Travel Spain info

Jimhunterj4

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Doing Spain next year leaving Scotland I will have 2 weeks to spend, lookin forward to hearing some advice about routes through France, gas bottles, wild camping spots, quickest way through France, Portugal or east coast Spain etcy
 
Doing Spain next year leaving Scotland I will have 2 weeks to spend, lookin forward to hearing some advice about routes through France, gas bottles, wild camping spots, quickest way through France, Portugal or east coast Spain etcy
Our route through France is generally from Calais ,Abbeville,Rouen,Le Mans ,Poitiers,Bordeaux ,Bayonne and then over the border into Spain,we do not use toll roads BUT a section of the N10 towards Bordeaux has become payage so as it was ony 5-5 euros for our 7-5 metre van we used it , we often stay on the Aire at DAX free Aire super town, lots of Aires on our route down and all open even in winter, sometimes the water is off so always keep your tank fullish, always you can empty your cassette, get the Vicarious books , All the Aires of France, great book and in English, lots of other publications available but that is our Bible.We have used all the crossings into Spain from France over the years ,all are good but the tunnels can be iffy in snow and ice and you may need snow chains , Andorra is well worth a visit, the Eastern route from Perpignan Barcellona is also good depending where you want to be in Spain.2 Weeks suggests a quick route and you would be better using the Toll roads as it will give you more time in Spain /Portugal considering you have to make a return journey too, you might be better limiting your trip to Northern Spain , great area to explore . GAS, well the easiest way to go is of course refillable bottles, if not this depending on your bottle sizes you should have enough Gas for two weeks use, Depending on the time of year you intend to travel and the need for heating, you can easily buy bottled gas in whatever Country you are in and also required regulators and connecting hoses but this requires more money and storage space so again refillable s win. Wilding is easy in France Spain and Portugal but you must not set up camp , ie awnings washing chairs etc, we do but only in appropriate places, see what others are doing , do not expect the twenty foot spacing rule on Aires or wilding, peeps will get in where they can.MONEY, cash machines all over Post Office Master card [Credit ] works for us no charges on foreign purchases always a great exchange rate too charge to get money out of the ATMs but still a good way to go, others will disagree. Tant Pee. FOOD supermarkets every where Lidl wins for us, local markets are great and bread to die for, SECURITY, common sense prevails do not leave things on display in your van IE Sat Navs , Phones , Lap Tops WIFES HANDBAG etc keep your doors locked blinds closed when away from your van, alarm on at all times and you will be ok, we have lived the life for 17 years now with no problems, MEDICAL , we just use the E111 or whatever it is called now, we have used the Spanish Hospital system twice , my wife had a Gall Stone and I had too much falling down juice and dislocated my Shoulder, all sorted no problem. Private Insurance is for you to decide of course. Driving well that is very easy and you will find that driving on the right comes naturally and you wonder why we don't do it in UK.Don't travel to many miles in a day,there is so much to see and you will miss it if you just keep driving , Relaaaax go with the flow.
 
Have to agree with the above, Been down to Spain twice on the way to Morocco, none tolls steady diving, from Aberdeenshire 6-8 days same back, no time to see Spain so stay in the northern part and use some tolls.
 
Slightly off topic. We are off early Monday morning heading in the direction of Spain eventually. Will be back 7th August in time to get to Heathrow airport to pick up daughter flying from Germany for her yearly 3 weekly stay in Cornwall. No peace for us old age pensioners. That's life. ☺
 
If you have only 2 weeks I would stay in the north near the coast to get down to south of Spain and try and do Portugal as well all you will be doing is driving it wont give you much time to relax and enjoy your trip also you might like to think of France for your 2 weeks :wave:
 
If you have only 2 weeks I would stay in the north near the coast to get down to south of Spain and try and do Portugal as well all you will be doing is driving it wont give you much time to relax and enjoy your trip also you might like to think of France for your 2 weeks :wave:
I moved down the west coast of Portugal from north to south staying off the beaten track two months ago , never any problems with getting water. Lovely.
 
portugal is one of the real easy places for water . lots of fonts in villages . sometimes you have to go inland a bit but great water.

love that coast from peniche upwards , even better between fig de foz and porto.
mind good places above that and around galicia .
could spend and have done months around there ,fantastic .
 
