Spain/Portugal, do you book ? (1 Viewer)

[Just smiffy]

Going down late December and staying (booked) near the bay of Roses for the new year and then going to travel along the coast and into Portugal.

Apart from the new year stay which is booked we are just going as we please and try and get in wherever we end up, aires/wild or sites, no plans whatsoever other then if we like it we'll stay for a while if not move on as we are planing on coming back mid March we'll have plenty of time.

I know lots will be out there at this time and most stay on sites for quite some time but its the movers I'd like to hear from, what has your experience been on finding places to stay at through Jan and Feb.? I've got ACSI, camper contact, park4night and getting all the aires Spain/Portugal and of course the best info is you lot...

Mrs likes to know and have some sort of idea where we stay but me.... I'd park on a motorway central reservation for the night....

Would love to hear of your exploits and experiences and other comments as I know there will be some silly ones.....come on, I can take it....

 

[Tykes]

Hi we stayed in calpe for Christmas left early February worked our way down the med Los madriles Isla plana very nice heated pool very busy but got on then roquets da mar then Nerja on to la linea for gibraulter ! Down to tarifa .cadiz . Saviile el rocio then to portugle albufeire didn't book any ware stayed at camping albufeire for5 wke till the Mrs wanted a chinese so we packed up and drove back to calpe !!! Rich house fabulous , setting off on tues to calpe !! I hope you enjoy your travels as much as we do

 

[Tykes]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ven]

We do not book but we tend to make sure we arrive by 12 if we can, this way means we have always manages to get in. That's been our experience Jan to May the last few years although it is busier arriving earlier helps.

I would say the exception to this may be the Med strip around Benidorm as there are a lot of long termers.

 

[bellabee]

We didn't book anywhere, last year, and never had a problem. But like @Ven we always aim to arrive early. We found that many sites had just a few pitches available, and these were often filled by early afternoon.
We've booked at los Escullos for 2 weeks of this year's trip, but only because we wanted to be sure to get a sunny pitch. We'll just take pot luck elsewhere.

 

[mustaphapint]

We travelled down as far as Denia last January/February. Sometimes we booked a day or 2 in advance once we'd decided where we were heading, other times we just rolled up on spec. We were never turned away but often didn't have much choice of pitches.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jimiol]

