Winter Sun

Rodders1234

Rodders1234

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Morning Funsters, we enjoyed Spain last winter but my wife hated the rough ferry crossing Portsmouth to Santander. Only retired 2 years ago so this was our first attempt to find winter sun. We would like to do something this winter.
Would seem a shame to leave our lovely MH on the drive! No plans to change my wife (at the moment!), are there any sensible alternatives?
 
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our poppy lll said:
In all the times I have driven that route, I have never needed snow chains, the A75 is kept very clear all through winter even through Millau. I was also under the impression that motorhome tyres were both winter and summer tyres, but I might be wrong, it’s worth checking. I have had snow, and ice but nothing too serious.
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If you read the article it explains what winter tyres are required. The logo is 3 peaks. If you do not uave the correct tyres you can have snow chains or snow socks. You can be stopped by the Gendarmes and asked to demonstrate how to fit the chains or socks.

In practice. Travelling on the motorways neither chains or socks will be any good to you. Socks will disintegrate after a few yards and chains will only be able to do about 10 kph before slipping and doing damage. And the end 0f the day sticking to motorways when the weather is bad you will be fine. The legislation is aimed at the smaller higher roads.
You can price up the 3 peak tyres and change them for summer or just get a set of chains
Iike i did. They cost less than a fine.
 
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Rodders1234 said:
Morning Funsters, we enjoyed Spain last winter but my wife hated the rough ferry crossing Portsmouth to Santander. Only retired 2 years ago so this was our first attempt to find winter sun. We would like to do something this winter.
Would seem a shame to leave our lovely MH on the drive! No plans to change my wife (at the moment!), are there any sensible alternatives?
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I just checked my tyres they are Michelin all season Agilis they came with the new van. New in April, It’s certainly worth you checking your tyres. My previous 3.5 tonne camper did not have all season and I drove in December 2021 through France to Spain and back via Santander Feb 2022 with no issues..
 
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our poppy lll said:
I just checked my tyres they are Michelin all season Agilis they came with the new van. New in April, It’s certainly worth you checking your tyres. My previous 3.5 tonne camper did not have all season and I drove in December 2021 through France to Spain and back via Santander Feb 2022 with no issues..
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Mine are Michelin CP MS (mud and snow I think?) which hopefully would be ok?
 
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Thank you everybody for your input. A lot to think about and we may well try traveling down through France and ferry back. Kim says travelling back would be ok as its only one night on the ferry.I don’t really understand, I have pointed out its about the same number of hours on the ferry but who am I to question my wife!
So probably try and make it an adventure travelling through France rather than rushing so its more part of the holiday, 4 or 5 nights to the south of France. Of course thats just the journey, what about where to stay when we get there?
We really enjoyed our first rally last year in Spain at Allannia but are there others?
How do you find what winter rallies there are? CMC are running 3 but who else runs winter rallies? I think ccc have stopped.
Thanks again.

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Watching with interest as we are hoping to break our winter sun 'virginity' this year. Early or Mid January to Mid March. Ferry one way and drive back sounds like a plan.
One of the CMC rallies for a while? Maybe. But we are likely to get bored staying too long on one site so we are wondering if it's practical to move around a bit.?
 
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Mikeco said:
We have had this discussion for the last 16 years, do we drive through France or risk a rough crossing. It’s funny that every time we drive through France then the following year we take the longer ferry. Driving through France in Winter is a pain.
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We used to do the same with skiing drove one year flew the next and that was with 3 kids. It can't have been that much better either way.
 
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Rodders1234 said:
Thank you everybody for your input. A lot to think about and we may well try traveling down through France and ferry back. Kim says travelling back would be ok as its only one night on the ferry.I don’t really understand, I have pointed out its about the same number of hours on the ferry but who am I to question my wife!
So probably try and make it an adventure travelling through France rather than rushing so its more part of the holiday, 4 or 5 nights to the south of France. Of course thats just the journey, what about where to stay when we get there?
We really enjoyed our first rally last year in Spain at Allannia but are there others?
How do you find what winter rallies there are? CMC are running 3 but who else runs winter rallies? I think ccc have stopped.
Thanks again.
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Motor Caravanners Club sometimes hold winter rallies in Spain
 
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Not a rally as such but Brittany Ferries do winter sun camping holidays with a choice of four sites in Spain. Prices shown are per person and include return ferry to Spain with four berth cabin and 28 nights camp site fees included. You can stay fewer or more nights if you wish. The prices look reasonable although you would need to pay a little more for large motorhomes or should you wish to upgrade the cabin. I imagine it would be possible to split your holiday between sites or just use one of theirs for a few weeks before moving off to somewhere of your own choosing. Club Voyage members would get 5% off the prices shown. Details here
 
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The article says Mud & Snow tyres are OK until 1st November 2024, so they'd be OK for this winter, which is interesting. When we had M&S tyres, I carried some cheap chains (Aldi?) but I don't bother now - that set of chains apparently doesn't quite fit the uprated tyres we now have (which do have the 3 peaks symbol).

