Heading down to Malaga next month - need help !

burnt toast · Feb 28, 2009

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I saw the thread for HondaMan and have a similar question. I'm going through an indecisive period right now about how to get to Malaga from the UK. I can't take the Portsmouth Bilbao ferry as the timings aren't right. Therefore, it's Portsmouth to Caen and then down through France into Spain or the Chunnel to Calais and then to Le Mans then following a similar route. I have given myself a reasonable 450 miles per day so arrive in France (either channel route) on Friday morning and get to Malaga on Sunday afternoon.

I'm looking for your experience to guide me! I have no idea what the peage will cost to get me to Malaga (perhaps better non-peage routes?), where the best places are to stay en-route, places to avoid etc. I noted that you recommended the western route down through Spain to avoid Madrid but that was to Algeciras so that's too far out of my way. I've no idea what the issue is with Madrid either.

Anyone got any useful info, Garmin routes etc., they would like to share?

Regards

Toasty
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wreck diver · Feb 28, 2009

Hi,I went down to La Rochelle this week for a ride out.And on the way there and back i stopped in a little village called Sees,just off the A28 north of Alencon and Le Mans.
The hotel i used was v clean, Basic,used to be a monastary.good off road parking 39 euro,s.
A friend of mine is on his way back from Malaga to UK via Madrid at the moment.I will ask him to post his thoughts when he gets back.
Bloody tolls are pricey now i reckon it cost 25 euro,s and i didnt use toll roads most of the way down.

red1 · Feb 28, 2009

We do the run to Benidorm a couple of times a year on bike/car.

I would suggest head to Bordeaux as you show on map. Then go to Pau and cut over the Pyrenees - no point going to Spain without a run over the top. You've got 2 main choices - 1. the N134/E7 which is the main route which all the trucks use and come out at Jaca, or 2. Come out of Pau on the N134 and take the D934 which is the scenic route over the top.
Both routes meet up on the N330 north of Huesca, south to Zaragoza and then it's up to you if you go E90 to Madrid and then E5 or chop overland on the back roads.

Spanish tolls are the same price for bikes and cars so it can be a bit expensive. In France bikes are charged less on the peage.

According to Michelin site your original route (from Calais) that you posted will cost 89.90 euros in tolls (less bike discount in France)

burnt toast · Feb 28, 2009

vmt

very many thanks for the swift input guys :thumb2

- I'll fart around with Garmin and see what comes up. Keep 'em coming...

Toasty

p.s any of you guys English... we need some decent rugger players. Well done the green guys :aidan

p.p.s please don't apply if you are ill-disciplined - we have enough of those

Corp.Clinger! · Mar 3, 2009

I`d agree with all of the above....I`d head Bordeaux direction....then from the likes of Pau,to Louvie Juzon to Laruns to Col du Pourtalet,a more scenic route,and on over the top into Spain that way...past Huesca and on down towards Malaga. The second route;you come out of Pau via Col du Somport through a tunnel,13kms long,to that of Jaca as mentioned.It`s not as scenic as the first route mentioned and a main lorry route.

At junction 10 A64 at Pau there`s now 3 hotels,all within 300m of each other,along with a spa steam room type place..ideal after a days riding...ie,Hotel Mercure,Formule 1 and that new one just opened

At that time of year here the Col du Pourtalet will be free from road blocking snow. It has been open this last couple of weeks even,though we expect a dump of snow this week.

I`d also check www.viamichelin.com and see what route they tend to suggest and offset this against your GPS...especially if it`s a Garmin. Garmin tend to send you the quickest mathematical route before you set off,later, only to find,sometimes it takes you along slower lesser roads,once you start riding. Stick to main routes especially over the mountains unless you have time to take traveling along really slow one lane roads. Just a thought,that`s all.

You`ll find that there`ll be really no peage once you get into Spain...I went to Maroc in Dec,via Madrid,and paid only for 3 short stretches from Malaga Estepona to the Gibraltar direction...The normal road from Estepona to Gibraltar is crap ...think about spending a few euros just for a faster more fluid ride.No matter where you go here it`ll be just too busy.

If you have time to get to Malaga don`t go that` via Madrid` route as it`s all boring auto route and non descript scenery,really a means to an end....take that alternative route,though slightly slower...but way better IMHO....it`s your call.

For places to stay,I just arrive at the local bigger town tourist office,late afternoon,and ask where to stay..they usually speak English,which should help you,and they`ll usually `phone ahead and book it for you. Either that or just use your GPS hotel data. Formule 1 hotels are cheap and easy to get to as they`re dotted along most main arterial routes.

Anything else just post and we`ll see what we can come up with

burnt toast · Mar 7, 2009

Thanks "Max" Clinger

Corp (Max?) Clinger

Many thanks for taking the time to post up the information, gives me more options as I finalise my route.

I think I will take the route down to Bordeaux (from Caen) and through Pau into Spain and steer some way south of Madrid, chopping across scenic countryside to malaga. I will stop short of Bordeaux for the night and then the next stop should be in Spain, Pau is probably too short a journey from just north of Bordeaux. Got any advice on the route south to Malaga and a suitable place to hole up for the night? My rationale is about 450 miles per day; first night above Bordeaux, next somewhere in Spain and then arrive late afternoon in Malaga. Cheers

