prices in Spain for food etc (1 Viewer)

[lawry]

Packing van soon for trip to Spain for 5 months
Being early retirees on a budget is it better to stock up as much as weight allows or just use the supermarkets in Spain ? We also have two large hungry Golden Retrievers. Is dog food cheaper? Any tips
Thanks

 

[Wildbill]

Lots of fresh out their sum thing are a bit more expensive and sum thing are not we fund it balanced out if you go with it going to cost you the same as the UK attitude you wont get any nasty surprises
bill

 

[Armytwowheels]

Hi. Having spent the last 3 winters in Spain, my opinion is that real food - meat, veg etc is cheaper. Veg in season is especially cheap, we usually by from local markets. Wine of course is much cheaper.

If you try to buy British type stuff - marmite, beans etc then yes it is expensive, but we don't bother. The only thing we take a good supply of is tea. We like loose leaf tea made in a tea pot and trying to buy that in Spain is near impossible. Dog food I have never looked at as we feed ours natural food and I make up a batch every 3 or 4 days. However, all the supermarkets sell big bags of complete dog food and most towns have a pet shop or two.

I hope this helps.

P.s there are Aldi's and Lidls everywhere and some of their brands are the same. If your dogs are used to their brands of dog food that would be a good option, rather than use your pay load up.

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[Alistair33]

We found France cheaper than home, marginally and Spain appears to be mixed!

I think the best idea is if you have no preconceptions of what you want, then just buy what is cheep and catches your eye.

Space limits us to shopping for a max of three to four days, which helps cut out any wastage through spoiling which drove me crazy in th UK.

Lidl are wonderful (never been into one before this trip), they have bins full of cheep frozen calimari, prawns, muscles etc.

 

[Kevinthecat]

What I would suggest is take some basics for emergencies , there is always a Lidle hidden round every corner . Also your diet may change when away , mine goes towards more salads and fish.
As for the hounds, take what you need for a week as every supermarket will have dog food. Always shop around .
Obviously if your going to stay in the middle of nowhere for 5 months disregard my comments.
Enjoy your travels and have fun .

 

[2657]

We found France cheaper than home, marginally and Spain appears to be mixed!

I think the best idea is if you have no preconceptions of what you want, then just buy what is cheep and catches your eye.

Space limits us to shopping for a max of three to four days, which helps cut out any wastage through spoiling which drove me crazy in th UK.

Lidl are wonderful (never been into one before this trip), they have bins full of cheep frozen calimari, prawns, muscles etc.

You found France cheaper!......that's a novelty.

Pornichet market a cauliflower €2.95.......... Bury market 69p.......and better quality.

In all countries some things dearer, some cheaper it all depends on what you need

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[Alistair33]

Pornichet market a cauliflower €2.95.......... Bury market 69p.......and better quality.

But the cheese to make the sauce………………… France wins hands down !

 

[chaser]

But the cheese to make the sauce………………… France wins hands down !

30 odd euros a kg dont think so, 8 at the most at home we usually get a 2.5 kg block for a tenner.
We found cheese here the dearest thing compared to UK.

 

[Speve]

Try Mercadonna supermarkets they are really good and reasonably priced with lots of fresh food available.

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[Mousy]

Some things are cheaper, some things are more expensive but the quality and variety are so much better than the UK. Enjoy your trip, you won't starve...

 

[tonka]

Use the Spanish supermarkets, lots of choice and as mentioned Aldi and Lidl are common in a lot of areas.
You can get lots of British branded items but will obviously pay more for them.

Only items we ever bother with are Tea bags for me and the wife takes plenty of deodorant and body spay as she finds that expensive out there or they dont have her brand.. I just use anything or go smelly.

You now have "DEALZ" in some places, this is actually poundland but things cost €1.50

Use the trip to try new things..

 

[Richard n Ann]

Just take the British food you like. I take Walkers Crisps, Bovril, Tabasco sauce, salad cream. Ann likes Branston pickle. Everything else we get from Lidl, they're all on Google maps if you do a search. Enjoy!

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[Welsh girl]

We shopped in Spain for the first time since coming over on Wednesday, emptied our fridge prior to the 24hour ferry as we knew things would be spoilt when we got here. Mercadona on the way down to where we are now in Bretocino there was a lot of choice,more than our local Tesco I would say and just on a part with their prices except toiletries. Plus of course English stuff We guy what's on offer, pictures usually tell you what they are if you don't speak Spanish. The array of meat and cheese is huge. Happy shopping

 

[Two on Tour]

My missus forgot to pack the Branston pickle when we toured Spain last month, believe me she will not forget it again after my constant winging and moaning about it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

My missus forgot to pack the Branston pickle when we toured Spain last month, believe me she will not forget it again after my constant winging and moaning about it.

If she forgets again you can buy it at Iceland in Benidorm, it's expensive mind, so it will have to come out of her money.

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[lawry]

If she forgets again you can buy it at Iceland in Benidorm, it's expensive mind.

