Towing in winter through France to Spain with dog.
Hello from a relative Newbie (two years of caravanning in the UK, limited by Covid) looking for some advice, please, especially from anyone who’s done this before.
Through the Club we’ve booked a holiday at the Alannia Costa Blanca site between Alicante and Murcia in the south east of Spain for several weeks from January until March, 2022 for two adults and a small dog.
We’ll be towing a caravan from West Yorkshire so, as well as the site booking, the Club has booked us a place on the 6.20am Eurotunnel shuttle together with a ferry pitch for the previous night at the Black Horse Farm site near Folkestone, plus another night there on our return journey.
So far, so good but, from Calais onwards, we’re looking for some help, please. I’ve driven in France and Spain before, but this is the first time towing. And the first time I’ve driven 1200 miles or so. Bearing in mind the limited daylight hours in January and the likely weather, I’m not sure how far we can reasonably expect to be able to travel each day. We’re not in a mad rush but we’d like to spend as much time as possible at our destination. I’ve read that anything between 250 and 350 miles may be achievable but this could be ambitious given that we’ll have to stop every couple of hours for the dog’s - and our! - needs. My wife won’t even drive on Motorways in the UK so we won’t be sharing the driving. It’ll be down to just me, and I’d prefer not to drive in the dark.
We’re happy to stick to the Autoroutes and pay the tolls but were wondering what the best way is to pay them. Should we look into the various Tags that are available? Or should we just pay as we go? Do they take cash or can you now pay contactlessly with a credit card? Does Spain have a similar system?
I think my preferred route would be to avoid Paris and travel down the Eastern side of France via Troyes, Lyon and Montpelier to Perpignan. From there, along the Spanish coast via Barcelona and Valencia. However, this isn’t fixed and I’d welcome any suggestions or advice about alternatives. We appreciate that the journey forms part of the holiday but we don’t want to spend any time exploring. We’d like to get to our destination as quickly as possible.
Once we’ve established how far we can reasonably expect to travel each day, we then have to find somewhere to stay each night. The Club recommends the Overseas Night Sight Vouchers which sound like a good idea - but not, it seems, in January. I’ve seen a couple of possible sites in the Club’s European campsites brochure but neither of them are open until April! I’d really appreciate any help with this issue. I’d prefer not to stray too far off the Autoroutes if possible. Then again, I’m not sure what the pros and cons are (notwithstanding the legal aspects) of simply sleeping for a few hours overnight at a Services on the Autoroutes. Truck drivers must do it. Is it doable for caravan towers? I know it’ll be noisy because we’ll no doubt be in the HGV section. I don’t think we have a choice. I’m led to believe that, because we’re towing a caravan, the various Aires aren’t available to us.
I’ve organised the car and caravan insurance for travel in Europe and I’ll probably use the Club’s Red Pennant service for the travel insurance. I’m in the AA so I’ll talk to them about breakdown cover.
Any help, tips, tricks, hacks, suggestions, warnings, and advice about any aspect of the trip would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance. And apologies for so many questions.
Comments
-
Thank you so much. Just the kind of knowledge we're looking for,
Is it easy enough to get to Tours, for example, on the first day, weather/traffic/etc permitting? About 320 miles according to ViaMichelin.
Are the sites well signposted and, at that time of year, can you just roll up at them? Or do you need to book?
0 -
Thanks very much for the heads up.
0 -
Good advice WTG. That's our usual route, too. Some additional tips from me:
Bearing in mind that we are towing a caravan in winter, when the days are short the weather can be wet /cloudy/ very cold. If It's stressful, it can spoil the holiday.
We are mid/late 70's, so not spring chickens.
For winter trips, we like to book all overnight stops in advance if possible, and aim for about 4 hours or so driving time (about 200-250miles) between overnight stops. We find via Michelin website a good rough planner for the routes. Final route detail is done on the sat-nav but with a road map to conform the choices where appropriate (so not entirely relying on the sat nav).
