Driving down.
 

Has anyone done the drive from Calais to Valencia? If so was it ok? We are thinking of driving when we move with a 7.5 ton truck, it seems the most cost effective way, but is it a really stressful thing to do?:confused:

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Not at all we regularly drive from various parts of the South coast of the U.K. and also from various parts of Spain on different occasions :cool:

This july we are drivingn up to Bilbao and then the ferry to Portsmouth, then when we return Dover/ Calais & down to Spain easy peasy all Motorway's :cool:

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Hey Big John, what sort of costs are you talking doing that please my good man?
Obviously it is more expensive than coming by plane.

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Yes I've done it several times now, once in a full size Luton Van. Its not what you call stressful at all. Depends on how you want to do it. The first time we came overnight through the tunnel with two of us and just drove in one hit 24 hours. That was a struggle towards the end.
When we returned, we stopped at Montpellier on the way up overnight. That was easier, although the UK drive part was again a bit of a struggle towards the end.

The second time was in a car and we arrived in Calais about 2 in the afternoon. Drove down to South of Rheims and stopped overnight. The following day I made Valencia with a number of stops along the way, but it was gone midnight when we arrived.

If you time the arrival in Calais for early morning then you can get to Montpellier, and then the following day should see you in Valencia easily.

The trip in a 35 cwt return inc tunnel, tolls, rental fuel was under £1500 and that was in September

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we are so close to Dover it seems mad to pay someone to do it, its much cheaper (about £400) to go from Dover that Portsmouth, and the time difference is big too, takes much longer from Portsmouth, although you end up in Spain, its quicker to drive through France to get to Spain. I'm so nervous about driving abroad, I know I'll have to do it but it feels me with dread!:(

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As I said above, its absolutely no problem once you get used to driving by the kerbside :)

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I'm just a wuss when it comes to things like that. We will be moving to Llacuna not too far from you (fingers crossed) so will be quite similar in time.Trying to work out how to transport all our stuff, plus 2 dogs is already worrying me, but i'm always being told i worry to much!

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Silverchick,

I would agree with Mitzboy, as I have done this several times in Cars, Vans & also with a 9mtr motorhome with a 5mtr bike trailer.
We have stopped in various places on the way down from Lyon to Montpelier, and normally stop in the www.campanille.fr hotel/hostals which are normally in Industrial parks,with secure parking.

You get a basic room with shower & toilet facilities, and they alway's have a restaurant attached which is cheap but generally good and each one tends to serve regional specialities and a good carafe of reasonable wine :cool:

The Portsmouth route for you getting to Valencia is a long way round, either to Caen or the trip down to Bilbao by boat.

Funnily enough for me travelling up from Galicia, I had worked it out that it was a bit cheaper for me to go via Bilbao - Portsmouth than driving through France purely on Mileage & wear a tear on the vehicle, otherwise the costs are about the same :thumbup:

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You worry too much :D

Actually Portsmouth St Malo is the most enjoyable trip I've had down, but I wouldn't recommend it with a 7.5 tonner

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The ferry costs from Bilbao - Portsmouth for the R.R & two adults in Euros, which the guy worked out for me was cheaper than paying in pounds was 350€ including a two berth cabin,then there is your own costs for any food / drinks.

Ferry Portsmouth - Caen at the moment is 218 Pounds R.R. & two adults

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Is that for a 7.5 tonner box van? :blink:

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I was originally going to be driving down to spain, but due to an unfortunate accident writing my car off, im flying instead. I was booked on the Portsmouth Bilbao ferry, as Dover is a good 4 hours from where i live. It would take a good 6 hours just to get to calais, then theres a full day of driving through france then a full day of driving through spain.

I worked out that saving on the ferry from dover to calais, saving on the fuel, mileage and tolls in france and saving on a hotel overnight actually made the £300 ferry a bit more worth it. It was a bit more expensive overall and yes you are on it for two nights but at least youre not driving the whole way, and you can have some R&R on the ferry. Yeah it takes a lot longer but hey, wheres the rush.

I was quite looking forward to a 3 day journey to spain. Now im looking forward to my 3 hour flight!

Sadly I didnt get a full refund off the ferry when i had to cancel it :( But i booked my flight for an awesome £25 straight from my local airport too.

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You in the west country then OLA?

