Spain and back in September

[saratoga]

Hiya

I’m planning a trip down to Spain (Javea, between Alicante and Valencia) in September.

I’ve prodded Autoroute and it reccomends:

France: Calais / A26 / A5 / A31 / A6 / A7 / A9
Spain: A-7 to Junc 62.

I’ve not hired a van for european / international trips before, and I’m only a domestic driver anyway, but I won’t be driving it all on my own

So the information I’d like from you really helpful people is stuff like:

1. Is this the way to go? Other reccomendations?

2. Tolls. Who do I pay, how much does it cost

3. Fuel. What does it cost over there? I think I’ll be in a LWB Hi-Cap van if possible.

Can Coventry to Javea be feasibly done in 21 hours of driving

As I’ll not be in a vehicle that’ll have a sleeper cab are there reccomendations for things like motels, or that sort of stuff on the way down?

Am I asking in the right forum

The reason for all this is my Grandmother needs to return to the UK for health reasons and we (the collective family we) are helping her back. I’ll be going down in a van with my sister and returning and load it all up down there and return. Normally I’d fly, but I suspect the airfare for a sprinter van would be more than my lifes worth

Also what are the speed limits / fines etc like for France. Spain I’ve managed before. I take it that it will still be quite hot down there too…

I’m going to speak to TLS tomorrow about details for hiring a van, and hoping they can provide some sort of european cover for the estimated 3000 EU miles, as well as for them to actually let us book an actual vehicle (giving us the dimensions too for the ferry).

I’m thinking about asking for a Merc Sprinter, but do you have any reccomendations??

Sorry if this is all too much for a Sunday night, but I’ll be relying on you Professionals to help me through this event. Roll on the stress.

[harry_monk]

OK well I’ll start.

No idea about the road numbers. Calais, Paris, Orleans, Clermont-Ferrand, Millau, Montelimar, La Jonquera is the route to eastern Spain. Well, for me, anyway. You can save a little on tolls travelling by Rouen instead of Paris.

You pay for French motorways at tollbooths similar to those at the Dartford Tunnel, Severn Bridge etc, however they take cash or credit cards, UTA, DKV etc etc unlike our cruddy toll operators.

Diesel is cheaper in France, and cheaper still in Spain. Petrol, don’t know. Not more expensive though. Nothing is more expensive than it is here.

I personally would drive from Calais to Valencia in one hit in my car but would not recommend that to anybody else.

There are plenty of cheap but clean hotels in France, Formule 1, Ibis, Camponile etc.

Merc Sprinter would be fine.

All the best.

[montana_man]

As far as the Toll Prices Look in the Euro Drivers Info at the top of this Forum.
It contains Links to the motorway operators so you can work out the price in advance. Most tolled motorways you pick up a ticket at the entry point and present the ticket and pay the relevant fee upon exit of that section.

As for doing it in one shot that will depend on your own personal limitations

Speed limit info also on the above websites, fines can be expensive

Don’t forget to check that you are carrying all the correct documentation i.e. insurance proof, your drivers licence (best both parts) and hire contract. Also that the van has warning triangle (poss 2 not sure)

There are several ways to go nut most are about the same and it’s merely personal choice. However as Harry said avoid Paris unless in the middle of the night

My personal preference would be for a Sprinter

I would personally PM Penfold as he did this for a living for some time with his own Sprinter and would be the most valuble source of info

[wheel_nut]

I would also ring one or two of the international removals companies. I dont remember many Spaniards upping sticks to move to the UK. I imagine that they normally struggle for backloads.

Stick your Granny in the back with a few sweet sherries and you save everyone money.

Seriously though. Hiring a van, ferry costs, paying tolls and European insurance will not be a cheap option. If you havent driven that sort of distance before, then you will find it very tiring to do it one hit

[muckles]

Harry’s routes seems okay to me, but then the likes of Harry and Wheel Nut have many years more experience than me and anyway they do proper truck driving.
However I get to use hotels and France is well served by hotels near the main routes. You normally find them in groups with all kinds to suit your budget.

The cheapest are the Formula 1’s about 25 euros, but very basic, No shower in your room, then you get the Etaps and Premier Classe types about 35 euro’s same bed layout a double bed with a sigle bed above, but you get a shower.
They don’t do evening meals but normally have a resturant nearby, they are also unmanned after 9pm but when you book you get a code number which you use when you get there or you book in using what looks like an ATM outside the hotels.

You then get the Ibis, Campaniles, Mecures and Novotels, more like normal hotels, but the prices range from 65 euro to about 130 euros and 7 euro a beer in a novotel.

Most of the time you can turn up and get a room, but if you get a French holiday week then they’ll all be full, so I’d pre book.

