Tours, Bordeaux and down the Atlantic coast on the N10 until you cross the border between Biarritz and San Sebastien. The motorhome route is shown in the map below. When it comes to the cheapest Switzerland car rentals online, Auto Europe . The motorhome route costs: 14.99PRO users will pay: 11.99. We havent travelled any further than the south of France and as were working at the time we used the motorways. Ducato named the "Best Motorhome Base of the Year" for the Twelfth Time For Spain motorhome rental best if youre travelling with a family or need more room check out Motorhome Republic, who have over 40 pick-up and drop-off locations in Spain, meaning you can plan a one-way drop-off, or access the bit of Spain you want to see really easily. Spanish cooking is very regional, with fish, shellfish and pork featuring heavily on most menus. Hi there! Your UK licence allows you to drive in all EU countries. Search my posts about motorhoming, wild parking, taking a van to Europe, tips for new owners and much more. This gorge is spanned spectacularly by an 18thcentury arched bridge andtall housesperchprecariouslyalong itsedges. Take a road trip to Spain from UK by driving through France. Either way, travelling through France to Spain could be the perfect European route for you. Contains eBook, checklists and more. Morocco is the perfect post-Brexit escape if youre looking to spend three months out of the Schengen area. Here's a classic setup on a campsite: shaded by trees, bikes strewn, card games underway! Do you want to wild camp in your motorhome? Undiscovered Spain & Portugal - GB Motorhome Tours Park your campervan, set up your mountain or road bike, fill up your water bottle, and get exploring! Our pick of the best campsites for a family holiday Editor's Pick - The best open-all-year campsites. If you are ordering a chicken dish in Spain, be very careful with your pronunciation of. Traditionally it was followed by a nap, the famous. 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. What documents do you need to drive in Spain? Our essential guide to visiting Norway in a motorhome will provide you with all the information you needwhat are you waiting for? If youre going later and youre in a popular town or city, expect to wait for a table or book. Where to stay in France during your journey, The Long Road South A Motorhome Route Through France To Spain. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. Cabins are not mandatory, but the alternative reclining seats are uncomfortable and noisy. Or take a campervan route through the popular region of Normandy and Brittany! which could distract you when driving should be positioned where you cant see it. With this in mind, we've asked our campsite assessors to come up with their suggested route through France to the Catalan border. In the interior of Spain in your motorhome, you may well have long stretches of sweeping autopista(motorway) and autova(dual carriageway) to yourself. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Garmin Camper 760LM 7" - Lifetime Europe Maps Sat Nav - Camper/Motorhome/Caravan at the best online prices at eBay! If you dont have your own vehicle, you can easily fly into Spain and hire one. If you intend staying on the city campsite then watch for airport signs to go anticlockwise north, otherwise continue clockwise to the free A63 motorway. With one of the best winter climates in Europe and friendly locals, Spain is a perfect country for a motorhome road trip. a lazy morning, and stop en-route, so you have the best chance of finding a spot around this time, but thats when the day is at its hottest, so be careful. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some towns are making real efforts to combat this issue (one traces the poo and posts it back.how??) This is because of the financial crash in 2008 and the subsequent bursting of Spains property bubble. Peaje or AP is a toll road. Lunch, which is the main meal of the day, is eaten between 2 and 3pm. Youll find great hiking and bird-watching trails here. a motorhome route through France to Spain - Out and About Live NEWS : The Spanish authorities have (for the time being) removed the tolls from the AP7 motorway between the French border and Alicante. Incredible mountain views from Banff Gondola. Check out our post about driving from the UK to Spainfor scenic routes and destination ideas. Day 5 - Virollet-Font Paillaud to Bordeaux. Road surfaces are generally pretty good and, unlike France, they try to avoid 10,0000000 road works on a bank holiday weekend. Diesel in Spain is some of the cheapest in Europe, especially if you fill up at the supermarket, with Cepsa and Repsol garages being the most expensive. 29 of the Best Motorhome Apps Free & Downloadable Now! Many places have a sign saying NO motorhome overnight parking, but you are fine to park during the day. READ MORE: How to get a UK Animal Health Certificate after BREXIT. Very few, if any, shops are open on Sundays so make sure youve stocked up! Hi there, Im Kat. TOP TIP: If youre planning to stay in one area for a long time (30+ days), negotiate a special rate with the campsite directly. If you are driving in the mountains, you MUST sound your horn before a blind bend, but its illegal to use a horn in built-up areas. 