Calais to Antequera

Huge numbers of people have done this so there will be loads of advice out there. I would suggest joining something like Expats in Spain, a Facebook forum that is extremely active (there are lots to choose from but that one seems particularly well subscribed to) and ask that question there. You will be inundated with replies and advice, far more than you will ever see here as I sometimes wonder if anybody actually reads this forum :) There seem to be lots of posts but relatively few answers.....shame really.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

I have done it twice. How you approach it really depends on whether you want to take a leisurely drive through France and Spain or whether you want to get here as quickly as possible. If the latter then the best thing is to book accommodation in advance then you know where you need to be each evening. The quickest way is to use the motorways, they are good but expensive. Make sure you have small notes and change because, if I remember correctly but I could be wrong, the French toll booths are not always attended. Reckon on two days through France and two days through Spain. Take an atlas with you, as large a scale as possible. I know everyone relies on satnavs but if something goes wrong you have no way of knowing where you are or where to go. If you want a leisurely drive then in France start looking for a place to stay around 5pm and you will need a map to see where the local villages are and how to get there. Go to the local information office and ask them for a local bed and breakfast. They will normally phone through, arrange it for you and give you directions. Speaking French does help but usually somebody speaks English. Be careful, unlike Spain, France closes down at 6pm. In Spain, we stayed at roadside hotels on the A roads or in villages just off the A roads. Again, speaking Spanish does help but usually somebody speaks English. France is expensive compared to Spain. But you can find some really beautiful B and Bs in France and in Spain in some really lovely villages. Hope this helps.

Many thanks for such a detailed response

Hi,  Somebody told us its better to sail from Plymouth (or Portsmouth) to Santander, that way you only have to drive through Spain and miss France out.

Thats what we're doing in May when we move to Mollina :)

Chrissie