Toasty

borinot · Mar 8, 2009

I think that the best way to road down to Malaga from Bordeaux is the following.
- A63 from Bordeaux to Irun (Spain border). (Saint Jean de luz worth a short visit)
- A8 (Autopista del Cantábrico) from Irun to San Sebastian
- Exit 10 on A8 to get NI (Autovia del Norte) to Alsasua (NI-A1 joint)
- In Alsasua get the A1 to Vitoria/Gasteiz and Miranda de Ebro
- From Miranda to Burgos the motorway (AP1) is the same but it is a toll motorway
- NI from Burgos to Madrid.
- Going through Madrid is not difficult but you must pay attention to the road signals.
a- once you get Alcobendas-San Sebastian de los reyes on the A1 look for M40 (one of the orbital roads) east-southband to A2 (Barcelona) or A3 (Valencia). Your aim is to get A4 but you will not see its sign until you are in the M40 and cover some miles.
b- on the M40 look for the 21A exit to get the A4. You will see A4 Córdoba on the road sign
- A4 just down to Cordoba (if you have enough time I recommend you a visit to Cordoba. It is a beautiful place. Worth it)
- Outside Cordoba get A45 to Malaga
Hope this help you
Regarding places to hold up the night, I cannot help you. I don't know any good place

Greg Masters · Mar 8, 2009

There's no problem going via Madrid - the motorway standard ring road normally runs very smoothly (unlike London's North/South Circular!).

There are very few peages in Spain on your route - France is a different issue!

IMHO you should pre-book your hotels; waypoint them and then head straight to them. It takes all the pressure off having to faff finding somewhere suitable at the end of a long day's ride.

Greg

Hustler · Mar 8, 2009

Here are the cheap(ish), 2 star own bathroom, chain hotels if you need them - http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml
http://www.campanile.com/en/default.aspx
http://www.inter-hotel.fr/jahia/Jahia/
Ibis and Inter tend to be in towns and Campanile on the road.

oblertone · Mar 8, 2009

Top thread ...

... and timely as I'm route planning as we speak :thumb2

Thought about this way down to Bikespana which is near Malaga, then back up via Barcelona

ps: Jaq won a Bikespana holiday at last years Hograost, so it gives a focus for the trip :JB

Magwych · Mar 8, 2009

burnt toast said:
Corp (Max?) Clinger

Many thanks for taking the time to post up the information, gives me more options as I finalise my route.

I think I will take the route down to Bordeaux (from Caen) and through Pau into Spain and steer some way south of Madrid, chopping across scenic countryside to malaga. I will stop short of Bordeaux for the night and then the next stop should be in Spain, Pau is probably too short a journey from just north of Bordeaux. Got any advice on the route south to Malaga and a suitable place to hole up for the night? My rationale is about 450 miles per day; first night above Bordeaux, next somewhere in Spain and then arrive late afternoon in Malaga. Cheers

Toasty

Toasty,

depending on how your distances work out, I can thoroughly recommend this jewel of a stop-over on the cross-country route between Zaragoza and Malaga..

Alcala Del Juca.
The approach is across the most boring landscape possible, dry dusty deserted villages, tumbleweed rolling down the road, then you descend into a beautiful lush gorge. The descent is via a dramatic set of curves that are as impressive as the Dades Gorge in Morocco. Four hotels right in the centre of town ...

burnt toast · Mar 8, 2009

Thanks again guys

Lurverly to see such generosity and, I'm sure others will take similar routes, so all advice/ideas most welcome.

Only 3 weeks to go and looking forward to my first holiday in 5 months - joining Moto-Morocco for a bimble around N Africa.

Toasty

Corp.Clinger! · Mar 14, 2009

I`d go the Zaragoza route and on down towards Teruel direction and on to Malaga..

...July 2007 saw me going this way,to Malaga and Estepona,as in 2006 I`d gone by Madrid..again the Madrid way is there IMO just to get you from point A to point B quicker.By the by theres a new road now out of Zaragoza that cuts out a bit of the previous slower going. It`s al quite fluid as it`s a main road on down towards Teruel. You can make good constant time.

..If you do decide to go the Madrid way...ride slow enough to allow the GPS to `think` as there are numerous exits dotted along the perimeter of the Madrid equal of the M25,eg December past we came off at one juction and about 50m later had to cut across 2 lanes to get onto the next exit. If we we not traveling slow enough for the GPS then we would`ve missed it and lost a lot of time.

Fanum · Mar 14, 2009

Hi Bob

On the MM website we've got the original trip guide for download- it's got several route suggestions for the journey across Spain in it, including a fast route and a pretty route (involving the Picos De Europa)

I'll be finishing the new, Malaga based one and getting it up and active on the website for download by Monday night, and I'll also stick up a couple of Garmin routelogs that include the Mirador's WP, those of some of the Hostels I use regularly and the direct route down- I use the M50 around Madrid and that's not on any of the GPS mapping products AFAIK.....it's an odd road 'cos you'll swear blind you've travelled at least 3/4 of the way around it beforte the correct exit (Toledo) comes up....even having done it a couple of dozen times since it was opened, it still makes me doubt myself!

In my experience, it' not necessary to book the Hostels- there are so many of them and although close to Easter, you're not travelling over the busiest period.........I also find having a set stopping place can put a bit of pressure on you to make the target, whereas if you know you can just stop 'cos you're a bit tired and make up another 100 miles the next day when rested, it's a far more relaxed journey.

I rarely do the French leg as I tend to take the Bilbao ferry, but after a couple of cancelations I've done it a few times and I'll put up the route I use- On a bike though, TBH I'd stay off the (expensive) peages and stay on the A routes...far nicer and not a huge deal slower.

In Spain, the peages are cheap (around £20 for the whole N-S journey) and you can pay on a VISA card so it's easy on a bike- there are some pretty sections but also some tedious ones (South of Madrid after the Despanaderos for example)

I'll get this all up and active on Monday so you can take a proper look at it all

See you in a few short week's time!

Cheers

Bill

Corp.Clinger! · Mar 14, 2009

I`ll have a wee peep too...

:aidan

Heading down to Malaga next month - need help !

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