We try to adhere to the legal speed limits.
Depart from site each morning as soon as it's daylight (8 ish), with a bun and a flask.
Stop for a comfort break and refreshment after half the journey. The actual time doesn't matter.
Fill the fuel tank as close as possible to the overnight location before settling on the pitch.
Relaxation after an evening meal is essential. No booze.
2 -
Thank you. We're not that far behind you, so age-appropriate advice well received and duly noted!
Do you book with the sites themselves or through the Club? And do you mean you fill up before arriving at the site or after you've unhitched?
1 -
As a caravanner who has also done this journey many times - I concur fully with the advice and comments above. Being a member of the silver surfers club as well - we usually plan on doing a max of 250 miles a day and have a "planned route" so i know where to head for although this sometimes changes with road conditions and weather. But having a plan does provide you with an outline - and saves the trouble of having to find a site when you are ready to stop.
In terms of the French tolls - I would strongly recommend you get an electronic tag. This effectively allows you to drive straight through the tolls and avoids having to stop, the passenger then winding down the window, getting the credit card out and then repeating the exercise. I also always follow the advice given to me many moons ago, do not go into the booth until it is your turn (do not follow the vehicle in front) but wait until they have cleared the barrier. It is never easy reversing with a caravan on the back in a narrow concrete lined box!!
The western route through France is as said, less likely to have snow, and you can plan your route through navigation sites such as Via Michelin. Also a hard copy map - available for sure on line - will show motorway routes which are chargeable and those not and the end saving could buy you and your partner a couple of good dinners out!! An ACSI card would also be good and they have a good site which allows you to find a site near to where you want to stop.
Many motorways in Spain are now free - again Via Michelin will be able to help identify the costs involved. i avoid AP routes if I can as I know that costs.
Last point and worthy of mention - if your car and van - when coupled, exceed 12 metres in length remember in Spain you will need a marker board. There has been a little bit of late on the forum about this but if you are above 12m do get one, I have heard stories of the Police fining people Euros 125 for not having one on show.
It really is not as difficult as it seems and once you are t'other side then it will be as easy as riding a bicycle.
1 -
We have stayed at Camping Les Acasias close to Tours in January. Not far off the motorway and you drive past a fuel station on the way to the site. I think there is a supermarket close by but we didn't use it. Have a look on Google Maps. We also used Camping Beau Soleil at Gradignan south of Bordeaux and have used Larrouleta at Urrugne. Both good for stopovers. Zaragoza's municipal camp site is OK as well.
2 -
We book direct or use the clubs, whichever is easiest. Many say that there is no need to book and of course there isn't really, especially if you are using a campervan, but we like to know that the site is actually open (in January may not be), and that we are expected and will have a pitch waiting for us. We do not want to spend the night on the roadside or in a car park.
It's nice to settle down in the evening knowing that you can get on the road the following morning without wasting time getting fuel. I always think the first half an hour is the crucial bit of a journey. Occasionally we do pitch first and then go out solo and get fuel but prefer to do the fuel before pitching. You can relax then with a nice cuppa.
1 -
Exciting times ahead! I planned a similar journey to Croatia many years back and found the CAMC booking system saved a few quid on the ferry/tunnel with a couple of site bookings too.
The information on here is invaluable. Keep checking back to your post as more will be added. The Clubs "Useful tips" is really good too, especially "first time abroad"
My first tip would be to get your dog sorted with a passport. There are several posts which will keep you enlightened, including one which reminds us that we can no longer travel with dog food, although fish based dry food, it seems, is ok. Does your dog like this? Vacinations, boosters, insurance etc etc all need to be updated.
I would also read as much information as you can and buy the best current road map available. Be up to speed with the driving laws and requirements for travel. A couple of tips I found useful were to photocopy all my documents and keep them in a seperate folder (the originals hidden in the car where thieves dont look) and (if you wear them) the necessity to take spare spectacles.There is a very long check list!