Will be keeping an eye on this forum as I'm hoping to do the snowbirds thing next winter, just depends where. Some of the pictures of hundreds of motorhomes parked up in Spain do not appeal to me at all. I like to be away from the crowds. I don't do sunbathing these days, preferring to walk, sight see or laze around with a book and a beer. Any suggestions of the perfect destination for me?
 
3 years ago the maroc tourist board reckoned 40,000 m,homes hit maroc between nov and april.
just about all had to travel through spain . a few would sail there from france .
even then spain was full of campers all winter .
possible more than 40,000 m,.homes were still in spain .
so see if you can find a quiet place.
inland is quiet but in winter can be rainy and very deep in snow .
the choice is yours .
i,m told the algarve is the best place to be . might be .
 
We thinking of going to northern Spain in august, can anyone recommend places worth visiting.

Thanks, Ken.
 
just hug the coast or go up the peco,s you will enjoy it for sure . i love the north spain coast . its fantastic . lovely villages full of every thing . just do it slowly .
 
Thanks for the advise, I've looked at the Peco's on Google Earth, there looks like some serious mountain climbing going on there, be worth an excursion. Just going through the photo's and make notes of places we would like to see, like that beach with the rock arches.

Thanks, Ken.
 
Camping Spain from one who lives there..

I lived in Andalucia for 10 years and motorhome here too, so I know it quite well. We drive back to the UK at least once a year in the MH, usually for Christmas.

There are fewer camping sites here than in France and the quality generally is not as good, although there are some exceptions. Wild parking isn't really a problem except at some resorts where camping on the beach is strictly prohibited. Go along the coast a short way though and you will find somewhere to park for free. There is a free camper park in my nearest town Huercal Overa also a water emptying point, it will be a long time before they catch up with France though!

For free water look for the sign 'Fuente', on occasions the amount you can take is restricted, so don't upset the locals by overdoing it! If it says Non Potable, it will not be fit for drinking.

Colin
 
Will be keeping an eye on this forum as I'm hoping to do the snowbirds thing next winter, just depends where. Some of the pictures of hundreds of motorhomes parked up in Spain do not appeal to me at all. I like to be away from the crowds. I don't do sunbathing these days, preferring to walk, sight see or laze around with a book and a beer. Any suggestions of the perfect destination for me?

I go to the south of France, the Cote d'Azur, and it's great!

No Brits, but quite a number of French camping-car users ... The weather's lovely, warm and sunny during the day and a nip in the air at night.

Places which are off limits during the season are unrestricted and places that usually charge may well be free.

It is relatively quiet due to being out of season, and I recommend it highly :D
 
I lived in Andalucia for 10 years and motorhome here too, so I know it quite well. We drive back to the UK at least once a year in the MH, usually for Christmas.

There are fewer camping sites here than in France and the quality generally is not as good, although there are some exceptions. Wild parking isn't really a problem except at some resorts where camping on the beach is strictly prohibited. Go along the coast a short way though and you will find somewhere to park for free. There is a free camper park in my nearest town Huercal Overa also a water emptying point, it will be a long time before they catch up with France though!

For free water look for the sign 'Fuente', on occasions the amount you can take is restricted, so don't upset the locals by overdoing it! If it says Non Potable, it will not be fit for drinking.

Colin
hi. might bump into you in huercal we very often get up to there have friends gordon and sally live just outside huercal. you might know them .
we also have more over in cantoria so spend a few days around that area . might even have met you already and not places the name cheers alan
 
More than likely

hi. might bump into you in huercal we very often get up to there have friends gordon and sally live just outside huercal. you might know them .
we also have more over in cantoria so spend a few days around that area . might even have met you already and not places the name cheers alan


More than likely, I own the Card and Gift shop in Albox.....Colin The Card..
 
More than likely, I own the Card and Gift shop in Albox.....Colin The Card..
hi. well if i remember i will drop in and say hello.
mind i do get forgetful. know what i did years ago but forget what i did this morning . ha ha .
 
hi. well if i remember i will drop in and say hello.
mind i do get forgetful. know what i did years ago but forget what i did this morning . ha ha .

You better tell him you like warm water in the pool not cold:lol-049::lol-049::wave:
 

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