Driving down from Calais

[DaveK]

In the past when taking the car we have taken the ferry to Santander and arrived in Carvoeiro after a good 9 to 10 hour slog. But in September intend to use the shuttle and drive down through France at a leisurely pace. Any recommenations for overnight stops?

[Victor Laszlo]

Hi,
We did exactly the same journey a couple of years ago.
Took a laptop with us and sat nav and when we started to get tired pulled over and searched for late deals ahead of our location. Got a couple of great deals, at 4 star hotels with breakfast, half their normal price.
If your an hour away the hotels will take anything so an empty room is used.
If you prefer to pre book an economy type hotel Kyriad Hotels in France are ok,very clean with good facilities, but the rooms are tiny.
Good luck it's a great trip, as you know, especially when the palm trees start to appear. We did it in January and it was literally driving from bleak winter to English spring time warm sunny weather. Fantastic

Best Regards

Ray & Carole

[Bruce Wallis]

We calculated Day 1....Calais to Bordeaux
Day2 Spanish border somewhere like San Sebastian
Day 3, Depending which way you want to go, either Trujillio in the Extramadura, or go in over the top of Portugal, and stay in the Douro.

There is a more economic alternative...from San Sebastian, go via Madrid, and down to Seville. Then straight into the Algarve at the beginning of the A22. You can still stop off somewhere like Trujillio, but staying in Spain is far cheaper for petrol, no Portuguese tolls, and it's virtually the same distance as going via Lisbon and the A2

Hope this helps.

[DaveK]

Morning Ray & Carole and Bruce

Thanks for the information. A good deal on a last minute 4* room sounds great; we will take our laptop and search to see what deals are available on the day. If nothing, then economy will be OK as it is just somewhere to sleep.

I was intending to enter Portugal on the E80 from Salamanca to Guarda. As we will not be in a hurry we will probably use the IC1 rather than the A2. Last time we took the route down to Seville but our timing was wrong. As we turned due West to head for the Algarge it was still rush hour and the sun was starting to set. Talk about driving by guesswork; how vehicles avoided each other I do not know. The sun had just got to the point where the sun visors were useless.

All the best

Dave

[pickwick]

Hi Bruce

I have driven this route many times and often stayed in Bordeaux. Do you take a detour/scenic route on day 2 as it is only 150 miles from Bordeaux to San Sebastian?? The total distance from Calais to Lagoa is 1400 miles.

Normally (starting from Bath) we stay over in Bordeaux (770 miles) and then after an early start arrive in Lagoa early evening on day 2 (850 miles).

Pickwick

[roy4eyes]

Hi Dave

We also take this route regularly in a leisurely fashion trying to do maximum 6 hours driving a day.

Our recommendations are:
Hotel Capricorne in Vendome, a beautiful small market town just north of Blois.
Inter Hotel de L'Ocean (ask for canal view room) in Capbreton just north of Biarritz - lovely typically french seaide resort with adjacent fantastic fish restaurant - lovely beach and half Biarritz prices.
Hotel Horus in Salamanca - on the outskirts (easy to find) but only €1 bus to centre - with restaurant serving some of the best food we ave had in Spain - ask for Angel when booking and say we recommended you.

All are easy to find (Satnav) and, importantly if you are coming down with valuables in the car, all have secure private parking.
Look up at www.booking.com and then consider contacting direct to get a better price (particularly at Horus).

Look forward to getting your report when you get here.

Roy

[DaveK]

Thanks Roy.

We will not be driving down until September but are next over in June for about 10 days, courtesy of Ryanair! Anyone fancy meeting up for a drink?

[davecwill]

Hi Dave
When are you over in June

[DaveK]

Around the 12th. Flights not yet booked but still looking at the prices.

[davecwill]

Shame. We arrive on the 25th

[DaveK]

Sorry we need to be back in the UK by then at the moment. Will post if able to stay longer.