Your friends are definitely Via Michelin/Google Maps and the members on here. For example, I was given a tip that around 250-280 miles was enough per day when towing. I generally stuck to this advice as it made the journey less stressful. One thing for sure - the further you get from Blighty, the better the roads get and much less traffic.
1 -
Thanks very much for all this really useful info.
0 -
Thank you very much for these details.
0 -
Yes! And with all the replies and support on here I feel much more confident about it all. Thanks very much for the tips.
0 -
OH carries a spare set of glasses in the car as it is a requirement here in France, also from 1st November to March on certain road sin mountainous areas and where the local prefectures say where the signs will be that you will need to have the correct winter tyres ie M&S or 3 mountain peaks on the tyres, OH ok as his car a 4x4 but even the Lot is one of the departments that certain areas may need them as mine does not being a small car we are checking to see what the local prefecture tells us.
Agree with the electronic tag much easier with a caravan on the tow and enjoy your trip.
1 -
As it seems no one above has mentioned a dog - here is my experience. We are in our 70's and have done a very similar winter journey a number of times pre covid with our Jack Russell terrier - so many times in fact that her passport is full. I tow a twin axle with a 4.2 V8 diesel SUV.
We have always used the Western route, but crossed Portsmouth - Ouistreham. I have one or twice got to Urrugne in one hit after disembarking the ferry at 06.30 - takes about 8 / 10 hours including doggy stops. However I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie and certainly not from Calais.
Tours is a good option, and doable from Calais. We have also stayed there. Be aware that the site closes around 5.00pm but if you phone ahead the owner will leave an access card at the gate for you. Avoid Paris. From Calais I head down the coast to Rouen, then Le Mans, Tours etc. All autoroute and suck up the tolls.
If you plan on stopping at Urrugne, no point in also stopping at Bordeaux as only max 2 hours, probably less from there to Urrugne. From Urrugne, Zaragoza is a good easy option. There are not many (if any) overnight options between Zaragoza and Sagunt. From there I have done Alicante in a day. All including doggy stops. Dog can usually last longer between toilet breaks than I can, so doesn't slow down the journey at all.
I have done this trip in January a number of times. Weather wise you can expect:
Horrible rainy conditions down through France for much of the way until Bordeaux. As others have said, snow is rare on this route. Without doubt you should get an autoroute tag. Worth its weight in gold. My wife is usually asleep at toll gates........
Crossing the Pyrenees using the autoroute is a doddle from Henday / San Sebastian up to Pamplona - even if there is snow the autoroute is kept clear by ever present snow ploughs. Never had a problem.
Once you are on the plain, you will find the auto route virtually empty especially from Zaragoza down to Sagunt (on the coast above Valencia). It will be very cold on the plain, often below zero but again no snow problems, until you start to drop down from Teruel to the coast.
From there AP 7 is your friend all the way to your destination. Gets very busy around Valencia.
I also had a Spanish toll tag which I have now cancelled, as most autoroutes are now free in Spain. You should check before you go, as not sure about the AP7 southwards from Valencia.
Enjoy your trip.
Paul
1 -
Leo
One other point is your choice of crossing. By using the tunnel, you are taking the long way round from West Yorkshire. Whilst I live in Oxfordshire, I am from Leeds originally and had the pleasure (still have) of annual trips to Le Mans. The Portsmouth - Ouistreham crossing saves many miles, gallons and hours. From WY, M1, A43 from Northampton, M40, A34, M27.
Also avoids the horrors of the M25.
Paul
2 -
Leo
And be aware of a doggy disease called Leishmaniosis in Spain - endemic where you are going, carried by the Sandfly (a variety of mosquito). Google it. You need to protect your dog - you can get a special collar and also have a vaccination - talk to your vet.
1 -
Thank you. The spare set of glasses has been elevated from my convenient list to my essentials list!
0 -
Thanks very much for taking the time to answer in such detail. Very interesting and enlightening.
