Deleted member 2636
Guest
It seems that the best advice is not to stop 50Kms either side of the Franco Spanish border. It may also be a good diea to give Barca a miss for the same reason
Deepinvet
Guest
Having 'Wild Camped' all over Europe from Sweden to Gib and Saliniki to Ireland, the only time someone tried to get in my Truck was in a Garage near Murcia......The only thing he got was a fat lip!!!
The other place I saw someone get into a Trailor was in Manchester.....
We are going to Northern spain next month..
You can buy CS gas from the service areas, but get rid before you come back to uk as it's not allowed here for some strange reason....
The other place I saw someone get into a Trailor was in Manchester.....
We are going to Northern spain next month..
You can buy CS gas from the service areas, but get rid before you come back to uk as it's not allowed here for some strange reason....
Guest
Guest
You can get the stronger CS gas from sports shops
The service station stuff is diluted
Deleted member 2636
Guest
CS gel is even better 'cos it doesn't blow back at you like the gas can... and it's a b*****r to get off: The more you try to remove it, the worse the effects become
jacm
Guest
Hi, We too went to spain a year ago in our camper - had no probs... have 2 children that also enjoyed it! Felt safer there than other places I've been much nearer to home!!!
Don
Guest
The only place I ever get Robbed is Dover, at Customs and Its my Time they rob me of.
4 hours to search my van due to it been " rather large for one and nothing to declare". I am a Pensioner who lost his partner several years ago, and now preferre my own company. I always overnight at a laybye just outside the port which is also frequented by ******, waiting for a lift into Britain. So I suppose I bring it on myself, but hey, Sod em. I am a free spirit and I will go where I want. Do agree with others statements. Be aware of what and who is around you. If you dont feel comfortable, move on. Stay safe and enjoy.
Don
4 hours to search my van due to it been " rather large for one and nothing to declare". I am a Pensioner who lost his partner several years ago, and now preferre my own company. I always overnight at a laybye just outside the port which is also frequented by ******, waiting for a lift into Britain. So I suppose I bring it on myself, but hey, Sod em. I am a free spirit and I will go where I want. Do agree with others statements. Be aware of what and who is around you. If you dont feel comfortable, move on. Stay safe and enjoy.
Don
fromspain
Guest
I wish I could change your mind about Spain
I've been wildcamping around Spain since we bought our first motorhome six years ago. I have never had a problem in Spain but we never wildcamp near a big city. We use to go to the country areas and we never stopover in a motorway rest area. We apply the same rules when we travel abroad.
The only time someone tried to open our motorhome was while we were sleeping in a motorway area in Mullhouse (France). First time we ignored the rules, first time someone tried to rob us. Fortunately, the alarm and the system we installed inside the cabine doors prevented the thieves from breaking into our motorhome.
This summer I am travelling to England. I've been in your country several times, I've always stayed at a hotel, B&B or a friend's house. This is our first time to go to England in our motorhome, I can't help feeling nervous but I'm sure everything is going to be OK.
The security feeling is a subjective sense and you have to travel wherever you feel secure. I hope that it helps you to change your mind and to see you soon in Spain again.
I've been wildcamping around Spain since we bought our first motorhome six years ago. I have never had a problem in Spain but we never wildcamp near a big city. We use to go to the country areas and we never stopover in a motorway rest area. We apply the same rules when we travel abroad.
The only time someone tried to open our motorhome was while we were sleeping in a motorway area in Mullhouse (France). First time we ignored the rules, first time someone tried to rob us. Fortunately, the alarm and the system we installed inside the cabine doors prevented the thieves from breaking into our motorhome.
This summer I am travelling to England. I've been in your country several times, I've always stayed at a hotel, B&B or a friend's house. This is our first time to go to England in our motorhome, I can't help feeling nervous but I'm sure everything is going to be OK.
The security feeling is a subjective sense and you have to travel wherever you feel secure. I hope that it helps you to change your mind and to see you soon in Spain again.
defitzi
Guest
excluded
But I wonder- are savoury ones sweet?...ah...keep on trucking mate
yes *****... lots of 'em aboutSpain is a lovely country and the Spanish are nice people.
That was my experience when I was International trucking and I have had a couple of holidays on mainland Spain driving to the Galicia area.
I much prefer the Atlantic coast and the further west that you go the quieter and less tourists.
I also very much like the Basque area.
Get away from the Mediterranean costas and the big cities and you should be ok.
If I had more time I would most certainly take my M/H to Spain and I might even this year for our 2 week holiday. Not decided yet
Enjoy
edit.
