Someone on TN mentioned running the engine all night to keep cool,i thought in some EU places,that you can get fined for running the motor at night,when parked up.Why do some drivers start their engines on early Sunday morning in France,when we are parked up for the ban.They must drain so much juice from the batteries,while running DVD`s/laptops etc,but with this,it seems to be always new trucks with new batteries,not some old banger.They do this several times a day,leave the motor run,curtains shut.And then a few times before 22.00,when we all roll back on the road,some go at 21.30,take a chance.Can a gendarme do the driver if he/she left before 22.00 on Sunday,but only realised the fact on a tacho check in the next 28 days,by going on the date of an early start on a ban day.?
Why bother, if it’s too hot check out the hotels. Some are dirt cheap.
george3:
Why bother, if it’s too hot check out the hotels. Some are dirt cheap.
Define “dirt cheap” - I dont consider 30 euros a night as dirt cheap. If these places are dirt cheap the question has to be asked how many others (biters) are sleeping in the same bed too.
Hombre:
george3:
Why bother, if it’s too hot check out the hotels. Some are dirt cheap.Define “dirt cheap” - I dont consider 30 euros a night as dirt cheap. If these places are dirt cheap the question has to be asked how many others (biters) are sleeping in the same bed too.
plus,what will it cost in a taxi to get to and from a hotel.
cant park the full plant outside a hotel in any season with tourist cars .
the hotel wouldnt want a truck and trailer taking the space of 10 or more cars.
so you stay in the service area and run the engine to keep the batteries charged,even with a new motor.
in this day and age of laptops and whatever other electronic gadgets we may have,
we want to play with the toys,so running the engine to keep the batteries charged during the day shouldnt bean issue.
i know,i cant sleep in the day,i have sat at frejus many times trying to sleep on sundays,not a chance,
never the less,when 10oc comes,i am gone ,at least thetacho looks right.
I can’t talk prices “now” but years ago I would stop at the BP at Bailen £8 a night on £25 night out money. They have cheap clean rooms, air con,TV, shower, clean sheets.
Another place I found was a hotel just south of Sagunto on the N340. It had a large truck parking area around the back. Clean room, clean sheets, air con, TV, bath AND shower, one of those posh foot baths 
a restaurant, tapas bar, night club (disco). I stayed in there and thought it a bargain, £15 a night. When I checked out Monday morning I found It would have been even cheaper had I shown my log book as evidence of being a truck driver , £9 a night.
On the French motorway, there are signs showing prices for hotel rooms.
Stop thinking UK hotel prices and check 'um out.
Unfortunately the word “cheap” has pretty much been erased from the Spanish vocabulary since the introduction of the euro - its very unlikely that you could find even a basic hostal room these days for much below €30 - thats not too far short of 30 quid given the dire state of the UK pound (or is it now 12 ounces?).
Hombre:
Unfortunately the word “cheap” has pretty much been erased from the Spanish vocabulary since the introduction of the euro - its very unlikely that you could find even a basic hostal room these days for much below €30 - thats not too far short of 30 quid given the dire state of the UK pound (or is it now 12 ounces?).
mark try stopping at km280 truckwash at aldea de los rios its cheap in the restaurant next door to the truckstop about 12 euros a night for a room i think
welshboyinspain:
Hombre:
Unfortunately the word “cheap” has pretty much been erased from the Spanish vocabulary since the introduction of the euro - its very unlikely that you could find even a basic hostal room these days for much below €30 - thats not too far short of 30 quid given the dire state of the UK pound (or is it now 12 ounces?).mark try stopping at km280 truckwash at aldea de los rios its cheap in the restaurant next door to the truckstop about 12 euros a night for a room i think
Are you referring to the old BP at Guarroman? it’s been shut a while now, unless it’s reopened and I’ve missed it.
Can confirm it was €12 a night for a room. Also €2 for the use of one of their excellent showers.
But, did the room have air con ? 
squarepeg:
welshboyinspain:
Hombre:
Unfortunately the word “cheap” has pretty much been erased from the Spanish vocabulary since the introduction of the euro - its very unlikely that you could find even a basic hostal room these days for much below €30 - thats not too far short of 30 quid given the dire state of the UK pound (or is it now 12 ounces?).mark try stopping at km280 truckwash at aldea de los rios its cheap in the restaurant next door to the truckstop about 12 euros a night for a room i think
Are you referring to the old BP at Guarroman? it’s been shut a while now, unless it’s reopened and I’ve missed it.
Can confirm it was €12 a night for a room. Also €2 for the use of one of their excellent showers.
no the bp at guarroman is km 288
280 is a spanish truckstop with tankwash, 3 truckwash bays, repairs garage, truckstuff shop sells everything, cafe and hotel next door.
they also have fuel pumps but not sure what cards uk drivers can use but if you got cash they will sell it to you in truckshop
very good cheap food and good place to stop just don’t park too close to the truckwash as its open 24hrs from monday morning til saturday afternoon
welshboyinspain:
no the bp at guarroman is km 288
280 is a spanish truckstop with tankwash, 3 truckwash bays, repairs garage, truckstuff shop sells everything, cafe and hotel next door.
they also have fuel pumps but not sure what cards uk drivers can use but if you got cash they will sell it to you in truckshop
very good cheap food and good place to stop just don’t park too close to the truckwash as its open 24hrs from monday morning til saturday afternoon
Sorry I’m getting confused. You are correct, the BP is at 288.
Will look out for the one at 280.
DAFMAD:
But, did the room have air con ?
Yes the room did have aircon, along with TV, bog and shower.
Only problem was that it was in a different place. See previous post.