[kerbut]

I think what Wheelnut said in jest might proberly be the right and cheaper option ,look at Costa Blanca news or Costa del Sol news on line ,there a lot of Uk removal firms advertising there ,Mathew James ,Union Jack ,Armenshaws etc. On the driving side in a car it takes me 22 hours driving from Malaga to Rennes area via Madrid.

[thebear]

There is a UK company called Union Jack down in the Murcia region that runs regular to the UK with all kinds of groupage

[ben9]

Phone a few hire firms to get a good price. A lot will be expensive or refuse to do european rentals. You will need to tell them that you are going abroad to get the right paperwork.

[saratoga]

Sorry for not getting back to y’all sooner, but it’s been a bit hectic at work and I’m stressing over the wrong things. Again

Anyway, you’re help and suggestions are all good and I’ll be doing some more digging tomorrow.

The main things at the moment is the external width of the sprinter van. So I’ve got a tape measure and I’m off to the local merc dealer (Gerrard Mann) tomorrow.

Also going to get quotes from other firms for doing it.

The trip so far is that we’ll be stopping in a hotel/b&b or whatever in the south of france for a night at about 6pm and starting again the next day at 9am. Will be enough time for a rest and my Sister and I can do the touristy bit

Anyway, it’s not all set in stone yet, but I’m getting there.

I’ll drop a note here later about the quotes from some of the movers I’ve contacted… But I doubt we’ll get a better price and all.

[saratoga]

Ben9:
Phone a few hire firms to get a good price. A lot will be expensive or refuse to do european rentals. You will need to tell them that you are going abroad to get the right paperwork.

Yep, the first thing I say when speaking to the hire companies is that I want to hire a van for a 14 day period for approx 3000 miles to spain and back in september…

[bullitt]

You could always buy your low mileage, long wheel base, high roof Transit, loads on the Autotrader site, move the stuff down yourself then flog it when you have finished!!

[saratoga]

Right, doing a bit of digging. The Merc Sprinter is only 1.8m wide at the outer edges of the wheels, 2m when the mirrors are folded in and 2.4m when the mirrors are folded out

This is a good thing

[alf_apsey]

hi the route you have been giving is correct,i have just moved back from javea so if you want to know anything let me know the is a removal company in ondara skeltons they come to england also my mate has just started on his own i will get you some info for you in spain for rest use what they call hostels family run usually cheap and clean ,and there are restauants everwhere,if you have family in javea you will know your way around if not let me know i try and help

[harry]

Fly down. Sling the sticks in a groupage van & fly home. If the cargo will fit in a Sprinter its not worth the expence or the hassle of schlepping down there & back. Ferry costs alone would put me off.
Time and distance /one way.

Time: 20h40 including 18h02 on motorways
Distance: 2076km including 1987km on motorways
et 37km on scenic roads
Costs 301.95 EUR
Toll costs: 113.88 EUR
Petrol costs: 188.07 EUR
Road tax cost: 0.00 EUR

This is Michelin for a car so tolls will be more expensive for a van.
Plus your ferries & your van hire.( & your hotels & meals )

[hombre]

I reckon you would be best off using one of the numerous Brit removal firms that are in Spain.

Bare in mind that the housing market has virtually collapsed here in Spain so theres loads of firms fighting for work. Rates for removals back to the UK vary but range from about 80 - 120 quid per cubic metre.

If I were you I would try these:

Brittania Southern
UK Spain Removals
Move It Removals

[brit_pete]

i would agree with all those who have said use a firm this is the best way and you may be surprised as the perice they will ask it should be much cheaper thanthe costs you will have when youdo the trip yourself

[driveroneuk]

Saratoga:
Right, doing a bit of digging. The Merc Sprinter is only 1.8m wide at the outer edges of the wheels, 2m when the mirrors are folded in and 2.4m when the mirrors are folded out

This is a good thing

Saratoga, why is width (or rather lack of it) an issue?

[saratoga]

Driveroneuk:

Saratoga:
Right, doing a bit of digging. The Merc Sprinter is only 1.8m wide at the outer edges of the wheels, 2m when the mirrors are folded in and 2.4m when the mirrors are folded out

This is a good thing

Saratoga, why is width (or rather lack of it) an issue?

For vehicles 2.3m or more wide, the usual breakdown companies that one would ususally use (brittania, aa, rac, etc) would not cover.

Width 2.3m, Length 7m, Height 3m. Otherwise specialist or commercial recovery rates apply.

[driveroneuk]

O I C thank 4 the explanation

[krankee]

Another removal firm based in Redditch. Their SITE only mentions France, but I’m sure that when their 7.5.tonner passed me the other night it had mention of Spain on the door.