Due to recent surgery the other half is not able to fly at the moment, she's also advised to avoid high speed trains as any sudden pressure changes from tunnels may cause injury. We're supposed to be attending a wedding in Málaga first week of September so it looks like I'll be driving. I don't have a problem with 12 HR stints behind the wheel but wifey does so the trip will need to be made over 3 or 4 days. Does/has anyone here undertaken this little jaunt? I'd be grateful for advice on routes, places to stay, timings and just general information regards the journey.
We've done 2 trips from Cheshire to Nerja (1hour along the coast from Malaga) and back in the winters of 2024 and 2025 in the 520d touring. As we took the dog so did the chunnel and stayed there for 4 and 6 weeks. Without the dog would consider a ferry although they are much more expensive and slow in comparison. I'll try and find the threads on here of the journeys but basically it was purely myself driving and we took four days. The best route imho is "The Biscay" one down western France into Spain turn South before Bilboa towards Burgos (fabulous city to stop) past Madrid. All the Spanish motorways were free apart from a short section near the French border but was only a few Euros. French autoroutes cost us about 90 to 100 euros each way. Basics were: Day 1 Macclesfield to Rouen area...La Bouille is a great stop. Day 2: Rouen to SW France. Stopped in Angouleme and south of Bordeaux Day 3: SW France to Burgos or Segovia Day 4: go around Madrid and head south We did this route 3 times and one route back via Mediterranean and through Central France but preferred the former and it's shorter.
Here are some threads: https://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?threads/spanish-road-trip-part-one.5125/#post-74874 https://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?threads/spanish-road-trip-the-return-journey.5145/#post-75089 https://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?threads/1600-miles-in-four-days.5440/#post-78215
We bought an Air Critique directly from the French govt for a few euros - this allows you in and around the cities. We also used an Emovis Tag which you put in your front windscreen and allows you through the French toll booths without stopping - you do about 20kph through the designated booth and drive on. They bill you at the end of each month with a DD to your bank account. Saves a load of hassle in RHD cars especially if your passenger is asleep or hard of movement. I see you have a B5 - perfect car for the job - continent buster!!
All excellent advice by E38mad, but the charges made by Emovis I find rather shocking. It may be worth your while looking at the site.WWW.ULYS.COM. You can change it to English. If my memory is correct, I believe the only problem is it may be perhaps tricky to arrange payment using either an English credit or debit card, and may expect to be able to have direct access to a bank account. This is not unusual in France. Good luck with the trip anyway. I was being thoughtless, the convenience far out weighs the cost.
Do your homework cost wise it might be better to sail direct to Spain from Portsmouth and back France is very costly for fuel so a good saving could be made by arriving in Spain near empty as there is a service station at entrance of port and you would save on hotels
Not sure who you will be sailing with, but if it is Brittany Ferries the cost is approximately £600 each way. And it could be a rough crossing, not unusual through the bay of Biscay.
Get the 'Fuel-Flash' app on your phone before you go. It can save you a fortune in fuel costs. It works all over Europe and is truly up to the minute with the prices. Autoroute fuel prices are highway robbery in almost every country except Croatia where they are government controlled and are the same at all filling stations.
A plus one for me for La Bouille! Came across it purely by chance on our way down to Loire Valley a couple of years ago. A real hidden gem. On the ferry trip, I’ve looked at it a few times and it’s very close to what you’d pay in tolls, fuel and overnight stop. I think they deliberately price it that way. We will be doing it in the next year or two with the motorhome as it’ll save us a lot of driving with the 3 kids. Sea is nothing Stugeron can’t deal with!
Useful app ....thanks for that. France is expensive for fuel especially in comparison to Spain. We never filled up at Autroute services and last time coming back manage over 830 miles on one tank meaning no fuel stops in France at all
Another vote for Emovis - easy to set up and use in France. I tried to set up an account with ULYS and it simply does not work with a UK bank account, added to this their email support is non-existent. Emovis on the other hand is great for communication.
