Travel to the Northern Costa Brava by Car

For holidays in excess of two weeks, driving can be significantly cheaper than other options, when including Car Hire etc. The added benefit is plenty of space for the Rioja, spirits and cigarettes that are all substantially cheaper in Spain. There are three main routes from the Channel Ports to the Costa Brava and Catalonia:

1: The middle route via Paris & the A71 (toll cost c £85 - distance c750 miles 10 hours ).

2: Western Route via Paris & Limoges (toll cost c £100 - distance c750 miles 11.5 hours )

3: Eastern Route via Beaune, avoiding Paris (toll cost c £105 - distance c812 miles 11.75 hours )

Finding a route:

Various companies offer a free door-to door mapping service - our favourite being The AA. The site does not recognise Canyelles Petites or Almadraba, so select Roses as the destination and for the final part of the trip ask the property owner for directions or get a local map using Via Michelin. Toll roads are quick and not crowded, the total toll cost from Calais to your holiday property will be around £ 100 each way plus the same for petrol.

French Autoroutes:

Most of the autoroutes are covered by tolls, and the easiest way to pay is by credit card (English cards are accepted). The speed limit (130kph, or 110kph when wet) is vigorously enforced and spot fines are payable with driving licence confiscation for travelling 25kph above the limit. Vehicles towing trailers with combination gross weight over 3.5t are limited to 110kph and overseas drivers must have held a full licence for at least 2 years. The strict drink-driving law is 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per litre of blood, compared to 0.4 in the UK. Headlamp converters are compulsory and GB stickers are required for UK drivers unless the vehicle displays Euro-plates with national identifier. In France, a warning triangle must be carried. in Spain 2 are required plus a reflective yellow jacket.
Be aware that there are now over a thousand fixed speed cameras on Autoroutes alone.

Budget overnight accommodation:

There are many organisations which site cheap motels just off the auto routes - B&B Hotels, Villages Hotel, Formulae 1 and Accor Hotels are just three. The bedrooms are basic but clean with satellite TV and they can be booked on-line. Costs are from £28 per room per night.

Evening Dining:

If using such overnight accommodation, there may be an Arcotel Restaurant within walking distance. Although primarily aimed at the long-distance lorry drivers, forget any preconceptions about greasy food and dubious customers. A buffet starter, choice of basic main courses, buffet sweet course, cheese and wine is available for around £9. Dishes include oysters, selections of local pates, cold meats, salads etc and the drivers are the friendliest and most polite you can find.

The speed limits stated above were those current at the time of writing and last review.
Check with road signs on the exits of the ports to check the speed limits currently in force.

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