Or take a campervan route through the popular region of Normandy and Brittany! A one-way trip takes about 24 hours and booking a cabin is recommended. a) Ferry to the north coast of Spain and drive south to your chosen Costa. 4. Vehicle V5 logbook or vehicle registration document (which must show your correct address). Day 5 - Virollet-Font Paillaud to Bordeaux. Gasoleo B or Gasoil B is the equivalent of red diesel for agricultural vehicles do not put this in your motorhome! Valencia then the N340 where the A7 goes peaje. If youre travelling in Spain and your outfit exceeds 12m, you need to have marker boards fitted to the back of your vehicle. Most hire companies allow their motorhome rentals to be taken overseas, including our recommended hirer, Spaceship Rentals. READ MORE: Discover the best & warmest places to enjoy winter in Spain. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. Make sure you have proof that you can take the vehicle across a border into another country if thats what youre planning to do. Read the article below for other things to check as well before you agree to hire. As a result I'm looking for as much help as I I can get. The driving time from Caen to Irun is around nine hours in a motor home, and tolls will cost somewhere in the region of 170 in tolls, although expect more if you weigh over 3,500kgs. Some are rustic and have basic facilities, while others are designed for long-term visitors and have entertainment, clubs, pools and bars! del Corregidor). Before motorhome overnight parking, do your usual checks and add an extra one look forPine Processionary Caterpillars in Spain, which make their nests in those lovely shady pine trees we all like to park under. These are the things you MUST have with you when youre motorhome or campervan touring in Spain. You can find out more about them here, Some of the bigger cities in Spain have environmental zones which only residents are allowed to drive in. You must have at least three months remaining on your passport (issued in the past ten years) at your intended date of departure from Spain. 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. A motorhome tour of Germany offers incredible adventures. Park outside and use public transport to get in. Try a dish like. The first question to ask yourself if whether you want to drive from the UK through France and down to Spain, or whether you want to take a ferry direct from the UK and sail around the coast and down to northern Spain. Follow this for 2.5miles to the D938 which you follow southwards past Belleme and then as the D301 past Bonnetable towards Le Mans. An editorial review of Tyddyn Llwyn Camping, Caravan & Touring Park Editor's picks - ideal campsites for city breaks. There is no obligation to buy any produce, but our experience when we have bought has been really positive. MMM is Britain's best-selling motorhome magazine and it has been for over 55 years. Anywhere near the beach will be tough all year. Paying just a few euro in tolls is a good time saver. First, you'll take one of the ferries from Dover to Calais. But of course there is much more to see along the way! GEAR And if you need any motorhome gear for touring France or Europe, heres what we recommend. However if you encounter very strong winds remember its a forest area on light sandy soil, parking under trees may be ill advised. These warning triangles are now being phased out and from 1st July 2021 a new law requires that a. Reflective jacket (for the driver and all passengers). If in doubt, double check with the chef or waiting staff. The best times to visit are probably the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn. Is there any other city throughout the whole of Europe that offers visitors a more diverse range of things to do than Barcelona? 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. 2500 mile round trip in a fortnight. Occasionally, some sections of road have a fixed fee, so you pay when you enter. Utilise the campsite bar a glass of wine and a beer will typically cost 3, a bargain! We're driving a big vehicle on the wrong side of the road, so avoiding city centres is also preferable. Many people will go to church but it is the extended family lunch, hosted by the matriarch, which is the most important part of the day. Your UK licence allows you to drive in all EU countries. For us option C is the only contender. Hi we plan to take a trip to Spain and Portugal for two months starting the third week in March. Is this your first time visiting Spain? To find out where to stay during stage 2 - click here. New to motorhome or camper travel in Europe? You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Spanish life is all about family, religion, food and tradition. . Heres everything you need to know about campervanning or motorhoming in Spain. If you do find any discrepancies, please do let us know. 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. Book with Eurocampings for the best deals on over 520 campsites in Spain. 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. 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. Digital e-guides FAQ UK Car Sticker. In both Pampaneira andTrevlez, we were the only motorhome in their car park,hereandhererespectively. On roads where there is no pavement so that vehicles and pedestrians share the road: 20 km/h. Approved motorhome overnight parking places/ aires, Free approved overnight parking spots/ schemes, Dont try and wild camp on the coast unless youre somewhere REALLY remote (more likely to be allowed in the North and centre of Spain). All opinions remain our own. (PLEASE do not leave a pet in a van or car while you go sightseeing, especially on a hot day.). Planning to take your motorhome to Europe? 