Loved Spain, hated France

[robing]

I'm back from my tour now. I had a great tour of Spain. I went from all the way down the Mediterranean coast from Roses, went inland in through the Sierra Nevada to Ronda and Gibraltar. Then I cycled up through the interior of Spain via Seville and Salamanca and northern Portugal and eventually to San Sebastian. Spain was such a great country to travel around with cheap plentiful accommodation and empty roads, particularly once you are away from the tourist areas.

I was going to cycle back through France, but it was a bit of a culture shock! I'd come in their peak holiday time and everywhere was full even campsites. Hotels were 80 to 100 € plus, in spain they were only 20 to 30€ mostly. French campsites were over €30 with wifi and electricity extra. The roads were worse than Spain and very busy. So I decided to call it a day and come home. I was pretty weary after nearly 6 weeks on the road and was pleased with what I did. It's a shame about France as I probably could have done it in a week and the terrain would have been easy. Maybe next time!

My highlights were Ronda, Seville, Salamanca. I did nearly 2000 miles and 88,000 ft of climbing.
http://keepcalmandcycle.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[further]

Never go to France during there school holidays.

 

[gavroche]

Never go to France during there school holidays.

Never go to France during their school holidays.

 

[rualexander]

Wrong part of France maybe.

 

[mustang1]

Never go to France during their school holidays.

Never go to France during their skool holidays.

I was in Seville not too long ago. Beautiful town.

 

[gavroche]

Wrong part of France maybe.

More than likely. France is a beautiful country with generally good roads. Can't comment on camping sites as I don't do camping anymore.

 

[JMAG]

I was in Seville not too long ago. Beautiful town.

Seville is a beautiful city. Lol

 

[Hill Wimp]

Seville is my favourite European city, it's beautiful and don't get me started on the tapas and the amazing view from the rooftop bar at Hotel Dona Maria by the Cathedral.

 

[Poacher]

More than likely. France is a beautiful country with generally good roads. Can't comment on camping sites as I don't do camping anymore.

Commercial campsites can be (very) expensive. Municipal campsites tend to be cheap, sometimes ridiculously so - a couple of years ago, we averaged 12 euros per night for two of us, a big tent (Coleman bi-space 500) and car, albeit without electricity. Muncipals might be thinner on the ground in touristy areas darn sarf, but they still exist.

Just noticed that the creator of that site passed away on 8/5/2015, 3 days before his 50th birthday.

 

[mustang1]

Seville is a beautiful city. Lol

I'm from america. To me, that little thing is a village. I was being polite calling it a town. Now you're telling me its a city?

 

[Alex H]

Never go to France during there school holidays.

Never go to France during their school holidays.

Wrong part of France maybe.

Never go to France during their skool holidays.

I was in Seville not too long ago. Beautiful town.

[QUOTE 3824514, member: 259"]Never go to France during them there school holidays.[/QUOTE]


Never go to the coastal areas of France in July and August and expect to get in a campsite / hotel / space at the side of the road

 

[Alex H]

Never go to France during there school holidays.

Never go to France during their school holidays.

Wrong part of France maybe.

Never go to France during their skool holidays.

I was in Seville not too long ago. Beautiful town.

[QUOTE 3824514, member: 259"]Never go to France during them there school holidays.[/QUOTE]


Never go to the coastal areas of France in July and August and expect to get in a campsite / hotel / space at the side of the road

 

[andym]

Rob how can you hate a whole country. Sound like bad planning on your part. And if you went to Spanish coastal resorts in peak season you'd find crowded over-priced campsites etc too.

I'm from america. To me, that little thing is a village. I was being polite calling it a town. Now you're telling me its a city?

Erm population 696 thousand - probably more than many American cities.

Oh and hosting the Olympic Games seems like a fairly good claim to being a city.

 

[snorri]

Never go to the coastal areas of France in July and August and expect to get in a campsite / hotel / space at the side of the road

.......and never go to the coastal areas of France in May and June and expect to get in to a campsite, they will not have opened after the winter closure.
Safest bet is simply to avoid France.

 

[snorri]

Never go to the coastal areas of France in July and August and expect to get in a campsite / hotel / space at the side of the road

................and never go to the coastal areas of France in May and June and expect to get in a campsite as they will not have opened following the winter closure.
It really is simpler just to cycle tour elsewhere and avoid France.