Questions for traveling down to Spain
Hi All Any advice/ info would be greatly appreciated.
We are traveling down to Spain for a month in May, Dover Calais crossing.
Then down via Rouen/Clermond-Ferrand route staying off auto routes as much as possible, and on to Spain.
We are taking our dog for the first time who is having the rabies jabs plus jabs to protect from another parasite which I cannot remember the name( not compulsory but advised by relatives who lived down there).
What I would like to know if anyone can help is
1 We booked a 14.45 crossing out, but now as we are staying 3.5 miles from Dover the night before we could catch an earlier one. To change the departure time it will cost an extra £37. Years ago if you were early they would give you the option to go on an earlier one if there was room.
Still do it with Motorbikes but they are smaller.
Does this still happen with caravans?
2 Are there any lay-bys /airs near to the ferry port where we can let the dog have a pee stop before continuing?
3 Can anyone recommend any campsites on the way down for one night stop overs?
Depending on eventual time of crossing we might be having our first stops just before Rouen where does not seem to be many sites in the club brochure and the ACSI Camping Site info looks pretty unreliable as there inspector has a reasonable wright up but feedback reports are dire !
If all goes well hope to be a lot further with earlier crossing so any site there on would be great.
4 We are not real beach people but would like to visit one or two while in Spain with the dog.
Some web sites do say dogs aloud on certain beaches in the off season. Again any recommendations for the Med coast down to Valencia
Thanks
David
Comments
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Dave, if you leave your ferry booking as it is they will probably put you on the previous ferry - is that 1315?. That will arrive in France at 1515, which is 1615 French time. That will get you down to the popular site at Neufchâtel en Bray (110 miles) by 1800, so be sure to book the site.
But if you decide to change your ferry booking I would see if you can cross on the first evening, then you will get an early morning start from Calais and go much further that day.
Sorry I can't help with your other questions.
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Typo....I should have said "that will NOT get you down by 1800". . My mistake
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The site at Neufchâtel is called st Claire you will need to call them before you leave Calais as it fills rapidly after lunch a bonus as there is a supermarket within 200 yards of the site with cheap fuel
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The first 'Aire' after the ferry is just before Boulogne - so a fifteen/twenty minute journey after the crossing. But you can stop in the port area if you drive out and back around the roundabout, and pull up where everyone else is.
There are actually plenty of other sites along the route if you use the N roads, and for one night we've found that even sites with fairly poor reviews 'will do'! However, the ACSI sites, Ferme des Aulnes and Val d'Authie are not far from the autoroute, won't need booking in May, and have generally good reviews on the ACSI Card website. If you get further south then you can probably reserve a pitch at Camping Ste Claire, but there are plenty of others not in the ACSI Guide.
Another in the same (ish) area as the above is Chateau de Tilleuils or even nearer to the port if you've had a bad day (I know we sometime do) then try Les Epinettes, which is near to Boulogne and may be that 'not one more mile' site, when you want to get your steadies down.
If you are lucky and get a much earlier crossing then you can't do better than Camping Eure at Pont de l'Arche with is south-east of Rouen centre, and accessed easily from the route we use to avoid going into central Rouen. Walking distance to a nice very small 'town', pleasant riverside setting, good sanitary blocks. Reasonably priced. Even further south still (being optimistic here) is Camping du Pre Eglise at 'Nonancourt' (actually at St Remy sur Avre - but listed as Nonancourt in the C&MC guide that we have).
There are campsites near the main routes through France, available on Archie's Campings, (bottom of the home page) but these are near the main autoroutes and not the N roads, unfortunately. However a lot of your journey can be done on free autoroutes so you might find it helpful.
If you want a PDF with a non-toll route and overnight suggestions all the way to the Med (or to the Dordogne) then email me at valdaathome@gmail.com.
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Thanks every one for your contributions this has helped with planning.
In Spain we plan to be near the coast for a while any recommendations for the Med coast down to Valencia with possible beaches we can go on with dog? We then plan to move further inland so if you have any other recommendations for sites quiet near rivers that would be fantastic.
David
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to me, the obvious answer at 50 ml north of Valencia is Bonterra Park...in Benicassim.
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As you have plenty of time why not simply go to Bien Assise at Guine which is 20 mins from the ferry and is on the route to Rouen. It is normally an expensive site but as you are out of season it is covered by ACSI and as you won’t be arriving late there will be plenty of space and you won’t be stressed about trying to make a lot of distance the first day.
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France/Spain in May....'planning'?...
as youll be using sites (caravan) just choose one from the ACSI somewhere on the route, youll be fine, in May youll be the only ones there, lol....
if you like it, stay....if not move to the next one up the road.....
enjoy, relax...youll love it....
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Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Benicassim. Only on the promenade.
We go regularly to Oropesa, a few miles north of Benicassim.
Caravan site Torre La Sal 2. Very nice site, all hard standings, many in the new part with own (non drinking) water.
2 swimming pools, 2 restaurants. Walk into town. Purpose built dog shower room when you get back from beach. Decent shop at entrance. English speaking office staff.
Opens directly on dog friendly beach. Turn left on beach to find a bar at the far end. Much larger pitches than Bonterra Park, which is very cramped.
Don't mix this up with the site next door, Torre La Sal 1, which is awful.
Very cheap out of season, circa 15 euros a night including lecce and free wifi.
Enjoy.
Paul
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We are going out on 16.20 shuttle and laying up at the Baie de somme aire. You could stay at Ferme des Aulnes, which is a lovely site, but Baie de Somme is cheaper. This then gives us full day, early start in the morning.
We intend staying at Camping des Ribières at Confolens (ACSI 1611) and then down to Spain
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