0 -
Thanks, Paul. We did consider the ferry as, having a son in the RN, we’re very familiar with that particular route between Leeds and Portsmouth - and we’d have had somewhere to stay on the way. But we chose the tunnel so that the dog could stay with us. Yes, I know, maybe we’re too soft. But she fell down the stairs recently and has struggled with her back legs since then so her comfort is a major consideration.
0 -
Goodness me. Thanks for the heads up. I’d never heard of it. I’ll certainly talk to the vet about protection.
0 -
You can take food - just not dairy, or meat. It's perfectly poossible to take enough home cooked meals, just perhaps not your usual ones. You can take eggs and fish so lots of opotions for ready made meals using those. However, if you want to risk it you can take meals made with meat, if you don't mind them being confiscated, We got away with it when we travelled with a pork stir fry, a quiche containing bacon, cheese, and butter, and a pack of vintage cheddar and smoked bacon.
1 -
In fact all the route planning sites I've looked at this morning use the Dover/Eurotunnel crossings if you ask them to plot a route from Leeds to Alicante. It's also the best route to choose if you have a pet. If you use Portsmouth then there are pet-friendly cabins, but these are in high demand.
We're from West Yorkshire, and apart from two occasions have used the Eastern crossings for the last forty years. We find Eurotunnel fast and convenient, and I don't think the M25 going from the Leeds direction is anywhere near as bad as people make out. Only once in forty years have we been seriously delayed, and that was due to an accident. However, on the trip to Portsmouth both times we have been seriously delayed and nearly missed our crossing. On the last occasion we were told we were too late to board, although we could see that cars were still queueing, and that we would have to wait until Tuesday (48 hours) for the next 'Caravans go free' crossing. At this point, with three children in the back, I burst into tears and only the intervention of another check-in clerk got us on the ferry crossing we were booked on. We've not tried that route since, although we have come back from Le Havre to Portsmouth.
We recommend going out to the A1, down the A1, A14 and M11, so minimum distance on the M25. Good stops at Peterborough Services, and Cambridge Services, both with caravan areas. Grantham is not as good, and a poor choice of food in the service building.
For your next trip, which I would arrange independently, if you time your journey well (we usually travel on a Sunday) you can set off from home about 9.00 am, get a (cheaper) crossing about 4.00 pm, and then find a site on the other side for your first night. In November this can be difficult as fewer sites are open, but there are still 'Open all Year' sites in most areas of France.
The services on the A16 - Aire de la Baie de Somme - is where we used to stop overnight. It has a dedicated caravan/motorhome area to the east of the service building, in a cul-de-sac. This was closed for a time, but was open again when we stopped there on Wednesday this week. There are showers which you can use in the morning, and picnic tables and benches, and a lovely landscaped area of canals and ponds. The wildlife there is amazing and there used to be a tower open for viewing across the marshes, but this has been closed due to Covid19. It's well used by other British caravanners, and a lot of Dutch and Belgians. The coffee and croissants in the morning are delicious!
1 -
fwiw ...
Hi from West Yorkshire also,
We have overwintered in SE Spain on the Murcia / Almeria border area in 2018, 19 & 20 & towed via Tunnel down through France early Jan - returning late March (with 2 Terriers) so very similar criteria.
For Tunnel, the Drum Inn CL (if open) is much more convenient and saves the dead mileage down to Dover & back. NB A 6.20am crossing is a very very early alarm call & set off - and France is an hour different in January. First stopover might not be open when you arrive !
Have very briefly visited your chosen mega site Alannia Village with its 1204 pitches (but not stayed) and whilst this Winter it will be likely quieter, when we went it was 95% full & busy. Assume your perhaps choosing the CMC Winter Rally ?
We were asking similar questions in 2016/17 to yours and somewhat relying on CMC 'helpdesk' etc for advice. The same questions you now ask keep getting posted so here is a copy & paste of my reply to a similar query from busier Caravan Talk Forum Overseas........