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We priced up to go from Portsmouth just with a car and 3 people and it was nearly £700! That was when we were staying at my parents so it was closer than Dover. Dover is only half and hour for us from here so thats why we chose that port for our move.We priced it at just over £1000 with hire of vehicle, crossing and fuel, estimating at 15 miles to the gallon.
The other half has even done a spreadsheet! :zzz:

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No Im in south yorkshire.... for the next 3 days :)

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silverchick, as there are a lot of parallels, you might like to look at this thread:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443129

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Hi Silverchick,stop worrying about driving abroad,its a breeze,driving through France is so different than here,you dont have the ccongestedroads like here,its really nice ,the roads are really good ,its very scenic,there is loads of room to stop,there lay bys are something else,a lot of them are equipped with toilet facilities and picnic areas,including picnic tables,try to get has far down has you can before re-fueling,the fuel is more expensive in France than Spain,I used to drive a big truck over,so Im sure if I can you can,honestly there is nothing to worry about,once you get used to driving on the opposite side you will love it,just go and enjoy it.Good luck :thumbup:

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I'm doing the Plymouth to Santander route, then driving down to Alicante. Saves a lot on mileage as I only live 12 miles away from Plymouth! :)

And have just booked the ferry, Spain here I come, (next week!)

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Thats a really expensive crossing thoush isn't it?

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We were thinking of using the Plymouth to Santander ferry (Brittania) and got a quote of £484 for 2 adults with 4 cats and a car with a 2 berth cabin on the 13th May. Unfortunately we couldn't book it as we need to be in Spain for the 14th May as that is when the removal people are delivering our furniture and stuff to our villa. The ferry previous to that is on the 9th May and that would be too soon as our furniture and stuff is being collected from here on the 10th! Now we are driving down through the tunnel, France and Spain instead using the Michelin recommended route HERE

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I must have done something wrong then because last year when we were going to Pillar De HorridDada we were quoted about £1500 return for two adultsa and the Disco 1. so we flew to murcia with easyJunk instead !!!!

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Our quote was for a one way ticket - but yours seems rather on the expensive side even for a return! :blink:

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R.R.

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I love driving in spain its fun.. Its like being a learner again everythings different! :eek: I have taken myself further in spain than I have ever gone in England, Have a laugh at all the errors you'll make, and remember, drive like the spanish not like the english,, so you don't have to indicate, you can park anywhere, and you don't have to stop for oncoming traffic and last but not least honk your horn at anything that may hold your journey up by even 1 second and you'll be fine!:lol:

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We regularly drive from Dunkerque (we use Norfolkline) to Valencia in our 3.5 ton motorhome.

We never use toll roads and we do the trip (about 1000 miles) in either three or four days.

We go via Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Tours, Poitier, Biarritz, Pamplona, Zaragoza.

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Hi derek500,Mmmmm I agree with you there,I used to do that route in the truck,you save so much money on the tolls, and its nice easy driving :thumbup:

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One way ticket £319, including cabin. I may be spending more on the ferry but I would only end up spending more on petrol driving from Plymouth to Dover etc. Also, from Santander it is only a 500 ish mile journey.

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Yes, you are quite right,there are swings and roundabouts to everything. Thanks for reminding me.

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I know i need to be more confident about driving, i'm fine here, as long as i know where i'm going! Although i'd still never drive in London!
Silly thing is, there was far less traffic wherever we drove in Spain, its the roundabouts that worry me, i had white knuckles most of the time when my other half drove!!:unsure:

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Me too!!

Rosemary

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I think it is much worse being the passenger when driving in Spain, I am like a demented banshee, weeping an na wailing everytime a car comes within a few feet of us, I have to sit on my hands to stop my nails from cutting into the palms of my hands. OK maybe a bit OTT but as a passenger I think you have more time to notice things, when I point luny drivers out to OH he just says "yes I know their there but I'm to busy doing what I'm doing."

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Surely no different from being a passenger in the UK, unless you are in Spain in a RHD car, then the passenger is on the side next to all the moving traffic.

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Mike you are talking to the lady that thinks if she closes her eyes and breaths in it will make a difference to the width of space when she is driving between two buses on a busy London road.:blink: Driving instructors face was a picture the first time I did that in Borourgh High Street;)

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Crispygirl you are sooo funny!!!!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: