We’ve got spent the previous couple of weeks reserving our vacation and I can’t wait to share it with you. We haven’t been overseas for a number of years so don’t thoughts spending a little bit extra and the additional planning concerned. Plus, if I’m sincere I like planning, organising and cut price looking!
Why did we resolve to go on a Highway Journey?
We’ve got talked for fairly a while about occurring a street journey in Europe as we love watching journey vloggers and seeing the flexibleness they’ve and the place they go. It appears like such a extra distinctive vacation than flying to 1 vacation spot and I’m so excited!
After considering this for some time, I got here dwelling a number of weeks in the past from the outlets to Stuart asking if I fancied a street journey to Portugal. I used to be eager after which he instructed me why, the blooming soccer! I imply don’t get me fallacious the soccer will solely take up a really small quantity of the vacation however males eh! Each Ben and Stuart and avid Mansfield City followers and this summer season the crew are coaching in Portugal and enjoying a pleasant in opposition to the Chelsea beneath 21’s crew whereas they’re there and these two needed to go and make it a vacation!
While I’m not a soccer fan I’m excited concerning the street journey and for those who observe me on Instagram I might be updating you with photos and reels alongside the best way so hold a watch out. In case you don’t observe me then what’s fallacious with you? Solely joking, however pop over and observe me on @justaveragejen.
Our European street journey itinerary
Each myself and Stuart drive (although neither of us have pushed in Europe earlier than!) so we plan to share the driving. We’ve got purchased so many particular issues for the journey which I’m at the moment writing about for you so I’ll share that subsequent week when I’ve a number of extra of the gadgets arrive so I can {photograph} them!
Day 1 – Setting off
We’re beginning our vacation late within the night. Ben has his promenade as he’s leaving school (possibly you noticed my Instagram image?) which finishes at 10pm so we are actually leaving simply after that! We’re choosing him up at 10, taking him dwelling to vary out of his go well with after which driving right down to Dover. So on day 1 we might be doing about an hour’s price of driving earlier than we’re into day 2! The whole drive from our home to dover is round 230 miles (370km) and takes about 4 hours quarter-hour, extra if we cease for a espresso and to swap drivers!
Day 2 – To Dover, Calais and Poitiers
Day 2 will begin with us within the automotive from beginning the journey round 11pm and on our technique to Dover. We intend on arriving at Dover round 3.30am, having an hour’s sleep within the automotive after which going to the port. We have to be on the port 90 minutes earlier than the ferry departs. Our departure time is 6.55am UK time. So we’ve allowed sufficient time for a brief sleep but when we hit a number of roadworks which may not be an choice!
We arrive in Calais at 9.30am French time and might be driving right down to Poitiers right away, with a number of rest room stops after all! In some unspecified time in the future alongside the drive we are going to cease and swap drivers and have lunch too. The journey from Calais to Poitiers is round 400 miles (650km) and relying on visitors will take round 6hours half-hour in whole not together with the stops so most likely extra like 8 hours with stops, particularly with my bladder if I’ve drunk espresso!
At Poitiers we’ve a lodge booked for the evening (together with breakfast!) and might be discovering someplace native for tea after we arrive. Any strategies pop them within the feedback under! Sadly we wont get a lot time to do anything in Poitiers.
Day 3 – Driving to Valladolid, Spain
Day 3 might be a protracted one! We’re having breakfast on the lodge in Poitiers then setting off and driving right down to the France-Spain border and on to Valladolid in Spain. We’ve got one evening in our lodge there and once more will most likely see little or no of the realm by the point we arrive! The journey from Poitiers to Valladolid is round 510 miles (820km) and can take round 8 hours 40 minutes excluding stops so most likely near 10/11 hours with breaks for lunch, the bathroom and swapping drivers!
In Valladolid we are going to most likely be consuming someplace native once more too however once more, we’ve not deliberate this but so any suggestion let me know!
Day 4 – Valladolid, Spain to Albufeira, Portugal
By day 4 we predict to be a bit sick of driving and shattered however that is the final day of driving for a number of days fortunately! The present route we’re for this journey consists of crossing the Spain-Portugal border at Badajoz and might be round 480 miles (770km) and take 7 hours half-hour excluding breaks so most likely nearer to 9 hours with breaks!
