Driving Holidaysin Spain and Portugal
Lorna Roberts has given us a few words of her experience on Portuguese motorways and some useful advise on combining driving holidays in Spain and Portugal.
I have driven very often in Portugal in the past but not since the automatic toll machines have been in operation. Not good for foreign tourists and the general opinion in Portugal is that it is a rip-off and out to catch drivers of foreign cars which doesn't seem to be a good way to attract tourists!
Historic Paradores Close to Motorways
I stayed in a few of the most beautiful Paradores as I travelled from the south of Spain to Santander on the north coast and I realised how many are close to motorways and therefore perfect stopping places (the meaning of the word Parador) when travelling by car. I have put together a page describing some of these which I hope will be useful for people planning a fly-drive holiday or taking their own car to Spain. One word of warning if combining Spain and Portugal - in Spain the AUTOVIAS were built with EU money so there is no charge on these. They are excellent roads with A numbers and cover most of the country. The older motorways with AP (Autopista) numbers have tolls.
Portuguese Motorways - Beware
However in Portugal all the motorways have tolls and have two systems with some normal pay stations and also cameras across the road at frequent intervals. Although Brittany Ferries say these can be paid up to 24 hours after passing them, it seems that this is not possible if you are driving a foreign car. I spent a long time in two post offices trying to pay but as my car was not Portuguese I should, apparently, have paid in advance and am likely to have a hefty fine although I had already paid 90 Euro at pay stations travelling from north to south in Portugal.
So…my advice, if going to the south of Portugal take the Autovia which runs parallel to the Portuguese border, via Salamanca and Extremadura, with no tolls. It is such a beautiful road and passes many wonderful historic cities with Paradores in their centres.
Three Paradores where I stayed recently were all very close to Autovias (A roads with no tolls)
Below, Lorna outlines some upcoming Lorna Roberts Holidays
- keep up to date on www.lornarobertsholidays.com
Devon in May
Unfortunately we are unable to have any more rooms for this holiday, but I am keeping a waiting list as it is possible that a few rooms might become available nearer the time. I am looking forward to meeting up with some of our regular "Parador people" in Devon in May.
Autumn Tours
I have now updated the details of these holidays as we have made the dates more flexible to enable people to travel on a choice of flights if wished. I shall send this with the next newsletter but if anyone would like the details now please let me know and I can email or post the information to you.( email Lorna at: lornaroberts13@gmail.com) The dates are: CARMONA & CADIZ (always a favourite!): 29 September - 5 Ocotber with an opportunity to stay for extra nights at Ronda, Malaga or Nerja. LORCA, JAVEA & EL SALER: 14 - 19 or 21 October. This can be a 5 might or 7 night holiday.
May & June in Paradores
May and June are the loveliest months in Spain with long days and generally good weather. Strangely they are not the busiest months in Paradores so the rates are good with a lot of promotions still available. As always we check through all the offers when making reservations, and as many of these do not appear on other websites we, as the official representatives, can always find the best rates. lornaroberts13@gmail.com 095 23511 or patricia@maptravel.ie 01 8783111
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER are the most popular months so the offers disappear quickly, so I always stress that people should book as early as possible, especially for the first two weeks of September which are already fully booked on some dates in many Paradores.
Lorna Roberts has given us a few words of her experience on Portuguese motorways and some useful advise on combining driving holidays in Spain and Portugal.
I have driven very often in Portugal in the past but not since the automatic toll machines have been in operation. Not good for foreign tourists and the general opinion in Portugal is that it is a rip-off and out to catch drivers of foreign cars which doesn't seem to be a good way to attract tourists!
Historic Paradores Close to Motorways
I stayed in a few of the most beautiful Paradores as I travelled from the south of Spain to Santander on the north coast and I realised how many are close to motorways and therefore perfect stopping places (the meaning of the word Parador) when travelling by car. I have put together a page describing some of these which I hope will be useful for people planning a fly-drive holiday or taking their own car to Spain. One word of warning if combining Spain and Portugal - in Spain the AUTOVIAS were built with EU money so there is no charge on these. They are excellent roads with A numbers and cover most of the country. The older motorways with AP (Autopista) numbers have tolls.
Portuguese Motorways - Beware
However in Portugal all the motorways have tolls and have two systems with some normal pay stations and also cameras across the road at frequent intervals. Although Brittany Ferries say these can be paid up to 24 hours after passing them, it seems that this is not possible if you are driving a foreign car. I spent a long time in two post offices trying to pay but as my car was not Portuguese I should, apparently, have paid in advance and am likely to have a hefty fine although I had already paid 90 Euro at pay stations travelling from north to south in Portugal.
So…my advice, if going to the south of Portugal take the Autovia which runs parallel to the Portuguese border, via Salamanca and Extremadura, with no tolls. It is such a beautiful road and passes many wonderful historic cities with Paradores in their centres.
Three Paradores where I stayed recently were all very close to Autovias (A roads with no tolls)
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| The Parador at OROPESA is beside the Autovia de Extremadura, linking Madrid to the west. The 14th century castle-palace is one of the Parador museums with tasteful decor and furnished with antiques. The Parador is at the top of the town with fine views of the Gredos mountains. |
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| The Parador at LERMA is a magnificent 17th century Ducal Palace, near Burgos, the perfect stopping place when travelling on the Autovia del Norte from Madrid to the north coast. It has been beautifully refurbished with the restaurant and bar leading off the central cloister,and bedrooms decorated to suit the palace. |
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| The Parador at LIMPIAS is 4 kms from the Autovia de Cantabrico, the north coast motorway from the French border to Galicia. The 20th century Palace de Eguilior is surrounded by gardens and woodland. Limpias is a village 8 kms from Laredo on the coast, between Bilbao and Santander airports and ferry ports, so a good base to start or end a holiday. |
- keep up to date on www.lornarobertsholidays.com
Devon in May
Unfortunately we are unable to have any more rooms for this holiday, but I am keeping a waiting list as it is possible that a few rooms might become available nearer the time. I am looking forward to meeting up with some of our regular "Parador people" in Devon in May.
Autumn Tours
I have now updated the details of these holidays as we have made the dates more flexible to enable people to travel on a choice of flights if wished. I shall send this with the next newsletter but if anyone would like the details now please let me know and I can email or post the information to you.( email Lorna at: lornaroberts13@gmail.com) The dates are: CARMONA & CADIZ (always a favourite!): 29 September - 5 Ocotber with an opportunity to stay for extra nights at Ronda, Malaga or Nerja. LORCA, JAVEA & EL SALER: 14 - 19 or 21 October. This can be a 5 might or 7 night holiday.
May & June in Paradores
May and June are the loveliest months in Spain with long days and generally good weather. Strangely they are not the busiest months in Paradores so the rates are good with a lot of promotions still available. As always we check through all the offers when making reservations, and as many of these do not appear on other websites we, as the official representatives, can always find the best rates. lornaroberts13@gmail.com 095 23511 or patricia@maptravel.ie 01 8783111
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER are the most popular months so the offers disappear quickly, so I always stress that people should book as early as possible, especially for the first two weeks of September which are already fully booked on some dates in many Paradores.