What is Spanish Snowbirds?
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Tezza
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Great idea...will look forward to it
vindiboy
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We go to Spain and Portugal frequently for Winter so would be happy to give any advice I can, what are the general plans are you interested in using camp sites or pay Aires or wilding, all is very easy in Spain and Portugal and can be done on a low budget or a bigger spend as you wish.
MykCamper
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Wilding is the Only way!
Yeh, has to be wilding, (remember Sunset Beach?), thought it might be a good idea to share some of the remaining free camping with other Full members, might even get some meets going for Us like minded lot!
Might be able to compete with the Krauts!!!:lol-053::lol-053::lol-053::wave:
Yeh, has to be wilding, (remember Sunset Beach?), thought it might be a good idea to share some of the remaining free camping with other Full members, might even get some meets going for Us like minded lot!
Might be able to compete with the Krauts!!!:lol-053::lol-053::lol-053::wave:
vindiboy
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I have reposted this as I thought it relevant to this thread , and some may be thinking of costs.
What does it cost ?
People often ask about the cost of wintering in Spain /Portugal in a Motorhome, Well on our last trip I was determined to get an answer to what the actual cost of our trip was.I left home with a full tank of Diesel and filled up with Diesel when I was at Calais homeward bound so those costs are included as is the round trip Ferry fare,we had 250 Euros in cash when we sailed and returned with the same amount of cash Euros Everything we spent was on our Post Office credit card including cash withdrawals from the ATMs whilst away and interest that incurred.so our credit card bill reflects the actual cost of the trip.We were away from home for 102 nights, we used Aires and Wild camped, paid a few Euros for some of the Aires ,bought items such as clothes , a Spanish Paella type Barbi cooker, food,drinks and ate out a lot, bought fuel and gas refills .our round trip mileage was 4263 miles 2.8 Turbo diesel Fiat ,we lived really well food and drink wise and had a great time went short of nothing.and brought home a stock of wine and spirits which we always buy at LIDL in Calais, Our TOTAL spend was £2200 and that works out at about £21 -57 per day, I had to have the van fridge repaired in Portugal and that 380 Euros is also included in our costs.
I have just received a refund from Southern Electricity of £103 as I have overpaid on my Electricity bill because we weren't using Electric at home whilst away, or water or gas so there will be some credit there too.So is it cheap to be in Spain for the Winter, you bet it is!
What does it cost ?
People often ask about the cost of wintering in Spain /Portugal in a Motorhome, Well on our last trip I was determined to get an answer to what the actual cost of our trip was.I left home with a full tank of Diesel and filled up with Diesel when I was at Calais homeward bound so those costs are included as is the round trip Ferry fare,we had 250 Euros in cash when we sailed and returned with the same amount of cash Euros Everything we spent was on our Post Office credit card including cash withdrawals from the ATMs whilst away and interest that incurred.so our credit card bill reflects the actual cost of the trip.We were away from home for 102 nights, we used Aires and Wild camped, paid a few Euros for some of the Aires ,bought items such as clothes , a Spanish Paella type Barbi cooker, food,drinks and ate out a lot, bought fuel and gas refills .our round trip mileage was 4263 miles 2.8 Turbo diesel Fiat ,we lived really well food and drink wise and had a great time went short of nothing.and brought home a stock of wine and spirits which we always buy at LIDL in Calais, Our TOTAL spend was £2200 and that works out at about £21 -57 per day, I had to have the van fridge repaired in Portugal and that 380 Euros is also included in our costs.
I have just received a refund from Southern Electricity of £103 as I have overpaid on my Electricity bill because we weren't using Electric at home whilst away, or water or gas so there will be some credit there too.So is it cheap to be in Spain for the Winter, you bet it is!
snowbirds
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Hi Phil,
I must say it sounds a great idea,we travel for three months from September but time and place is not a problem we only returned last year because of our 90 day insurance cover but we were tempted to stay longer. It would be great to meet others to share ideas and places with.
Regards. Snowbirds.
I must say it sounds a great idea,we travel for three months from September but time and place is not a problem we only returned last year because of our 90 day insurance cover but we were tempted to stay longer. It would be great to meet others to share ideas and places with.
Regards. Snowbirds.
MykCamper
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Kicking it off!
:idea:I'm planning to head South in the first week of December, before the ferry prices go up for the Xmas rush but won't be crossing to Spain via the (free)Somport Tunnel till mid December, then it will be a straight drive,pp:drive: with rest periods at Aires,:sleep-027: to the mid East Mediterranean coast.:boat:
Hopefully finding a wildcamping place to spend Xmas / New year or longer depending on the weather.
