Driving to Spain

[andym3]

I was thinking about driving down to Spain (Costa Dorada) in the summer with my wife & kids!
Google says its approx a 12h drive from Dieppe!
Just wondering if any of you have driven to Spain before & if so was it a enjoyable journey & is it worth doing?
We normally fly to Spain but thought it would be nice to drive down through France! 

[squeaky2]

It's an easy drive down through France. Main advice is not to go near Paris even though sat nav will try. Go down viw Reims and Lyon and across the South Coast of France. 

French toll roads are generally very easy. The French have just invested a load in mobile speed cameras.

I usually work on london to Barcelona takes around 16-18 hours.

Currently in France and it's great as diesel works out around £1 a litre

[andym3]

Brilliant! Thanks 

[amacman]

Squeaky2 sending you the long and busy route , gets busy around Lyon southwards with all the other roads linking , and expensive tolls so no surprise it takes 16-18 hours . I can do Calais to Barcelona in 10 - 12 hours depending on meal stop times or a detour .
Paris is no problem before 7.30 am or after 11 pm . I can give you a direct route through Paris or you would best to go via Rouen from Dieppe and down the N154 / A10 to Orleans then A71 Vierzon and decide if you want to go via A20 Toulouse or the A71 / A 75  Millau viaduct( better route ) and on to the A9 Narbonne / Perpignan leading to the Spanish AP7 to Barcelona , be aware of fake police on Spanish motorways .
Spanish always hog the middle and outer lanes which is annoying . French tailgate and overtake dangerously on the inside . Enjoyable drive if you don`t hurry and drive safely .

[squeaky2]

12 hours sounds about right from Calais. Lyon traffic all depends on the time that you hit it. Have to bear in mind that when I do it I'm in a ford transit

[andym3]

[quote="amacman"]
be aware of fake police on Spanish motorways .[/quote]
Fake police? How can you tell real or fake?