Driving to Spain with a caravan

[caravanning4u]

Hi folks I hope that you will be able to help me here .I am retired and have a few breathing problems especially in winter so I have booked in on a caravan site in Javea for the months of January to the end of March . Because we are bringing our yorkie with us Britany ferry would be the only choice for the route from Plymouth to Santander but that doesn't run in January.So we intend driving through France and this is where I need some help.

Although we have driven in France many times before we have never been in the winter months so I have no idea what to expect. Going on previous years can anyone tell me anything about the roads I will be taking from Calais and if I am likely to have any problems with snow.

My name is Eric and my wife is Linda and we will be going with our yorkshire terrier zuky

Thanks for any advice you can give me

[synthia]

Welcome to the expat forum. I copied this thread to the France forum, since that seemed to be the main thrust of your question, but left it in the general forum since you were asking about multiple countries.

[Frenchy11]

Originally Posted by caravanning4u

I am likely to have any problems with snow.

My name is Eric and my wife is Linda and we will be going with our yorkshire terrier zuky

Thanks for any advice you can give me

Hi Guys,

I drive a lot in France in winter ( The last 7 years) on a similar route, I have only every had 1 problem which was this year in the Limousin with a heavy snow fall, Although not a personal problem ( I drive a 4x4) the school bus blocked the road for a couple of hours. I think if you pack the usual snow kit just in case, you should be ok.

I would advise RAC euro rescue though ( a couple of hundred quid +).

IMHO: “the usual driving snow kit” is:-

A tom tom with traffic and weather announcements.
Drinking Water. ( 10 lts per person/dog)
Food ( Any out door shop sells army hydrated compo around £3.00 a meal) I like to pack around 3 meals per person.
A English type quality shovel.
Sleeping Bags. “4 season”
Camping Cooker+ spare gas.
Tea coffee and dried milk.
20 euros in change.
Out Door warm clothing. Inc hats and gloves.
A Mobile Phone per person, and car charger.
First Aid Kit including a sterile suture kit.
A Trolley Jack.
1 yellow conspicuity tabard per person ( and don’t forget one for the dog)
Spare bulbs for the car and the trailer.
2 red triangles.
2 fire extinguishes CO2 or powder.
A engine quick starter.
Aspirin ( for staring an engine or getting rid of an headache.)
A Leatherman Knife.
A wind proof lighter ( zippo) + spare fuel.
A torch per person.

OBTW. I have seen and heard of Miscreants trying to stop folks on the N147 from eastern Europe, IF THEY HAVENT GOT A GENDARME UNIFORM ON DO NOT STOP ! ! !

Make sure all your doors are locked when traveling its becoming “Bandit country” in the last 2 years on the main N roads and in the major cities.

Good Luck

Regards J,

[bluesardine]

Hi all
We lived in France for 8 months but to cold so moved back to UK to re-group. My wife and my 6 children moved to Spain. I drove with our dog and 3 children and my wife flew with the others. I took the ferry to Santander then drove down non stop to The Costa del Sol. We left uk Dec 13th, when we hit Spain i remember seeing snow on all the peaks and a little on the roads Northern Spain but apart from that no problems. 10 hours from Santander to Nerja on the Costa del Sol

[Amelia Davies]

Hello Eric & Linda

You can get straight on the motorway from Calais port and drive down through France on the motorway without going through Paris. The motorway is very good. Only stop on the motorway services, do not stop on the Picnic areas that do not have anything other than toilets and picnic area.

We have caravaned for 30 years, driving to France and Spain, we are now retired and living in the South of France, in the heart of Provence. There are not many caravan sites open in winter, have you planned your stops? if you need help finding sites where you will be safe over night, I will help you find them. I do know of a good site in Lyon, my friends have stayed there in winter.

Regards Amelia

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Amelia Davies

Hello Eric & Linda

Only stop on the motorway services, do not stop on the Picnic areas that do not have anything other than toilets and picnic area.

Why do you say that? We've always stopped at the picnic areas as well as the services, but admittedly only during daylight. They are often in really beautiful areas. Have you had a bad experience at one?

[Amelia Davies]

I have read about people being robbed on these quiet picnic areas around France & Spain. It is now noticable the number of displaced people who are coming into France & Spain. Car jacking is also on the increase, it is better to be safe than sorry.

[Amelia Davies]

I did forget to say, my nephew and his family had an experiance around the Nice area last year when they were on holiday. A car tried to flag them down, they stopped, and a number of people came up behind the car, he saw them and drove off very quickly. Quite a few of our French friends here in the South, have advised us to be careful when driving.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Amelia Davies

I did forget to say, my nephew and his family had an experiance around the Nice area last year when they were on holiday. A car tried to flag them down, they stopped, and a number of people came up behind the car, he saw them and drove off very quickly. Quite a few of our French friends here in the South, have advised us to be careful when driving.

Yes, off the motorways that is something I have heard of quite a few times. Even people posing as Police officers!

[Amelia Davies]

I have also heard about these picnic areas on the motorway, some of them are very quiet. Robbers can access them on foot from the road system around the motorway, it is a sign of the times.