Ok long post warning.
Here is my notes from last year.
Didn't book anything. Happy to move if we didn't find what we wanted.
Set off tank 3/4 filled on route €50 172 miles to port.
8 11 stayed st fort chateau Gontier big aire free no facilities river side centra pizza takeaway on bridge.175 miles approx 4hrs.
Fill up fuel €60 full tank.
Intermarche shopping €42. Hooks and spanner €25.
St Jean-d'angely camper stop free bins collected v early.
Caumont-sur-g canal side very nice all services available water €1. Another 140 miles done. €47 diesel. €72 shopping.
Mazeres sur salat, riverside nice good walks. Services not great used a carrafore €2. Plus €50 fuel.
Andorra today 12 Nov aire in a Carpark. All services inc elec free.
Pas de la casa ski resort lots of MH parked up. Could stay another time. Andorra fuel €.85 per ltr.
Filled diesel €12. Headed to ripoll aire OK once we found it plus 1 at sant Joan de Les amadesses OK lots of cats didn't stay. Went to lidles €50 loads of food and beer. Stayed at viladrau 2 nights free would stay again. On route passed sant hilari sacalm good service point electric available then San feliu de guixols 4 nights noisy dog and donkey nice town.got data card €15 for 1.5 gb vodaphone.
Blanes fill up with LPG €12 plus Carpark camper stop no services. Near beach but noisy Carpark plenty of space.
Lidl shopping again €39.
Avinyo nou artcava free private camper stop at a vineyard loose dogs, very windy, services useable but Wc in grey grate. Free wifi near a Carrefour.
Valderrobres camper stop on riverside in old town. Not great for walking dogs but nice town and services useable.
Morella purpose built air high up in mountains. Great views. Services not well thought out loose friendly dog.
Stop and go peniscola campsite aire 3 days at €10 per day inc electric laundry €8 wash and dry by campsite. 2 new leisure battery's by person who visits the campsite plus new light. Access tight. Pitches ok clean facs. Would go to another in area cheaper not as busy Vizmar closer to beach etc. Stop and go poor walks for Bertie.
Simat aire free very pleasant stayed longer than expected 5 nights in a village good walks bars and monastery lots of chickens. Very hot.
Javea x2 Carpark camper stop near scollops and probably won't be there next year.
Ibi x4 was quite noisy but nice inland free services.
Guardamar roadside near repsol garage and laundry with autogas.
Cartagena services €1 they have autogas.
La azohia camper stop 4 nights free very quiet beach side nice area.
12/12 Aguilas near campsite beach side. Filled with autogas today.
Moved further down only a few Ks not beachside but above 2, quiet and nice, bins and toilets short drive away. Went inland to service point water reqd token but no idea where to get token. Heading to Vera and consum tomorrow seamed nice beach side place. Auto gas at Vera town but not needed.stayed near consum near nudist beach. Water from beach showers toilet empty in surface pipe.
Vera tennis commercial aire €11 inc electric free wifi laundry in domestic machines €5 inland no views.
Agua amarga dry riverbed beach side free quiet. Checked las isletta signs no camping did not stay also checked San Jose could have stayed Carpark in village. Checked las negras not great. South side of mojicar beach side camping possible and also in beach side Carpark in centre.
Back now in beach side place near consum Vera.
La Carolina playa nr Aguilas able to service at garage, Wc and water. And autogas.
Back to agua amarga then long drive via motorway services to Torrox checked mojacar possible camp next to beach bar but decided not to.
Torrox Carpark near beach shower for water.
Passed repsol laundry on route to service at campsite at rincon service €2. Then parked beach side near albala beach club opposite pizzeria and adjacent to repsol garage
Laundry done at repsol garage torre del mar. Had autogas €19.25 laundry as had a token
2 miles south of where we stayed at rincon was a vodaphone shop and a repsol with a laundry.
31 Dec used a service point in Malaga behind a Carrefour. Free service water 50ltrs for €1 coin.
31 Dec, 2 nights wild camping on beachside car park between Malaga and Torremolinos (near golf resort and Malaga airport flight path.)
2 Jan checked camperstop at Olvera. Nice location on sunny day but now 7 euro per night inc elec and water. Went on to check Marchena, could be noisy and also in use with lorries. Water working free. Drove past camperstop at motorhome dealer - in Alcala de Guadaira - near busy road but advertising 'Joint' motorhome brand which could be useful if parts needed.
2 Jan Huelva camper stop. No services but clean. Noisy overnight with traffic & ferries. Near bar & restaurant.
3 Jan saw wild camping at La Antillas (Lepe) - drive to seafront and turn right - then right - then left. keep sea on left and pass hotel complexes. Turn Left then right. Wild camping in Carpark beach side.
3 Jan saw camperstop services sign at Saras (sp ?)Petrol Station near Portugal border at Ayamonte
3 Jan Castro Marim camperstop with services, free but water chargeable. Stayed in Carpark behind supermarket with others as more space.
Went to Faro beach - first right on airport roundabout, cross bridge - free toilets with shower & water plus bars - beach front car park good in nice weather as exposed. (Gps saved)
We to Albufeira to buy data card from Worten mobile. 20 euro for 10 hours. Various options available. Then serviced at camperstop behind Lidls 3 euro.
Stayed at Grande Playa in sand dunes. No services. Saw wild camping also at Salgados beach Carpark, good surface and bins! Beach front. GPL available nearby.
Stayed at Carvoeiro (Marinha) beach. Lovely beach & views. Use Carpark as has cctv - thefts reported in top Carpark.
Went to Portimao to service. Bad service point design and not clean. 2.50 euro - praia de rocha.
Went on to Alvor wild camping next to O Luis restaurant beach side no services. Went to Salema, busy but could have stayed- note gps coordinates wrong need to follow coast road from there and turn right.
Went to Lagos port and wild camped on beach next to. Note before turning to beach there's a car park near rail station access to marina is there and has toilets and Pizza Hut opposite.
Back to Alvor to camperstop. Paid 7 per night inc 10amp and service though very muddy. Wild camping just outide gates and service only is 2.50 euro.
Went to Santa Clara e velha which is lakeside very nice but limited walks. Lots of Large dogs and popular with hippies.
Went to Sao Martinho das amoreiras which was lakeside pretty but very isolated.
Went to Mina de Sao Domingos stayed lakeside in popular aire. Large bays lots of bins. Service point in village. Water was free but stated as 2 euro.
On to El Bosque limited parking as most horizontal park - nice village near to bars & restaurants. Free services. Saturday market till 14.30 was busy on arrival. Quiet at night.
Drive through the mountains to La linea, camperstop on the marina €12 inc services no electric laundry available also a repsol on the way with a laundry. Could park at the stadium beach side for €3? No services. Drove into Gibraltar shopped at morrisons. Lots of stuff that you can't get in Spain. Diesel 59p per ltr. Diesel in Spain side as low as 85cents per ltr. Then drove towards Estepona. Stopped beach side 12 miles from Estepona noted repsol laundry 6 miles from Estepona. Stuck in mud. Left and stayed in village car park then travelled to Malaga to Autocaravanas Sayla to replace light. Service only was €3 and good service point. On to beach car park near Los Alamos Torremolinos (gps saved) for one night - toilets nearby. Then to Fuengirola (gps saved) in Castle Carpark. €1 per day via attendant. No services, nice walks. Attendants left at 3.30pm
3 nights Malaga beach, via services at Carrefour toilet in walking distance nice but lots of litter in Carpark. Locked keys in van had to break in via side window.
Rincon beach side water and toilets. Busy spot near bars and pizza place. Went to China bizarre €82 euros on shower poles curtains etc. Service at campsite €2.
Torrox Carpark near hotel. One local shouted at us stating no parking. Also a person claiming to be a camper stated the police were round earlier telling people no camping or face €700 fine.
Long 2 hr drive to canjayar free aire in mountains and valleys.no lighting but dangerous in the dark.
Then to bay next to la Carolina 3 nights auto gas at garage which is building an aire nr Aguilas. Vera tennis €11 manly to top up electric and use wifi, wifi too slow to work. Then beach side at consum Vera playa. Note auto gas in repsol between Vera and Vera playa.
Checked totana (84) €11 inc electric did not warrant. The fee.
Then La Azohia very busy. 1 night.
Then to benageber )51) via jalance. Jalance ok but Carpark next to road serviced and then to benageber high up near man made lake. Long drive on mountain pass roads. Ok. Good service point.
Went to La joyosa in camperstop book. It was a truck stop. Went into medas before j 176 had free service point at repsol garage.
Then to trogg land at 303 in all the Aires book. Nice stop, water needed a token. Then falces good service point river walks lots of space did not stop went to 291 all the airea.
Arguedas on pilgrim trail very clean lots of space good services water chargeable although there was a free tap nearby. Town had all shops decathlon also gpl at repsol garage.
Long drive to st Jean de luz train stn don't bother.
Peyrehorade nice village and river two Aires and laundry as you leave village at intermarche.
Amou advertised free service inc electric closed.
Mugron small aire free services inc electric.
Went next to several in camperstop book.
Bernos beaulac nice spot but charges to park €4 and service €2.
Cadillac all services turned off village centre location.
Gornac aire not well signed. Nice aire a little exposed for a windy day services free.
Pellegrue small aire 4 spaces just of road. Service point adjacent with all services inc electric i edge of village intermarche contact with laundry.

