Doing Spain next year leaving Scotland I will have 2 weeks to spend, lookin forward to hearing some advice about routes through France, gas bottles, wild camping spots, quickest way through France, Portugal or east coast Spain etcy
Our route through France is generally from Calais ,Abbeville,Rouen,Le Mans ,Poitiers,Bordeaux ,Bayonne and then over the border into Spain,we do not use toll roads BUT a section of the N10 towards Bordeaux has become payage so as it was ony 5-5 euros for our 7-5 metre van we used it , we often stay on the Aire at DAX free Aire super town, lots of Aires on our route down and all open even in winter, sometimes the water is off so always keep your tank fullish, always you can empty your cassette, get the Vicarious books , All the Aires of France, great book and in English, lots of other publications available but that is our Bible.We have used all the crossings into Spain from France over the years ,all are good but the tunnels can be iffy in snow and ice and you may need snow chains , Andorra is well worth a visit, the Eastern route from Perpignan Barcellona is also good depending where you want to be in Spain.2 Weeks suggests a quick route and you would be better using the Toll roads as it will give you more time in Spain /Portugal considering you have to make a return journey too, you might be better limiting your trip to Northern Spain , great area to explore . GAS, well the easiest way to go is of course refillable bottles, if not this depending on your bottle sizes you should have enough Gas for two weeks use, Depending on the time of year you intend to travel and the need for heating, you can easily buy bottled gas in whatever Country you are in and also required regulators and connecting hoses but this requires more money and storage space so again refillable s win. Wilding is easy in France Spain and Portugal but you must not set up camp , ie awnings washing chairs etc, we do but only in appropriate places, see what others are doing , do not expect the twenty foot spacing rule on Aires or wilding, peeps will get in where they can.MONEY, cash machines all over Post Office Master card [Credit ] works for us no charges on foreign purchases always a great exchange rate too charge to get money out of the ATMs but still a good way to go, others will disagree. Tant Pee. FOOD supermarkets every where Lidl wins for us, local markets are great and bread to die for, SECURITY, common sense prevails do not leave things on display in your van IE Sat Navs , Phones , Lap Tops WIFES HANDBAG etc keep your doors locked blinds closed when away from your van, alarm on at all times and you will be ok, we have lived the life for 17 years now with no problems, MEDICAL , we just use the E111 or whatever it is called now, we have used the Spanish Hospital system twice , my wife had a Gall Stone and I had too much falling down juice and dislocated my Shoulder, all sorted no problem. Private
Insurance is for you to decide of course. Driving well that is very easy and you will find that driving on the right comes naturally and you wonder why we don't do it in UK.Don't travel to many miles in a day,there is so much to see and you will miss it if you just keep driving , Relaaaax go with the flow.