ADVICE

[teal'c]

Looking at going to Spain in July, have settled on the Plymouth to Santander route, need information on a few points.
These answers have probably already been asked and replied to on this forum.
Will be leaving Santander for a night in Toulouse area, 2 nights in Barcelona area and a night in Madrid area.
Questions:
1) Can you return to bike during the sailing or do you have to carry everything you need with you. (on a tight budget so only getting a reclining seat).
2) What are the toll charges for the Spanish and French toll roads
3) Will be using old fashioned maps, so are road signs clear or am I likely to get lost a few times.
4) Apart from spare bulbs and first aid kit what else is compulsary to carry in France and Spain.

Thanks in advance

T

 

[Ogmios]

1) no. once you leave it - you dont see it til you arrive in port.
reclining seat...rather you than me - hope they're more comfy than the Irish Ferrys ones - and Toulouse.... on its own thats a tight (fast) schedule.
2)Tolls; not sure - *about*eu15 / 20? was the cost for us from Santander to just inside France, by the same route as you are taking.
in spain Bikes are charged the same as cars
3) roads signs are clear - but then i have Mrs Ogs help
4)Hi viz must be carried / worn if you've broken down and dont forget your ownership docs!

5) (i know - there WAS no 5 ) Spanish police do NOT like headphones / bluetooth headsets etc - even bike to bike comms are even frowned on. Beware.
Good Luck and Enjoy too

 

[MMC]

...and treat any parked car on an open country road as a likely speed trap. Picked up a 90 euro fine from the Guarda Civile outside Ronda that way - passed the car where there was a little tripod, just hidden in front of it that you couldn't see until you were past it, then got stopped by El Guard half a kilometre down the road.

 

[Gipsy]

Lots of good info on the site, and I won't repeat it here, however I would warn against using old maps. In France road designations can change overnight, and in Spain the pace of construction is such that thw old roads may have been replaced. If you are on a tight budget I would avoid toll roads, cut mileages appropriately and spend some of the savings on a new map.

 

[GS TRV]

July?

Bring your AirCon

 

[smudger]

spain and france

Sounds like you will run out of money on the second day, dont bother going.

 

[Steptoe]

Throat lozenges - They don't speak english, so you'll need to shout a lot.

 

[(RIP) orbit]

speeding is becoming a hot subject in spain these days . max speed on a m way is 120 kph

Lots of fixed radar traps on motorway / main road bridges these days with numberplate readers , so you get the fine in the post, dunno how you faire with a uk plate but all getting more international these days , unmarked guardia civil cars now have the speed detectors in the radiator grille and dont have PGC on the numberplates they seem to favour volvo estates and are usually parked at the entrance to towns where the limit changes from 90 to 40 in a small distance the camera is on you as you go past the 40 sign , and if you get clocked expect to be pulled often many kms down the road if there has been no other exit route, on the spot fine if you are not on spanish plates . if you pass one GC on a bmw there is always another not far away .

Martin Costa blanca