hotel en route from Santander to Javea

Hello Sue. I have regularly followed your route as part of my journey from Lorient in France, usually stopping at Pamplona. However, for you, three hours is going to put you close to Zaragoza, not a good place to drive into, in my opinion. I have always used Trip Advisor or Hotels.com to find places. The best I could find for you is in a place called Carinena Aragon, just off your probable best route, but exactly 3 hours from San Sebastion. Check this out on Hotels.com. One other piece of advice if this is your first road trip. Be careful approaching Valencia, it's very easy to find yourself in the city. My satnav often tried to take me in that direction. Make sure you take the road signs to Alicante AP7/E15 before you get too close. The first trip will give you the chance to check out facilities for the dog. We regularly made our trip with the dog and found renting apartments for the night was often better with the dog. Hope that helps. Good luck

Thank you so much. I'll get on to investigating that today!

We usually use that route and I google IBIS hotels. They allow dogs and you can get to know them before taking your dog next time.  We have stayed at Pamplona a couple of times. However, there are a few around Zaragoza which take dogs, not necessarily IBIS.  Just make sure you book one on the main route.

Thank you - will look them up!

We have done several driving trips through central Spain and usually stay in Parador's. They generally tend to be beautifully converted historic buildings (monasteries are popular choices) and offer good value and very different from the norm. I guess it depends on your budget. Here is a link. https://www.paradores-spain.com/ or here https://www.paradoresofspain.com/#!/parador/Cardona

We have done this route many times over the last few years and always stop off in Carinena as previously suggested. We stay at Hotel Carinena which is about half way and have always found it to be clean, comfortable and convenient for the motorway. I have booked directly and via booking.com and it comes in at about €60 bed and breakfast for 2 people. English is not widely spoken but we always manage to get ourselves understood. Also excellent menu del Dia for €13 pp, 3 course, bread and a bottle of wine.

We will be staying there again this year in October en route. Hope that helps.

Paradors don't take dogs. I have stayed with dog att 2 hotels in Monreal del Campo on A23. Both perfectly fine for overnight stop

Weve used Hotel Restaurant Cadoza

Just outside Zaragoza   we have 2 small dogs which they accept.

Fine restaurant just over the road.

One other point. When I was looking to use ferry with dog last Christmas from uk to Spain I could not get a pet cabin so reverted to my usual option of cross channel ferry and drive through  France