| The journey from the south coast of the UK to Faro | | | | the scenery becomes flatter. |
| in the Algarve typically takes 3 days/nights. The first | | | | As you drive South of Salamanca you approach the |
| day will generally get you somewhere near Bordeaux | | | | central Plateau of Spain. The roads in Spain are |
| or the Spanish border, and the next 2 days take you | | | | generally very good, but until recently there was a |
| across Spain and Portugal. | | | | stretch south of Salamanca where single-lane roads |
| Arriving in France, one of the first things that you will | | | | were unavoidable. These are now gradually being |
| probably notice is that there is generally a lot less | | | | replaced by motorways. One good destination to aim |
| traffic on the roads (unless you travel in August | | | | for at the end of day 2 is Placencia which is just |
| when all of France takes a holiday). It is always best | | | | about in the center of Spain. There are places to |
| to avoid Paris as the roads here are very busy, and | | | | stay in the town (which is not very big), and the |
| it is easy to end up on the wrong road. | | | | pices are cheaper than staying by the roadside. In |
| The western side of France has good roads all the | | | | fact in central Spain it can be difficult to find a bed |
| way down the Spain, but if you want to avoid tolls | | | | for the night, and some of the roadside hotels are |
| then you will have to plan your route carefully | | | | fairly basic. |
| beforehand, and allow more time for the journey. It | | | | Depending on the time of year in which you travel, |
| costs around 50 Euros to follow the motorways | | | | once you pass central Spain, the temperatures can |
| from Calais/Cherbourg down to the border with | | | | be very hot. Traveling down from Placencia you will |
| Spain. | | | | see the scenery change, becoming more arid, and |
| Much of the drive through France is flat and there | | | | the pines of the north are replaced by olives. Storks |
| isn't much in the way of spectacular scenery. The | | | | flying overhead will also be a common site at many |
| traffic builds up a little around the cities but is | | | | times of year. It is possible to get from central Spain |
| generally light. | | | | to the Algarve in a day, but it is an arduous drive, |
| Assuming that you left UK fairly early in the day, you | | | | and having already been on the road for 2 days |
| will probably be close to Bordeaux by the evening. If | | | | tiredness can set in. |
| you make it past Bordeaux there are plenty of | | | | Somewhere around Merida is a good stopping point |
| roadside services with accommodation for around 60 | | | | for the night, and there are plenty of roadside hotels |
| 70 Euros per night. | | | | of varying quality in Southern Spain. |
| Driving from France into Spain the scenery changes | | | | The last leg of the journey is the drive around Seville |
| from flat pine forests to mountains. The roads | | | | and into Portugal. |
| change from the straight motorways of France to | | | | There are many signs for Portugal around Merida, but |
| narrower roads which undulate through the | | | | be careful if you are headed for the Algarve, as |
| spectacular green scenery around San Sebastian. | | | | some of the signs will take you across the border at |
| The first 100km in Spain is a slow, but following signs | | | | Badajoz, and the Portuguese have toll roads unlike |
| for Burgos the roads pass through tunnels in the | | | | Spain. The roads around Seville are fairly straight |
| hillsides as you leave the northern coast of Spain. | | | | forward, follow the signs for Huelva, and then cross |
| You may not even see the sea once you leave | | | | the border into Portugal at Ayamonte. The |
| France, although there is a brief glimpse towards San | | | | motorway continues all the way along the Algarve to |
| Sebastian. There are tolls for the first 100-200 km, | | | | Faro and beyond. |
| but once you pass Burgos the roads are free and | | | | |