The Joys of Benidorm!

[busby]

When waas it legal to remove them?

Business rates here are negligible , in my region anyway. It is the rent that is eye watering whatever type of business you are in.


The headline says it all & watching it the vast majority aren't wearing masks. Unless the law has changed it isn't legal.

Bit like uk then.Reckon 80% of customers in Tesco were unmasked this morning and most of the staff.Very few sanitising baskets or hands either..They think it's all over, BUSBY.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Well the summer is back here.. 11pm and it's 23.8°c don't get me wrong it's never been very cold but tonight I've been out on the Scoot in shorts and flip flops.

 

[Richard n Ann]

 

[Richard n Ann]

Last night's low 20.8°c

 

[hymermick]

The sunset in Benidorm tonight.

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[Just smiffy]

I’m hopefully going down to Albia next week and staying in a tent, what’s the night time temps been like .?

 

[gus-lopez]

Well the summer is back here.. 11pm and it's 23.8°c don't get me wrong it's never been very cold but tonight I've been out on the Scoot in shorts and flip flops.

Yes the wind has been exceptionally warm here over the last few days. I was sweating buckets painting yesterday in shorts & a vest at nearly 30º. Today was a bit cooler but still shorts & vest. T shirt far too hot working in.

 

[bigtree]

Last night's low 20.8°c

 

[Reusables]

I’m hopefully going down to Albia next week and staying in a tent, what’s the night time temps been like .?

We're up in Oliva ..45 mins north.. and 25 degrees.atm was real warm last night but meant to be getting a bit cooler over the next few days

 

[hymermick]

Last night the temp was about 23 degrees but the local radio said by the end of the week night temps would go down to 10 degrees.

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[Reusables]

Yes the wind has been exceptionally warm here over the last few days. I was sweating buckets painting yesterday in shorts & a vest at nearly 30º. Today was a bit cooler but still shorts & vest. T shirt far too hot working in.

Tell me about it , was doing some painting in my boxer shorts.
Putting the rest off untill I'm out in the spring .

 

[John Barrett]

Taken Monday evening with Jan's OPPO phone camera.
#

 

[Just smiffy]

I got an email saying my new passport is on is way so it looks like I’m on the 10.20am train on Monday, looking to get to L’ Albir on Wednesday.

 

[Reusables]

Checked out the isidro buffet and going to score it 7 out 10
Burger was a bit too salty for me and the calamari too greasy.

Paella was tidy
Everything else was good .
Every flavour of ice cream to get your mouth dribbling.

Comes with one drink but unlimited tea/coffee

Not showing you my other plates or you'll think I'm a pig

 

[Nanniemate]

22 days and counting

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[tomm]

Hoping to have our first ever long haul trip to there around mid January , so will be keeping a close eye on this thread for tips , info etc . No doubt I will be throwing in some requests for advice in the interim period . Still at the stage of deciding the travel arrangements , ie boat to Santander , or ferry to Dieppe and drive down from there ? Looking (so far) to be in favour of the trip down being the Santander option , then returning via drive through France to Dieppe on return , late March time . Have been regularly checking out availability on the Britanny ferry site and think we will have to be deciding in the next few days , so as to have a reasonable chance of booking a slot on the boat within our preferred dates .

 

[PhilandMena]

Hoping to have our first ever long haul trip to there around mid January , so will be keeping a close eye on this thread for tips , info etc . No doubt I will be throwing in some requests for advice in the interim period . Still at the stage of deciding the travel arrangements , ie boat to Santander , or ferry to Dieppe and drive down from there ? Looking (so far) to be in favour of the trip down being the Santander option , then returning via drive through France to Dieppe on return , late March time . Have been regularly checking out availability on the Britanny ferry site and think we will have to be deciding in the next few days , so as to have a reasonable chance of booking a slot on the boat within our preferred dates .

Why not drive down through France and save hundreds of euros and potentially chucking your guts up in the bay of biscay.

Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It has a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Fuel & Toll costs. For a class 2 Motorhome. Calais – Irun. Toll = €153.80 Fuel €158.11 Based on 1083 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.46 per ltr. 3.5T motor-home). N10 Calais - Irun. Using partial Toll = €11.50. Fuel €154.17 Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.46 per ltr

Tolls: Avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 13.20 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (€1.80). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (From Jct 6 €8.90 in total). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. Also near here, cheap fuel with easy access (https://www.fuelflash.eu/en/alcampo...rcial-txingudi-zona-araso_b_-ventas-80-33301/) and shopping opportunities. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm
If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.


https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app



A popular app/website. Used by many and worth taking out the small subscription. Loads of up to date reviews here too.

https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/


There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

One of the best off line MAP ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again, many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

Broken Link Removed.

 

[tomm]

Why not drive down through France and save hundreds of euros and potentially chucking your guts up in the bay of biscay.

Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It has a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Fuel & Toll costs. For a class 2 Motorhome. Calais – Irun. Toll = €153.80 Fuel €158.11 Based on 1083 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.46 per ltr. 3.5T motor-home). N10 Calais - Irun. Using partial Toll = €11.50. Fuel €154.17 Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.46 per ltr

Tolls: Avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 13.20 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (€1.80). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (From Jct 6 €8.90 in total). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. Also near here, cheap fuel with easy access (https://www.fuelflash.eu/en/alcampo...rcial-txingudi-zona-araso_b_-ventas-80-33301/) and shopping opportunities. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm
If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.


https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app



A popular app/website. Used by many and worth taking out the small subscription. Loads of up to date reviews here too.

https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/


There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

One of the best off line MAP ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again, many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

Broken Link Removed.

Thanks PhilandMena ...... Have actually been using your fantastic resource as our planning " go to" for the last few weeks now . Most especially the route options for tolls, non tolls , part tolls which we have found invaluable . Along with the viamichelin site . We have also been using the search forsites app for a couple of years now . All those have went a long way in our decision making . I also get what your saying about the potentially huge savings on tolls and also the Bay of Biscay churning stomach possibility.

Our thinking was more based on the mid winter drive down and the potential for snow etc . However nothing is set in stone as yet , so we might well end up doing the drive through France both there and back .

 

[Al n Val]

PhilandMena

I’ve looked at your posts regarding routes through France loads of times and am in need of a bit, take that as a lot of help.

I use a Garmin 890 Camper satnav to take me from place to place, I have it set to use the toll roads as tbh I like to get through France asap.

I‘m keen to try a non toll (partly) route and have done the western Rouen, Tours, Bordeaux route twice but literally following the satnav set to tolls.

With that in mind do you or anyone know if I can plan a route into the Garmin which would take me down along the N route you are suggesting, does this route allow me to trundle along at 60mph without 100’s of roundabouts btw, which is what I tend to do whilst motorway driving.

Last time we travelled France heading to Spain we headed towards Bordeaux as we came out of the tunnel then inputted Evereux, then Dreux as we neared Evereux, followed by Orleans and well down the country to Souillac. This then takes you past Toulouse via motorway onto the Med coast

I‘m aiming to get into Spain after a 1 night stopover in France, sooner I get to the sun the better.

No problem if you can’t offer the satnav advise, I’ll have to try to muddle through it myself but would prefer if possible to input the route before setting out on the journey as it’ll save loads of arguing along the way

Or is it as simple as setting the Garmin to non tolls all the way but I wouldn’t want it to take days and days and drive me roundabout and poor fuel consumption crazy

thanks

Al

 

[PhilandMena]

Thanks PhilandMena ...... Have actually been using your fantastic resource as our planning " go to" for the last few weeks now . Most especially the route options for tolls, non tolls , part tolls which we have found invaluable . Along with the viamichelin site . We have also been using the search forsites app for a couple of years now . All those have went a long way in our decision making . I also get what your saying about the potentially huge savings on tolls and also the Bay of Biscay churning stomach possibility.

