Portugal in winter (2 Viewers)

Shrimp

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Is anyone on Campismo de Armacao or has anyone stayed here for the winter-say 2months-recently?
What do they charge, what’s it like, we’ve never been to Portugal and I’m wondering about it for next winter maybe!:)
 
Feb 9, 2008
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Forget it Chum! With it's proximity to the Atlantic ocean you are guaranteed a shed load of wet weather. Portugal is a stunning place to visit from April onwards. The majority of Brits in Motorhomes will be overwintering in Spain, the Murcia region. (minimal rain and as warm as anywhere else in Spain at that time of the year).
 
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Obviously the sites, aires and other 'parking' places in Portugal are rammed from January to April because us Brits, French, German, Dutch, Scandinavian motorhomers are attracted by all the wet weather:)

Edit:
Perhaps I should qualify that by saying the south of Portugal.

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maxi77

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Having overwintered in that campsite for several winters in a motorhome and a caravan it is a great place as is the rest of the Algarve. Yes we get a bit of rain, not enough this year so far, most of the short term visitors from the frozen north are happy in t shirts and short. The campsite charges about 15 euros a day including electric and free showers. Pitches are very much choose what you want. the Pscina bar does great lunches for 5 euros and has music on Wednesday evenings. The town has many good places to eat and drink, good supermarkets and an excellent weekly fruit and veg market and the stuff tastes real. The locals are friendly, most speak some English and you will find many Brits and others who come back year after year. There are 3 other campsites in the area and the infamous football club car park as well as a concrete aire on the main road. There are a variety of sites all over the Algarve from free wild camping to top end campsites. Do not expect Caravan Club regimentation or manicured sites, but you will find decent weather, and friendly people both in the visitors and locals. Much better than Spain and that's why so many of us come here every year
 

The Nomad

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Passed the Armacao campsite several times over the past week.
Very few people on it. Maybe 10% of the pitches occupied.
By contrast, the beachside big mud pit carpark only 500 metres or further on, has been pretty much totally full throughout the period. But remember that's strictly " parking" only, no ramps, chairs, steps or anything else outside your MH..... But of course you only have to carry your chairs 59 metres or do to instead sit literally right on the lovely beach there.


The football club people in the hut have started asking for a "donation" of 2 euros now for MH's to park there, rather than the 1.50 which is the price printed on the parking tickets and advertised.

Loads of people challenging the extra... the reason given on reply was because you can use water from the tap at the back of the hut.
Lots of people refusing to pay the clearly unofficial extra "donation" being demanded, unless it is on days when they will actually go and fill up with water, and paying just the "official Parking donation" ticket/receipt price of 1.50 per day.
Staff accepting this if the 2 euros demand is challenged by customers, but happy to privately pocket the extra 50 cents cash per person if the extra "black" money demand is meekly paid....
 

The Nomad

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Really really need some proper rain here In Portugal NOW.

Never been so dry since I have been living here.


JJ :cool:


It's coming.
Lots and lots and lots. of it, over the next 2 weeks from tomorrow according to the forecasts.....
 

maxi77

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Passed the Armacao campsite several times over the past week.
Very few people on it. Maybe 10% of the pitches occupied.
By contrast, the beachside big mud pit carpark only 500 metres or further on, has been pretty much totally full throughout the period. But remember that's strictly " parking" only, no ramps, chairs, steps or anything else outside your MH..... But of course you only have to carry your chairs 59 metres or do to instead sit literally right on the lovely beach there.


The football club people in the hut have started asking for a "donation" of 2 euros now for MH's to park there, rather than the 1.50 which is the price printed on the parking tickets and advertised.

Loads of people challenging the extra... the reason given on reply was because you can use water from the tap at the back of the hut.
Lots of people refusing to pay the clearly unofficial extra "donation" being demanded, unless it is on days when they will actually go and fill up with water, and paying just the "official Parking donation" ticket/receipt price of 1.50 per day.
Staff accepting this if the 2 euros demand is challenged by customers, but happy to privately pocket the extra 50 cents cash per person if the extra "black" money demand is meekly paid....

The outside areas of the Armacao de Pera campsite are rarely busy but there are many more vans inside the site certainly more than last year.

As for the Football club car park, what evidence do you have that staff pocket the surcharge. Considering the space the vans take up a 50 cent surcharge is quite reasonable and remember water is paid for in Portugal by volume consumed so all those tank fills cost the club money.
 
Nov 13, 2013
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We are on the football club site at the moment and are more than happy to pay the 2 euros. The extra 50 cents for unlimited water is an absolute bargain.(y)
The site is the fullest we have ever seen it so if the people that don't want to pay the extra 50 cents went somewhere else, all the better.:D

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We are on the football club site at the moment and are more than happy to pay the 2 euros. The extra 50 cents for unlimited water is an absolute bargain.(y)
The site is the fullest we have ever seen it so if the people that don't want to pay the extra 50 cents went somewhere else, all the better.:D
Is this Football club Aire the one right next to the beach on the Eastern side of the town? If not is that one still being used?
 
Nov 13, 2013
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Is this Football club Aire the one right next to the beach on the Eastern side of the town? If not is that one still being used?

It is the one down by the beach.:)
At this very moment it is getting smaller as there are workmen/surveyors marking off some of the back area, presumably it belongs to the building site next to it. They seem to be more effective in moving the large French contingent than the GNR!!!:whistle::D
 

maxi77

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From what I have seen they are bit by bit (money is tight still) building a riverside park and walk connected to the restaurant boardwalk on the beach. Nothing to do with the derelict building site which may stay like that for some time under Portuguese bankruptcy laws, though another similar site up near Ping Doce is now up for sale. I doubt space will be a real problem on that site as some snow birds are already on their way home Come easter though it will become very crowded again as it did during carnival.

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Tincataylor

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Never leave a campsite with your clothes line tied to a lamp post.
We have recently left the Algarve and the weather has been brilliant. If you want a posh camp site go to Turiscampo (you,ll need to book) at Lagos or if you prefer something a little more rustic give Quarteria a go which has plenty of room,

The Tincas
 

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