So if anyone wants to join / accompany me, your welcome:welcome:
:idea:I'm planning to head South in the first week of December, before the ferry prices go up for the Xmas rush but won't be crossing to Spain via the (free)Somport Tunnel till mid December, then it will be a straight drive,pp:drive: with rest periods at Aires,:sleep-027: to the mid East Mediterranean coast.:boat:
Hopefully finding a wildcamping place to spend Xmas / New year or longer depending on the weather.
So if anyone wants to join / accompany me, your welcome:welcome:
vwalan
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do you have to think about it.
thought by now it was just habit.
look out for you all somewhere .
december is a bit late though . follow the birds , nature usually gets it right.
Byronic
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There's a danger in overthinking, even over planning these decisions. The conflicting advice given on the internet is unlikely to help, probably make some even more nervous. There's only one thing to consider, and that is that many thousands of motorhomers have travelled for long periods overseas past and present, and nearly all have returned unscathed.
And I daresay you're not so much different to most of them.
And I daresay you're not so much different to most of them.
vwalan
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i say just follow the coast . keep the sea on your left /or right and have fun .
you do journeys inland every now and again to visit or see some thing but forget sat nav or planning just go slow .
we never know what we are doing today never mind next week.
after all next time you might go a different way .
takes years to see most of it .
a lifetime and you cant have seen it all.
you do journeys inland every now and again to visit or see some thing but forget sat nav or planning just go slow .
we never know what we are doing today never mind next week.
after all next time you might go a different way .
takes years to see most of it .
a lifetime and you cant have seen it all.
Deleted member 967
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We normally head off in September/October and return March to May. Only book singles so no fixed timetables. We use Aires and Camper stops or wild park. We have been doing this since 2009.
We don't change our lifestyle as we full time in the UK. However we find we can live cheaper in Spain. VWAlan will contradict this.
Our insurance allows 182 days in any country, so no actual trip limits. We have to return for MOT.
Good breakdown insurance is a must from our experience. This is included in our insurance cover. (Comfort Insurance)
We avoid the Motorhome hot spots and crowded campsites. If Motorhomes start to gather, we move on, as this attracts the authorities attention. We do meet up with Alan from time to time. You can park but not camp, in most parts of Spain, if you stay 500m inland of the concrete coastal marker bollards (Ley de Costa). Remember that if you want to use an awning, chairs, tables, even raise a roof mounted satellite dish, the police consider this camping and you can finish up with an on the spot fine of up to 400 euro. If there are marked parking bays set 90 degrees to the traffic flow they expect you to use them not park sideways over more than one. Some places do not allow motorhomes on the car parks on the first line of building or seaward even if they are totally empty of other vehicles. We avoid staying in one place for too long and try not to stay in the place we overnight during the day. Move little and often. You can often get water or dump toilet waste at Aires or camper stops without need to stay the night. Water is also available at Fuentes (springs). If the locals get water from them so do we.
Inland Spain is nice up to Christmas, but can get cold at night.
Have a look at the N332 Facebook Pages. (Just enter N332) They are produced by Guardia Officers based on Torrevieja, and have good information for Driving in Spain and Motorhome use.
We don't change our lifestyle as we full time in the UK. However we find we can live cheaper in Spain. VWAlan will contradict this.
Our insurance allows 182 days in any country, so no actual trip limits. We have to return for MOT.
Good breakdown insurance is a must from our experience. This is included in our insurance cover. (Comfort Insurance)
We avoid the Motorhome hot spots and crowded campsites. If Motorhomes start to gather, we move on, as this attracts the authorities attention. We do meet up with Alan from time to time. You can park but not camp, in most parts of Spain, if you stay 500m inland of the concrete coastal marker bollards (Ley de Costa). Remember that if you want to use an awning, chairs, tables, even raise a roof mounted satellite dish, the police consider this camping and you can finish up with an on the spot fine of up to 400 euro. If there are marked parking bays set 90 degrees to the traffic flow they expect you to use them not park sideways over more than one. Some places do not allow motorhomes on the car parks on the first line of building or seaward even if they are totally empty of other vehicles. We avoid staying in one place for too long and try not to stay in the place we overnight during the day. Move little and often. You can often get water or dump toilet waste at Aires or camper stops without need to stay the night. Water is also available at Fuentes (springs). If the locals get water from them so do we.
Inland Spain is nice up to Christmas, but can get cold at night.
Have a look at the N332 Facebook Pages. (Just enter N332) They are produced by Guardia Officers based on Torrevieja, and have good information for Driving in Spain and Motorhome use.
