Drive from UK to Northern Spain (Salou)

Cornucopia

pd001 wrote: »

I will check out those toll free roads. Are they just as good as a toll road?

Yes. Both the A20 & A75 are French Motorway standard - twin two-lane carriageways, with crash barriers, commercial services and basic municipal rest areas.

The A20 is miles and miles of flat-ish modern road. The A75 is very mountainous in parts, with steep inclines, and zig-zag parts. It also has the previously mentioned Viaduc de Millau, for which there is a toll (c. 5 euros, IIRC).

I sure as hell want to avoid driving around Paris. I believe that it is a nightmare!

The south side (N118) isn't too bad, but the North is poor. (Exactly the opposite of London's North & South Circular roads).

Although I have satnav, when i finally settle on a route, i might print out a map of the route itself, and the road numbers, to keep in the car. My wife can refer to it from time to time.

Good idea. Be aware that road numbers seem to be messed about with quite frequently. A common ruse is to drop the trunk classification from a narrow N-road. e.g. the old N1 between Calais & Paris is now the D901 in many places. This is done to try to deter traffic in favour of the Autoroutes.

Route classifications:-

A = Motorway, usually 2x2 lanes. "Peage" indicates a toll-road, although sometimes signage can be unreliable.

N = like our A-roads. Can be dual-carriageway, 3-lanes, or single-carriageway. Can be modernised with long slip-roads, bridges, embankments... or not. N-roads never normally have tolls.

D = local roads, like our B-roads.

pd001

Cornucopia wrote: »

Yes. Both the A20 & A75 are French Motorway standard - twin two-lane carriageways, with crash barriers, commercial services and basic municipal rest areas.

The A20 is miles and miles of flat-ish modern road. The A75 is very mountainous in parts, with steep inclines, and zig-zag parts. It also has the previously mentioned Viaduc de Millau, for which there is a toll (c. 5 euros, IIRC).

The south side (N118) isn't too bad, but the North is poor. (Exactly the opposite of London's North & South Circular roads).

Good idea. Be aware that road numbers seem to be messed about with quite frequently. A common ruse is to drop the trunk classification from a narrow N-road. e.g. the old N1 between Calais & Paris is now the D901 in many places. This is done to try to deter traffic in favour of the Autoroutes.

Route classifications:-

A = Motorway, usually 2x2 lanes. "Peage" indicates a toll-road, although sometimes signage can be unreliable.

N = like our A-roads. Can be dual-carriageway, 3-lanes, or single-carriageway. Can be modernised with long slip-roads, bridges, embankments... or not. N-roads never normally have tolls.

D = local roads, like our B-roads.

Thanks for that information. It is much appreciated

zagfles

pd001 wrote: »

Thanks for you comments.
That place with the pool sounds perfect after a long day driving. My grandkids would deffo love that .
I have taken onboard you comments about trying to get a room 'on spec'. I will plan ahead.

The route that you suggest sounds good to me. I have read and seen pictures of the Millau. Cant wait to see it for real.

This is the place we stayed at http://www.hotel-leboutdumonde.com/ It's mainly used by French people on fishing holidays, we were the only foreigners there.

The other advantage of doing it over 3 days is you're likely to arrive at the campsite late afternoon rather than well into the evening so you'll have a chance to get your bearings at the campsite and have a swim etc rather than unpacking the car in the dark and straight to bed...

pd001

zagfles wrote: »

This is the place we stayed at http://www.hotel-leboutdumonde.com/ It's mainly used by French people on fishing holidays, we were the only foreigners there.

The other advantage of doing it over 3 days is you're likely to arrive at the campsite late afternoon rather than well into the evening so you'll have a chance to get your bearings at the campsite and have a swim etc rather than unpacking the car in the dark and straight to bed...

My word, that place looks perfect...for both me and my wife, and our grandkids
Thanks very much indeed.

mgdavid

pd001 wrote: »

Being 'too old' depends on how you actually feel about driving all that way. I am in my late fifties, so i am no spring chicken myself.

Exactly - you're a youngster! I'm mid-sixties and in a couple of weeks am doing a trip to Oslo and back to collect a racecar that a mate has just bought.
Continental autoroutes are mostly a doddle, traffic densities much like the M69 or the M18, or the M54 on a quiet weekday.

zagfles

pd001 wrote: »

My word, that place looks perfect...for both me and my wife, and our grandkids
Thanks very much indeed.

You're welcome. Be aware it's in the middle of nowhere down bendy roads so if you want a meal with a drink the hotel is really the only place, nowhere else in walking distance. But the "menu du jour" is good value at 12EUR for a 3-course meal.

andygb

This site gives the price of fuel in France. The exchange rate at the moment is around 1.35 Euros to the £ so you should be able to get diesel at less than 90p per litre.

http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/recherche/

mgdavid

andygb wrote: »

This site gives the price of fuel in France. The exchange rate at the moment is around 1.35 Euros to the £ so you should be able to get diesel at less than 90p per litre.

http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/recherche/

I can confirm; InterMarche in Calais last week was €1.17 for diesel.

pd001

zagfles wrote: »

You're welcome. Be aware it's in the middle of nowhere down bendy roads so if you want a meal with a drink the hotel is really the only place, nowhere else in walking distance. But the "menu du jour" is good value at 12EUR for a 3-course meal.

I did have a look on google maps and yes, you are right, it is in the middle of nowhere and well off the beaten track. Maybe about 15 mins from the main road?
It still looks a great place though.

pd001

mgdavid wrote: »

Exactly - you're a youngster! I'm mid-sixties and in a couple of weeks am doing a trip to Oslo and back to collect a racecar that a mate has just bought.
Continental autoroutes are mostly a doddle, traffic densities much like the M69 or the M18, or the M54 on a quiet weekday.

Those autoroutes sound perfect to me.
Much better than the M60 on a quiet day!