Aire at Silves? (1 Viewer)

[Welsh girl]

Hello, does anyone know whats happened at Silves now, they were all moved from the Aire a while ago and set up a paid Aire?
We know the one by the 'continent' supermarket which we used last year but wanted to know any up to date news on the Aires there.
Please???

 

[yodeli]

I don't know if JJ is driving right now, but if someone knew of a place in that area , I guess it would be him! Have a try by Pm may be.
I think Silves is one of the Portuguese towns which are not motorhomes friendly...!

If I can reach him on Skype I will let him know about your post and query!

Frankie

 

[Welsh girl]

Thanks Frankie I will also PM him.

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[Offagaingr8]

Drove past two weeks ago, the big car park by the swimming baths, there must have been twenty or so motorhomes there, more than the aire where they charge !

 

[2657]

Something going on perhaps!! Usually 2 or 300 there.

 

[johnnerontheroad]

May help http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/silves-holds-debate-on-motorhomes/32083

http://tinyurl.com/kst9lkr

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[yodeli]

Thanks Frankie I will also PM him.

Had to go in the meantime but he didn't answer anyway, must have been driving.

As for the town not being motorhomes friendly , I probably made a mistake, I'm not very good at remembering Portuguese towns' names!

 

[sedge]

We were in Albufeira last winter when the GDR swooped in Silves. The supermarket there said they'd probably have to close if the motorhomes weren't there ! An Irish guy showed us where the local fire brigade had opened a manhole in front of the fire station with a lift-off lid, so that everyone on the carpark could empty their cassettes - and they did.

The Mayor loves em and so do the local businesses who have anything 'we' might want. I suppose those who don't, don't like em.

However one couple at the same campsite as us had hired a car and went out and about investigating places and aires in the area for when they moved on ... in one town they were a bit confused as to where the aire actually was, so seeing a nearby tourist office, they went in to ask.

The girl told them which location the borne actually was but said 'Really, other than when you actually need the borne - you can park almost anywhere you like and you'll be extremely welcome -- just COME, please !'

So TBH I think the people in Silves who don't like it, should probably just shut up.

 

[vwalan]

tavira was like that . been to a few things the old mayor organized . all sorts of entertainment .
but then they get voted out and things change .
there is no doubt portugal was far better before so many m,homes went there . spain was good but got spoilt . maroc was great but now too many go . it doesnt go well with the locals .
i think all these places suffer with their own success.

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[tony_g]

We parked overnight in Silves about 10 days ago in huge carpark near football stadium ideal for visiting the town. There were about 10 others there. When we left to drive in the direction towards Monchique we passed another large group in the carpark a few metres further on just before the commercial aire.

 

[JJ]

I am here in Silves now.

Apparently the river side section is destined to be an "aire" and a little bit of work has been started and is paused at the moment so right now everything is as it was.

JJ

 

[2657]

I am here in Silves now.

Apparently the river side section is destined to be an "aire" and a little bit of work has been started and is paused at the moment so right now everything is as it was.

JJ

To me that has always seemed a logical solution to what as undoubtedly become a problem due to the numbers involved in previous years.

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[2657]

We were in Albufeira last winter when the GDR swooped in Silves. The supermarket there said they'd probably have to close if the motorhomes weren't there ! An Irish guy showed us where the local fire brigade had opened a manhole in front of the fire station with a lift-off lid, so that everyone on the carpark could empty their cassettes - and they did.

The Mayor loves em and so do the local businesses who have anything 'we' might want. I suppose those who don't, don't like em.

However one couple at the same campsite as us had hired a car and went out and about investigating places and aires in the area for when they moved on ... in one town they were a bit confused as to where the aire actually was, so seeing a nearby tourist office, they went in to ask.

The girl told them which location the borne actually was but said 'Really, other than when you actually need the borne - you can park almost anywhere you like and you'll be extremely welcome -- just COME, please !'

So TBH I think the people in Silves who don't like it, should probably just shut up.