Our thinking was more based on the mid winter drive down and the potential for snow etc . However nothing is set in stone as yet , so we might well end up doing the drive through France both there and back .

You will not see any snow on that Western route as its too close to the Atlantic. We have never come across any yet and have been using this route for many years.

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[Just smiffy]

I got an email saying my new passport is on is way so it looks like I’m on the 10.20am train on Monday, looking to get to L’ Albir on Wednesday.

It’s here…

Now on my way…

 

[PhilandMena]

PhilandMena

I’ve looked at your posts regarding routes through France loads of times and am in need of a bit, take that as a lot of help.

I use a Garmin 890 Camper satnav to take me from place to place, I have it set to use the toll roads as tbh I like to get through France asap.

I‘m keen to try a non toll (partly) route and have done the western Rouen, Tours, Bordeaux route twice but literally following the satnav set to tolls.

With that in mind do you or anyone know if I can plan a route into the Garmin which would take me down along the N route you are suggesting, does this route allow me to trundle along at 60mph without 100’s of roundabouts btw, which is what I tend to do whilst motorway driving.

Last time we travelled France heading to Spain we headed towards Bordeaux as we came out of the tunnel then inputted Evereux, then Dreux as we neared Evereux, followed by Orleans and well down the country to Souillac. This then takes you past Toulouse via motorway onto the Med coast

I‘m aiming to get into Spain after a 1 night stopover in France, sooner I get to the sun the better.

No problem if you can’t offer the satnav advise, I’ll have to try to muddle through it myself but would prefer if possible to input the route before setting out on the journey as it’ll save loads of arguing along the way

Or is it as simple as setting the Garmin to non tolls all the way but I wouldn’t want it to take days and days and drive me roundabout and poor fuel consumption crazy

thanks

Al

More than happy to help and I think the best way is to do it in stages, you know, KIS (Keep It Simple).
Sat Nav. I too have the Garmin camper Sat Nav. (770 LMT -D). Sometimes the routing makes no sense what-so-ever and if followed will take me on a ridiculously nonsensical route to my destination, so I always check it after it loads up. other than that, I like it a lot. Very useful.
Although the Sat Nav has a trip planner where you can store planned routes (Which I use a lot) it cant quite cope with a single route that has a combination of toll and non toll roads so I tend to make my total journey through a number of planned trips stored in my sat nav and these can easily be loaded up and on the move too if needed. Did you know you can store all the SearchForSite locations in your Garmin and all you need then is to punch the site code into your Sat Nav and the Sat Nav will do the rest. (I can help you set that up if your interested, I find it really helpful.
So, first thing first ! would you like me to walk you through setting up your Garmin to use the partial toll route option from Calais (?) to Camping Villasol. I will also include stopovers. It will take longer than 1 day to get to the Spanish border, more likely 3. You could do it in 2 but that's a lot of driving ?
Anyway, if you want to proceed, start a conversation with me and we will take it from there.

 

[Just smiffy]

PhilandMena

I’ve looked at your posts regarding routes through France loads of times and am in need of a bit, take that as a lot of help.

I use a Garmin 890 Camper satnav to take me from place to place, I have it set to use the toll roads as tbh I like to get through France asap.

I‘m keen to try a non toll (partly) route and have done the western Rouen, Tours, Bordeaux route twice but literally following the satnav set to tolls.

With that in mind do you or anyone know if I can plan a route into the Garmin which would take me down along the N route you are suggesting, does this route allow me to trundle along at 60mph without 100’s of roundabouts btw, which is what I tend to do whilst motorway driving.

Last time we travelled France heading to Spain we headed towards Bordeaux as we came out of the tunnel then inputted Evereux, then Dreux as we neared Evereux, followed by Orleans and well down the country to Souillac. This then takes you past Toulouse via motorway onto the Med coast

I‘m aiming to get into Spain after a 1 night stopover in France, sooner I get to the sun the better.