By the way, you get the unsavoury types in most countries now a days, even here
But I wonder- are savoury ones sweet?...ah...keep on trucking mate
Guest
Guest
Hi defitzi, were off in less than 2 weeks and might just go there
I hope the savoury ones are wearing little bikini's
TrevorandRachel
Guest
Theives in Spain
I too love Spain & the `happy go lucky spainiards`, have spent time on Costa Brava,but went down just outside Barcelonia to Matero, we only left the motorhome, all locked for 20mins for a walk around the Marina, got back & it was `ramsacked`,about £2500 of `stuff` but worse, a dreadful experience ! the Police told us there are gangs who just do this & they have several a day ! When we asked if they couldn`t stop it they just shrugged ! We ve since met others who it`s happened to but only in this area. I`ve been back since,but only to the top end of costa Brava never down as far as Barcelona.Met others on our travels who go right south in Spain but avoid the Barcelona area. Cheers Trevor & Rachel
I too love Spain & the `happy go lucky spainiards`, have spent time on Costa Brava,but went down just outside Barcelonia to Matero, we only left the motorhome, all locked for 20mins for a walk around the Marina, got back & it was `ramsacked`,about £2500 of `stuff` but worse, a dreadful experience ! the Police told us there are gangs who just do this & they have several a day ! When we asked if they couldn`t stop it they just shrugged ! We ve since met others who it`s happened to but only in this area. I`ve been back since,but only to the top end of costa Brava never down as far as Barcelona.Met others on our travels who go right south in Spain but avoid the Barcelona area. Cheers Trevor & Rachel
Deleted member 2636
Guest
The regrettable thing is that Motorhomes cost quite a few Sovs to buy - therefore, if you can afford one, you must have a £s,$s or €s and this makes you a worthwhile target for theft
When I had self builds I never had a moments worry about security or theft because it always looked like I was potless.
When I had self builds I never had a moments worry about security or theft because it always looked like I was potless.
noody
Guest
I and others think this problem is worse than it appears to be because few of the total motorhome visitors to Spain come to the forums. Many from the Uk and northern europe travel south through Spain and Portugal during winter so for the gangs of thieves there is year-round takings with the police doing very little to stop the problem.
Your visit to the UK can be relaxed and whilst we have thieves in the UK who target motorhomes it's an occasional problem rather than a national problem.
I've noticed that the UK motorhome press do-not report any problems for visitors to Spain or anywhere-else for that matter, that is probably to do with marketing the hobby rather than being responsible to the motorhome-public because we are inundated with gadgets to stop thieves and detect sleeping gas.
TrevorandRachel ? How did your insurers respond to your claim for the £2500 ? Hopefully they paid-up and that is part of the problem, you-would think insurers would respond if this problem is as serious as it appears.
TrevorandRachel
Guest
Insurance claim!
We had paid extra on our home insurance to take items in the motorhome,also had travel insurance.When we arrived home we informed both of the incident,our home insurance sent an accessor to visit us,& he made all the lists etc so we didn`t even have forms to fill in !! they sorted the h`day ins out etc & we received a cheque for the full amount ! Cheers T & R
We had paid extra on our home insurance to take items in the motorhome,also had travel insurance.When we arrived home we informed both of the incident,our home insurance sent an accessor to visit us,& he made all the lists etc so we didn`t even have forms to fill in !! they sorted the h`day ins out etc & we received a cheque for the full amount ! Cheers T & R
noody
Guest
And whilst that's the happy-ending it should have been, it's part of the problem.
For the police in Spain there is no mounting-annual debt of ineffectual policing, Ok, they mount the occasional sting. I bet that was to pacify the tourists more than to scare the crooks that head to Spain from all over the continent just to pray on motorhome tourists.
Tourism is so solid in Spain and Portugal because of their fine sunny climate that it would take nothing less than terrorism or natural disaster to alter the status-quo so the police just shrug and tourists have to accept the inevitable.
I would love to go to Spain, everything about Spain sounds good though I can't imagine being happy waiting for the inevitable.
One more question, this is a wild-camping forum. Is the problem more to do with those that are wild camping than purely a problem for motorhome tourists ?
For the police in Spain there is no mounting-annual debt of ineffectual policing, Ok, they mount the occasional sting. I bet that was to pacify the tourists more than to scare the crooks that head to Spain from all over the continent just to pray on motorhome tourists.
Tourism is so solid in Spain and Portugal because of their fine sunny climate that it would take nothing less than terrorism or natural disaster to alter the status-quo so the police just shrug and tourists have to accept the inevitable.
I would love to go to Spain, everything about Spain sounds good though I can't imagine being happy waiting for the inevitable.
One more question, this is a wild-camping forum. Is the problem more to do with those that are wild camping than purely a problem for motorhome tourists ?
Deleted member 2636
Guest
Motorhome tourists: You have a big expensive vehicle and the thieves know that you will have all your playthings with you
Campsites tend to be better controlled
As everyone who does "wildcamp" on here says "If you feel uncomfortable; move on"
There are certain areas that are more prone to trouble than others: Some have deservedly bad reputation
The Spanish Police are no worse than many other countries and may actually be a lot better than some I could think of.