trickydicky Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 hi, we are travelling to spain next week and would like to avoid the extra expense of toll roads if possible, but are not sure if this is wise when we get to barcelona. to be quite honest,i'm a bit nervous of travelling through barcelona anyway,i've heard so many horror stories about the place.we certainly won't be stopping at all.could anyone advise me at all, is the N11 a good route.....i've been told the toll road here is very expensive....help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 The section of autoroute by passing Barcelona is free. Bandits do exist on this section so a little knowledge could help. The method of attack always takes the form of a vehicle usually smart (an Audi A8 in my case) pulling in closely behind you and throwing something at your vehicle to make a loud bang. They then pull alongside and signal you to stop. Don't as they will distract you, enter your vehicle and steal possessions. The way to avoid this is to pull in front of a lorry on the outskirts of the city and stay in front of it so as to avoid any vehicle from pulling in behind you. In my case, as an experienced European traveller, I was aware of the danger so didn't stop but a few people I met further on had been robbed and I even spoke to a couple whe were physically removed from their convertible vehicle towing a caravan. Don't let this alarm you as I still use this road but forewarned is forearmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 We've driven through Barca several times rather than use the lengthy detour of the Autovia. Admittedly the first time was a mistake, missed the turning off the coast road going south and found ourselves in the city. We were able to think it through and followed taxi's loaded with suitcases (pre sat navs....)must be going to the aeroporto, and sure enough we popped out the other side, never missed a beat, very wide boulevards, and loads of traffic lights. So now depending on the day and the time of day we drive through rather than pay for the detour. Sunday is a good day for going through very easy. Never had a problem, urban myths seem to rule, although the tolls are quite expensive, less than 20E, I seem to recall it was about 17E, which you pay in different small amounts at a variety of toll stations, with different traffic volumes and waiting times. Don't worry about it, whatever you do will be ok, it usually is. Remember its not Kabul! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 starvim marvin. Presumably you have evidence to back up your urban myth comment. I've been travelling in Europe for 44 years and Barcelona is a well known trouble spot. Having said that I have only experienced a problem there once but there was a speight about 2 years ago. As far as driving through the Centre of Barcelona is concerned my own view is that is very bad advice. While usually safe the traffic can be troublesome as not everyone is able to travel on a Sunday; and driving through the tunnels is not an experience that many find that tolerable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsandywhite Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 B-) Hi trickydicky. We use this route ALL the time. When you get to Mataro on the NII. Turn right to the AP7. It cost a few cents for the short connection to the A7 which takes you FREE around Barcelona. Once around Barca, look for the N340 to Tarragona at Molins de Rei. I have had NO prolems in all the time we have travelled this route. However, our German friends stopped at the Motorway Service station north of Barca and were robbed. SO. Don't stop there. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kontiki Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Not Barcelona but Valencia, in 2008 been in Spain 2 days, we had a Renault Master van I converted & left it looking as much like a van as possible. We decided to drive through the city it was a Sunday around easter. Just on the outskirts of the city I got a puncture (or so I thought) the tyre had a neat half inch cut in the sidewall. It must have happened at traffic lights or in slow moving traffic. When we stopped there was a guy there who kept coming & bothering us, after a while he disappeared & later we found so had the wifes handbag. We were fortunate that we weren't hurt & there wasn't much cash in her bag, worse though all her cards & driving license were in it. As it was we were able to stop all the cards but it left us with just one Flex card I had for the next three months. Puncturing tyres seems a favorite method either on the road or when you are stopped on service or supermarkets, if you have a puncture in Spain then start the alarm bells & be wary of anybody offering help. As a Precaution we hide debit - credit cards (there are plenty of places in a van that it would take anybody ages to find) & just carry one Flex debit card each which we have cash automatically put in each month. If I ever get another puncture I would just stop on the main road, sit in the van & call out the breakdown service we pay for & have never used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Puncture seal might be a good idea to cope with such incidents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Mike88 - 2010-01-02 11:44 AM Puncture seal might be a good idea to cope with such incidents. I do carry two large cans of this, but I think unfortunately it'll not help with any large, or long slit type puncture holes (knife etc); it's use is really only for nail/tack type tyre punctures in the tread area rather than the sidewall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Mike88 - 2010-01-01 6:11 PM starvim marvin. Presumably you have evidence to back up your urban myth comment. I've been travelling in Europe for 44 years and Barcelona is a well known trouble spot. Having said that I have only experienced a problem there once but there was a speight about 2 years ago. As far as driving through the Centre of Barcelona is concerned my own view is that is very bad advice. While usually safe the traffic can be troublesome as not everyone is able to travel on a Sunday; and driving through the tunnels is not an experience that many find that tolerable. The evidence I have is my own. I've been there done it and found it no problem. I've driven through most of europe over the years, including Romania and other eastern european countries with no real problems. Barca is not worse than say driving through Bucharest, I can assure you. My comment on Sunday driving conditions was clearly obvious, less traffic, doh! My life experiences, generally show that people's fear is far worst than the reality. My own worst experiences were Brussels, and Antwerp, but it wouldn't stop me going again. I can't recall tunnels being a problem in Barca, if you want tunnels try Brussels, or around Lake Garda, or perhaps you would like some further details of my driving experiences??? No? good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Starvin. A slight over reaction I think. The poster is intending to drive to Barcelona not Bucharest and was slightly fearful. The purpose of my post was merely to warn him of how to deal with the kind of problem that I was confronted with a couple of years ago. I must confess to have taken umbrage to your urban myth comment which implied I was not telling the truth. I too have driven in Eastern Europe but that is of no relevance to the original post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Maybe Starvins rig looks like he has not got much worth stealing :-D The Barcelona hub is well known for theft. Just because you escape attention means what exactly? that there is no need to be cautious? *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 JudgeMental - 2010-01-02 3:20 PM Maybe Starvins rig looks like he has not got much worth stealing :-D The Barcelona hub is well known for theft. Just because you escape attention means what exactly? that there is no need to be cautious? *-) Not at all, it means ... that I've just spoken as I have found it, no problem. Clearly you have to remain aware of your surroundings, wherever you are. I've never personally met anyone who has been robbed in Barca, but I've spoken to lots who have heard "this or that" from somebody or another about all types of places. I did meet someone last year who quite seriously told me that there was "no free camping in Spain as it was illegal". Well it may be, but that one still makes me smile when I think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 I posted the following in May 2009. We have just returned from a great France/Spain trip. However on the way south we had a nasty experience. Driving (accidently) through Barcelona on a Sunday afternoon we were stopped at traffic lights. When they changed we found that the wall of one of our rear tyres had been stabbed. The culprits were two people on a scooter who had been with us in the traffic for several minutes. A Spaniard standing on the pavement saw the incident and pointing to our number plate said "Tourista" and with an apologetic face, made a stabbing action. No attempt was made to rob us - not wishing to be robbed you understand but at least it would have made some sense. I did not report it as that would only involve more hassle and would have no effect. So I changed the wheel - learnt how to say "I need a new tyre" and "not expensive" in Spanish and continued with the holiday. Absolutely determined that the incident would not spoil our holiday - and it didn't! I'm posting this to make others aware that Barcelona is still 'bandit country' for we motorhomers. Pity really because we have visited Barcelona in the past and it's a lovely city. Cattwg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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