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Remember if youre driving across France, youll need to observe the French driving laws and road rules, which do differ from the rules in Spain. Of course, if you only have a week for your holiday, travelling from the UK and back leaves only a few days to explore the country, and the further south you go, the less exploring time you have. American Express is rarely accepted but UK credit or debit cards should work (but not always, so carry cash to be safe! Remember, this is for daytime parking for motorhomes- lets move on to overnight parking. We'd love to cross some mountains but just need to be advised by people who have already done it. Destination. Use an app likePark4Nightto locate motorhome and campervan services. Of course, you can always drive down one route and back up another! On roads where there is no pavement so that vehicles and pedestrians share the road: 20 km/h. Using radar detection equipment is prohibited under Spanish law and new regulations from January 2021 mean that it will also be illegal to be in possession of such equipment, There is one low emission zone in Spain currently, in Barcelona. Nestled down a leafy street, in the heart of Brisbane, is Gerard's Bistro. On our 2019 tour we drove to the eastern end of the Pyrenees, using the free A75 motorway south of Clermont . You may carry a load, such as bikes on a rack, extending by up to 10% of the length of the vehicle to the rear. If you love motorhomes, road trips and a bit of adventure, dive right in! Are you desperate for some Spanish sun but dont want to fly? This is a fascinating and ecologically diverse part of Spain withover 80species of birds livingand breeding here. Youll probably also want some form of air conditioning or at least a fan in your camper- temperatures can get up to 40+c. Do you want to wild camp in your motorhome? About 600 euros have been spent on gasoline and tolls, the most expensive of the trip without a doubt. 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. Ferry Crossings - Top Tips Winter Motorhome Trip to Spain. campsite news, special offers, availability and much more direct to Motorhomes and Campervans weighing over 3.5 tonnes: Motorhomes with trailers or caravans (over 750kg). Whichever is your bag (and there is a lot of choice), if youre heading south in your camper in Spain for several months of the winter and a long site stay, make sure you book in advance! Basically we need to get past the Pyrenees and driving over the inland passes in winter is risky. If youre travelling in Spain and your outfit exceeds 12m, you need to have marker boards fitted to the back of your vehicle. 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. Get MMM for just 2.99 a month! The trade-off is the Costas where traffic ramps up and tailbacks are frequent. The tolls on this route will cost you an estimated 180; it could be more if you're driving a big motorhome of upwards of 3,500 kgs. Continue straight on to seamlessly join the D323 southern bypass and in 7.5 miles turn south, still the D323, to La Fleche and on to Bauge and Saumur. The Gorges d'Hric in Southern France brings our Vanlife diaries to the most dramatic destination where river pools and waterfalls await. Tipping Service is usually included in a restaurant, but do check. READ MORE: How to get a UK Animal Health Certificate after BREXIT. Is this your first time visiting Spain? Documents You Need to Travel & Drive in Spain, Can't decide? If you like to hike, head for the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, to hike the famousCircodeSoaso. 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. Go out along the coast in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board if you can, and marvel at the crystal clear turquoise water, an abundance of sea life, wired rock formations and hidden sea caves. Our recommended Spain campervan hire company is Indie Campers and they have depots in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Seville and Bilbao perfect starting points to see all the best bits as you road trip Spain. We stayed at thePort of Gelvesjust outside the city but accessible by scooter or public transport. Spains fabulous climate will seduce you and its people charm you. 2500 mile round trip in a fortnight. 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. Then you have two main routes through France to Spain. France Start and end dates until Erase dates Search. When visitingCrdobain a motorhome, this is the only designated parking allowing overnight stays; we found it to be great value for money, with security being important. All Rights Reserved. The Valencia region passed a new law which came into effect on 8th May 2021, which prohibits motorhomes from parking or camping, unless in designated areas. However this is a busy slow trucking route and takes you right through Tours, where believe me, you dont want to be. IMPORTANT: Drivers do NOT have to stop at a zebra crossing for pedestrians IF there are no lights. Gerard's Bistro, Fortitude Valley. The D810 runs almost parallel with the A63 past Biarritz and St Jean de Luz to the French border town of Hendaye with its Spanish neighbour Irun just across the river. Many Northern Europeans (like us Brits!) You