Flatcapdriver

I need to get down to Spain via France due to the numpty timetable devised by Brittany Ferries to Santander and instead of the usual Dover-Calais/Tunnel run I'm wondering if anyone has experience of using the Caen route. Ideally, I'm looking to save time and effort particularly keen to avoid Paris as it's a complete pain in the backside and may well stop in a hotel we know outside Tours but the road from Caen to Tours doesn't look too clever.

Any thoughts?

scoob_babe

Done that route a couple of times and never had a problem. Brittany Ferries are a little more expensive than most but I think tihe boats are nicer. Going to Caen will save you quite a bit of driving time as its a lot further west than Calais.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

This is a bit of a "swings and roudabouts" question.

Where are you in the UK? is it easier to get to Portsmouth or Dover?
Once you take the crossing times into account, will there be much difference in the two journey times?
Dover-Calais can be had quite cheap, even cheaper is Dover-Boulogne via Speedferries, £50 return?

Calais (or Boulogne) to the south is easy A16, A28 to Rouen, about 3 hours, Then SW from Rouen, not sure how far the A28 now goes but it's not a bad road. Toll cost to Rouen is about €9 for PART of the A16, the rest is free.

Had you thought of P&O's Portsmouth-Bilbao service?

Alcazar

Flatcapdriver

I live in Surrey so either port is easy to get to but if you look at a map then it seems easier and closer to take the Caen route, overnighting in Tours with a blast down to the south of Spain the next day - looks, however, can be deceiving.

The Bilbao route is a non-starter as they don't take dogs which is the reason for driving instead of flying. That and the fact that I'm sick of hire cars.