Dring to Spain - opinions on routes

spiro

At the end of the month I will be driving to Girona in Spain via Dover-Calais, leaving Calais about 10am on a Friday.

The route planner is showing three options:
1) Via Paris and Toulouse
2) Via Paris and Clermont-Ferrand
2) Via Riems

I am interested in any pros and cons for the three routes. I am aware of the difference in distance and tolls.

anotherbaldrick

Do you want to sight see Paris ?

spiro

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Do you want to sight see Paris ?

No I don't.

Gloomendoom

I did it via Reims. Stopped there to look at the cathedral.

I didn't pay any tolls.

Mr_Toad

I'd avoid Paris.

When I do that journey I head for Rouen then towards LeMans. I also don't use the toll roads as I find the route nationale roads good and easy to navigate.

Strider590

Watch out in Spain, lot's of Eastern European (i think) gangs targeting British people at the moment, they try to get you to stop and then rob you blind, not unheard of for them to slash tyres when you stop for a break and then follow you down the road until your forced to stop. Keep an eye on your vehicle at al times.

hartcjhart

route depends on how quick you want to get there but, I used to go the reims a26 route and avoid the paris peripherique like the plague

but find that I am tired when arriving,I now take the longer/dearer ferry to bilbao and travel from there apx half the land miles

and as stryder says keep aware of your vehicle when parking up

anotherbaldrick

Strider590 wrote: »

Watch out in Spain, lot's of Eastern European (i think) gangs targeting British people at the moment, they try to get you to stop and then rob you blind, not unheard of for them to slash tyres when you stop for a break and then follow you down the road until your forced to stop. Keep an eye on your vehicle at al times.

What they do is push a nail or screw into the tread of your tyre and then follow you until the tyre goes down , don't ask what happens next !
When you get into the car after having parked run your hand around the tread of each wheel to check for foreign (Bulgarian)objects. Why not take an old soft glove in the glove box for the purpose ?

Strider590

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

What they do is push a nail or screw into the tread of your tyre and then follow you until the tyre goes down , don't ask what happens next !
When you get into the car after having parked run your hand around the tread of each wheel to check for foreign (Bulgarian)objects. Why not take an old soft glove in the glove box for the purpose ?

Yep, I knew it was something like this ^^
Unfortunately I didn't have time to go searching for the website where I got that info from

John1993_2

Have you thought of taking the ferry from Portsmouth? I usually use it when going to Spain. More relaxing than driving, and once you consider tolls, petrol, depreciation, and a night's stay en route, not much more expensive.

Iceweasel

Watch out for being flagged down for assistance by a couple with a 'broken down' British registered car.

The car is British, but they and the kids with them aren't.

And it's not your help they want.

This is now happening again this year along the main holiday routes.

They are exploiting the natural instinct to help a fellow countryman in need.

Be aware!