No problem if you can’t offer the satnav advise, I’ll have to try to muddle through it myself but would prefer if possible to input the route before setting out on the journey as it’ll save loads of arguing along the way

Or is it as simple as setting the Garmin to non tolls all the way but I wouldn’t want it to take days and days and drive me roundabout and poor fuel consumption crazy

thanks

Al

I used to just put in L’Albir from Calais and follow the sat nav avoiding tolls, we just ambled along as it was cosy in the van and never in a hurry. I think it took 4 nights to get down.

On Monday I’m going by car and want to get down asap so for the first time I’m going the toll route I’ve worked it out on”Michelin maps” and it’s going to cost around €110 but I should be pitching up by Wednesday…

 

[Al n Val]

More than happy to help and I think the best way is to do it in stages, you know, KIS (Keep It Simple).
Sat Nav. I too have the Garmin camper Sat Nav. (770 LMT -D). Sometimes the routing makes no sense what-so-ever and if followed will take me on a ridiculously nonsensical route to my destination, so I always check it after it loads up. other than that, I like it a lot. Very useful.
Although the Sat Nav has a trip planner where you can store planned routes (Which I use a lot) it cant quite cope with a single route that has a combination of toll and non toll roads so I tend to make my total journey through a number of planned trips stored in my sat nav and these can easily be loaded up and on the move too if needed. Did you know you can store all the SearchForSite locations in your Garmin and all you need then is to punch the site code into your Sat Nav and the Sat Nav will do the rest. (I can help you set that up if your interested, I find it really helpful.
So, first thing first ! would you like me to walk you through setting up your Garmin to use the partial toll route option from Calais (?) to Camping Villasol. I will also include stopovers. It will take longer than 1 day to get to the Spanish border, more likely 3. You could do it in 2 but that's a lot of driving ?
Anyway, if you want to proceed, start a conversation with me and we will take it from there.

hi Phil

that would be brilliant thank you

lmk if i’ll need the satnav with me as it’s in the van up at the farm and we’ll have a go probably tomorrow if that’s ok

Will it have to be a whatsapp video call or something like that

cheers and thanks

Al

 

[PhilandMena]

hi Phil

that would be brilliant thank you

lmk if i’ll need the satnav with me as it’s in the van up at the farm and we’ll have a go probably tomorrow if that’s ok

Will it have to be a whatsapp video call or something like that

cheers and thanks

Al

Yes we can do that ! No problem. !

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[Crazylegs]

You will not see any snow on that Western route as its too close to the Atlantic. We have never come across any yet and have been using this route for many years.

Bold statement Phil, this is us hunkered down in Calais in January 2010, the weather was so bad that year both here at home, and all the way through France. Somewhere around Tours the temperature was -17, it took ten days to get through France on the bikes. Some days we simply couldn’t ride, on others it was so cold two hours on the bike was all we could safely achieve. It was of course an exceptional year, but it definitely snows in France.

 

[panda]

Everyone knows our thoughts on Beni - nowhere else is so cheerful and busy in the darkest winter months, with beautiful blue skies, walking, cycling, The Old Town, restaurants, tapas bars, fantastic free entertainment, not to mention a brilliant bunch of Funsters to enjoy it all with!

I'm with you every time Ger xxx

 

[Nanniemate]

21 days and counting to lift off

 

[Richard n Ann]

I'd save your allowance for when it's nice weather now. It's freezing here, still warm in the sun but the temperature drops off quickly at night. The tall buildings in town don't allow much sunlight in when it's low in the sky.

Ann can't get warm when we've been out on the scooter until the cooker goes on for dins

The swimming pools are baltic and so are the shower blocks. Up to you though each to their own

 

[Nanniemate]

Oh no not cold there please need the heat all booked and paid so what will be will be I will bring sushine

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