Thanks I forgot me Branston on the list

 

[gus-lopez]

Just take the British food you like. I take Walkers Crisps, Bovril, Tabasco sauce, salad cream. Ann likes Branston pickle. Everything else we get from Lidl, they're all on Google maps if you do a search. Enjoy!

Bovril is available in Mercadona & Carrefours , It is manufactured here.
Tabasco is also available in many supermarkets

 

[gus-lopez]

Carrefour also sell marmite I noticed last week.

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[mickymouse]

Iceland shops in the popular Brit areas ( Benidorm, Guadamar)so no proplem getting Branston etc here now.
Mickymouse

 

[2657]

But the cheese to make the sauce………………… France wins hands down !

Naa......can't beat a bit of good strong cheddar......other English cheeses are available

Quite like some French cheeses, not a great fan of the soft smelly ones though, bought some farmhouse Comte on a market a few years ago and whilst the cheese was very nice the price was eye watering.

 

[2657]

We shopped in Spain for the first time since coming over on Wednesday, emptied our fridge prior to the 24hour ferry as we knew things would be spoilt when we got here. Mercadona on the way down to where we are now in Bretocino there was a lot of choice,more than our local Tesco I would say and just on a part with their prices except toiletries. Plus of course English stuff We guy what's on offer, pictures usually tell you what they are if you don't speak Spanish. The array of meat and cheese is huge. Happy shopping

Why do you empty the fridge, make sure it is well chilled, don't open prior to sailing not a problem.

We came over on the 2 nighter last week no problem, nothing spoiled.

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[busby]

We shopped in Spain for the first time since coming over on Wednesday, emptied our fridge prior to the 24hour ferry as we knew things would be spoilt when we got here. Mercadona on the way down to where we are now in Bretocino there was a lot of choice,more than our local Tesco I would say and just on a part with their prices except toiletries. Plus of course English stuff We guy what's on offer, pictures usually tell you what they are if you don't speak Spanish. The array of meat and cheese is huge. Happy shopping

Nothing should spoil in a closed fridge in that short time,,oh how did we survive years ago without them,,My milk is still ice cold when we go on site after that crossing,,

 

[Geejay]

People have been fooled into thinking that as soon as a fridge gets switched off the food inside becomes instantly poisonous. Sell by dates, best before dates - use your brain, your sight and your sense of smell. The amount of perfectly good food that's thrown out is a disgrace.

As for wanting to eat UK food, I despair. "Eat local and in season" and fresh whenever possible. Most Spanish food we've seen and bought is usually much better and always much cheaper than in the UK. I can only think of a couple of world class foods coming out of Britain (apart from whisky, which strictly speaking isn't a food) - one is Stilton, and I can't remember what the other one is.

 

[Chris]

People have been fooled into thinking that as soon as a fridge gets switched off the food inside becomes instantly poisonous. Sell by dates, best before dates - use your brain, your sight and your sense of smell. The amount of perfectly good food that's thrown out is a disgrace.

As for wanting to eat UK food, I despair. "Eat local and in season" and fresh whenever possible. Most Spanish food we've seen and bought is usually much better and always much cheaper than in the UK. I can only think of a couple of world class foods coming out of Britain (apart from whisky, which strictly speaking isn't a food) - one is Stilton, and I can't remember what the other one is.

I am sure it’s not intended, but I think your post is possibly the most patronising I have ever read.

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[Geejay]

Then you haven't read some of my other contributions. I'm sorry, but when I read nonsense like food spoiling on an overnight ferry and people needing to buy absolute crap British food instead of enjoying the variety and quality of what's available abroad I really do despair. It's the little Britisher attitude.

 

[Chris]

Then you haven't read some of my other contributions. I'm sorry, but when I read nonsense like food spoiling on an overnight ferry and people needing to buy absolute crap British food instead of enjoying the variety and quality of what's available abroad I really do despair. It's the little Britisher attitude.

So it was intentionally patronising.

 

[Podney]

And.... I never knew Tabasco was British Cor blimey,we’ll be inventing curry next.

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[Podney]

So it was intentionally patronising.

Yes,but we are all allowed a badly timed rant now and again,surely. I have one a day,helps build up a thirst ready for lubrication.

 

[Dazzlin]

Buy/eat the same as the locals do, is our mantra.
We find it expensive in France so eat out less, but enjoy a menu del dia in Spain more often.
We travel full time. Brought t bags n porridge first trip. Now don't bother.
Only 'must do' is enough french/spanish wine on board before hitting Dover! (or Tangiers, Morocco!!)

Part of the fun is going round the local (super) markets and buying things blind. You never know what you may find.
Best one we had was sausages in France. The butcher was trying to tell us not to buy, we said yes!.......they were sweet sausages, a unique meal!

 

[Chris]

Yes,but we are all allowed a badly timed rant now and again,surely. I have one a day,helps build up a thirst ready for lubrication.

I am all for a good rant, but a good rant is usually about general stuff, not about perceived attitudes of members of this place.

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