Driving to Alicante
- Thread starter Jakeyr
- Start date
NW1Tangerine
Well-known member
I am currently in La Senia south Catalunya. We took the ferry from Plymouth to Santander and will return from Bilbao to Portsmouth. It takes 24 hours and really breaks up the journey.
Recommended unless you particularly like driving for days
Recommended unless you particularly like driving for days
straightatthewall
Well-known member
If you're planning on driving for 24 hours straight, I'd pop a clothes peg on your knob as it's the only way you'll stay awake.
Recently, last week.
Drove back from The Dordogne in France. Drove there 3 weeks ago.
2 Overnight stops each way. Folkestone, (for Chunnel) & Le Mans.
It's the last time I will do that, done it quite a few times. However, age is telling on me.
300m+ is enough for a day now.
If it's just you doing the driving you must be mad to do it in one.
Drove back from The Dordogne in France. Drove there 3 weeks ago.
2 Overnight stops each way. Folkestone, (for Chunnel) & Le Mans.
It's the last time I will do that, done it quite a few times. However, age is telling on me.
300m+ is enough for a day now.
If it's just you doing the driving you must be mad to do it in one.
GrahamwantshisOates
Well-known member
Some of you lot have a go at driving after a pint of shandy.
Driving more than 4 hours without a break is worse than drink driving.
Driving more than 4 hours without a break is worse than drink driving.
bfcfan 1960
Well-known member
Fly there and hire a car while your there.
Shootz
Well-known member
Crikey DP , think 300 metres a day is a little unambitious even at your magnificent age........Recently, last week.
Drove back from The Dordogne in France. Drove there 3 weeks ago.
2 Overnight stops each way. Folkestone, (for Chunnel) & Le Mans.
It's the last time I will do that, done it quite a few times. However, age is telling on me.
300m+ is enough for a day now.
If it's just you doing the driving you must be mad to do it in one.
Jaffa_The_Hut
Well-known member
Did it on a Suzuki GS1000 circa 1983/4.
Great trip all part of a 3 week tour of France, Spain, Portugal.
Those were the good old days. 🏍
Great trip all part of a 3 week tour of France, Spain, Portugal.
Those were the good old days. 🏍
It's supposed to be 'miles'.Crikey DP , think 300 metres a day is a little unambitious even at your magnificent age........
Having said that, when we left home @10.00 for France and going down the M6 we suddenly hit stopped vehicles.
We were in a traffic jam for 2&1/2 hours. Apparently there were lane closures and a motorway coming in from the left
were all converging onto 'ONE' lane.
That was on a Sunday morning.
A bloody disgrace.
Eventually arrived at the hotel in Folkestone @ 19.00 hrs.
The big consolation was that my car, on reaching home again, had fuel usage of 67 mpg. Not too bad.
69yearsafan
Well-known member
We've driven from York to Alicante a couple times via Plymouth/Santander but stopped a couple of nights on the way through Spain. If you have time to do that its a good way to see parts of Spain you don't normally see .
tangerine_neil
Well-known member
There are some cracking campsites in France. I’d definitely break up the journey.
I’d pay for the motorway tolls in Spain. Much quieter and quicker than the free back roads
I’d pay for the motorway tolls in Spain. Much quieter and quicker than the free back roads
AngelBFC
Well-known member
I drove to Spain in September in a 25 yr old car . Did Plymouth to Santander and drove direct to Marbella no overnight stops took around 12 hours after getting off the ferry .
Absolutely fabulous drive. Stunning scenery Northern Spain. Would recommend that way 100 per cent.
You'll struggle to do it through France in 24 hours
Absolutely fabulous drive. Stunning scenery Northern Spain. Would recommend that way 100 per cent.
You'll struggle to do it through France in 24 hours
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Costero Poderoso
Well-known member
Prior to covid I was driving from my home on the basque coast to Blackpool at least once a year. Usually take the ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven. I don't think I've ever paid more than 120 quid for the ferry crossing including a cabin. The Bilbao Portsmouth crossing would be more convenient but it's always incredibly expensive.
The drive from Dieppe to bilbao is about 6 or 7 hours, from Bilbao to Alicante is around another 8 or 9. Don't forget the toll roads as well. If you are driving a UK registered car be aware of French and Spanish old bill who apparently are targeting British motorists.
The drive from Dieppe to bilbao is about 6 or 7 hours, from Bilbao to Alicante is around another 8 or 9. Don't forget the toll roads as well. If you are driving a UK registered car be aware of French and Spanish old bill who apparently are targeting British motorists.
3 of us sharing so hoping to do it in 30hrs from calaisRecently, last week.
Drove back from The Dordogne in France. Drove there 3 weeks ago.
2 Overnight stops each way. Folkestone, (for Chunnel) & Le Mans.
It's the last time I will do that, done it quite a few times. However, age is telling on me.
300m+ is enough for a day now.
If it's just you doing the driving you must be mad to do it in one.
Luckily I picked up a Spanish plated car in the UK, but yes clamping down on English plated cars for sure
Took the Newhaven/Dieppe once.
There was a storm, winds, sand everywhere.
Unfortunately our car was outside on the top deck.
When we went out to it it was covered in sand.
Did my best to clear windscreen etc. Not very good.
Went to the first car wash on landing.
Costero Poderoso
Well-known member
You may already know this but in case you dont - Check your insurance and also the legality of driving and particularly owning a spanish plated car under post brexit rules. To own a spanish registered car you are supposed to have a residency card. If the car has been outside of Spain for more than six months, it should have been re-registered in the country where it is being driven. There is something similar to the road fund license here, which has to be paid annually but that is also tied to a residency address and a spanish ID number, also any spanish car has to have a valid ITV certificate, (MOT) and that cannot be renewed unless you have the road fund license for the car. The spanish traffic police are cracking down a lot on cars without valid ITV stickers, and the whole process is digitised and centrally recorded in the traffic police database. You might also not be aware that certain cities in Spain now restrict diesel cars and some urban motorways also restrict them.