Drive from UK to Northern Spain (Salou)

pd001

jackomdj wrote: »

For most of the journey it is usually moving but busy, probably similar to our motorways on a normal day outside rush hour. We did sit for a couple of hours in traffic as we got closer to the coast.

We also took a detour off the motorway when we saw it at a standstill further up, we drove on a slow road parallel to the motorway for about 10 miles we could see an accident had happened.

We always have plenty of food to eat, drinks to drink and things to do...which means it doesn't get too stressful. Food/drinks wise we have it in the boot in a cool box and just bring it to the front when we stop. With children in the car I make sure the food is "clean", ie crisps would be Pringles not wotsits, sweets would be jellies not chocolate etc. drink wise we have a selection but the children only have ones with a sippy lid in the car ie bottled water, fruit shoot etc rather than ones with a straw.

Finally at the bottom of the cool box we put some frozen sausages, which means we have food when we arrive if we don't have time to go to the supermarket.

Thanks for that
We would do the same, plenty of food and drink for the grandchildren...and the two of us

Being stuck in traffic for a couple of hours on an 18 hour journey doesn't sound so good though

pd001

My word, I didnt update this...

I did it , or rather we did it.
We left at 2.30pm on a Friday afternoon in June 2015, and arrived in Salou at 8pm the next Saturday night.
The journey time was therefore around 30 hours.
The actual driving time, after allowing time for sleeping in the car and waiting for our outbound ferry, and bits and pieces was around the 20 hour mark
The distance was roughly 1200 miles each way.

We used toll roads and if my memory serves me correctly, I think that the fees worked at about £120 in total for the whole trip, ie £60 ish each way.
Diesel was a bit cheaper than over here.

In summary, I would do it again and my wife wouldnt.
I did all the driving because she didnt want to drive on the right, so I can see her point of view that as a passenger, the trip was boring.

The Millau viaduct was stunning.
We stopped at the Millau viewing area going out, and same again coming back just to take in the whole thing
As I said ...stunning.

jackomdj

We love the viaduct, beautiful.

Like your wife I just sit in the passenger seat, but as an avid reader I am quite happy sat with my kindle.

We are off again this year, really looking forward to it.

pd001

jackomdj wrote: »

We love the viaduct, beautiful.

Like your wife I just sit in the passenger seat, but as an avid reader I am quite happy sat with my kindle.

We are off again this year, really looking forward to it.

Lucky you
I would do it again in a heartbeat but as I mentioned, my wife wouldnt.
We are both readers when on holiday, but unfortunately, reading whilst travelling in a car makes her travel sick.
(we both use a kindle too)
If she could read en route, then I am sure that we would do the trip, or indeed a similar trip, again.

Enjoy your next journey, i am dead jealous.
Just out of interest where do your travels take you too?

jackomdj

pd001 wrote: »

Enjoy your next journey, i am dead jealous.
Just out of interest where do your travels take you too?

We usually go to the Languedoc. This year we are going to le Boulou, this is the closest we have been to Spain, we have visited quite a few places along the coast, and some a bit further inland.

pd001

jackomdj wrote: »

We usually go to the Languedoc. This year we are going to le Boulou, this is the closest we have been to Spain, we have visited quite a few places along the coast, and some a bit further inland.

We are driving to the Loire valley, with family, so relative to last year, its only a short drive.
Luckily enough, I kept my French toll tag

Moto2

pd001 wrote: »

We are both readers when on holiday, but unfortunately, reading whilst travelling in a car makes her travel sick.
(we both use a kindle too)
If she could read en route, then I am sure that we would do the trip, or indeed a similar trip, again.

Try talking books maybe?

pd001

Moto2 wrote: »

Try talking books maybe?

Good point, thank you