Terrible holiday! Need advice

[Fishy54]

We are currently on a road trip which is not going well.

the plan was to drive to though France to get to Spain but the journey is taking too long and we are ending up booking into cheap affordable accommodation in awful places to break up journey and we are all stressed. No exercise. Too much time on the road and stopping in places that are making us feel depressed.

we have done this sort of journey before through Europe but for one reason or another this year we have failed.

we all got really upset last night that we have experienced nothing and we are already 4 days into journey with only 7 days left, not where we planned on being plus having to take into consideration the journey back home.

we don’t know what to do. Driven too far. We are 2 hours from Biarritz and was meant to exploring the north of Spain. My son was upset and wished we had stayed at home but being very mature and helping with ideas, my husband has come to a standstill and tired from driving, I’m stressed do to driving passed all the beautiful places to get to where we currently are.

if we carry on we feel like our time will be spent r in much the same way when we get to Spain as we have not allowed enough time to relax and and just be in between visiting places.

we have driven so far that we are at a loss as to what to do. My heart is not in the journey. I don’t think anyone’s was really . It was my husbands idea a while back and my husband and son speak Spanish.

we discussed other more restful options before we left home. I feel awful
that we didn’t pursue them. Nothing I can do about that now. But what should we do now. My husband is suggesting we just stay put. Find somewhere in France and stay here for a few days then drive back home.

we have already lost one day of accommodation as w weren’t going to make it in time for check in.

Alternative is we move on and carry with the plan. Our accommodation for first few 2 days now is quite remote. Which we wanted but now we fed up with the driving. Then we have 3 more days booked elsewhere to explore a different area. Then we have to make our way home. The only way we can get home now in good time is to take the long ferry ride home. Which will kill another two days. My husband seemed to think we first left home that we had enough time to do a loop and drive back through France visiting some lovely places. we now can’t do that.

I can’t sleep and don’t know what to do.

I feel awful for my son. He needed a good break as much as we did.

we are all wishing we had just cancelled this idea and had a single location holiday somewhere peaceful.

what should we do?

Ah, all day every day in the car is no fun. You have my sympathy.

Can you start heading back to the beautiful places you passed already and spend a bit of time there instead?

Spain will always be there and is a quick flight away for next time.

Hi. Having driven that way several times Inc in a 28 year old van my question is what has taken you so long?

We would do Calais to Limoges in 1 long drive. Yes a long day but it would break the back. Next day a short drive to the Dordogne or Lot area. Sightseeing..chateau or visit a nice town, go swimming etc.
From the Dordogne you're only another couple of hours out to the Atlantic coastline. To still be 2 hours away from Biarritz after all these days and you've not seen or done anything suggests you need to sit down and sort a plan. Are you setting off late each day?
You must be near the Dordogne ..just pitch up there for the rest of the trip. Great towns, food, lakes, go canoing, night markets etc. It'll be busy as high season though.

We could.

That has been discussed.

Don’t even know where to start now as we have driven so far and don’t want any more bad days. Not sure husband will be able to focus. He had a headache yesterday and lay down as soon as we got to this stop. We haven’t eaten as there was nothing close by. Again had to get into car. Drive around the town but couldn’t park anywhere. Ended up in a town with bullring surrounded by busy main roads. Everyone taken going to bull fight taken up parking spaces

My son was looking forward to going to Spain and practising his GCSE Spanish. and feels more connected to the culture. he has been very mature and although did get very upset yesterday said that it doesn’t matter as long as we are happy he is happy.

Either way we won’t be happy.

I know it seems ridiculous that we have taken so long.

Lost focus.

We stayed in La Rochelle for two days as I was tired. Then we stayed elsewhere for a night . Husband tired. I can’t even remember the start of our journey. We had left late which I think is why we stopped in La Rochelle.

Actually just checked we are 1 hour 11 minutes from Biarritz.

Again, i don't understand what is taking you so long. You're in a country with food everywhere but struggling to find places to stop and eat?
It sounds like you're near Mont de Marsan from your description.
Get up early...under 3 hours and you'll be in San Sebastian. Fantastic place, food, beaches and Spanish ..OK Basque.
It's only an hour to Pamplona from there which is a nice town for a visit. Or get train to Bilbao..go to the Guggenheim etc. You could have a lovely few days in that area.
Then plan better for trip home!

