Car

I think quite a few of us on this forum have driven down from UK to Alicante. Can you be a bit more specific ... what do you need to know ... preferred routes, ferries, costs, timings, etc.  

 we are driving our car from manchester to alicante  we have a place in villena dont know where to start but wanted the quickest route to take didnt know if the ferry or euro tunnel would be the best option does anyone have any advice its all very daunting thanks stacey

Stacey, Ive done it in a car, motorbike and campervan.  I intend to do it again this year in the campervan.  My thoughts, I make it part of the holiday and enjoy it.  I pre book a flexible ferry ticket fron Dover to Dunkirk and drive through France on the major but not toll roads.  Its fantastic.  The views this route and villages are unbelievable.  Its safer also no robbing on the motorways.  If you can share the drive its a nice 3 days and around £500 ferry and fuel.  Durham - Elche

Have a great trip... I always do.... 

Hi

Just did a month ago.Best way to avoid tolls and mixes motorway with a scenic route is in reverse Villena to Valencia,up to Zarragoza,through to Pau in France.Mix motorway and main roads to Paris around ring road in Paris up to Calais.Total cost 120 euros petrol,35 tolls,2 nights in Ibis budget plus food 100euros.

Another route if your going to Manchester is the cherbourg Portsmouth ferry,misses M25.

Happy driving

Thanks 

We have found, over the years, that for us the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao is far more enjoyable than driving right down through France. Also, depending upon the time of year, it can work out cheaper compared with paying the extra fuel, hotels, tolls, channel crossing etc. For example, we recently paid £249 for the two of us, car and a large (4-berth) outside cabin.

The journey from Santander/Bilbao to this area is doable in a day (about 8 hours) and is a very easy run on good roads, with no tolls if you want.

I know that a previous poster said that tolls in France cost them €35, but I can assure you that you CAN pay up to €160 in tolls - I know, because I've done so. (I've also driven from Calais to here paying less than €10).

Much more relaxing to have a mini-cruise, a couple of drinks, a meal and a good night's sleep! (Purely our experience!)

Geoff.