Winter in the sun

[Markey717]

Hi everyone,looking to winter in Spain Dec-feb/March can anyone recommend any sites would be nice to be close to beach and a shop.This will be my first trip abroad,so very nervous.Thank you regards Mark.

 

[Mikeco]

If you belong to the Camping Club have a look at their Winter Sun brochure, this shows some of the more popular sites, many of them will however be already booked solid especially after Christmas.

 

[mike mcglynn]

hi don’t be nervous ,We spent 5 months on a site in Benidorm and can honestly say we enjoyed it all .The site was called Villasol and was About ten minutes walk into the main drag with all the shops and bars and restaurants you could wish for.there were also plenty of Funsters on our site and some day trips were organised and most enjoyable they were of course some folk would never dream of Benidorm . But it’s a great place to visit and has fabulous entertainment and is a place I would go again .

 

[simsy56]

Relax, take it easy, and you will love it. We never book anything apart from the boat, and just wing it. Staying on aires for nowt, some campsites to do laundry, some wild camping, and there are shops everywhere. Lidl is a motor homers shop, and they are all over.
Just take your time.

Craig

 

[PJGWiltshire]

Decide if you want to stay put or travel. As it appears you are in Ashford,I am assuming you will leave Dover/Calais. first thoughts are, are you intending to hang around in France or is it a case of get South ASAP. If blasting through France to Spain you need to decide a route. Once you have decided on a route through France many on here can give you great Non toll, Toll only or bit of both to cross into Spain. The route selected would depend on where you want to head in Spain first. The warmer area starts around the Valencia area heading down the Med coast towards Benidorm area and beyond to Almeria then down to Malaga. All along this coast there are mixtures of camping available from campsites, Aires and Wild.

If its your first trip to mainland Europe do you have refillable gas and adapters and EHU converters?

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[TerryL]

Hi Markey717 See in your avatar you maybe have a dog (as do many motorhomers - it's a condition of ownership they tell me!) You'll need to get a Pet Passport and also a rabies jab plus a titre test - your vet will know about it. Both the latter take time, up to 4 months, so go do it NOW. Especially relevant if B----t ever happens.

Forgive me if you've already done this of course, but it'll be a reminder to anyone else.

 

[Augusta08]

If it's your first venture Mikeco's advice is good. I used Camping & Ca****n Club Winter Sun for the core of my stays in Spain, still do 12 years later. I'll be in Playa Tropicana from 6th Jan thru 8th March.

 

[Lanerboy]

When going to spain over the winter what do you pay for a weeks stay on a campsite or do you get a deal if you stay longer.

I'm trying to find out the costs of spending say 3 months Jan, Feb, March in Spain or Portugal not including fuel just site fees

 

[simsy56]

We are on a camperstop near Murcia, a lovely spot, quiet, relaxing, 10e pn with volts, 7e without, 9e pn with volts, 6e without, for 30 days+, includes free wifi.

Craig

 

[rosalan]

Have never booked a camp site and likewise have never been stuck. This is not quite true for last year we headed for a CamperContact site in Zaragoza rather late in the day. It had been taken away! We ended up sleeping in a quiet road with a couple of other Motorhomes. After Motorhoming for more than thirty years, this was a first.
Use CamperContact on the internet and the number of available sites will amaze you. If really stuck use 'Park4Night' which has even more parking places which can be totally basic but you will not be stuck.

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[PJGWiltshire]

When going to spain over the winter what do you pay for a weeks stay on a campsite or do you get a deal if you stay longer.

I'm trying to find out the costs of spending say 3 months Jan, Feb, March in Spain or Portugal not including fuel just site fees

In the past I have had the ACSI 'Off Peak' card that enables you to use those campsites affiliated at the listed price (the max around 21E a night). I have noticed over the last couple of years campsites outside ACSI have matched the prices and for the last two years for our Winter expeditions I have not bothered renewing ACSI. I have found on this trip in Spain just approaching campsites and asking the question 'how much' and been quoted ACSI rate as the sites are not busy and all sites want the business. That may change at the peak times of Christmas. Many sites offer long term prices, ie 31 days or more. We are just leaving a site near Malaga which charges 24 E a night but long term (31 days) this is reduced to 19e. Most sites offer this longterm discount. What we have found is if you initially start a long term camp but subsequently change your mind about the period of time you stay you just pay for the chargeable period that you stay.

On average we budget around 20 e a night and we are not far off that over the 5 month trip. Christmas to New Year most places are full but in January places become available has the Christmas holiday people drift away home. We have never failed to find a place on a site. (although it may not be the most desirable pitch that you would want)
The main point is around 20 to 25 e per night is the answer under 28 days stays unless others can put their two peneth in

 

[Speve]

a titre test

You don’t need a titre test until a no deal and that’s been delayed now so as long as you have left before any no deal you will be ok.?

 

[Augusta08]

I've stayed in 10e on stopovers they're okay for night or two especially if they are convenient for some other attraction, city etc. But they are not up to the standards SWMBO requires for longer stays. A proper site like Playa Tropicana or Bella Vista are a different world. Divided private pitches with water & drainage. WiFi on site supermarket, hot showers, washing facilities, indoor swimming pool (at Tropicana) club house with watercolor painting, organised bike rides and walks. I'm only paying £14:40 pn.
I'm happy drifting and making do for a week or two, but not for 3 months.

 

[Spriddler]

If you're taking the ferry Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao don't delay booking.