Even if that is the majority of the population, ie the taxpayers, not just the local politicians or businesses.I do not know if this is the case but would you like 2/300 motorhomes in your town for the benefit of Tesco etc and the local bar owners.

 

[Chockswahay]

We were in Portugal earlier this year and stayed in Silves (in the private aire for €6 inc leccy). The place where people were parking for free looked like a gypsy camp.

We visited quite a few places where there were hoards of motorhomes sitting it out for winter and every time they looked like some kind of trailer camp that appear on American movies.

I know this will upset a few but quite honestly I think the sooner these mass unofficial sites are closed down the better....

As has been said before on this forum.............. too many freeloaders

 

[JJ]

I am a PROUD Freeloader and, whilst I choose not to spend much time parked with hoards of other motorhomers, I do join them occasionally and meet up with longtime friends.

Allow me tell you what I think looks really awful too.

A square bit of land fenced off and with barriers across the entrance behind which are parked lots of white, plastic looking, over priced vehicles in neat rows, containing smug people who look down their noses at others who don't want to use their vans as a poor man's holiday bungalow and prefer not to be dictated to as to what time to arrive and leave.

Yah Boo Shucks to the weekend, holiday, plastic, tarmac campers and Long Live the Rufty Tufty Fulltime Off-site freedom loving motorhomers.

Please pass me my Christmas card list...


JJ

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[keith]

We were in Portugal earlier this year and stayed in Silves (in the private aire for €6 inc leccy). The place where people were parking for free looked like a gypsy camp.

We visited quite a few places where there were hoards of motorhomes sitting it out for winter and every time they looked like some kind of trailer camp that appear on American movies.

I know this will upset a few but quite honestly I think the sooner these mass unofficial sites are closed down the better....

As has been said before on this forum.............. too many freeloaders

The answer is not closing them down but but making them official so retaining the custom from us and giving residents jobs that will go if the MH don't go there in winter.
Alvor is a prime example, lots of Wilding some years ago but now official on the same spot and a small charge to maintain it.
As for the many camper stops that are springing up, it has to be one of the fastest growing business opportunities in Portugal, (ask Pedro )we have used these for years, and we love them.

 

[simsy56]

I like to dry camp, as and when i wish to. But, i do not like dozens of likewise people alongside me. I prefer to 'wild camp' in private. If that makes sense.
I don't need campground facilities all the time, i can quite easily 'wild camp' for a week, without the need for electricity, water, or waste dump. Fresh water is the first to run dry, but if we are careful we could last for maybe ten days. I have yet to fill all the waste tanks.
Every few days, we will call in at a campsite to do the laundry, empty the tanks, and fill up with water, or we can empty the tanks, and fill up at some service areas. And even do the laundry at some. Repsol have numerous laundrettes at their filling stations.
I do not like to be ensconced on a campsite for weeks on end, i like to roll along.
I have been to Silves, but never stayed there, it's far too 'gypsy like' for me. I prefer to be 'alone'. Some do like to be in numbers. Each to their own.

Craig

 

[2657]

I am a PROUD Freeloader and, whilst I choose not to spend much time parked with hoards of other motorhomers, I do join them occasionally and meet up with longtime friends.

Allow me tell you what I think looks really awful too.

A square bit of land fenced off and with barriers across the entrance behind which are parked lots of white, plastic looking, over priced vehicles in neat rows, containing smug people who look down their noses at others who don't want to use their vans as a poor man's holiday bungalow and prefer not to be dictated to as to what time to arrive and leave.

Yah Boo Shucks to the weekend, holiday, plastic, tarmac campers and Long Live the Rufty Tufty Fulltime Off-site freedom loving motorhomers.

Please pass me my Christmas card list...


JJ

"A square bit of land fenced off and with barriers across the entrance behind which are parked lots of white, plastic looking, over priced vehicles in neat rows,"

Apart from the fence and the gate and 'neat' have you not just described the car park at Silves.

I am not smug and look down my nose at no one, I use sites that I like that are not overcrowded, I too like my own space, and have the same freedom that you do to upsticks and move if things develop that I do not like.I will not be dictated to but sometimes in life you have to follow some rules for the good of all, that is called 'Law and Order' and in a democracy that means we sometimes may not agree with all of those rules.
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone had the freedom to do exactly what they liked.

Here is my fenced in, barriered, overcrowded,plastic,tarmac,poor mans holiday bungalow at present. Note that it does have wheels and can be moved to a location near you at any time!


The caravan is mine as well so that makes me a tugger too

PS do Hymers not have plastic bits?

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[Chockswahay]

I am a PROUD Freeloader and, whilst I choose not to spend much time parked with hoards of other motorhomers, I do join them occasionally and meet up with longtime friends.

Allow me tell you what I think looks really awful too.

A square bit of land fenced off and with barriers across the entrance behind which are parked lots of white, plastic looking, over priced vehicles in neat rows, containing smug people who look down their noses at others who don't want to use their vans as a poor man's holiday bungalow and prefer not to be dictated to as to what time to arrive and leave.

Yah Boo Shucks to the weekend, holiday, plastic, tarmac campers and Long Live the Rufty Tufty Fulltime Off-site freedom loving motorhomers.

Please pass me my Christmas card list...


JJ

Methinks thou dost protest too much.....

 

[Chockswahay]

The answer is not closing them down but but making them official so retaining the custom from us and giving residents jobs that will go if the MH don't go there in winter.
Alvor is a prime example, lots of Wilding some years ago but now official on the same spot and a small charge to maintain it.
As for the many camper stops that are springing up, it has to be one of the fastest growing business opportunities in Portugal, (ask Pedro )we have used these for years, and we love them.

I half agree with you There is a clear need for more official sites and these should either be of the 'Aire' variety or indeed smaller campsites. I think that the advantage with 'official' aires is that rules and procedures can be set in place and enforced.

As for giving the residents jobs I agree with matamoros, it's more likely that the only real benefit is to the few larger supermarkets. From what I have seen most people that stay on the non official sites expect too much for too little (free!) and are unlikely to be concerned with supporting the local economy but more interested in cheap food and alcohol.

I love Portugal and will visit there again but I have to say that many people are tarred with the same brush as the freeloaders....

We all love a bargain and I would be the first in the queue for good value clean official aires and sites, but I found that many people abuse the official aires and the unofficial ones are just too gypsy like for me....

 

[JJ]

Some folk will never "get" it...

My motorhome life style has nothing to do with "bargains".

If they only knew...


JJ

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[Chockswahay]

Oh I 'get' it....

 

[MitchandJenny]

Every year there seem to be more and more vans every where !! The locals didn't mind when there were several, but I understand their dislike of 2/300 campers parked in "their" village/town for the duration !! We wild camp, but don't like the idea of being in a camper "ghetto" with vans coming and going to empty their loos etc.. And the Germans (mainly)
saving places for their mates and making their own little "national" areas.. The Brits do the same.. Opening the door and stepping into your own private view of todays bit of paradise is what we like.. Yes, we like to socialise, but not by the hundred !!
Oh dear, I've had another "rant" Bugger !!
Happy travels, wherever you go !!!

 

[keith]

We spent some considerable time at Alvor last winter and I saw many MH'ers going shopping in the town not in the big supermarkets. We actually prefer the small town shops as many have good offers.
The number of us that use the bars and cafes are many, and they are staffed by locals, so they do get jobs from our spending. Go into towns that don't attract MH'ers in winter and you will find lots of bars with the shutters up in winter because there is not enough trade to keep them open.

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[JJ]

I understand their dislike of 2/300 campers parked in "their" village/town for the duration !!

May I be so bold as to ask which village and town you are referring to?

and were the "locals" by any chance expat Brits moaning about the view from their apartment (in the middle of a horrendous tower block of holiday units)?

JJ