How's driving in France and Spain at this time of year?

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:33 pm

Hello

My family have plans to get together at my Mum's place for Xmas this year - the first time in about 20 years. SWMBO and Leo and I were to fly from Gatwick early on Tuesday but I'm not hopeful. I thought we might cross on a ferry and drive down, should still get there for Xmas, albeit knackered. How do the French manage when the weather's like this? Does it all go to ratshit really quickly like here or is it more manageable? Anyone got any experience to share?

Cheers

Oscar

rayfenwick · Post by **rayfenwick** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:32 pm

I drove across France, Italy and Sicily(Calais-Reims-Turin-Livorno-Palermo-Pozzallo) (yes, there were ferries involved over the wet bits) at the end of Jan- start of Feb last year. Some very snowy stuff around the Alps, but the motorways were largely clear, and although there were a couple of slow bits, generally speaking it was pretty free-flowing. They seemed better prepared, and the snow ploughs had certainly been busy. It was my first time driving abroad, but my impression was that they were more on top of things than here. Hope this helps.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:27 pm

Yes they are definately more prepared than we are.
But then again that's not difficult.
As Ray said they do keep the main routes open so you should be ok.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:36 pm

Sorry, should have said Mum lives in Almeria. Thanks for the above fellas, it's helping us to make up our minds.

Jaba · Post by **Jaba** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:20 pm

Just to put right the UK stereotype.
France has had been snowbound too. They have called it 'la pagaille' , chaos.
Of course they try to keep the roads open but it takes time and if it keeps on snowing and there is a wind too chaos ensues.
The UK population and its media are much too self deprecating and do not make allowance for exceptional conditions.

To move on to the OPs query, traveling through southern France is fine at the moment. But any long journey through Europe in winter does have its potential risks, so be prepared.

I offer my comments in the knowledge that the journey is not expected to be achieved in a BX but nevertheless they are given in the expectation that you would much rather be in a BX - as would I.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:00 pm

Winter tyres are an absolute must i would say, otherwise you could get caught out, from memory i think you said you got some oscar?

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:04 pm

MULLEY wrote:Winter tyres are an absolute must i would say

And chains are readily (and cheaply!) available from seemingly every hypermarket in France, around 25 Euros last winter IIRC.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:13 pm

Yes I've got winter tyres, I went out last night in the fresh snow to see how they did and they're pretty good. I couldn't get up the steep hill by the house, but I got traction on the gentler rises, and coming down them too, which was reassuring.

We'll see whether Gatwick sorts itself out, otherwise it's an impromptu roadtrip for us.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 8:37 pm

Good luck
I think Jaba said it all when he said be prepared.
And Matt about the chains

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:53 pm

On Friday I drove from the midlands down to Dorset. No problems until near Dorchester, at which point it all went tits up. The Dorchester-Weymouth road was blocked by jacknifed lorries and the Dorchester-Yeovil road by too much traffic. All this in about a couple of inches of snow.
Last nght drove to Portsmouth, this morning from Caen to home (85 miles on A and B roads). Fair bit of snow about, but no problems. Trickiest bit was getting up the rise on the lane down to our house (no one's been down there since last wednesday).

Biggest difference - they're keeping lorries off the roads here until further notice, on the grounds that if a car gets stuck it's usually possible to shove it aside or recover it.. If a lorry grinds to a halt, everything grinds to a halt and there's no easy solution.

In general terms though, most major routes here are kept clear, but most smaller routes aren't unless the local farmers do it. Also, they don't clear/grit the slip roads from main roads either, so beware!

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 3:09 pm

We got out of Gatwick yesterday morning, one of the first flights out, and we´re now enjoying cafe con leche in 20C sun. We´ll postpone the roadtrip until summer next year.

Happy Christmas everyone.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:00 pm

Glad you all made it Oscar. Flamenco is my favourite...