Thank you Steve
You’ve given me some good info.
I actually wanted to travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander but stupidly I didn’t think I needed to book as soon as Brittany ferries posted their timetable so I missed out on cabins with pets.
In my panic and haste I chose to go via P&O -Dover/Calais. Now I have to travel through the UK, stay overnight in Dover and drive through France. I’m so annoyed and very anxious
I bought a van so that it wouldn’t cost me for accommodation, but you’re suggesting aires? I presume they’re like guest houses I’ll have to research.
The reason why I said I only wanted to drive for 3 hours per day is because it will be the middle of winter and I don’t want to drive in the dark.
I’m planning to be away from UK for 3 months so there’s no hurry to get to south of Spain (besides the cold)
I don’t suppose you could suggest a route from Calais? Should I go west or do you think I should go via outskirts of Paris?
Ok, probably too much to ask of you. Perhaps someone else will read this and have a good route they’ve travelled and pass it on.
I’m so glad I’ve joined this club.
Hopefully I’ll get loads of advice and help before my great adventure commences in January
All the best
Deb
Hi Deb,
Aires are basically free parking [though there are some that charge fees], and most have free [or nominal charges, often for fresh water supplies - 2-3€ for 100 litres, sometimes coins, other time jetons from the local shop/boulangerie]. Imagin driving into a UK Car Park, with longer bays marked, and being allowed to park free, and to sleep overnight in safety - because that is what you do in France and Spain. Good behaviour requires you *not* to put out your table and chairs, parasol and BBQ [but try telling the Dutch, French and Germans that this is not allowed!].
Sleeping overnight on Autoroute Aires is not generally recommended, because that is where petty crime is reported to happen, but many aires are within 2-3 miles of the autoroute [some are on hypermarket car parks, because they have realised that a hungry m/home owner is a customer for breakfast supplies and, perhaps bottled water if the Aire has none or the tap has been turned off for Winter - 3 x 5 Litre bottles poured into the freshwater tank will get you through an overnight, especially if you don't empty the tank from the previous night - maintaining 20-30 litres keeps weight down and supplies in balance.
Coming from Calais, there is a Leclerc Supermarket M/Home Parking, including fresh water and grey + black waste disposal [sited on the edge of the fuel station, so you *know* you'll top up the diesel after you've bought breakfast supplies in the Hypermarket at Lumbres [about 30 miles from the Channel Tunnel, so very handy for an evening arrival]. The facilities at Lumbres are closed on Sundays, though!
We were heading down into Eastern France, but stopped at Lumbres, then Bellecourt and onto St Quentin Aire.
A lot of M/Homers stop at Gravelines, then head for Rouen/Orleans [Meung-sur Loire is great but 3€ for water]. La Bastide Murat [268 miles but used autoroute so 5-6 hour drive including a comfort stop, and still in daylight]. La Bastide to Le Boulou [229 miles] then Le Bulou to Vilafranca del Penedes [a gem, about 20 miles from Barcelona - 1 mile or so from the Train Station with direct services to Barcelona].
You need to join the Forum to get the benefit of Members' experience, and alternative points of view - it's well worth it! The technical knowedge on here will more than recoup the fee, and you will be able to use the Private Message facility to exchange inormation with Forum Members [useful when the cost of repairs/modifications are being discussed].
Any other questions, fire away! If you prefer to drive through France, a lot of members use the Newhaven-Dieppe route. 20% discount on fares and cabins if you are over 60, but you have to book by phone. If you too young, bring Mum or Grandma, get the discount and you have a dog sitter for when you want to hit the town! Aires can be found on Search 4 Sites [£10 per annum Membership] and Park 4 Night, as well as on Wildcamping [sister site to this] POI as well as on Garmin SatNav [and probably TomTom - personal preferences come into play!]
Steve
