Help France/Spain/1 way ferry/Routes/Stopovers please

[oldiesontour]

We're planning on a trip to Spain ... initial destination Mora de Ebro..done it several times before via Bilbao and also via Paris..This time want to do Dover/Calais(or similar) then avoid Paris spend a couple or 4 days getting to Mora,have to spend 1 to 2 weeks there,then a month/ 6 weeks to play with....Any suggestions for routes/stopovers free/paid 1 night /1week appreciated also is it ok to book ferry one way,booking return a few days before from France ?(1 week fully off grid PVC) TIA

 

[Brains]

How about crossing to Brittany/Normady
(St Marlo, Roskoff, Cherbourg from Portsmouth, Plymouth, Southampton)
And going down the west side of France

 

[Simon Meadwell]

If your over 60 cheapest route may be Newhaven Dieppe if you book direct you get 20% off.

 

[Brains]

 

[MichaelT]

See my thread may give you an idea.

Another run to the sun 🌞

We had planned 8 to 10 weeks away but our house move that should of happened in October got postponed due to the twats that were buying it dropping out when we were ready to exchange contracts. We've got another buyer but as our train ticket can go beyond April we decided to get away anyway...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[denisejoe]

We're planning on a trip to Spain ... initial destination Mora de Ebro..done it several times before via Bilbao and also via Paris..This time want to do Dover/Calais(or similar) then avoid Paris spend a couple or 4 days getting to Mora,have to spend 1 to 2 weeks there,then a month/ 6 weeks to play with....Any suggestions for routes/stopovers free/paid 1 night /1week appreciated also is it ok to book ferry one way,booking return a few days before from France ?(1 week fully off grid PVC) TIA

Check your travel insurance as some companies insist that a return trip is booked.

 

[tonka]

Check your travel insurance as some companies insist that a return trip is booked.

Agree with this.. I once found this out only after already being away...
Staysure at the time had it in their small print, not sure if it's still the case. BUT check with your insurance company.

 

[Millcourt]

From Lincolnshire, it may be worth considering Harwich to Hoek of Holland with Stena, to avoid the M25 and Dartford Crossing. The route south via Dijon would perhaps make an interesting change.

 

[Brains]

In Summary:

Any crossing other than Dover/Calais! (or the tunnel)
Best options seem to be:

Newhaven/Dieppe (for the west side of France)
&/Or
Harwich/Hoek of Holland (for the east side of France)

You could do one way out and the other way back!

Personally I'd aim to get the night ferry crossing from Harwich (nice cabin is part of the price)
You arrive in Hoek of Holland at 8am and either be in Delft for breakfast or in Belgium for Lunch.
I'd do the Dieppe/Newhaven ferry on the return.

Book the return ticket, make sure it's flexible, as it's usually part of the insurance criteria.

 

[oldiesontour]

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Not withstanding medical insurance,has anyone booked ferry one way leaving return route/ time to be booked on the way home ?

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[Brains]

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Not withstanding medical insurance,has anyone booked ferry one way leaving return route/ time to be booked on the way home ?

No.

All Travel insurance usually demands a return ticket be held before you leave.
(Read the small print)

 

[Millcourt]

Avoid booking a return ticket, as usually the return cannot be amended after the outward journey. Always best to book two singles and normally this is no more expensive.

Most of us have travel insurance with significant excesses to pay if a claim is made, to minimise the cost of the cover. This usually means an insurance claim for an unused journey is unrealistic.

For your outward journey if you are absolutely certain you will not need to change your booking, a cheaper non-flexible ticket may be suitable. For the return, a flexible ticket is usually safer so that you can amend your crossing should your plans change. However, you can not foresee illness, breakdown or other events which may delay you and result in a missed crossing, which is why I always book flexible tickets for both ways.

 

[oldiesontour]

Been looking around Newhaven Dieppe £112 Ew...amendments £10 less 20% for living a long time,so will probably do that.( had a quick look at Santander..£1300 ISH RTN mostly full,but neither cost or time worthy ,I'd sooner have a couple of 4 to 5 hrs drives than be stuck on a boat for 24hrs plus.Have family in Chichester so may go see MIL.on way out,want to stop on way home for Jaws 's Swaffam Bash Going to Mora de ebro to market our property(haven't been since 2020)
Was going to be retirement place but B..it ended that (bought before Br...it . could not go for easy residence due to kids at uni in UK.now swmbo health prohibitive

 

[namwaldog]

We're sat on a Spanish Area (Aire/Camperstop) about 5km from Mora d'ebre just now!!

