Road trip France, Spain & Portugal

[Moose]

Hi All,
We are going to travel after the summer holiday via Eurotunnel to Portugal with our to dogs.
Quick question is it worth getting a TAG for Spain & Portugal do you think it will be busy, I already have one for France.
Any other advise would be appreciated as we are giving ourselves 4 day to get to Portugal (Peniche) so best route and any campsite recommendations.
We are only intending to book one site each way in France and crossed fingers for the rest.

 

[kurienp]

Hi All,
We are going to travel after the summer holiday via Eurotunnel to Portugal with our to dogs.
Quick question is it worth getting a TAG for Spain & Portugal do you think it will be busy, I already have one for France.
Any other advise would be appreciated as we are giving ourselves 4 day to get to Portugal (Peniche) so best route and any campsite recommendations.
We are only intending to book one site each way in France and crossed fingers for the rest.

View attachment 98294

Hi @Moose , did the trip in 2020.

On your question on tags - yes, get a tag, makes travel much simpler and it is cost effective as well. Got the EMOVIS tag, but I am sure people may be able to advise on alternate options.

For other inputs:

See writeup of our trip here - https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/portugal-2020.37198/

See route map here - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...a&ll=42.9228097982918,-3.7925049999999985&z=5

and if you need tips on an itinerary, then see file here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1brlNA7gbTUWQ_cEX78ixvhSZyw7q1oEl4MLHJI6s4Kc/edit?usp=sharing

Any questions, just ask - but I like the idea of take it as it comes and also have a draft plan, but not be wedded to it.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Hi All,
We are going to travel after the summer holiday via Eurotunnel to Portugal with our to dogs.
Quick question is it worth getting a TAG for Spain & Portugal do you think it will be busy, I already have one for France.
Any other advise would be appreciated as we are giving ourselves 4 day to get to Portugal (Peniche) so best route and any campsite recommendations.
We are only intending to book one site each way in France and crossed fingers for the rest.

View attachment 98294

Where abouts in Portugal are you heading?

 

[Moose]

Where abouts in Portugal are you heading?

Peniche as we have a friends place to use as a base,
We intend to explore and stay overnight as we do, but then pop back to his as and when we feel the need, we are away around 25 days.

 

[Moose]

Hi @Moose , did the trip in 2020.

On your question on tags - yes, get a tag, makes travel much simpler and it is cost effective as well. Got the EMOVIS tag, but I am sure people may be able to advise on alternate options.

For other inputs:

See writeup of our trip here - https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/portugal-2020.37198/

See route map here - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1svYAGjADWAEDaYoQt7-fyYzZ9-UFqoja&ll=42.9228097982918,-3.7925049999999985&z=5

and if you need tips on an itinerary, then see file here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1brlNA7gbTUWQ_cEX78ixvhSZyw7q1oEl4MLHJI6s4Kc/edit?usp=sharing

Any questions, just ask - but I like the idea of take it as it comes and also have a draft plan, but not be wedded to it.

Hi @Moose , did the trip in 2020.

On your question on tags - yes, get a tag, makes travel much simpler and it is cost effective as well. Got the EMOVIS tag, but I am sure people may be able to advise on alternate options.

For other inputs:

See writeup of our trip here - https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/portugal-2020.37198/

See route map here - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1svYAGjADWAEDaYoQt7-fyYzZ9-UFqoja&ll=42.9228097982918,-3.7925049999999985&z=5

and if you need tips on an itinerary, then see file here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1brlNA7gbTUWQ_cEX78ixvhSZyw7q1oEl4MLHJI6s4Kc/edit?usp=sharing

Any questions, just ask - but I like the idea of take it as it comes and also have a draft plan, but not be wedded to it.

Great write up and going to be very helpful:
We have be recommended to visit by a Portuguise friend:
Nazare, Peniche, Oli dos, Lisbon (we did a long weekend a few years ago) and the Algarve so quite a few places you visited.
We already have EMOVIS Liber-t tag for France do you recommend a VIA-T tag for Spain & Portugal

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Peniche as we have a friends place to use as a base,
We intend to explore and stay overnight as we do, but then pop back to his as and when we feel the need, we are away around 25 days.

Had you considered taking the ferry to Santander or Bilbao? If getting to Central Portugal was your main aim it probably would save 1500 or so miles and a good few days travel.

 

[Moose]

Yes we have but we had this tunnel crossing prior to COVID so need to be used, also unless we had a cabin to take the dogs we prefer the train so they are with us.

 

[Azteccamper]

Yes we have but we had this tunnel crossing prior to COVID so need to be used, also unless we had a cabin to take the dogs we prefer the train so they are with us.

All Brittany Ferries now have a good number of ‘pet’ cabins. We went over and toured Portugal in May/June (the sea was cold and wild!). Lovely place, but do go inland to explore - it’s like going back in time and was extremely cheap. I felt some of the coastal resorts looked a bit tired (might have been time of the year) - did like Nazare though. Some of the coastal walks in the south west we’re stunning. Enjoy you trip.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Yes we have but we had this tunnel crossing prior to COVID so need to be used, also unless we had a cabin to take the dogs we prefer the train so they are with us.

We were in the same predicament, booked 3 years ago then Covid struck. Changed routes a couple of times but managed to get a commodore cabin on the route home from Santander which are like gold dust.