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. There are lots of failed projects around and many, many half built houses and buildings. If you are travelling between 15 October and 15 April and driving near the mountains, you will need to have winter/ all- season tyres and carry snow chains. 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. A very efficient drive all the French motorways despite getting caught up in a se. Grab your FREE France travel checklist so you remember it all! Then you have two main routes through France to Spain. Can you wild camp with a motorhome in the Spanish National Parks? Rent a motorhome between individuals. 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! Spain is a fantastic country for road tripping. Featured in Experience the ultimate motorhome holiday . If everyone else is, feel free to join them but remember you may be asked to move on.) Developed by: NKC - travel guides (the NKC is the Dutch parent company of Campercontact) Described route: 15 travel days. stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here. All rights reserved, Gift ideas for motorhome & campervanners, Our favourite motorhome & road trip gear, (Already purchased a guide or course? Trams always have priority everywhere- keep eyes in the back of your head if youre driving near a tram network. This has not changed since Brexit as the information-sharing agreement with the DVLA continues. French campsites are mostly open in the summer, and motorhome aires available all year. For more information about over-wintering, check out our post aboutwhether you should take your motorhome to Spain for winter. Motorhome services are generally widely available, especially along the coast. The trade-off is the Costas where traffic ramps up and tailbacks are frequent. OK I admit, not quite a toll free route to Spain! This will be my first time in the van into France,Spain and Portugal. Aires are just approved motorhome overnight parking places- often provided and maintained by the local commune. You can buy an annual guide for just 23 (in 2021) and if gives you access to over 200 businesses which allow motorhomes to park up overnight in exchange for buying a meal in their restaurant or a few bottles of wine at the vineyard. Just like motorhoming in France, there are certain things you MUST carry with you in your motorhome or campervan whilst touring in Spain. We use, 120 km/h (74mph) on motorways/ autovias and many dual carriageways, 90 km/h (56 mph) on secondary roads (out of town)- can increase to 110km/h to overtake, 50km/h (31 mph)- on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction, 30 km/h (19 mph) on roads with one lane in each direction, 20km/h on small lanes where road & pavement are the same level. Pump colours are green for petrol and black for diesel. Campervanning in Spain- motorhome overnight parking, Motorhome wild camping guides for the UK & Europe. Personal travel and medical insurance along with an EHIC or, Two warning triangles for the front and rear. Of course, you can always drive down one route and back up another! In Spain, yourACSICampingCard will come into its own if youre planning on touring and stopping for less than seven nights at sites. The motorhome route costs: 14.99PRO users will pay: 11.99. 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). In under a mile the road forks; if you intend staying on one of the coastal aires follow the D940; otherwise the D901 via Montreuil is faster. To find out where to stay during stage 5 - click here. If you have refillable gas bottles in your motorhome, you can find LPG pretty easily while touring around Spain. Your options for driving to Spain from the UK in a motorhome are these; Sailing from Portsmouth or Plymouth to the northern Spain ports of Santander of Bilbao (depending on which day of the week you want to depart) is the only way to avoid France. 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!). Be prepared for amazing scenery, an abundance of wildlife, unspoilt Atlantic coastline and Spain's stunning 'Picos de Europas' mountains. These motorhomes are generally significantly larger than their high-top van counterparts, and usually have showers, more cupboard space, and more fully-kitted kitchenettes. Want to get exclusive tips and tricks? The types of built-in Flot Blu services like you find in France are few and far between. Wander here for a day and see the cathedral, Plazas Mayorand Santa Domingo andtheBasilica de San Isidoro. Lunch, which is the main meal of the day, is eaten between 2 and 3pm. We work hard to make this website the best it can be. This route lends itself well to ferries which arrive from the UK into Caen or Cherbourg. This tiny country packs one hell of a punch; wild coastlines, lively buzzing cities and exquisite wines. At the A16 junction turn right towards Boulogne and stay on this free motorway for 24 miles to junction 29 just before the peage. Some of our favourite places for motorhome trips in Northern France include: The Normandy beaches. This page may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy through them we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. keep your dog in the ferry cabin with you (like you can from Portsmouth to Caen). 