Crossed via tunnel on 18th Feb.
1st night.. Neufchatel en Bray via A16/A28
2nd Night cross country via Dreux, Chartres, N10 to Marboue. Free Aire
3rd night via Chateaudun, Blois, to Varennes sur Fouzon (CCP Aire)
4th night via Chateauroux, A20, Limoges to Donzenac (CCP Aire)
5th night via A20 to Toulouse N6113 to Castelnaudery (CCP Aire)
6 & 7th night N6113, Narbonne A9 Perignan, Spanish border, N2 to Figueres, C31 to L'Estartit. Area Costa Brava
8th night, back to AP7 at Girona then Barcelona and C16 to Area Castellgali
9&10th night. C55 then C25/ A2 towards Llieda then Bellpuig then C233 to Arbeca. Cellar Vinya els Villars
11th night C233 to Flix (lovely mountain run!) Then C12 to Asco (Area Asco)
12 & 13th nights 10 miles down C12 to Ginestar (Area Ginestar)
14th night 6 miles back up C12 (past Mora d'ebre!) To Area Vinebre.
(We're hanging about the Ebre/Ebro valley waiting for the weather to improve further on!!)

Regarding return bookings, Aviva, via Nationwide required a return crossing. We booked the tunnel via CAMC who said that the date/time could be altered for a £20 admin fee + difference in crossing price.

Tonights stoppover...

 

[oldiesontour]

We're sat on a Spanish Area (Aire/Camperstop) about 5km from Mora d'ebre just now!!

Crossed via tunnel on 18th Feb.
1st night.. Neufchatel en Bray via A16/A28
2nd Night cross country via Dreux, Chartres, N10 to Marboue. Free Aire
3rd night via Chateaudun, Blois, to Varennes sur Fouzon (CCP Aire)
4th night via Chateauroux, A20, Limoges to Donzenac (CCP Aire)
5th night via A20 to Toulouse N6113 to Castelnaudery (CCP Aire)
6 & 7th night N6113, Narbonne A9 Perignan, Spanish border, N2 to Figueres, C31 to L'Estartit. Area Costa Brava
8th night, back to AP7 at Girona then Barcelona and C16 to Area Castellgali
9&10th night. C55 then C25/ A2 towards Llieda then Bellpuig then C233 to Arbeca. Cellar Vinya els Villars
11th night C233 to Flix (lovely mountain run!) Then C12 to Asco (Area Asco)
12 & 13th nights 10 miles down C12 to Ginestar (Area Ginestar)
14th night 6 miles back up C12 (past Mora d'ebre!) To Area Vinebre.
(We're hanging about the Ebre/Ebro valley waiting for the weather to improve further on!!)

Regarding return bookings, Aviva, via Nationwide required a return crossing. We booked the tunnel via CAMC who said that the date/time could be altered for a £20 admin fee + difference in crossing price.

Tonights stoppover...

View attachment 1021636

Although I said Mora our property ( olive/almond finca around 13 acre) is just outside Flix .

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[namwaldog]

Although I said Mora our property ( olive/almond finca around 13 acre) is just outside Flix .

Just topped up with LPG at Autos Flix at an unbelievable €0.85 (£0.70p) litre

 

[oldiesontour]

Just topped up with LPG at Autos Flix at an unbelievable €0.85 (£0.70p) litre

Good to know,only ever bought bottles around Flix so didn't know pumped was available ( refillable in van)

 

[POH]

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Not withstanding medical insurance,has anyone booked ferry one way leaving return route/ time to be booked on the way home ?

Just done that ferry to santander on 30th April return left open as not sure which way we will be coming back but on reading about insurance wanting a return might have to book one maybe a flexible one ?

 

[oldiesontour]

Just done that ferry to santander on 30th April return left open as not sure which way we will be coming back but on reading about insurance wanting a return might have to book one maybe a flexible one ?

Think it MAY apply to some breakdown insurance as well...a lot say they will repatriate if it can't be repaired before return booking ???? don't know but also worth checking