 

[Moose]

Yes very lucky to get a commodore cabin as you said like gold dust, if this trip goes well (dog are getting on) we may do a similar trip next year or to Holland to see family and then the ferry over to Norway

 

[kurienp]

do you recommend a VIA-T tag for Spain & Portugal

Yes, that is the tag that I got. Worked flawlessly and the direct debit etc also went through without any hiccups.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

I think you have to be careful on Portuguese motorways. At one time you could pay in a post office if you used the motorways. Now it’s a transponder well certainly is on hire cars. We never use the motorways there as the last time it cost us €15 for about 5 miles of motorway. Tried to query it but didn’t get anywhere.

 

[BerndRos]

I think you have to be careful on Portuguese motorways. At one time you could pay in a post office if you used the motorways. Now it’s a transponder well certainly is on hire cars. We never use the motorways there as the last time it cost us €15 for about 5 miles of motorway. Tried to query it but didn’t get anywhere.

They don’t chase up foreign registered vehicles for motorway toll fees…..

 

[kurienp]

They don’t chase up foreign registered vehicles for motorway toll fees…..

They do chase up for speeding tickets (don't ask me how I know )

 

[BerndRos]

The motorways are run by private firms and defo do not chase for outstanding toll fees on foreign reg vehicles

 

[Ozzy Pete]

They don’t chase up foreign registered vehicles for motorway toll fees…..

I’m not sure about Portugal and motorway tolls but I know that as far as speeding penalties in France that horse has fled the stable.
Getting flashed by a cam in France they won’t persue you any longer.BUT if you get caught by Mr plod then it’s an on the spot fine.
So best try an avoid speeding.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

They don’t chase up foreign registered vehicles for motorway toll fees…..

Only ever use hire cars in Portugal so extra careful to avoid motorways.

 

[Moose]

All Brittany Ferries now have a good number of ‘pet’ cabins. We went over and toured Portugal in May/June (the sea was cold and wild!). Lovely place, but do go inland to explore - it’s like going back in time and was extremely cheap. I felt some of the coastal resorts looked a bit tired (might have been time of the year) - did like Nazare though. Some of the coastal walks in the south west we’re stunning. Enjoy you trip.

Thank you

 

[Amarillo]

I’m not sure about Portugal and motorway tolls but I know that as far as speeding penalties in France that horse has fled the stable.
Getting flashed by a cam in France they won’t persue you any longer.BUT if you get caught by Mr plod then it’s an on the spot fine.
So best try an avoid speeding.

I got got by a camera on the German autobahn and chased. The fine was a sensible amount (€20 I think), so I paid it.

The penalties do quickly multiply upwards the more you exceed the limit by. At >70 k/h over the limit the fine is €680.

https://www.howtogermany.com/files/bussgeldkatalog-2017.pdf

 

[pluc99]

I’m not sure about Portugal and motorway tolls but I know that as far as speeding penalties in France that horse has fled the stable.
Getting flashed by a cam in France they won’t persue you any longer.BUT if you get caught by Mr plod then it’s an on the spot fine.
So best try an avoid speeding.

I've was flashed many many many times in France over the past 20 years and never received any notices - until last month: I was flashed in the Mont Blanc tunnel and promptly received a bill for €45 in the mail. I suspect it may be connected to my application for the french city sticker; they now have my particulars linked to the license plate in a database and can save the handling fees that going through Swiss authorities would entail.

As per the highway fees, I am considering the Telepass. Does anyone have any experience using this outside of Italy? https://www.telepass.com/en/consumer/offers/go-by-telepass

 

[Ozzy Pete]

I've was flashed many many many times in France over the past 20 years and never received any notices - until last month: I was flashed in the Mont Blanc tunnel and promptly received a bill for €45 in the mail. I suspect it may be connected to my application for the french city sticker; they now have my particulars linked to the license plate in a database and can save the handling fees that going through Swiss authorities would entail.

As per the highway fees, I am considering the Telepass. Does anyone have any experience using this outside of Italy? https://www.telepass.com/en/consumer/offers/go-by-telepass

They must have your details as you say from other scorches other than the DVLA who used to supply the French authorities with your details but not any longer. Whether they would go to all the trouble of perusing through the court system is probably unlikely. The only other thing though they could hold the details of your vehicle at customs and maybe fine you if you try to leave or enter the country in that vehicle.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I have received several speeding fines from French toll roads via post at home. I usually ignore them as they have no reasonable chance of a prosecution.

That’s said, I did happen to sell the car that I was caught in, so it never went to France again.

I always assumed that like parking firms, they just paid the DVLA for access to the data.

 

[Mike Frost]

I'm sure you're in the know already, but the Iberian peninsula is anti dog. Not allowed on public transport, in eateries or public buildings. Enjoy your stay nevertheless! Echo other comments about Emovis, had a tag for years, an absolute boon.

 

[Moose]

I'm sure you're in the know already, but the Iberian peninsula is anti dog. Not allowed on public transport, in eateries or public buildings. Enjoy your stay nevertheless! Echo other comments about Emovis, had a tag for years, an absolute boon.

Thanks Mike I did not know that so one area to avoid then

 

[Jonney]

We are currently in France, on a European road trip in the camper with the kids whilst they are off school. We travelled a week in Spain at the end of July. We experienced zero queues for paying the tolls on the motorway. So outside peak holiday period, even less lickly. It was very bad in this week heading into Milan via the A4. Took about 20 mins.