France - Spain and Portugal for 10 weeks... your advice please readers !

[h1ghway1]

Sold house end of July and have been travelling England and Wales until yesterday, now in Zwolle , Netherlands visiting friends.

Whilst in UK I clocked up over 2k in miles, some was necessary...leisure battery replacement, reversing camera install and dog sitting... but on reflection a beginners error !

I think I spent to much time on the road so I'm looking for advice or your experience as I roughly plan ahead.

I'm basically on the continent for 10 weeks..back mid December ...in Zwolle until Saturday , then onto Munich to visit more friends for 3 nights.

After that I'm just looking to head to Stuttgart, cross into France around Strasbourg and visit Lyon, head across the foothills of the Pyrenees visiting Pau, Lourdes and carcasonne then
crossing into Spain at Irun.

I then want to visit San Sebastian and Bilbao.. possibly ...and then head for Portugal and Oporto , Lisbon and into Spain again and visit Cadiz, Granada, Seville and Valencia.. probably Barcelona....I haven't thought of the route home , but as it will be mid December I won't hang around heading north to the tunnel... and fingers crossed all goes well for me and the van .

Your opinions, advice and experience welcome

 

[bobandjanie]

That's a large distance your travelling, I personally would draw a smaller picture you will find it much more enjoyable. Bob.

 

[EuroTrotters]

That's a large distance your travelling, I personally would draw a smaller picture you will find it much more enjoyable. Bob.

I agree. Seems a bit of a busy itinerary

 

[Bessy765]

Check your winter tyres/snow chain regs?

 

[barsteward]

Cut out either Spain or Portugal, honestly you will see nothing in that time frame.

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[Reallyretired]

I don't think I could help. You look like you want to visit all the places I would avoid like the plague. I have often had to drive through Lyon but would never visit it.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I don't think I could help. You look like you want to visit all the places I would avoid like the plague. I have often had to drive through Lyon but would never visit it.

Which is a Shame as it has some amazing hidden gems

 

[TheMachMan]

We‘ve just arrived back from our first van trip to Europe Lasting 5 weeks.
Had a big list of places to visit, but only managed half as there was so much to see. Realised it wasn’t a race and we’ll just pick up where we left off next time!

 

[Northernraider]

I understand your ambition to get right down the south of Spain and Portugal but really 10 weeks isn't a lot to do those miles . I spent 11 months doing that and still felt I never saw all of it. The south in my opinion is the nicest part of Spain. I love andalusia... if you must go there then I'd just spend a few days driving south then enjoy exploring it. I plan to take six weeks just doing the east coast of Spain before hopefully heading to maroc to extend my time , then 6 weeks back up

 

[h1ghway1]

Check your winter tyres/snow chain regs?

Nope..but decent tread on Michele camper tyres .thanks for your input

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[h1ghway1]

Having lived in Munich and travelled the 1k km to Calais back in the 90's I'd forgotten how large Europe is... I've driven to zwolle this week and what I thought was a short hop wasn't ..
I'm looking to follow Northern Raiders advice and settle for Andulusia... Portugal and western Spain can wait until another time..

So suggestions for routes to Andulusia please

 

[Bessy765]

I meant the legal requirement to have either winter tyres or snow change. Camper tyres on their own may not comply.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Buy a mid range OBD reader

 

[jumar]

Have fun, get Park4Night app and ACSI card..ensure you get the 20cent per litre government discount on your fuel whilst here in Spain.....Enjoy the food and wine and the Spanish culture....check out Fiesta days which could be one big party for them but a problem for you, shops could be closed....
Plan to eat out at Spanish times, in Spanish restaurants serving Spanish food...you won't be disappointed...Olé

 

[h1ghway1]

I ha ve ACSI, P4N SFS and I bought Aires of France, Spain and Portugal so I have that base covered...I just might struggle to be awake for Spanish supper time

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[h1ghway1]

How do I get the fuel discount ?
jumar

 

[jumar]

How do I get the fuel discount ?
jumar

Generally it's calculated for you...the advertised price is the full price...the price at the pump could have been adjusted to the reduced price...if not it should be at the time of payment....that's for attended stations...for unmanned stations the price at the pump is the price you pay...there are other offers to be had such as Waylet...search here on fun to see previous threads...but these prices are generally higher to start with..

 

[jumar]

I ha ve ACSI, P4N SFS and I bought Aires of France, Spain and Portugal so I have that base covered...I just might struggle to be awake for Spanish supper time

Me too...so eat between 2pm and 4 pm and have a siesta after....cannot beat it...

 

[h1ghway1]

jumar .. many thanks

 

[h1ghway1]

Spent time catching up with friends in Munich..I'm heading towards Strasbourg tomorrow..any advice on sites ?

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[Leith Laddie]

We travelled from Coquelles to Le Mans then south of Bordeaux (all areas we have visited many times and love). We went to Andalusia on Friday via Bilbao, Oviedo is a must-see destination with free overnight MoHo parking near the new hospital (water and waste available). The city is a busy thriving tourist destination with fiercely proud people.

 

[Lenny HB]

Nope..but decent tread on Michele camper tyres .thanks for your input

M&S camping tyres are not winter tyres they don't have the 3 peak marking which you need in Germany from 1st November also all departments in France with mountains and there are a lot of them you need winter tyres or snow chains.

 

[rosalan]

We just spent 3months touring Spain and not stopping long anywhere, but allowing for crossing France which can take about a week Inc return. I honestly think your itinerary needs editing if you are to see or do much apart from driving.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Me too...so eat between 2pm and 4 pm and have a siesta after....cannot beat it...

That is our favourite Spanish eating time too.

 

[h1ghway1]

rosalan Yes I agree...I shall try and get to Spain fairly quickly as I'll be back in France next year following the Rugby world cup..
It was always a fairly loose plan in my head
I'm just outside Stuttgart tonight and didn't realise how far it is to the south of France... aiming for Beaune tomorrow

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[h1ghway1]

Lenny HB I shall be in Spain in November.. I hope.. coming back to UK I shall keep to the west coast and try and avoid mountain routes... keep my fingers crossed.. I'll probably take my time and take a week for the return trip

 

[Kups]

You'll need to keep a close eye on your EU 90 day limit unless you've got EU passports.

 

[h1ghway1]

Irish passport
The reality of how big Germany and France are has settled in ..arrived in Belfort today and it's just started to rain..off to Beaune tomorrow.
Will give Lyon a miss as I'm Crit5. will visit next year..I'll be interested to see where I end up Saturday as I want to take advantage of the quiet roads on Sunday..
Thanks for your inputs

 

[maison]

I don't think I could help. You look like you want to visit all the places I would avoid like the plague. I have often had to drive through Lyon but would never visit it.

A vote for Lyon as a place to visit. Many places of interest to see, some great architecture in the old quarter, interesting churches and great eating places and bars.

We used to live about an hour north of Lyon and visited regularly. The only downside we found was that traffic could be heavy in peak periods.

 

[h1ghway1]

Maison, thanks
Arrived in Beaune and it's raining, forecast is for more tomorrow. Hopefully it will stop for enough time for me to have a walk around.

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