Route Cherbourg to Marbella with minimal tolls
Hi Folks
I've booked the Poole to Cherbourg ferry for second week in Jan and my Dad and I plan to head for Spain for a month or so to duck some of the Scottish winter.
I saw a post on this site with a good route to "avoid" tolls down through France and Spain, but since the site makeover, I can't find it.
Does anyone have a good route down to Malaga or Marbella or to the South Spain coast that "avoids" tolls? Would like to drive through some of both France and Spain rather than be on toll roads all the way and also avoid some of the pricier tolls.
I just bought a TomTom Trucker 6000 I have to try and get this route input to that. Could be a hard scratcher 
Thanks in advance!
vintageb3
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As you have been waiting 12 hours already it might be quicker just to type Toll free route to Spain into Google. The answer is instant. Have a safe journey.
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i might be on the same ferry, doing the same route.....not booked it yet (due to 'externel forces') but i would have thought part of it depends on how quickly you want to hit the spanish coast (valencia?) and then tack south from there or via Madrid and cross country...
googlemaps gives 20+ hrs for a non toll drive...
imwpuld be heading for Bordeaux, Bayonne, Pamplona, Zaragosa, Valencia as my first coastal stop will be in that area....
good luck.
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Thanks for the reply eurotraveller, but I don't want a totally toll free route. I was hoping that someone well versed in the trip (our first that way in a motorhome) could advise a route with a good mix of tolls and non toll roads.
I know how to use google and have found good resources for routes using non toll and toll roads.
Thanks once more.
vintageb3
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Hi BB
We are booked on the Poole/Cherbourg ferry for the 10th. Can you please book same ferry...and I will just follow you down to Valencia etc
I'm using a few online resources to try and get a route down to south Spain. I hope to get a good route with Via Michelin and using David's resource.
Then i need to try and pump it into the TomTom Tracker 6000 which may not be all that easy.
Safe trip BB!
vintageb3
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AD's info is really useful, i have also had a look (thank, David)...
for the rough route planned so far, using the toll around Bordeaux to Bayonne area just makes that section a bit easier.
we wont be in a rush and see this as a four leg trip....first stop unknown at the moment, then Bayonne, then Zaragosa, then Valencia.
wont be making the ferry for the 10th (van being serviced on the 9th) its more likely to be 15th/16th.
we have pals who are crossing via the tunnel on 15th and they will be using the western route, too.
re: sat nav planning.....remember that each section of the trip can be fairly easily programmed into the device, along with a bit of 'travel via' you should be able to get the route you want....
repeat each day of the journey, a better bet than trying to plan the whole thing all at once...
good luck.
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I agree BB, David's info is very good. I plan to sit down and work out a route soon with David and your advice.
It came to me that your suggestion of a route for each days drive is the only way to go as the sat nav becomes more versatile that way. We want a leisurely drive down to the coast as well. We have a drive down from Fife as well to factor in. We may do that over a couple of days too. I drove to Bath a few weeks ago in about 8 hours in my van with work, but I don't want to put my Dad through a drive like that, plus we drive the motorhome a little slower than I do my van.
Pity you weren't crossing at the same time. I have a tow rope that I could have hooked to the back of your van when you were looking the other way.
You never know, we may cross paths down there.
Next to stop overs and fond sites down near the coast!
Safe trip!
vintageb3
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Hi Vintageb3
I'm travelling down to Villajoyosa near Alicante with a tunnel crossing on 11th January. We are going via Rouen, Poitiers and Bordeaux and then staying at Camping Larouletta near Bayonne for a couple of nights or so, depending on the weather.
Like BB, I tend to plan my route on a daily basis using the power of my SATNAV and switch the "avoid tolls" toggle on or off depending on our progress.
I will use the Campercontact app to locate a nightstop en route to Bayonne as this gives maximum flexibility accounting for road and weather conditions.
Might see you in the sun - we are staying at Camping Alicante Imperium from 19th to 31st Jan and are then moving on to Marjal Costa Blanca. We're going to be away for a total of 75 nights this time.
Have a great trip - only 17 days of the UK winter weather left for us !
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Hi Jim
We just looked at Camping Alicante Imperium. It looks nice! I nearly reserved a week, but now think I will just turn up and see if theres space. We hate being tied to a plan. Once on site, we can plan what we do.
I'll look at Marjal Costa Brava...we may be neighbours at some point
We too will use the Camperstop app and book on the way down.
Safe travels!
vintageb3
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Hi
Went to look at Camping Alicante Imperium a month back and it is a cracking new site with fantastic facilities you may need transport though as it is a way out of town and not many bars close by, the other new in Villjoyosa Camping Torres is also out of town. Car hire at this time of year is usually cheap here, we always use Centauro but go to the main office in Benidorm and not the agents dotted about because they add their percentage.
Phil
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If you put the various routes into ViaMichelin (app or website) it will give you distance, time and tolls. Add 50% to Autoroute car tolls for a motorhome.
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Big road map and felt pens is quicker.
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Use this site for the route and tick the options on the left hand side. https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/
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Hi, this is for BB and AD:
Two questions if you don't mind;
1. What is the maximum mileage you achieve in France during the Winter months?
2. After disembarking from Cherbourg at just before 2pm local, where do you make your first stop?
We are leaving Taunton on or around the 15 Feb, via Poole and heading for Valencia Bay area. This current conversation has been very helpful for me, but having only done the fast Rhone toll route in a MH, I am now growing up and doing it your way!
Thanks in advance.......
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If I had a Motorhome and if I set off from Cherbourg at 2pm. in midwinter - two big ifs - I would run 100 miles down to the big Aire with 150 places on the inland side of Mont St Michel. But as it is I am staying by my wood burner. Take care and drive safely
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Hi ET,
Thanks for that, just looked it up in the Aires Bible and that sounds like a good option, although if poss, I would like to do another 50 miles or so. As this is still new to us we have not dabbled with aires yet. Lets see what BB comes up with. We might just have to get an aire for the night! Keep that stove stoked....
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FWIW,
Make sure you then print out the via Michelin route and have to hand a decent up to date road atlas for your map reader. Its for when the Sat Nav gets lost or just sends you off route - got that tee shirt and its not funny ending up in the middle of a heated village traffic jam on market day.
Enjoy your trip
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