Driving Directions from Barcelona

Hi all,

Gonna be heading out to Pas at the end of this month, and we%26#39;ve booked cars to drive. I%26#39;ve looked up the usual map places online, but does anyone have any tips or info about the drive there.

Things like best roads to take, if there are petrol stations on the way (so you dont run out up a mountain!), that sort of thing.

And one thing, as we are getting a car in Barca, they cant fit it with snow chains or anything - is this gonna be a problem with the drive to Pas?

Thanks

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Whichever route you take you%26#39;ll be driving on major routes, with the associated petrol stations etc, a full tank will easily get you from Barca to Pas.

The drive is easy and quite fast until you hit the mountains, if the weather has been bad you might want to consider entering andorra via the spanish side, rather than the shorter but steeper frence access.

You must have snowchains, if there%26#39;s snow on the roads the police will not let you through without them.

9 times out of 10 you won%26#39;t need to fit the snow chains but do ensure that you have some with you.

You can check the state of the roads and the necessity for chains on the grandvalira.com website on the day you travel.

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Thanks for the information mate - If you have been before, can I ask how did you get the snow chains? I%26#39;ve booked via hertz for when we get to Barcelona airport... but when ordering, it stated that snow chains werent available. Did you pick some up on the way, or can you get them by the border or something?

Will have a look if we can buy some and then maybe bring them along or something...

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Hi,

I%26#39;ve found that it%26#39;s cheaper to buy before you go.

There%26#39;s load on ebay at reasonable prices. Check the tyre size of the car which you will be getting to make sure you buy the right size.

If you don%26#39;t use them you can always sell them on.

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Be careful if you buy chains before you leave, you might not get the exact car you ordered. I don%26#39;t think I have ever got the same make or model, you could end up with something bigger and better.

Once you are out of the city then it is an easy run. There are a couple of toll tunnels. Tolls in Europe accept credit cards. If you can%26#39;t hire chains, you will be able to buy a set at any supermarket on your way (I think there is a large one at Baga), or at the service station at the tunnel just after. Make sure you try them on as soon as you get them. Better to learn how to fit them in the warm and dry than in the middle of a snow storm.

Route

C-32

E-9

At the N260 either

Right to Bourg-Madame and cross into France. Then the E09 to Andorra

or

Left to the N-145 and into Andorra

When you hire a car check if there is additional insurance for taking the car out of Spain. Most seem to be doing this now at 7 or 8 € per day. Also try and get one which does full to full for the fuel or you will end up giving away half a tank. If you need to return the car with a full tank, fill up in Andorra. Fuel is much cheaper there.

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Thanks for those directions, trying to borrow a Sat Nav with european maps, but hopefully it wont be too bad.

After a lot of fretting over the snow chains, I finally got a reply from Hertz, who contacted me. I explained and they then got in touch with the Hertz guys at Barcelona and although they dont have it as an extra on the website, they managed to agree that this would be with the car on collection.

They wouldnt send me a confirmation, and told me to %26#39;trust them%26#39; but hopefully it will be ok.

Not long to go now - cant wait to go!!!

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