La Manga - Spain

[Kontiki]

Thinking of having a change on our next trip in February, we don't usually make any firm plans & mostly wildcamp, our last trip down to Portugal we had one week on a campsite in the 3 months we were away. We are considering booking for about a month at La Manga & having a good rest. Working out the costs we can get a pitch for 15€ a night for staying over 21 nights this is for a 100 m2 pitch with electric. We haven't stayed there before but visited somebody who was there a few years ago. Looking just at the cost if we wildcamp we tend to average 20 to 50 miles a day (occasionally we stay a couple of days) this alone is going to cost us 5€ to 10€. There is sometimes the hassle of trying to find a nice spot (rewarding when you do but sometimes you do end up staying somewhere not too good) We are leaving our Yamaha 125 behind & taking the electric bikes we bought (not enough room in the garage for both & we are also taking our Sea Eagle inflatable canoe so we will have plenty to keep us busy

We will wildcamp for about a week on the way down then finish off in France using aires.

Has anybody else stayed at La Manga (I'm sure there must be a few on here that have) What did you think of it (realise it is a bit like the Marmite dilemma you either luv it or hate it)

 

[John H]

Never stayed at La Manga but have met several people who have and they all said they would go back. Obviously it depends on your taste but it certainly doesn't seem a place to avoid.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

Thinking of having a change on our next trip in February, we don't usually make any firm plans & mostly wildcamp, our last trip down to Portugal we had one week on a campsite in the 3 months we were away. We are considering booking for about a month at La Manga & having a good rest. Working out the costs we can get a pitch for 15€ a night for staying over 21 nights this is for a 100 m2 pitch with electric. We haven't stayed there before but visited somebody who was there a few years ago. Looking just at the cost if we wildcamp we tend to average 20 to 50 miles a day (occasionally we stay a couple of days) this alone is going to cost us 5€ to 10€. There is sometimes the hassle of trying to find a nice spot (rewarding when you do but sometimes you do end up staying somewhere not too good) We are leaving our Yamaha 125 behind & taking the electric bikes we bought (not enough room in the garage for both & we are also taking our Sea Eagle inflatable canoe so we will have plenty to keep us busy

We will wildcamp for about a week on the way down then finish off in France using aires.

Has anybody else stayed at La Manga (I'm sure there must be a few on here that have) What did you think of it (realise it is a bit like the Marmite dilemma you either luv it or hate it)

We have been to La manga before but only use as a stop over when we go to Portugal I dont think I would like to stay for more than a week. We spend 3 months inland on a lake with our inflatable and fishing great fun and no problems about wild camping there.

 

[beserk]

Thinking of having a change on our next trip in February, we don't usually make any firm plans & mostly wildcamp, our last trip down to Portugal we had one week on a campsite in the 3 months we were away. We are considering booking for about a month at La Manga & having a good rest. Working out the costs we can get a pitch for 15€ a night for staying over 21 nights this is for a 100 m2 pitch with electric. We haven't stayed there before but visited somebody who was there a few years ago. Looking just at the cost if we wildcamp we tend to average 20 to 50 miles a day (occasionally we stay a couple of days) this alone is going to cost us 5€ to 10€. There is sometimes the hassle of trying to find a nice spot (rewarding when you do but sometimes you do end up staying somewhere not too good) We are leaving our Yamaha 125 behind & taking the electric bikes we bought (not enough room in the garage for both & we are also taking our Sea Eagle inflatable canoe so we will have plenty to keep us busy

We will wildcamp for about a week on the way down then finish off in France using aires.

Has anybody else stayed at La Manga (I'm sure there must be a few on here that have) What did you think of it (realise it is a bit like the Marmite dilemma you either luv it or hate it)

Spent 4 months sailing in Mar Menor last summer and used the marina at La Manga quite a lot to leave our dinghy while anchored just outside towards Playa Honda and all along this shoreline were wild campers. Also a car park between " The Strip " and the shore next to the marina and the cinema was used by several vans and some were there for quite a while. Potable water can be had from foot showers all along the coast and it is as sweet as bottled water. The large site at Cala Honda has a supermarket and pub/ entertainment centre on the waters edge if thats what you like. The villages opposite La Manga are the real Spain away from { Blackpool with sun } Ullatrias / Los Nietas.

 

[Kontiki]

Don't have a problem wildcamping except for the fact I always want to be moving off after a couple of days (there's always a better place just up the road ) so thinking if we commit to staying on a site for about a month would be a change. Can actually put the awning up, leave the bbq connected, blow up the canoe & leave it out etc..... Not had a great year last year so also wouldn't have to plan or think where we are staying each night. We are away for 3 months so spending one month just lounging around might not be so bad.
Last time we we wildcamped in southern Spain got the impression that we weren't very welcome in some areas. In contrast northern Spain was very friendly with quite a few proper aires.

 

[boringfrog]

Camping

Looking just at the cost if we wildcamp we tend to average 20 to 50 miles a day (occasionally we stay a couple of days) this alone is going to cost us 5€ to 10€.

We never go on site much and move around quite a lot and when you said 15 Euro's a night I though it sounded a lot. But as you say travelling every other day is getting pricey too. Don't think I could put roots down for a Month though.

 

[syldale]

Don't have a problem wildcamping except for the fact I always want to be moving off after a couple of days (there's always a better place just up the road ) so thinking if we commit to staying on a site for about a month would be a change. Can actually put the awning up, leave the bbq connected, blow up the canoe & leave it out etc..... Not had a great year last year so also wouldn't have to plan or think where we are staying each night. We are away for 3 months so spending one month just lounging around might not be so bad.
Last time we we wildcamped in southern Spain got the impression that we weren't very welcome in some areas. In contrast northern Spain was very friendly with quite a few proper aires.

hi kontiki we are staying at a site for 2months because of the same reason and we can put the kitchen tent up as well the site has every thing.happy camping

 

[syldale]

Thinking of having a change on our next trip in February, we don't usually make any firm plans & mostly wildcamp, our last trip down to Portugal we had one week on a campsite in the 3 months we were away. We are considering booking for about a month at La Manga & having a good rest. Working out the costs we can get a pitch for 15€ a night for staying over 21 nights this is for a 100 m2 pitch with electric. We haven't stayed there before but visited somebody who was there a few years ago. Looking just at the cost if we wildcamp we tend to average 20 to 50 miles a day (occasionally we stay a couple of days) this alone is going to cost us 5€ to 10€. There is sometimes the hassle of trying to find a nice spot (rewarding when you do but sometimes you do end up staying somewhere not too good) We are leaving our Yamaha 125 behind & taking the electric bikes we bought (not enough room in the garage for both & we are also taking our Sea Eagle inflatable canoe so we will have plenty to keep us busy

We will wildcamp for about a week on the way down then finish off in France using aires.

Has anybody else stayed at La Manga (I'm sure there must be a few on here that have) What did you think of it (realise it is a bit like the Marmite dilemma you either luv it or hate it)

hi kontiki we went to la manga and we thought it looked like a shanty town so we went to the end of the strip found 6 m/h free camping and stayed for a week with no problems .

 

[Poco Loco]

Free Stop Not Far From La Manga

Have a look at a previous post I put on using the link below. During this time of year there's upto 30 MHs there. It's not far far From La Manga and you could save a few £s if you stop over for a few days / week before moving onto La Manga.

Regards Poco

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/spain/11908-orihuela-spain-wild-camp.html

 

[Kontiki]

Sorry thought I'd replied but it must have disappeared Stayed there before after we got moved on by the police from Mil Palmera (fantastic spot but now has signs up probably due to some people abusing the idea of wild camping & out staying their welcome). While we were at the Mercandona car park at Orihuela a group of travellers in motorhomes turned up (about 5 vans). They made our stay misery with their behaviour, next day police arrive & started checking documents but only for this group of travellers. Not sure of their nationality but looked east european of even middle eastern but with similar attitude to most of the travelling community we have encountered, no respect for the area or consideration of others. Kids would go to the toilet outside, they would just chuck the rubbish out of the door etc. I hear others defend the travellers saying good things about them but in all honesty can say I have never met any ever either here in the UK or in Europe.

 

[Poco Loco]

Orihuela Costa OK

Sorry thought I'd replied but it must have disappeared Stayed there before after we got moved on by the police from Mil Palmera (fantastic spot but now has signs up probably due to some people abusing the idea of wild camping & out staying their welcome). While we were at the Mercandona car park at Orihuela a group of travellers in motorhomes turned up (about 5 vans). They made our stay misery with their behaviour, next day police arrive & started checking documents but only for this group of travellers. Not sure of their nationality but looked east european of even middle eastern but with similar attitude to most of the travelling community we have encountered, no respect for the area or consideration of others. Kids would go to the toilet outside, they would just chuck the rubbish out of the door etc. I hear others defend the travellers saying good things about them but in all honesty can say I have never met any ever either here in the UK or in Europe.

I pass this place 2 or 3 times a week and there are no problems. There was about 10 Mhs there today and I've never seen any "travellers", only expensive MHs and RVs. I think there was only 1 UK MH and the rest, as normal, were German. If your legal and not abusing the place I don't think you'll have any problems. In fact we got back late one night last week from our trip and stayed there as it was easier than trying to sort the van out late at night. I would recommend this for a few days.

Regards poco Loco

 

[Kontiki]

Thanks for the info, might give it a try on our way down. It's a case of having the one bad experience there tends to make you think it might be the norm & then give it a miss.

As I said the time we stayed there the police came the next day & they only bothered with the ones who were in a group, they left the rest of us alone. Maybe they have a bit of common sense & only move off the ones who might cause a nuisance.

 

[spigot]

Hi Kontiki,
We spent a few days in La Manga in November. If you drive northwards up the strip there are many roads & areas of waste ground on the right hand side where it's OK to park overnight. We parked in a road by the side of an empty appartment block as it was nice & clean but we met a German guy who was staying on a nearby bit of waste ground & he had awning out, picnic tables, the lot! & he had been there weeks!
There are plenty drains to empty waste water & the water from the foot showers is OK, it's not salty & we use it (boiled of course) in coffee & tea.
You might have to call in to a campsite after a few days to empty cassette.

 

[Kontiki]

Thanks Spigot but we aren't considering wildcamping around there that was why I asked about the campsite for 15€ a night including electric it isn't too bad. We have wildcamped many times around Spain but we are thinking of taking a bit of a break this year, we want somewhere to put the awning up, blow up the infaltable canoe & get all the gear out so apart from the odd nights on the way down we don't intend to do much wildcamping in Spain this year (just can't be bothered with the hassle & never felt comfortable wilding in Southern Spain our last few trips)

 

[Kontiki]

Thought I'd update this post, had a few bike rides along the strip (furthest we've managed up to now is the 10km post, waiting for a bit of good weather & we'll cycle to the end 18.5km ) As you say plenty of places look like you could wildcamp, saw quite a few motorhomes parked at different places.

We stayed a night at Orihuela by the Mercadona, thanks Poco for reminding us about it, might call on the way back (always nice to have some reliable place to stop) Had a few days at Las Marinas as well, pity the toilet block has now gone, not sure where there is to empty a toilet somebody reckoned there was a manhole but don't know where. Heard about a few people disappearing into the woods to empty toilets sort of thing that will get us moved. Water isn't a problem as I know a couple of places with public taps. Found a number of campers at the other end on the old campsite & also on a car park near there.
Been on the campsite here for 2 weeks now, not too bad made quite a few friends but somehow don't feel people are as friendly as ones we meet when wild camping. It's been a change for us as we are more used to being on the move. Parked next to some fifth wheelers & RV's, they come down here from about Sept/Oct to March/April so get a good rate, many it seems rent out their houses so it can work out well financially.