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Deleted member 967
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We have 2 x 130w Solar and 330Ah of battery power. This we find sufficient apart from December to February in Southern Spain. Moving little and often does nothing for battery charging. We find running the engine with B2B for a while away from other or using our built in generator (12v @ 20Amps) tops us up during this period. Putting generators outside is considered camping, as is making any noise.
We use about 60 litres of auto gas every 3 to 4 weeks, more if using the generator.
99% of UK Satellite TV beyond south west France is a no, no, even on an 85cm dish. We use DVB on local stations. This also helps with the language. There are some English language programs (dubbed in Spanish) that can be reconverted to English by the use of the language button on the remote. On the Costas there are stations broadcasting in English on the radio. We take a stack of DVDs with us. Remember sunset is about 5pm down in southern Spain in winter and If you don't want to spend every night in a Bar (we don't) entertainment of some sort is essential.
Days are generally dry and sunny on the Costas. I was sea bathing up to Christmas last year.
Drink Driving limits abroad are the same as Scotland (less than half of the rest of the UK limit). If the police ask you to move on then arguing will only make things worse, as will being over the limit.
The change between Summer and Winter bring thunder storms and torrential rain. Avoid parking in what may seem to be dry river beds (ramblas), as heavy rain inland can cause flash floods, even if the weather where you are is brilliant. People are killed every year in Spain by the Gota Fria (Cold Drop). Some of these ramblas can be very wide. I know of a case where two 44 ton artic truck, were picked up and washed out to sea before the drivers, who were asleep in them, could get out. In another case a couple were drowned, while sitting outside a café enjoying a morning cup of coffee, by a flash flood. Never try to cross a rambla in flood. Spring can also be wet and cool. We had lots of wind this last spring. We were also sun bathing most days.
We use about 60 litres of auto gas every 3 to 4 weeks, more if using the generator.
99% of UK Satellite TV beyond south west France is a no, no, even on an 85cm dish. We use DVB on local stations. This also helps with the language. There are some English language programs (dubbed in Spanish) that can be reconverted to English by the use of the language button on the remote. On the Costas there are stations broadcasting in English on the radio. We take a stack of DVDs with us. Remember sunset is about 5pm down in southern Spain in winter and If you don't want to spend every night in a Bar (we don't) entertainment of some sort is essential.
Days are generally dry and sunny on the Costas. I was sea bathing up to Christmas last year.
Drink Driving limits abroad are the same as Scotland (less than half of the rest of the UK limit). If the police ask you to move on then arguing will only make things worse, as will being over the limit.
The change between Summer and Winter bring thunder storms and torrential rain. Avoid parking in what may seem to be dry river beds (ramblas), as heavy rain inland can cause flash floods, even if the weather where you are is brilliant. People are killed every year in Spain by the Gota Fria (Cold Drop). Some of these ramblas can be very wide. I know of a case where two 44 ton artic truck, were picked up and washed out to sea before the drivers, who were asleep in them, could get out. In another case a couple were drowned, while sitting outside a café enjoying a morning cup of coffee, by a flash flood. Never try to cross a rambla in flood. Spring can also be wet and cool. We had lots of wind this last spring. We were also sun bathing most days.
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Deleted member 967
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N332 - Motorhome pages for Spain
Motorhome Parking - Driving In Spain
Motorhomes: Parking or Camping? - Driving In Spain
This is also info on the Ley de Costa (Coastal Law)
Ley de costas
Motorhome Parking - Driving In Spain
Motorhomes: Parking or Camping? - Driving In Spain
This is also info on the Ley de Costa (Coastal Law)
Ley de costas
Deleted member 967
Guest
This behaviour is considered Camping
This is considered Parking.
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Deleted member 9237
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If there is going to be many of you that come over to hold a meet here you would be better off finding a campsite to hold it. There was many unhappy locals and campsite owners upset about the number of motorhomes taking over car parks and land near the beach. The Guardia have been told to enforce the 24 hour only law, I saw Sunday 2 motorhomes being moved from one of VW Alan's little hidey holes behind Alicante Airport.:wave:
Byronic
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Come on out with it, I'm sure that what your hinting at, is, if they want to hold a meeting, that it might be a good idea to hold the meet on your property?
Right or wrong?Deleted member 9237
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Come on out with it, I'm sure that what your hinting at, is, if they want to hold a meeting, that it might be a good idea to hold the meet on your property?
Wrong we are not here this winter any way you would not pay our site prices :lol-049::wave: