our journey

We used this company for 1-way van hire

https://www.way2gohire.com/home/

We turned the van in at a long term car park at Murcia airport (20 minutes from Campoverde).

We did the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Then 10 hours drive to Campoverde.

Sorry - no experience of the route through France.

Albeit only from France to Spain we recently used J-Hire and were very satisfied with the service and the vehicle. They were also flexible as my initial requirements changed from when I first booked meaning that I had to move both my dates and change the type of vehicle used.

Basically it's all run from the UK and they use local agents to actually book the vehicles in and out of their secure storage yard as and when necessary.

Their base in Spain is at Jacarilla.

BTW we have our own but you can also rent a 'Bip & Go' telepeage tag which allows you to sail straight through tolls booths both in France and Spain without the fuss of tickets and payments. Most now have a 30kph lanes and in Spain there are even 60kph ones.

The biggest problem with driving down through France is getting past Paris but timing is the key. Arrive in the early hours of the morning and it's a doddle but hit it at any time between say 6 am and 8pm and it can be hell. Via Rouen is an alternative but again it's time sensitive plus some of the time you'll be on single carriageway roads which will slow your progress.

Timed correctly and around Paris we could make it from Dunkerque to near Cahors France (where we then lived) or vice-versa, in around 10 hours, from Cahors to Alicante is about 1100km and is a trip we've made numerous times, typically it takes around 11 hours but note we do only stop to expel liquid out and take it onboard !

We decided to do Portsmouth to Caen one year thinking it would be cheaper than Portsmouth to Santander overnight ferry........tolls through France were very expensive and mount up to quite a considerable sum so took non toll roads back.  !!

just to add to this , we need to come via the tunnel as we have a dog, 

advice so far is great and is allowing us to start planning our journey.

thanks , but I am led to believe that the dog friendly cabins are booked up very early, however I will check.

 We are in the position of not having much notice once our house has completed. so all we can do at this stage is plan for all out comes.

All advice is gratefully received and goes on one of my many things to do lists.

I haven't even bought the required sombreros yet.

I do Durham, Dunkirk, miss Paris and do no toll roads down to Alicante.  Takes total 3 - 4 days and is great.  Take your time and enjoy France and the Pyrenees.  I generally do it alone in a camper van now and its great.  Its reasonable price off the beaten track in terms of campsites in France... Infact cheap.  Loads of supermarkets for pee stops and reasonable food.

If two of you you could either share the burden or shorten the time.  ENJOY

With regards the routes...these are many!

If you want a fast trip then via tunnel and tolls roads south, skirt round outskirts of Paris and then straight down central France and end up down Perpingon area for the night ( approx 20 mins from Spainish border) then next day your be in your area of Spain by the afternoon, all without breaking any speeding limits !

Tolls and fuel is around the 300/400 euro mark depending on vehicle and speed etc!

Most of the French hotels welcome pets as well if you do your homework.

Top tip as well is to find a hotel 2/5 miles from your route as your generally get better value and service etc! Also fuel can be a lot cheaper from outlets and supermarkets then on motorways etc so we always fill up at these places typically too!

If you want a slower route and with out tolls etc then you can do this for maybe 200/300 euros in fuel but with at least a day or two added on your journey which will equate to extra nights/s in hotel so you really don’t gain much financially but your eyes are not so shoot! Lol! 

We have done this journey loads of times and have done several versions and there are always options with the roads across France from the east route or western one or the one we prefer straight down the Centre and over the millua viaduct etc,

Plenty of places to stop and stretch your legs as well etc but just be aware some crooks operate at service stops etc and you will stick out like a sore thumb as an easy target so please be slightly cautious as not everyone is friendly!

Good luck and safe journey!

Fantastic advice cheers all.