nickhague
Free Member
Hi All, just back from 7 glorious weeks in Portugal via France west coast and Spain (of course), so what usefull gems can i impart from our travels?
safe Aires and free parks? use your noodle if it dont feel right it aint, either look a bit further or stomach the cost of a campsite for the night, dont be perverse about "never" paying, we encountered a couple of places where we would likely have been ripped off, but wisely moved on, like the books say DONT sleep on the motorway Aires, if in doubt seek the safety of numbers, when you pull up at a new Aire ask your new neighbours what the score is, its a good excuse to practice your "Eurolaise" as generally conversation is possible whatever the nationality.
Free parking in Portugal, phew what can i say, wonderfull, what fantastic people, however if motorhomers continue to take the wotsit i can see that things will change for the worse V Quickly, why?
POODUMPERS!, yes they cant be bothered to drive a few cliks to legitimately dump their chemical "soup" so a bush or even the village drain will do, so if you see it make your disgust known. Go on dont be shy, I wasnt, they will ruin it for all.
Water, watch the fonts, they arent all drinking water, we found that the mercados always had water and assuming you had bought veg and fish etc, they were happy to let you have a butt of tap water, still to be treated with caution mind.
Diesel, widely variable in price, search out intermarche etc on your satnav, cheapest fuel we saw was mid Portugal, from Evora north, until you reach Porto then it went back up.
Food, yummy, helps if you like fish though more expensive than Spain, but a small price to pay for a country that prides itself on cleanliness, politeness and tollerance (sorry Spain).
Crime? struth it felt different just 5 miles in, just got better, not say leave your keys in the ignition but a different ball game from "other" countries, i include the UK in that statement.
hope this is of use to someone N
safe Aires and free parks? use your noodle if it dont feel right it aint, either look a bit further or stomach the cost of a campsite for the night, dont be perverse about "never" paying, we encountered a couple of places where we would likely have been ripped off, but wisely moved on, like the books say DONT sleep on the motorway Aires, if in doubt seek the safety of numbers, when you pull up at a new Aire ask your new neighbours what the score is, its a good excuse to practice your "Eurolaise" as generally conversation is possible whatever the nationality.
Free parking in Portugal, phew what can i say, wonderfull, what fantastic people, however if motorhomers continue to take the wotsit i can see that things will change for the worse V Quickly, why?
POODUMPERS!, yes they cant be bothered to drive a few cliks to legitimately dump their chemical "soup" so a bush or even the village drain will do, so if you see it make your disgust known. Go on dont be shy, I wasnt, they will ruin it for all.
Water, watch the fonts, they arent all drinking water, we found that the mercados always had water and assuming you had bought veg and fish etc, they were happy to let you have a butt of tap water, still to be treated with caution mind.
Diesel, widely variable in price, search out intermarche etc on your satnav, cheapest fuel we saw was mid Portugal, from Evora north, until you reach Porto then it went back up.
Food, yummy, helps if you like fish though more expensive than Spain, but a small price to pay for a country that prides itself on cleanliness, politeness and tollerance (sorry Spain).
Crime? struth it felt different just 5 miles in, just got better, not say leave your keys in the ignition but a different ball game from "other" countries, i include the UK in that statement.
hope this is of use to someone N