Travel to Spain and Portugal (and France?)

[SteveR]

Manouvreing for a ride to the Med later this year when it is cooler, body permitting.

The aim is to follow the ACT route largely to the Med through Portugal, then a road ride back up through Spain. However, the sheer cost of the ferry for 2 bikes/riders is quite scary between Pompey and Santander. From a rough calculation, the only reason not to go to NW France and ride down, is time.... Cost will be at least 2-250 cheaper on small, economic bikes. I actually enjoy the ride dwon to the Pyrenees too.

However, that is me getting ahead of myself. It has been several years since I rode in Yurrup, so wondered if any of the seasoned travellers in the past 12 months could give any pointers on things to be aware of in this post Brexit chaos?

Biometric Passport?
International driving licence?
"green card" insurance?
Obviously, travel insurance...

France. Cleanair ticket, although I do not think most of the stable would pass anyway!!


To be honest, is almost feels like going back in time 30 years

[Godspeed]

One thing to note over the past 4 years is how expensive some things have got. Unfortunately gone are the days of picking up hotels for about £35, now it does feel much like £60 for anything that wasn’t too dodgy. Petrol has gone up too and food.
I’ve got a crit air sticker on both my bikes as it really doesn’t cost much for one and you never know where you might end up.
Green card: your insurance company will probably provide you one.
Make sure your travel insurance covers you for motorbike riding and to the CC that you ride.
Sometimes it’s worth factoring in the extra to ride down through France including accommodation as the ferry to Spain, if booked early enough may not actually be that much more expensive

Just some musings

[Paul_C]

Ditto plus you don't need an international driving licence.

Away from tourist hotspots family run food and accommodation in Spain and Portugal are good value. ACT down through Portugal is excellent. Day one the second red section would be hard work on a big bike otherwise it's all straight forward.

[Tramp]

And go before October when the new customs border checks come in as the ques will be crazy...

The days of cheap europe travel from blighty are Over...ferry's to Spain are crazy price now...overnight to caen isn't to bad and eurotunnel still fair for motorbike...

[SteveR]

Ditto plus you don't need an international driving licence.

Away from tourist hotspots family run food and accommodation in Spain and Portugal are good value. ACT down through Portugal is excellent. Day one the second red section would be hard work on a big bike otherwise it's all straight forward.

Stuart aka Peterpan of this parish really whet my whistle on the trip, and @SteveT and I were trying to go in 2019, but had some issues making it work, then the revamp idea for 2020 got shelved with a small matter of a pandemic!

Everyone says forget camping....

[SteveR]

And go before October when the new customs border checks come in as the ques will be crazy...

The days of cheap europe travel from blighty are Over...ferry's to Spain are crazy price now...overnight to caen isn't to bad and eurotunnel still fair for motorbike...

Very good point on the passport nonsense Russ... Although it should be better on ferries, maybe.

Dover routes still make sense, but not that convenient for us folks on teh West of the UK... Pompy/Caen is a fave for me, Cherbourg less so.

[SteveR]

One thing to note over the past 4 years is how expensive some things have got. Unfortunately gone are the days of picking up hotels for about £35, now it does feel much like £60 for anything that wasn’t too dodgy. Petrol has gone up too and food.
I’ve got a crit air sticker on both my bikes as it really doesn’t cost much for one and you never know where you might end up.
Green card: your insurance company will probably provide you one.
Make sure your travel insurance covers you for motorbike riding and to the CC that you ride.
Sometimes it’s worth factoring in the extra to ride down through France including accommodation as the ferry to Spain, if booked early enough may not actually be that much more expensive

Just some musings

Accommodation has rocketed I can see.. Premierclasse with 2-3 of you was great value, less so now.

Think teh Insurer provides a "green card" in the package, but will check this one.

Travel insurance will need checking up, as my old NFU policy was lost when I dropped them as my business Insurer. A quick call I think.

The problem is that for me, early booking does not really work! In the past, I have made a decsion on a Monday evening, and been in the Alps 48hrs later

[Paul_C]

If you use, spawn of the devil, Facebook check out the Bikers touring Spain and Portugal group.

[dave h]

in reality ive found nothing has changed ,just go.

dave.

[SteveR]

in reality ive found nothing has changed ,just go.

dave.

There is a certain simplicity in this answer that I really like....