Crossing to and from Spain, we generally keep an eye on the weather forecast and road conditions and use the Somport tunnel, preferably on a Sunday as the French access road is fairly narrow in places. We haven't had a problem to date, though we did leave Spain a day early one year to avoid predicted snow (that was in March). We used the Bielsa tunnel last time southbound (early 2020), which was interesting, as the tunnel is too narrow for motorhomes/caravans to pass. It runs as a two way car tunnel most of the time. You wait in a special lane at traffic lights for it to clear and then use it as a one way tunnel. It's older and shorter than the Somport, so only took a few minutes to clear. Both tunnels are free. They aren't the quickest way to Spain if that's what you are interested in.

Some of the old C&CC rallies are still running as 'gatherings' organised through social media - Almafra, Moncofa, Playa Tropicana I know about. If you turned up on those sites, the organisers might welcome you. They are probably looking for fresh blood, as older members sell units and stop travelling, or replace the imagined 'comfort blanket' of the C&CC with that of the CAMC!
 
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WE use the Newhaven/Dieppe crossing (4 hours) mainly because we live only 20 miles from Newhaven. Then drive down, We can do it in two days to the Spanish border but often take 4 or more.
 
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Thank you everybody for your interesting input. An update, we have just booked our winter holiday, nearly 8 weeks hopeful into much warmer climes.

  • Initial ferry, shorter day time crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
  • A leisurely week travelling down the coast to the south of France and then across into Spain
  • 3 weeks in a CMC rally at Viaona Park site (near Barcelona)
  • 2 1/2 weeks in CMC Alannia rally near Catral in Spain
  • Final journey with a couple of days in Madrid followed by a couple in Santander before the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth

Looking forward to it already.

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Verteuil Man said:
The west of France can be very nippy as well. In the Charente it can be below 0c for a week on end.

Las year we did the length of France in 2 days and that is not really rushing. SWMBO has a low boredom threshold.
We have a similar trip to you in the UK coming from Staffordshire, but it is worth it in the end.
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Yes it can get chilly here too but the Charente is a bit inland and quite high in parts. The Charente Maritime on the other hand....!
 
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Rodders1234 said:
Thank you everybody for your interesting input. An update, we have just booked our winter holiday, nearly 8 weeks hopeful into much warmer climes.

  • Initial ferry, shorter day time crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
  • A leisurely week travelling down the coast to the south of France and then across into Spain
  • 3 weeks in a CMC rally at Viaona Park site (near Barcelona)
  • 2 1/2 weeks in CMC Alannia rally near Catral in Spain
  • Final journey with a couple of days in Madrid followed by a couple in Santander before the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth

Looking forward to it already.
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We are thinking of doing the same in 2025. Would appreciate you giving feedback about your trip on your return. Have a great trip.
 
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Neil S said:
the tunnel would be good option if your wife dislikes the ferry
I'm in the same position as my other half dreads the 30 hour crossing but faced with the extremely long drive through France she just puts up with it
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It's not really a long drive through France just a series of pleasant drives between places of interest and beauty. You don't have to do it in one or two days.
 
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mitzimad said:
for us in winter you need to be below bordeaux for there to be an improvement in weather
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To get some proper warmth in winter you need to get below the 42nd parallel in Europe and in Spain or Portugal near the coast.

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I used to have an apartment just south of Alicante at 38 degrees south. The nights could still be cold and there was a photo on the wall of one of our local cafes with the square under a layer of snow! We had just purchased and I mentioned to my OH that perhaps we hadn't bought far enough south. Whilst we never had snow during out time of ownership, one March when we visited there was snow on the tops of the mountains behind Alicante.
 
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cyberyacht said:
I used to have an apartment just south of Alicante at 38 degrees south. The nights could still be cold and there was a photo on the wall of one of our local cafes with the square under a layer of snow! We had just purchased and I mentioned to my OH that perhaps we hadn't bought far enough south. Whilst we never had snow during out time of ownership, one March when we visited there was snow on the tops of the mountains behind Alicante.
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Is Alacante really at 38 degrees south?
 
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scotjimland said:
As said, Le Shuttle is an option .. downside for you, it's long drive from Taunton to Folkestone, about 200 miles, and an even longer drive down to northern Spain, 800 miles .. so an extra 2,000 miles on a return trip...

Also, in winter it's cold in France, think freezing, and while aires may be open fresh water is generally shut off to prevent frozen pipes.. .. plus you have the added cost of fuel and tolls.

Explain this to your wife and she may decide the Portsmouth to Santander ferry is a (much) better option ..
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Simple answer here is to carry enough water to get you into Spain

We have a longer drive to get to Folkestone but it’s well worth it we think

Boats sink 🤣
 
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Al n Val said:
not the channel as yet though (as yet) and then you have a spare escape tunnel

you can’t say that about ferries to and from the UK not sinking 😉👍
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no idea what your point is.. but happy travels what ever way you go
 
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