Winter Sunshine

[offgrid]

Hi guys where are your favourite winter sun destinations and how much does the round trip cost? Cheers

 

[Derekoak]

Winter sunshine

Clearly southern Spain is most popular. I just came back from there in 4 days with one fill per day to Calais. Maybe it was only 3 fills, the ferry cost us 36 pound each way, you would have to see what your vehicle costs, we spent 12 euro on toll roads round Biarritz and Tours. We live inAccrington so another day another fill and 1.66 pounds on dart crossing. Otherwise just supermarket food and alcohol, all wildcamps no other costs.

 

[jacquigem]

Clearly southern Spain is most popular. I just came back from there in 4 days with one fill per day to Calais. Maybe it was only 3 fills, the ferry cost us 36 pound each way, you would have to see what your vehicle costs, we spent 12 euro on toll roads round Biarritz and Tours. We live inAccrington so another day another fill and 1.66 pounds on dart crossing. Otherwise just supermarket food and alcohol, all wildcamps no other costs.

Yeah it really depends what you want. Spain and Portugal are both popular. Costs of getting down here will depend on your van but you don't need to use Toll roads if you are ok with time. Food and drink cheaper down here. There is still wilding too be had but also motor home stops at anything up to 10 euro a night. We also have ACCI card in case we need campsites for between 12 and 19 euro per night.we use sparingly . It is really up to you but if you calculate fuel and ferry to get here the rest is up to you. I would say just go for it and make it up as you go along. Some personal favourites for us El Campello , calnegrie, Rhonda, tarifa in Spain . Gale, monchique, Alvor in Portugal. Others on here will tell you more about more northern and inland

 

[vindiboy]

Hi guys where are your favourite winter sun destinations and how much does the round trip cost? Cheers

I posted this in 2009
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!

 

[Kontiki]

About the only thing you can work out is fuel & toll costs if you use them, you have to eat & drink wherever you are but again it depends on if you stick to what you normally eat or eat out at bars/restaurants, costs on the whole tend to pretty much even out (possibly slightly cheaper). As somebody said you save a little on heating costs in your home if you are away, you can get away without any camping charges or like many do have a mix of free stops, paid aires/camper stops & possibly campsites. Campsites can work out very expensive if you are only staying a couple of nights but often if you stay longer then they can be reasonable especially if the electric is included helping you save on gas. Using refillable gas is an option unless you have to possibly mess around with different regulators & bottles in different countries.
Favourite places are Southern Spain & Portugal but we try to look for anywhere the weather is sunny & warm.

 

[John H]

We usually end up in south-eastern Spain, which is not only warm in winter but one of the driest places in Europe. Further west you will get sun but more rain on average. Winds can be a problem but you will not find better weather in Europe in winter.

As for costs, the only additional costs are the fuel it takes to get here and back and the ferry/tunnel. France has, on average, similar costs to the UK but Spain is very much cheaper for most things. As an indicator, we rarely eat out in England but in Spain we eat out as much as we eat in and we still spend less than at home. Campsites are very cheap for long stays and there are plenty of opportunities for wildcamping if you avoid certain crowded coastal areas.