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. When planning a motorhome tour of Spain, the first thing you need to do is to figure out where youre going (and how long you have for your road trip!). A prosperous and cosmopolitan city with a great vibe. If you are stopping for over 30 nights it is possible to stay at a good quality site for 10 a night including electricity. Motorhome with children Motorhome with animals Surftrip motorhome Wedding VW combi. DISCLAIMER: This post was last updated in October 2021. When you think of Spain, many people think of overcrowded beaches in Benidorm, drunken teenagers and possibly Sangria. Two days from Dunkerque to Biarritz. I dont like the Bay of Biscay in winter, nor paying to use expensive motorways. It's almost Toll free (more on that a little later . You cannot touch a screen while driving (television, video, DVD etc.) Of course, Spain is a classic summer destination, and it can be CROWDED, especially at the UNESCO world heritage sites in Spain and on the beaches. Journey along the loneliest road in America. From here either turn towards Ainhoa to cross the border, or continue on to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port where you enter Spain and climb to a 1,000m over the Ibaneta Pass. Spain is a fantastic country for road tripping. From the Cote dAzur to the deserted and tranquil interior, France is the perfect place to spend a summer in your motorhome. This is one of the quickest motorhome routes through France to Spain and is the cheapest from a toll perspective. In Spain, LPG is grade C, which means the percentage mix of propane to butane is approximately 30/70. A similar scheme to France Passion, Espana Discoveryprovides motorhomers with stopovers at over 206 off-the-beaten-path farms, bodegas (vineyards) and producers. With a depot in London, top-notch customer service and all the equipment you need for an easy holiday, Spaceship offers the best deals for Europe. Dont forget to grab your FREE motorhoming in Europe checklist below to help you stay organised and remember everything you need. This is a fascinating and ecologically diverse part of Spain withover 80species of birds livingand breeding here. Motorhome Tour to Europe - the route France to Spain #motorhomelife Our award-winning customer service team . The white dots are the stops we describe and the moons are our campsite suggestions. When you click on an affiliate link in a page or post, at no cost to you, we earn fees by advertising and linking to our affiliate partners. This is an ideal crossing if time is of the essence, or youre travelling with a dog (some boats have pet-friendly cabins and some have kennels) but cabins and kennel places do book up quickly. An editorial review of Tyddyn Llwyn Camping, Caravan & Touring Park Editor's picks - ideal campsites for city breaks. We highly recommend paying extra attention to your motorhome security when travelling in Italy. The most famous French motorway connects Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva with Menton on the French Riviera. Dog Friendly Motorhome campsites in Yecla, Spain Spains capital city is a beautiful and cultured city with stunning architecture, tranquil parks and some of the best art museums in Europe. Grab your FREE France travel checklist so you remember it all! Trip along Spanish Pyrenees to Perpignan then through France In January 2020 and September 2021, many motorhome tolls were removed. See Motorhome Fall Into River Amid Catastrophic California Storms Man City want 100m Liverpool target at all costs with current star ready to 'pack up and leave' for Spain 'You can't trust . Discussions | The Caravan Club Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here. The biggest consideration to this ferry (apart from the cost), is the weather. Motorhoming through France means that you are totally flexible as you road trip France, and you can either have a fixed plan and route all mapped out or you can travel along and decide where to go as your whim decides. 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! Motorhome touring in the beautiful and varied country of France is a pleasure. NOTE: Gas bottles can be tough to get- and its forbidden to fill foreign gas cylinders. Visit the very modern science museum with contemporary architecture and wander the old river bed which runs right around the city. Continue on the N12, for another three miles and take the second exit. 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. Fruit and vegetables are seasonal; if you want something exotic you will have to search it out and it will be expensive. Make sure you check them in advance! del Corregidor). Yellow diamond signs mean you have priority. Featured in Experience the ultimate motorhome holiday . This cosmopolitan city boasts contemporary and historic attractions and is packed with character on every street corner come with us and spend a perfect day in Madrid. The festival commemorates San Jos, the patron saint of carpenters and is held from 15th-20th March every year. If this happens, then we recommend stopping for the night somewhere safe (the beauty of travelling in a motorhome) and then continuing on when the snow has stopped and the roads have been cleared. (stuffed aubergine) when this mediterranean vegetable is in season and youll be blown away. Free time to explore Banff, Jasper, Vancouver & Victoria. Make sure your wild camping spot is not on private property and that you have parked respectfully of residents and other wild campers nearby. Buy the guide online and get full access to 24-hour stays. You cannot book motorhome aires in advance- its first-come, first-served, so if youre visiting at peak times you might feel happier booking a campsite so youre assured of somewhere to stay. This sailing does navigate the Bay of Biscay and can be choppy in autumn and winter, but in our experience, its more cost-effective than driving through France. Dogs allowed | Compare RV and motorhome campgrounds in Yecla, Spain, read trusted reviews and book with confidence on Pitchup. This doesnt apply to a sat nav but you must not touch or program your sat nav unless parked in a safe place. Breakdown cover documentation (not compulsory). 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. If you're planning a trip to Ireland, make sure to check out these great campsites to stay at Our selection of the best campsites for exploring wonderful Wales With two coasts, Devon is the perfect county for a beach lover Editor's Pick - The best campsites for families. 2023 Wandering Bird Adventures. Discover incredible deals for motorhome/ camper rentals, 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome, aires and approved free overnight motorhome stopovers across Europe, step-by-step guide for motorhome wild camping. 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!