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?

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

You worry too much

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

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

Is that for a 7.5 tonner box van?

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.

You in the west country then OLA?

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!

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