Europe Trip Planning

I’m planning a trip to France and Spain in September/October. The first part of the journey is UK to France, staying a few days and then onward to Spain.  have done the journey from UK to France a few times so familiar with that route. I haven’t been for a while so want to find out if the petrol stations offer Pay at Pump options. Some of them had this before, but only accepted French bank cards as I remember, same question for the journey from France to Spain. On the journey from France to Spain I will be travelling on the route that follows the coast, think it is the most direct.

Also interested in any recommendations for good places to stay, preferably with secure parking. I will probably stop overnight on each leg of the journey. Previously I have stayed in the usual Ibis type places, but as I have a van with bikes etc bit concerned about security so interested in options that offer secure parking.

I do this trip quite often. Ferry to St Malo then drive to Saintes and stay at the Abbe de Dames (parking no problem), next day cross the ferry over the Gironde and then down to Hourtin or Messanges or wherever. Place that really impresses us is La Rochelle (great vibes, bikes everywhere, good restaurants and bars, not so loud and brash). Last year I did it avoiding motorways and barely saw a car and saved a few quid.

NB we did have 2 bikes in the car and the passenger window got smashed in Normandy but nothing stolen. Had to book an alternative ferry but on it ran into a schoolmate who I hadn’t seen for 50 yrs. So every cloud….