will need to get a worming treatment done by a registered vet before you leave Spain, or between 24 hours and 5 days before re-entering the UK.Sandflies, fleas and ticks are common in Spain, so get a collar or treatment which protects against these. Santiago de Compostela is a stunningly beautiful city full of twisting alleys, elegant squares and historicreligious buildings, with interesting nooks and crannies everywhere. In January 2020 and September 2021, many motorhome tolls were removed. This is one of the quickest motorhome routes through France to Spain and is the cheapest from a toll perspective. del Corregidor). We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices and excellent service. If the weather is reasonable we can recommend a few nights stop for some cycling or beachcombing. Tarifa, Spain is one of our favourite places for van life. We parked and stayed at the Municipal Camping Car Parking (1 Av. Our award-winning customer service team . The festival commemorates San Jos, the patron saint of carpenters and is held from 15th-20th March every year. Home to the famous and breathtaking Mezquita, Cordoba is city rich in history, architecture and Spanish charm and perfect for a one day visit. MOTORHOME ROAD TRIP TO SPAIN DAY 1 Calais 52,125 views Apr 15, 2018 173 Dislike Share Save Mark Davies 17.3K subscribers SPAIN or BUST! Most trucks will have taken to the motorway but the road is still quite slow through a continuous urban sprawl. Spain surprised us with their attitude towards dogs. Get all the information you need in our Spain Travel Guide, including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there and practical tips to help you have the best trip! I quit my job to travel the UK & Europe in a motorhome with my husband and our dog Mac. The new decree aims to level the rules whether youre in a motorhome or tent but there is some acknowledged ambiguity around the wording, you can find out more inthis article. If you wear glasses you MUST carry a spare pair! Brittany- one of our favourite areas in France The Loire Valley. Some places have flashing amber lights before a normal traffic light. Weve spent over 18 months travelling in a motorhome in Spain, and in this campervanning and motorhoming guide youll find lots of practical and helpful information. However, in common with most cities, the choice of where to stay in a motorhome is not great. Many people move on after. As a result I'm looking for as much help as I I can get. Vehicle V5 logbook or vehicle registration document (which must show your correct address). This will be my first time in the van into France,Spain and Portugal. Often vegetarian means made from vegetables, not vegetarian in the true sense of the word. Many camping sites will provide desalinated water instead of potable water. You may be surprised at how many motorhomes from northern Europe travel to campsites in Spain for the winter. Head for the romantic city of Granada, and the whitewashed villages of the High Alpujarras, Pampaneira and Trevlez, the highest village in Spain. Take a list of what is legally required with you and check it off one by one as you are given the handover. NEWS : The Spanish authorities have (for the time being) removed the tolls from the AP7 motorway between the French border and Alicante. Dont forget, if you are driving through France to get to Spain, you need all the kit required by France as well as the kit for that country. A spare wheel (and tools to change it! You should have a European Claim Form provided by your insurer before you leave. They will probably be smaller than other pitches and perhaps not as favourably placed. Barcelona city boasts a rich cultural heritage, a 4km long sandy beach, fabled UNESCO architectural gems,a culinary scene the envy of the world, and all the attractions ofa modern global city alongside historic districts such as theGothic quarter. The medieval centre of Santiago de Compostela is almost entirely pedestrianised, in keeping with its UNESCO World Heritage status. Broadly speaking from the UK you have three options. Just before Le Mans as you leave the village of Savigne-lEveque turn left onto a link road towards the A11 / A28 motorway junction. GEAR If you need any motorhome gear for touring Europe, heres what we recommend. From castle to castle along the Loire 6. Normandy between cliffs and traces of war 5. You may want to consider asat navorsatellite navigation appwhich can be configured to your motorhome camper size and weight. Across France to the Spanish border Stage 1: Calais to Rouen Leave the ferry terminal and follow the A16 free motorway for 24 miles to Boulogne. To find out where to stay during stage 1 - click here. How four people together all talking at the same time can ever take in what the other is saying is a mystery to me, but they seem to manage it! 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. Spains capital city is a beautiful and cultured city with stunning architecture, tranquil parks and some of the best art museums in Europe. If you're on an extended motorhome tour and time is no object, of course pottering south along the west coast of France and crossing the Pyrenees is a wonderful introduction to Spain. 