It’s over 300km shorter from Bilbao to Perpignan and a much faster drive because you only really have Toulouse to navigate around.
Edit: Google maps has it 330km and 3 hours shorter. I would think the time difference would be greater because of the Rennes/Nantes/Bordeaux factor.
For up-to-date information about French speed cameras this is the website to use
Wondered if it might, it was your explanation of your route to Spain a while ago via the A75 that made me think about that route!
PS diverting to rando’s for a moment, re. your recent Antibes trip, just thinking you’d prefer the terrain chez vous to Antibes?
I don’t know why.
I always go via Calais, although I usually use the Eurotunnel, rather than the Ferry.
Whereabouts in the UK will you be setting off from?
Whereabouts are you going to down here? Just being nosy as not seen any british cars since I moved down here.
That’s the key question in respect of Calais / Folkestone. The short crossing makes sense for people coming from eastern UK counties or most of Oop North, and heading for northern, eastern or central and south-central France.
For those coming from or going to Wales, the Midlands, or Liverpool/Cumbria, and heading to western or south-western France, the more westerly ferries shorten the journey.
Coming from Surrey I only use the tunnel if I am going to Belgium or Holland, or the Nord-Pas-de-Calais or Champagne regions in France. Or of course if you are going to Germany and points East.
The Calais ferries and Eurotunnel tend to be a lot busier than the other crossings further west, so that’s probably another reason why people say to avoid them.
As usual, it all depends! 
I had half a lifetime of using the Dover Calais routes despite living in Cornwall. They were the cheaper and usually the most efficient way to get to where we were going. I once did Rotterdam to Hull on the way to visit people in the north west. We came back on the tunnel and it was so much easier, faster and cheaper I never did the North Sea crossing again.
These days I look at Dover Calais routes first but would also consider Newhaven Dieppe. I would never consider the long Biscay crossings.
If the price is reasonable I take the tunnel over the ferry every time but if the boat is much cheaper I’m happy to go across not under the Channel.
I am in my 30s so i can’t get that discount but all your advice here is very helpful
I am based in berkshire. I don’t mind where i have to travel to from here i just wanted an easier trip when i get there. Travelling with young kids too so looking to stop half way for sure
Ive already had 3 fines this year with car rentals in france. I think i will be taking my time
I have not seen any either. I am travelling to axat
Not reading my posts is usually a wise strategy.
Not close to me, I am nearer to Canet en Rousillon.
Absolutely!
For me Antibes is interesting primarily for its connection with Picasso and his circle, particularly during the inter-War period. I also love the views from the Cap over Golfe Juan and the Baie des Anges, and the smell of the pins d’Alep in the heat, but out of sight of the sea it can be a bit claustrophobic with villas hidden behind high security walls. By contrast, today our group walked for three hours through forests and meadow without meeting another person., saw lots of old, slightly run-down farms and hamlets, and came back exhausted but recharged, by immersion in greenery.
Photos to follow on the usual thread…
What would you consider a decent planning estimate for getting off the boat and out of the port on a motorbike?
I assume bikes are either first or last off as usual.
On DFDS in my experience they put the bikes near the front so we are normally first or nearly first off the boat (sometimes a truck beats us to it if there are a lot of bikes so that some are parked in between the vehicle lanes); most bikes are strapped down along the wall right at the front.
I haven’t actually timed it but probably no more than 20 mins. Depends how much time the crew spend faffing about getting the boat moored up, and how long it takes me to get my gear on (e.g. dry vs wet).
Is that including passport control? That’s phenomenal.
If it’s the overnight boat that gets into Dieppe at 5am and they let the bikes off first. It will probably take longer this year because of the fingerprinting etc. but French customs don’t take much notice of motorbikes. 
Unless it starts by Monday then I’ll sure my nephew will be fine 
Just trying to work out planning times to meet him in Le Mans
I thought it was going to be June but I’ve lost track they’ve postponed it so many times.
in theory it’s 3 hours from Dieppe via the A28 but I always take much longer than that as I like to take a break every hour or hour and a half, and I’m never in a hurry as I normally can’t check in to the AirBnB until late afternoon.