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. Motorhoming in Italy: Your Complete Guide for 2023, Planning Your Morocco Motorhome Adventure, Campervanning in Portugal: Complete 2023 Guide, Campervanning in Norway Tips, Routes & Destinations for 2023, Motorhome Germany: 2023 Complete Touring Guide. Spanish toll roads are pay-as-you-go and are very reasonably priced. Take a list of what is legally required with you and check it off one by one as you are given the handover. The nearest metro station is Canillejas, about a ten minute walk and on the same line as all the major tourist destination stops, so no changes are required. Visit La Rbida to see the amazing full-scale models of the three ships in which Columbus and his crew sailed across the Atlantic to discover the New World. Also campsites are often in remote rural areas and may not have hard standing. Spring and autumn are wonderful times for a Spanish road trip from March until June will get you wildflowers and near-perfect temperatures, warm enough to swim in the sea from May onwards from the Costa Blanca south, and only a light top needed in the evenings. You can find out more, It is allowed to park a motorhome during the day anywhere that parking is allowed (as long as there are no signs specifically banning motorhome parking, which will say something like , If you have an accident youll need to complete the. Regardless of who accompanies you on your next trip or destination, the vehicle you need is on Yescapa. To take your motorhome from the UK to Spain you have a basic choice: either take a ferry across the Bay of Biscay to Northern Spain, or take the Channel Tunnel or a ferry to Northern France, and drive across France to the Pyrenees. 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. The aire here is on the banks of the river Bernesga, which affords some good runningroutes along level paths. Make sure you have travel insurance you can trust when motorhoming Spain. Let this tour take you on a journey of discovery through Northern Spain and Portugal as we show you some of the best of the lesser-known gems. If the weather is reasonable we can recommend a few nights stop for some cycling or beachcombing. Petrol and diesel are widely available. The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain and are richly blessed with natural beauty. c) Short crossing but drive across country through France and Spain. 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. The UK Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK motorhomers abroad. Reception at the campsite will give you more information about the Metro and explain the different types of tickets. If youre coming from the south, make sure to stop at thewetlands of La Albufera and try the traditional paella which originated here. ), you might find things a little quieter, certainly with British vans. Spain & Portugal [2016] Italy, Croatia & Slovenia [2016] All Digital Guides. Ferry Crossings - Top Tips Winter Motorhome Trip to Spain. Get MMM for just 2.99 a month! The Spanish government caps the price of gas, and you should expect to pay around 15-18 for a replacement bottle. If not, 1p Mobile SIM cards are widely available and a cheap option for phone calls. You need lights on in the tunnels (there are signs to remind you). Like much of Europe, wild camping in Spain for motorhomes and campers is tolerated in many places but not strictly legal and its certainly not a right. Mountain roads are also very slow and if your destination is Valencia or further south there is little saving in overall mileage compared to the much safer and faster route along the Atlantic coast near Biarritz. Read on to find out all you need to know. View Larger Map. Or check out our motorhome beginners e-book and find all our resources and guides in one place! In the short term, this is fine but you may want to clean out your fresh water tank with a high-pressure hose once you have moved away from this part of Spain due to the sediment found in desalinated water. The landscape changes from the rugged north, with mountains and scenic views to rival anywhere else in Europe, to the desert and arid areas, to the sparkling azure blue of the Mediterranean. This is one of the quickest motorhome routes through France to Spain and is the cheapest from a toll perspective. 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. Read more. I quit my job to travel the UK & Europe in a motorhome with my husband and our dog Mac. This road trip itinerary will take you to the major cities and best places to visit in Andalucia Spain, bringing the country alive. Cross the Loire and follow the fast D347 past Montreuil-Bellay and Loudun all the way to Poitiers. Where to stay in France during your journey, The Long Road South A Motorhome Route Through France To Spain. Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. The non toll free route from Calais to Basel is via the A26 motorway and the A4 motorway. Visit to Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Many businesses close between 12.30 or 1pm until 5pm and then open again until 8pm. From Lyon, you will drive through France's breathtaking landscape to the Atlantic coast. Between 1st November and 31st March every year, the mix changes to 35/65 to account for the colder weather. No- wild camping is not permitted in any of Spains National Parks.