How things look on paper is sometimes not how they turn out in actuality. You made a mistake, no shame in that. Factoring in the journey back, you simply don’t have enough time to carry out your plan. It’s a holiday. You’re stressed and upset because you’re tired and currently in a stressful situation and not thinking straight. Abandon your plans, find the nearest nice destination, maybe Biarritz? Never been there, so don’t know. Book into the nicest accomodation in your budget, stay there and have a holiday before driving back. NOW. Spain isn’t going anywhere, and nothing bad will happen because you don’t go there this time.

How about leaving the car at Biarritz then continuing by train? Give you both a rest from driving, and you aren't far from Spain now.

Sorry it’s so bad. Your son sounds lovely! I would just get to Biarritz or whatever the closest place you like is, and stay there for as long as you can. Then I found myself wondering : there are websites where people will drive your car back for you (for the free trip) -maybe not now post Brexit but is that an option at all? Otherwise just stay put as soon as you can and get some rest. It sounds awful but it’s one holiday out of a lifetime and it will make all your future trips seem amazing!!

I think the first time we stopped - earlier than we planned is because it was getting late and my husband didn’t want to drive in the dark.

we have driven from Calais to Brindisi then onto ferry to Greece so it’s annoying this has gone so wrong .

PS re someone else driving I don’t mean a chauffeur but someone to drive instead of you while you fly home. Do you know any responsible students etc with free time who could do it? Maybe a mad thought but something to consider?!

I'm going to ask something odd....are you using a map to help plan? A proper on paper map?

We travel in Europe via road a lot. Whilst Google maps or whatever is fine for a to b...we always get a big map out so we can see the scale of journey which then always takes us on a metaphorical wander as to where we could stop, what else is near etc.

This might help with the next few days planning.

We are near Mont de Marson.

I know. Nothing was open by the time we left the apartment.

We had a good meal in Saint Emilion earlier in the day.

Well there you go. Breakfast, leave by 9am and you'll be in San Sebastion for lunch easily.
It's only a 2 hour drive from St Emilion to Mont de Marsan so you must have had the day doing something? St Emilion is such a pretty place although undoubtedly busy this time of year.
I remember staying on a campsite where the grass moved with mosquitoes but that's another story lol😂

Next time get the ferry to Bilbao and start from there! We drove over 500km easily in a day, in France though last year, with stops to charge the car and eat. Two of us driving though. I'd never driven on the right before but it was easy enough in our own car.

we would have to leave on Wednesday or Thursday to get ferry home as driving is no longer an option.

we ended up booking in a hostel in Larasoanna for two day…

lost one day yesterday.

converned now it wasn’t a good spot. We were trying to keep budget low and drive to places from there. We then booked 3 days elsewhere so we could visit Picos de europa. But concerned about driving now.

Another one wandering why it’s taken so long to get to where you are. The French motorways are very good and with two drivers you could have got to northern Spain in two long day drives.

Just look on air b n b for somewhere near Biarritz or the coast there. It might be quite expensive to book last minute and it’s a popular coast so there might not be a lot of choice. Or set off now for San Sebastian - at least you can say you got to Spain then. It’s a major foodie destination .If you can afford it (it’s expensive) then get the ferry back from Bilbao. Although it’s two days, it’s like a mini cruise.

we spent a lot of time trying to find parking in St Emilion. We only stopped for lunch and a wander.

We once drove back to South London from St Tropez in a day! Took about 12 hours. Maximise your time in places you want to stay and enjoy the time and then just power on through the last day in the car fuelled by coke and Haribo. Stop a couple of times for baguette cheese and salami on a picnic table somewhere pretty and blast off again.

Do they still do the car train? Train with car holders at the back. It used to go to Boulogne to Perpignan and back and the trip would be over night. Couchettes and a restaurant car. That could be an option if it still goes. Motorail I think it was called

Although used for motorhomers get the park4night app
This will have every carpark going. We find a carpark...navigate to there and there you go, even in big busy cities!

Also you need at least two weeks for a road trip to Spain otherwise it’s best to fly drive. Hope you can enjoy the rest of your trip.

Re Using a map.

Actually usually we would, sit down and look at a map although on this occasion we haven’t.

I kept saying we need a proper full 14 days..

Thanks - that’s useful

I would be staying in Spain on the North Coast for benefit of your son.
Can you stay at Llanes or Santellana del Mar and just eat local, walk local and swim.

When refreshed take the fastest route back home.