Driving to Southern Spain in winter
We intend driving down to Southern Spain with our caravan mid January '18.
We haven't traveled there in the winter time and would appreciate any advice on best routes down - ferry vs travelling through France.
What are the road conditions likely to be - could there be snow / ice etc? Best route to avoid icy conditions?
PhillK
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agree with WTG, overland western route should (generally) be fine.
we also came down to Spain in Jan this year and, as mentioned, stayed at Irun (we have a MH so used aires not sites....) and Nantes.
coming from wales you could cross, as we do, from Poole to Cherbourg as its pretty easy for you to get to and the crossing is only 4 hrs ish..
once at Irun, you can drive all the way to the Valencia area in a day (no traffic, dual carriageway, non toll) or stop at Zaragosa if you feel like it.
and then, when you come home, france is starting to warm up and the sites are opening, you might want to dawdle a bit....and forget about a long Biscay crossing...
good luck, either way.
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Hi
We live in Southern Spain but every November/December work for a certain Caravan Club who's name I forget at the moment.
We finish our contract mid January and travel home the same way each year and in the last twelve years we have done every which way and now find the best way for us when taking into consideration the weather over the Pyrenees in January we will go the opposite of the other two post above (sorry) and go a more Central route Poitiers, Limoges then the A20 too Toulouse onto Narbonne, Perpignan then over Pyrenees this side because the crossing is shorter and not so high thus the weather is always better and then a nice leisurely drive down the coast around Barcelona and then stopping at some really nice beach resorts on the way home. We prefer this route because we use it as a bit of an holiday but if you don't have much time the other route is a lot quicker and it is one we use in the summer months because we have had some atrocious weather on that route snow ice and fog one year. One thing I would definitely advise against is the long crossing too Santender/Bibao It is awful and have never had a good crossing yet, take your time and enjoy which ever route you choose you're on holiday.
Regards Phil
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Of course it might depend which part of Southern Spain you are talking about. If it's near the Portugal border then going the way Philnffc suggests may be a lot longer than through Madrid or Extramadura. We've done both and used the west route for Portugal way and the east for Almeria. Again we are a no ferry in January type of outfit.
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agree.....September trip.....slow through France to enjoy the weather, quickly back in, say, December....
Dec/Jan start....quickly down, meander back.....
ill be going 'quickly' (ish) tomorrow
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Thanks to everyone for the advice on travelling down to Spain this January.
I think we will give the long ferry trip a miss and travel down through France.
In Spain we would like to stay near Almeria and have been looking at the sites near there in the Winter Escapes brouchure.
Question: How busy are the sites likely to be in general. I have been looking at the three sites around Almeria: Roquetas de Mar, Cabo de Gata, Los Escullos. Any recommendations?
Phil
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A good few years since we stayed at Cabo de Gata but we didn't book and had no problems when we turned up in February one year. The site was still about 60% full then but didn't get any busier during our 3 week stay. Sorry I can't be more helpful about what the situation is in more recent times.
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we were at roquetas de mar in feb this year but it was a bit cold wet and windy....mind you, everywhere in spain was a bit grim this spring.
we eded up going nothh a bit anf actually found better weather ....
good luck
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Hi Phil
Most years I would say no need to book any of those sites in Almeria but last year we could not get away for the weekend till early April because all sites were full because most German/Dutch/French stayed in Spain rather then going into Northern Africa because of security in those countries, so my advise would be to phone (they speak English) and maybe book. I have stayed on all of those sites you mentioned and all pretty good sites with good facilities but all are a bit isolated with no major towns/cities close by but if you like that sort of site excellent, we have a Motorhome so not good for us were transport is really needed. The weather down there is usually good at that time of the year so enjoy.
Phil
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