Driving Through Spain

[sunny-dave]

After too many irritating airports full of shops and equally as many planes with niggardly personal space that would inconvenience a midget, let alone a Dave, I've taken the plunge and will be driving the birdwatchers to the Algarve in my own car this year.

It's comfy, we can take more kit and time is not of the essence so we don't have to rush. All in all it's actually costing less than flying/hiring.

We're using the overnight ferry between Portsmouth and Northern Spain and then taking three or four days each way for the journey - staying in Paradors and alternating "driving days" with "exploring days".

So - any hints/tips about the journey - are the roads as good/empty as they seem - are pitstops for fuel/food easy enough to find in the boondocks?

Anyone know Salamanca (where we'll have a full day to explore)?

Or the coast between Santander and Bilbao (ditto) - it looks like there are some nature reserves near Laredo?

I think I've cracked the Portuguese eToll system (seems to just need me to stop at the border and register my car with a credit card) - anyone actually done this?

All info/ideas welcome - I'm quite excited about it all.

[andy-hughes]

Beware of the machismo levels of male Spanish drivers, usually in the upper reaches, and the casual approach to roundabouts and rights of way, best describes as a 'please yourself' system.

[sunny-dave]

Yes - there is a fair bit of that in the Algarve too, andy - albeit mainly from being over-relaxed rather than over-machismic - but it does keep you on your toes ...

[Baldric]

Andy is correct (Wow, I really said that ;o)

We noticed it when we drove down in 2016, seemed to be a case of 'He who dares wins' was interesting to say the least.
Good Luck.

[naomi24]

We've always found driving in Spain very easy. Good roads too. Enjoy.

[Samuraisan]

Don't register your credit card in Portugal. The Portuguese don't.

[sunny-dave]

Thanks - I know that the eTolls are widely ignored, Samuraisan, but the tolls are only buttons and (as I'll be there for a couple of weeks) I'd rather pay than have my car clamped by the Guarda Nacional Republicana.

[Prudie]

I know it's a bit weird but I have 'driven' through a lot of Spain via google street view. Apart from the main cities and coastal resorts vast expanses of Spain are open uninhabited countryside. It's amazingly undeveloped and amazingly beautiful too.

[sunny-dave]

I've done the same, Prudie - and also watched hours of The Vuelta as it crosses seemingly endless plains and then suddenly some wild mountains rear up - I'm really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.

[Garaman]

I have been struggling all afternoon to think of the name of a small town on the coast that has a street with the most amazing pintxo bars I have ever seen. I have been looking online (and doing a bit of street view), but the problem is I can't quite remember if it is just east of Bilbao or just east of San Sebastian - it is one of the two. Anyway the whole area is beautiful and the food is wonderful. The Basques are considered the gourmet cooks of Spain as you probably know.

[Barmaid]

Harumph, we never actually managed to get you to "insert name of small insignificant village in deepest Cambridgeshire" so good luck with Spain ;)

[Toorak]

@garaman

Hondarribia?

[Arrods]

We've used the overnight Portsmouth Santander ferry quite a bit. Excellent dining. Suggest you book a table for the evening meal as soon as possible after boarding. Breakfasts are pretty good too.

The main roads are excellent. We were stopped once at the Spanish/Portuguese boarding as we were towing a boat and, as such, they were more interested in seeing my driving licence than anything else. After a bit of a panic, I managed to retrieve it under a pile of luggage. Enjoy the trip.

[Garaman]

Yes, that might be it, Toorak, is there a straight, quite pretty, street with bars either side and eye-watering food on display?

I did walk to France so it could easily have been close to the border.

[Toorak]

It's very close to the french border. It's years since I was there but here is a link. I remember it being a lovely place.

http://www.euskoguide.com/places-basque-country/spain/hondarribia-tourism/

[Garaman]

Yes, that is it, Toorak, I recognise the tree-lined street. The food is to die for.

[bhg481]

Spanish fuel is cheap, so arrive at the border as near to empty as you dare. Fill up again before you enter Portugal. Spanish motorways have very few service stations or stopping places - we got the impression that villages complained they would lose passing custom when the motorways were built, so be prepared to turn off into the local villages for rest-stops and fuel.
The Altamira painted cave near Santander is worth a visit.

[bhg481]

I forgot to mention that, if you wear specs for driving, it is compulsory to have a spare pair.

[malagabob]

And a hi viz tabard visible in the car. Draped over drivers seat is fine. Donana National Park. But you probably know that.

[malagabob]

I’ve driven in Portugal but not on the motorways since the tolls introduced. Usually been offered a transponder to pick up toll signals. Others say you can pay for tolls in local post offices.