Once we arrive in Albufeira we might be prepared for a drink and an excellent evening’s sleep that’s for certain!
Day 5-10 – All inclusive in Albufeira
We’ve got a 6 day break in Albufeira and we’ve booked all inclusive so I’m certain I’ll make good use of the drinks in any case that driving! Whereas there we are going to benefit from the seaside, the soccer (them not me!) and customarily having a calm down for six nights!
Day 10 – Albufeira to Fuenlabrada, Spain
We will certainly get pleasure from our final all inclusive breakfast on the lodge this morning as one other lengthy drive is on the playing cards. In the present day we might be driving from Albufeira to Fuenlabrada, a metropolis round half-hour drive from Madrid. The drive immediately might be between 6 hours 45 minutes and seven hours quarter-hour (with out stops) or 465-473 miles (750-761km) relying on the route we take. One choice is happening among the roads we’ve pushed on the best way to Albufeira, the opposite is through Seville so we are going to presumably resolve that after we are in Albufeira!
By the point we arrive in Fuenlabrada it will likely be night however then we’ve 2 nights there which is sweet and means we will discover a little bit.
Day 11 – Fuenlabrada and Madrid
Day 11 might be a full day with no driving (or possibly a little bit!) within the Madrid space in order that might be good and little question contain trying on the areas soccer stadiums as Ben is Soccer mad! Any strategies of locations to eat or go to not too removed from Fuenlabrada?
Day 12 – Fuenlabrada to Bordeaux
So one other day of driving, day 12 is driving from the lodge in Fuenlabrada throughout Spain to the border with France and as much as Bordeaux. This might be one other fairly lengthy day of driving with a complete of round 442 miles (710km) and seven hours half-hour of driving earlier than stops so extra like 9 hours on the roads! We will certainly be able to pattern the wine from Bordeaux after we arrive! We’ve got 2 nights in Bordeaux although so it will likely be price it.
Day 13 – In Bordeaux
We haven’t but determined what to do in Bordeaux so we’re open to strategies that don’t contain an excessive amount of driving! If in case you have strategies that contain no driving in any respect then that’s even higher! They’ve Ubers in Bordeaux proper?
Day 14 – Bordeaux to Le Havre
That is one other driving day! In the present day we might be driving from Bordeaux to Le Havre which is within the Normandy space of France. I’m trying ahead to this space as there are such a lot of historic issues we will see and it sounds pretty. Additionally by then we’re getting nearer to dwelling once more! The driving from Bordeaux to Le Havre might be round 6 hours half-hour with out breaks so most likely nearer to eight hours in whole and the gap is about 426 miles (685km). We’ve got a 2 day break in Le Havre although in order that might be good.
Day 15 – Le Havre
A day of trying across the space and plenty of stress-free to complete of the vacation I feel! Something you suggest within the space?
Day 16 – Le Havre to Calais and possibly dwelling!
So the final day of the vacation might be spent driving from Le Havre to Calais prepared for our teatime ferry again to the UK. This drive might be a brief one compared to the others at round 180 miles (290km) and simply in need of 3 hours! I feel by the point we get to Calais we might be able to go dwelling, don’t you?
We arrive again within the UK at 6.05pm UK time and doubtless shattered! We’re aiming to drive dwelling that evening 230 miles (370km) however we’re open to the concept if we’re bored with getting a Travelodge or Premier Inn someplace on the best way and having an evening sleep and getting dwelling on what might be day 17 as an alternative! If we do drive straight dwelling we are going to get dwelling round 11.15pm so it’s doubtless we are going to resolve to cease someplace in a single day if the visitors is unhealthy however time will inform!
What do you suppose?
What do you consider our street journey plans? Have you ever executed something like this? Would you prefer to? Let me know within the feedback under! Do you’ve got any e book suggestions I can get pleasure from in Albufeira, one thing that’s gentle studying could be my desire as I might be ingesting and shattered!
Comply with our street journey on Instagram and Fb and hold a watch out for my different preparation posts and naturally all of the pictures and tales afterwards!