 

[Just smiffy]

That's a big post, thanks...

So, not a lot of booking along the way going on then....

 

[jimiol]

That's a big post, thanks...

So, not a lot of booking along the way going on then....

No I didn't bother but each to their own. Have wheels can move them!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Nomad]

Couple of things that may help.....

CALPE - Already heaving with Motorhomes as at today....cycled down and had a look round. Calpe Mar campsite very busy. Camperstop Mediterraneo had only about 4 spaces left. There is another new very large Motorhome Aire in build at the moment between Aldi and the road closer to the sea but it looks many months from completion as yet. Already maybe 20 Motorhomes wildparked in the roadside around that area of the town.

JAVEA - the traditional tolerated wildpark area at the southern end of the Arenal area (near to Scallops restaurant for anyone who knows the area ) has now completely gone, as it is all now a building site for new flats. No more wild parking anywhere there.

 

[Just smiffy]

Some great info here and very much appreciated... are some people going just for xmas and leaving soon after ?

Is there many that go down after xmas to get away from cold Jan/Feb of GB ?

What's busier, before or after new year...?

Soooo many questions but to go for 12 weeks for the first time is a big deal to us....

 

[mustaphapint]

Soooo many questions but to go for 12 weeks for the first time is a big deal to us....

Then just go without a plan or long term booking and take each day as it comes. Perhaps book your first night off the the ferry so you've got somewhere definite to head for while you find your feet.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jimiol]

Some great info here and very much appreciated... are some people going just for xmas and leaving soon after ?

Is there many that go down after xmas to get away from cold Jan/Feb of GB ?

What's busier, before or after new year...?

Soooo many questions but to go for 12 weeks for the first time is a big deal to us....

Personally I found it busier after new year.

 

[kickstart]

Some great info here and very much appreciated... are some people going just for xmas and leaving soon after ?

Is there many that go down after xmas to get away from cold Jan/Feb of GB ?

What's busier, before or after new year...?

Soooo many questions but to go for 12 weeks for the first time is a big deal to us....

And us Sas, we are first timers in Spain, going 6th Jan until 26th Feb

 

[busby]

Some great info here and very much appreciated... are some people going just for xmas and leaving soon after ?

Is there many that go down after xmas to get away from cold Jan/Feb of GB ?

What's busier, before or after new year...?

Soooo many questions but to go for 12 weeks for the first time is a big deal to us....

After new year seems busier in Benidorm area,,BUSBY..

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}