France in January can be very grey & quiet and snow is a real possibility on any higher ground (and in central Spain). Suggest you also try to get pitched up & dog walked (we have two dogs) well before dark so shorter days of travel or prompt starts to consider. You do also need to factor in limited overnight stopover options on the way (certainly in France). ACSI etc assists greatly - CMC & CCC have very limited sites & poor help. Our stopover choices were open & dog friendly (Jan to March 2020) and your route is always a little governed by the limited suitable convenient stopover options - I dont do / like lengthy detours off main roads / motorways to sites - hence route.
We have always avoided the greater Paris area. We find the services poor for stopping over and worrying, the picnic aires are not good at night also - best to just use a handy campsite.
A common route with easy stops & the one I have followed (2018, 2019 & 2020) is
Day 1. Tunnel Calais - A16 & A28 Toll to Rouen - (stop Dreux area 200mls = 2 sites) Fuel.
Day 2 To Chartres - N154 onto A10 Toll past Orleans - A20 (Limoges) - (stop just south off A20 at St Germain Camping Montreal 250 mls )- Fuel on lunch stop.
Day 3 To Toulouse - dog leg then over to Narbonne - A9 toll (windy area) to border (stop at Capmany Spain 315 mls) Plenty of cheaper fuel options on local roads to & from AP7. Longer day but prefer to get into Spain at last.
Day 4. Onto AP7 Toll / free ? Med Coast down Spain - (stop at Bennicassim as 3 popular sites in town 250 mls) onwards then down to Murcia / Andalusia. Various fuel options.
We have always gone down & up the Med coast of Spain from the French border and find the undulating scenery, mountains & sea views very pleasant even in January. We find inland middle Spain very barren & dismal. The Med coast has many stopover options.
Clearly many other routes & different advice abounds ....
We re-fuel when we stop during the day, usually at larger services with fuel, and just keep topped up. Some sites have local fuel.
Tips : Join ACSI, visit or join Caravan Talk Forum & UK Campsites (for EU site reviews). We do not book our stopover sites prior in case of issues, weather problems or delays. We will check in advance prior that they will be open as some websites are wrong or outdated. We then just ring up mid day enroute (often un- answered). Sat Nav is highly recommended.
Hope this assist with another viewpoint.
M
2 -
Hi! We are in Essex and are doing the same trip in early February also with a dog so, all being well, we’ll see you there. A couple of our friends are also travelling down from Essex. If you wanted to stop in on the way down or stay here FOC on either leg, you are very welcome to park up on our farm.
I posted on another thread about our confusion about seemingly needing to cross into Spain through a Travellers Point of Entry but there were none to be seen on the French/Spanish border! Another member has pointed out that once we have crossed into the EU at Calais we don’t need to stop again in Spain. This makes a lot of sense. I asked the CAMC and they suggested I rang the Spanish Embassy which I did actually try to do and was a terrible waste of time as they don’t answer their phone it seems!!
The other concern we have is administering the tapeworm tablet within the prescribed timescale. We will need to stop at a vet on the way back up through Spain to France. I have just found a really useful map of vets that other members have recommended which is saved on here as a ‘sticky’.
1 -
"In fact all the route planning sites I've looked at this morning use the Dover/Eurotunnel crossings if you ask them to plot a route from Leeds to Alicante. It's also the best route to choose if you have a pet. If you use Portsmouth then there are pet-friendly cabins, but these are in high demand."
Val, this route suggestion is because it takes the ferry/tunnel time into account.
set the route to start at either Cherbourg or St Malo or Caen and the timings are far shorter, by two hours or more and will take you on the Western Route and across the plain via Zaragoza.
Of course, the point re the dog is probably the most valid one, but for travellers from the north of England (minus dog) the equation isn't so clear cut.
It's horses (dogs) for courses and, in wintertime, I'd always keep to the left and cross the Pyrenees at a low point like Pamplona.
1