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). For more information about over-wintering, check out our post aboutwhether you should take your motorhome to Spain for winter. READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome. When you think of Spain, many people think of overcrowded beaches in Benidorm, drunken teenagers and possibly Sangria. Peaje or AP is a toll road. You can read more about aires, how to find them and road trip planninghere. 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. Also, many campsites put ACSI users on lesser pitches (either bad view or no electric or drainage). We fancied maybe staying at camping oyambre the other side of Santander and doing a car trip into the Picos and surroundings then down to Haro to taste some Rioja. Temperatures are still warm enough to enjoy the beaches and swimming in the sea, but there are much fewer tourists and you will be able to find motorhome parking without booking in advance. A one-way trip takes about 24 hours and booking a cabin is recommended. We're driving a big vehicle on the wrong side of the road, so avoiding city centres is also preferable. We have been using and recommend ConnectPlus for cloud sim connectivity in the UK and Europe. Thus you are parking not camping which is allowed and considered a legal activity, even if you intend on sleeping in your van. Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Spain? You are allowed to cross a white line to overtake a cyclist AS LONG AS nothing (not even another cyclist) is coming the other way. Traditionally it was followed by a nap, the famous. head to that area to get some winter sunshine. You can pay with cash or credit card, or with an electronic tag system likeEmovis, which also covers you in France and Portugal. The beautiful capital city of Spain has to be visited. Digital e-guides FAQ UK Car Sticker. The load must be indicated by an aluminium panel with diagonal red and white stripes, manufactured to ECE70 standard. Spain & Portugal [2016] Italy, Croatia & Slovenia [2016] All Digital Guides. Home Motorhome Advice Travel to Europe Motorhoming & Campervanning in Spain Complete Guide. Perhaps its because there are several options, or perhaps because theres a mountain range in the way, but its something which gets asked over and over again in Facebook groups and forums (feel free to join our motorhoming Facebook group here). If bakeries open on Sundays, they are often closed on Mondays instead. A good tip is to try and arrive AT your destination just before lunchtime. Book with Eurocampings for the best deals on over 520 campsites in Spain. An unusual bit of good news for motorists ! Book this hike well in advance and go with a guide, for an extra few euros you will learn so much. Very few, if any, shops are open on Sundays so make sure youve stocked up! This tranquil and beautiful nature wetland nature reserve is known for its birdlife and encompasses rivers, dunes & beaches. In the height of summer it can be blisteringly hot and wild camping can be a challenge without air conditioning. Driving your motorhome through France into Spain Your journey through France to Irun in a motorhome will be close to ten hours. From the green north and the mountainous interior to the gorgeous coasts, youll find all the best road trips in Spain here. In some places, to turn left across a dual carriageway you need to pull-in on the right and wait until it is clear in both directions. See Motorhome Fall Into River Amid Catastrophic California Storms Man City want 100m Liverpool target at all costs with current star ready to 'pack up and leave' for Spain 'You can't trust . It has a host of information on best routes to many locations. ), you must have one (130cm x 25cm) or two (50cm x 25cm) yellow reflectors at the rear. There, we visit some of its brightest jewels: Granada, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba and Ronda. Diamonds with a black line through mean you no longer have priority ( this is usually on roundabouts.). The motorhome route costs: 14.99PRO users will pay: 11.99. Motorhome aires in France are so well located - we've stayed in inner cities, within castle walls, at the bottom of ski pistes and steps away from a lake's shore. Should I Take My Motorhome to Spain for the Winter? Yellow diamond signs mean you have priority. Our ready-made Spanish road trips are here to help, guide to motorhoming in Europe after Brexit, Tips for Campervan Rental and Motorhome Hire in Spain (and the rest of Europe!). If not, the light will remain on red to slow you down! We are booked on the ferry to Bilbao and have 5-6 weeks. Mealtimes in Spain are noticeably different to the rest of Europe. In 15miles you can either turn onto the A660 towards Arcachon and the coastal beaches or continue for another 13 miles when the free A63 suddenly changes back to the N10. Gasoleo B or Gasoil B is the equivalent of red diesel for agricultural vehicles do not put this in your motorhome! You cannot book aires for camping in Spain, it is advisable in the holidays and in popular places to try and get there early in the morning or just after lunchtime. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can either have two small boards or one large board but they must be placed at the back of the outfit between 50cm and 150cm off the ground.