We’ve spent the previous few weeks reserving our vacation and I can’t wait to share it with you. We haven’t been overseas for a couple of years so don’t thoughts spending slightly extra and the additional planning concerned. Plus, if I’m sincere I like planning, organising and cut price searching!
Why did we resolve to go on a Street Journey?
We’ve talked for fairly a while about happening a highway journey in Europe as we love watching journey vloggers and seeing the flexibleness they’ve and the place they go. It looks like such a extra distinctive vacation than flying to 1 vacation spot and I’m so excited!
After pondering this for some time, I got here house a couple of weeks in the past from the outlets to Stuart asking if I fancied a highway journey to Portugal. I used to be eager after which he advised me why, the blooming soccer! I imply don’t get me mistaken 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 time the staff are coaching in Portugal and taking part in a pleasant in opposition to the Chelsea underneath 21’s staff whereas they’re there and these two wished to go and make it a vacation!
While I’m not a soccer fan I’m excited in regards to the highway journey and in the event you observe me on Instagram I might be updating you with footage and reels alongside the best way so preserve a watch out. In the event you don’t observe me then what’s mistaken with you? Solely joking, however pop over and observe me on @justaveragejen.
Our European highway 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 purchased so many particular issues for the journey which I’m at present writing about for you so I’ll share that subsequent week when I’ve a couple 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 (perhaps you noticed my Instagram image?) which finishes at 10pm so we are actually leaving simply after that! We’re selecting him up at 10, taking him house 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 entire 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 automobile from beginning the journey round 11pm and on our strategy to Dover. We intend on arriving at Dover round 3.30am, having an hour’s sleep within the automobile 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 now we have allowed sufficient time for a brief sleep but when we hit numerous roadworks that may not be an possibility!
We arrive in Calais at 9.30am French time and might be driving right down to Poitiers immediately, with a couple of bathroom stops in fact! In some unspecified time in the future alongside the drive we’ll cease and swap drivers and have lunch too. The journey from Calais to Poitiers is round 400 miles (650km) and relying on site visitors will take round 6hours half-hour in whole not together with the stops so in all probability extra like 8 hours with stops, particularly with my bladder if I’ve drunk espresso!
At Poitiers now we have a lodge booked for the night time (together with breakfast!) and might be discovering someplace native for tea after we arrive. Any strategies pop them within the feedback beneath! Sadly we wont get a lot time to do anything in Poitiers.
Day 3 – Driving to Valladolid, Spain
Day 3 might be an extended 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 one night time in our lodge there and once more will in all probability 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 in all probability near 10/11 hours with breaks for lunch, the bathroom and swapping drivers!
In Valladolid we’ll in all probability be consuming someplace native once more too however once more, now we have not deliberate this but so any suggestion let me know!
Day 4 – Valladolid, Spain to Albufeira, Portugal
By day 4 we expect to be a bit sick of driving and shattered however that is the final day of driving for a couple of days fortunately! The present route we’re for this journey contains crossing the Spain-Portugal border at Badajoz and might be round 480 miles (770km) and take 7 hours half-hour excluding breaks so in all probability nearer to 9 hours with breaks!
After we arrive in Albufeira we might be prepared for a drink and a very good night time’s sleep that’s for certain!
Day 5-10 – All inclusive in Albufeira
We’ve a 6 day break in Albufeira and now we have booked all inclusive so I’m certain I’ll make good use of the drinks in any case that driving! Whereas there we’ll 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. At present we might be driving from Albufeira to Fuenlabrada, a metropolis round half-hour drive from Madrid. The drive right this moment 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 possibility is occurring among the roads now we have pushed on the best way to Albufeira, the opposite is through Seville so we’ll presumably resolve that after we are in Albufeira!
By the point we arrive in Fuenlabrada it will likely be night however then now we have 2 nights there which is sweet and means we are able to discover slightly.
Day 11 – Fuenlabrada and Madrid
Day 11 might be a full day with no driving (or perhaps slightly!) 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 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! 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! At present 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 are able to see and it sounds beautiful. Additionally by then we’re getting nearer to house once more! The driving from Bordeaux to Le Havre might be round 6 hours half-hour with out breaks so in all probability nearer to eight hours in whole and the space is about 426 miles (685km). We’ve 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 many stress-free to complete of the vacation I feel! Something you advocate within the space?
Day 16 – Le Havre to Calais and perhaps house!
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 house, don’t you?
We arrive again within the UK at 6.05pm UK time and doubtless shattered! We’re aiming to drive house that night time 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 house on what might be day 17 as an alternative! If we do drive straight house we’ll get house round 11.15pm so it’s doubtless we’ll resolve to cease someplace in a single day if the site visitors is unhealthy however time will inform!
What do you suppose?
What do you consider our highway journey plans? Have you ever executed something like this? Would you prefer to? Let me know within the feedback beneath! Do you will have any ebook suggestions I can get pleasure from in Albufeira, one thing that’s mild studying could be my choice as I might be ingesting and shattered!
Observe our highway journey on Instagram and Fb and preserve a watch out for my different preparation posts and naturally all of the photographs and tales afterwards!
