Spain/Portugal in January (1 Viewer)

[Dorset wanderer]

We have about 4 weeks free from the middle of January and are thinking of going over to France via the tunnel and then heading down towards Spain and/or Portugal. Can anyone recommend a route (bearing in mind the time of year) and any destinations?

 

[adonisito]

We've spent the last 4 weeks along the North coast of Spain, wet but lovely. Aires at Cabarceno, Cobreces, Tapia de Riesgo and Boiro all very good. La Coruna well worth a visit, we used the aire on the marina.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi,

Javea, Albir, Benidorm.

You could travel down to Irun and then down to Zaragozza, onto the coast at Valencia.

In Winter, never really found the weather much better further than Murcia.

Nice Thermal Baths in Murcia and an Aire in the town.

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[irnbru]

Portugal is too cold. I would stick to southern Spain.

 

[PhilandMena]

You may find this helpful. Spain for the winter, not Portugal. Leave until spring, a fabulous country.
Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It’s big and with a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Tolls: We avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 12.50 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (about 2.50 euros). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (Fuel costs approx. €126.72. (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.20 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm

If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.

https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app

There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

Finally, probably the best off line maps ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

Broken Link Removed

 

[klaatu]

I realise that we’re apparently not allowed to be here and should be in Spain for some reason, but here on the coast between Porto and Lisbon it’s currently very pleasant with warm sunshine. And looking at the climate data, January is similar to December.

The Orbitur sites seem pretty good (we’re at one now and moving to another on Tuesday).

Sorry for the heresy, just offering an alternative viewpoint.

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[irnbru]

I realise that we’re apparently not allowed to be here

Whys that then?

 

[Northernraider]

What's Barcelona like in January? I was thinking if making it my first stop for a few weeks as I've never been , then head down the east coast. Plan to spend till end of March travelling down.

If also like to avoid tolls and use mainly wild locations if possible
I have the camper contact and park for night apps already and as long as the signal is ok I've plenty of data allowance to use them online.
Will be my first ever time in mainland Spain
Recommendations of somewhere outside of Barcelona but within scooter distance to park up would be handy too.

Sorry don't want to hijack thread just thought better than starting loads for the same area

 

[PhilandMena]

What's Barcelona like in January? I was thinking if making it my first stop for a few weeks as I've never been , then head down the east coast. Plan to spend till end of March travelling down.

If also like to avoid tolls and use mainly wild locations if possible
I have the camper contact and park for night apps already and as long as the signal is ok I've plenty of data allowance to use them online.
Will be my first ever time in mainland Spain
Recommendations of somewhere outside of Barcelona but within scooter distance to park up would be handy too.

Sorry don't want to hijack thread just thought better than starting loads for the same area

Visit Barce, then get down to the Murcia region, Benidorm is a very popular overwintering location, mainly because of the weather. A tad warmer a little further south and that's it for winter. As you get nearer the bottom the more exposed you become to the Atlantic weather systems.

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[Northernraider]

Visit Barce, then get down to the Murcia region, Benidorm is a very popular overwintering location, mainly because of the weather. A tad warmer a little further south and that's it for winter. As you get nearer the bottom the more exposed you become to the Atlantic weather systems.

Yeah Benidorm area was my next stop after Barcelona....then maybe alicante but want to spend maybe 2-3 weeks in each .
Plan to go cadiz to gran canaria start of may till September

 

[Ed Excel]

I'd reverse your plan, Northernraider. Start around Murcia and follow spring home. You'll get better weather in the South East. We're usually swimming in a heated outdoor pool in January.

 

[Northernraider]

I'd reverse your plan, Northernraider. Start around Murcia and follow spring home. You'll get better weather in the South East. We're usually swimming in a heated outdoor pool in January.

But I'm going down the east to Cadiz over to gran canaria then back up the west and Portugal, north and back to UK December 2018.
Unless I find work around alicante or further south or my preferred location gran canaria
In which case the plans will then change

But I don't want to bypass Barcelona and Benidorm etc straight off as I want a few months of holiday and sightseeing first before serious job hunting

And I like to return a different route from going

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[PhilandMena]

Yeah Benidorm area was my next stop after Barcelona....then maybe alicante but want to spend maybe 2-3 weeks in each .
Plan to go cadiz to gran canaria start of may till September

Cadiz is fernom and has a great secure car park to stay with your motorhome at reduced prices.

 

[Northernraider]

Cadiz is fernom and has a great secure car park to stay with your motorhome at reduced prices.

Good stuff

 

[PhilandMena]

But I'm going down the east to Cadiz over to gran canaria then back up the west and Portugal, north and back to UK December 2018.
Unless I find work around alicante or further south or my preferred location gran canaria
In which case the plans will then change

But I don't want to bypass Barcelona and Benidorm etc straight off as I want a few months of holiday and sightseeing first before serious job hunting

And I like to return a different route from going

Hit Cadiz around mid March if your going to do Portugal on your way up (stunning country) Also, visit Gib and stay at the La Linea football stadium aire (4€) and walk in, and visit Sevilla on your way into Portugal. Loads to see on your way down the med coast of Spain too. Sounds like you have aplan.

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[teddybear]

Currently in Sagres Portugal, days are quite warm but ,does drop cool in night. Found the same when we were in Spain. The people here seem nicer.

 

[klaatu]

Currently in Sagres Portugal

Are you at the Orbitur site? I’m thinking we might use it for a while when we get down that way in a few weeks.

 

[Tim Raphael]

Hi
Did this route this Oct/Nov, no tolls and an interesting crossing into Spain. Feel free to ask for more detail if required.
Attached a PDF with basic route.
Used Aires and one campsite but could be done with all aires - BROKEN LINK
These aires are chargeable but are open 365 and charge includes electric.
Have fun!

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[teddybear]

Yes, thats the one , busy night last night I think there must have been about 20 vans on the whole site I could actually see another van from our pitch

 

[klaatu]

We’re at Orbitur Sagres now for a few days, nice enough site, very peaceful. Weather very pleasant (although it chucked it down on the way here). Thinking about staying here longer, subject to our exploration of the town tomorrow.

 

[teddybear]

Snap or have you already left

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[Dorset wanderer]

Snap or have you already left

No not leaving until mid Jan

 

[teddybear]

Klaatu, we are staying here for a few more days , if you want to say hello we are at the side of electric box 13

 

[klaatu]

Klaatu, we are staying here for a few more days , if you want to say hello we are at the side of electric box 13

We’re here until Tuesday at least, but thinking of staying another week. We walked around the site yesterday and saw what I’m sure is your van. We’ll pop over at some point and say hello.

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[teddybear]

We had a good pitch, plenty of sun and nice and quiet. Then the occupants of the static next to us came down. Drinking from early morning music getting louder went on till the early hours, so we moved. Another couple came to speak to us today they had also moved because of the noise, but being Portuguese they wanted to apologize for the behaviour of their countrymen as we said to them there are idiots all around , but the actions of a few can be balanced by the actions of others

 

[klaatu]

Walked past your van to say hello and the party going on next to you was pretty obvious. We could hear it from the other side of the site!

 

[Reallyretired]

Forecast for Murcia next week up to 23C. Pity we're going to Yorkshire

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[teddybear]

Klaatu, sorry didn't see you.have just booked another week . Now at electric box 16

 

[klaatu]

We’re going to book another week too. Think I can see your van from where we are, will stroll over later.