Christmas in Spain (or Portugal?)

[BikerGraham]

Blimey do they do acsi discount card that would reduce the costs, if we stay on a site there we like Arena Blanca because they take acsi and an easy walk into town also like a smaller site, if we free park behind the hospital is good for 3 days a bit closer than Villasol. Bob.

Don’t think el Raco do ACSI anyway and Christmas the price goes up. It’s cheaper before and afterwards.
It’s our first time there and was recommended. So will see how we enjoy it.

 

[peterc10]

Peter you won't get ACSI on Villasol over the Xmas period there is a lovely site just as you come into Albir it's just been extended we would like to try it but unfortunately they don't take dogs it's worth a look

Camping La Colina
+34 611 49 28 54

Camping La Colina · Carrer Serra Gelada, 4, 03581 L'Albir, Alicante, Spain

★★★★☆ · Campsite

maps.app.goo.gl

Thanks Dave. After I posted I noticed that Villasol stopped the discount just before Christmas.

Everybody tells me that Benidorm has its own micro-climate. Albir is just around the headland isn't it, or am I getting it confused with Altea? Does that make a difference I wonder?

 

[Billiefarrah]

We have often been to Spain and Portugal in the motorhome in the spring and autumn. But now we have made a late decision to go to Spain or Portugal or both for Christmas. We will take the tunnel and drive down through France using Tonka's Western winter route. Leaving about 8 December and returning home in late January, so about 6 weeks away. But we need some advice about how to get the best out of the time we are there from you funsters who have done it before.

Firstly we would like the weather to be as warm as possible, so what are the best areas for that? And what temperatures could we expect please?

We like to tour around rather than staying a long time in one place. But I suspect we will want to stop in one place just before Christmas and then stay to see the new year in. I understand that Spain has lots of parades on 6 January, so would like to experience that too. We don't mind campsites, camper stops or a bit of wilding. But, as usual we have not booked anything. Will we be able to find places easily or will there be no room in the inn?

Looking at the 2022 ACSI Discount book a lot of the sites are offering discounted rates up until the new year and after, which normally means they will probably have space for turn-ups. Any suggestions please of places along the coast from Valencia all the way to the Portuguese border, as I guess inland would be too cold for us. If there are some funsters to meet up with that would be good too.

Another option could be Portugal, which we love. What will the weather be like there please? I suspect we would have to stick to the Algarve to get the warmer weather. Are the camper stops along the coast full at this time of year? And how do the Portuguese celebrate Christmas?

Many thanks for any help you can give us.

Hi there. We spend Xmas in Spain Benidorm there is so much going on . Fantastic choice of restaurants bars and entertainment. New year is amazing music on the beach and fantastic fireworks. The 3 kings fiesta is always fantastic. Nice in the day but coat at night. I love Portugal but it’s not as warm and is very quiet . Hope you have a great time .

 

[Billiefarrah]

Don’t think el Raco do ACSI anyway and Christmas the price goes up. It’s cheaper before and afterwards.
It’s our first time there and was recommended. So will see how we enjoy it.

I have a caravan on raco is a fantastic site and location. Staff very good site always clean. Bars and restaurants opposite bus out side . We go to the beach about. 25 minutes to walk we cycle. So spoilt for eating and entertainment excellent quality as well . See you Xmas

 

[Ditcha]

Don’t think el Raco do ACSI anyway and Christmas the price goes up. It’s cheaper before and afterwards.
It’s our first time there and was recommended. So will see how we enjoy it.

First time dipping your toe in the water you'll love it you will be surprised how close all the site's are to each other go on a reccy around them all for next year you have to start somewhere.
Great shop on Raco they sell cracking Pâté

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[MikenPauline]

We ve had 2 Xmas at Bonterra, both had good weather daytime low 20s and sunny but long sleeves at night. First time 5? Years ago we had a brilliant xmas dinner in a local restaurant but last year bonterra put on Xmas do which was nice and sociable. Thing to watch for is that the main event for the Spanish is the 3 Kings fiesta which happens about the 5th January.

What great company we all had at Bonterra

 

[Lenny HB]

OK ...... Any recommendations for the best sites in Benidorm which may have places still available over the period of Christmas to the new year please? My ACSI Discount book lists Villasol, Arena Blanca, Armanello and Benisol. Any recommendations or places to avoid out of those please? Or any others that may have room for us?

And advice on the likely temperatures please.

Oh dear you are really scraping the barrel now, can't think of a worse place to spend Christmas.

 

[Ditcha]

Thanks Dave. After I posted I noticed that Villasol stopped the discount just before Christmas.

Everybody tells me that Benidorm has its own micro-climate. Albir is just around the headland isn't it, or am I getting it confused with Altea? Does that make a difference I wonder?

No you get the same weather we pedal to Lidl in Albir a couple of times a week takes about 15min from Arena Blanca

 

[Ditcha]

Oh dear you are really scraping the barrel now, can't think of a worse place to spend Christmas.

Come on Billy no mates you know you would love to come and chat to fellow funsters in the sun

 

[Lenny HB]

Come on Billy no mates you know you would love to come and chat to fellow funsters in the sun

Love chatting to Funsters even ones from the extreme north Come on Benidorm there are limits you know. Spent 4 hours there in April this year not a place we ever want to go back to. Really don't understand the attraction.

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[WoodysTravels]

We have often been to Spain and Portugal in the motorhome in the spring and autumn. But now we have made a late decision to go to Spain or Portugal or both for Christmas. We will take the tunnel and drive down through France using Tonka's Western winter route. Leaving about 8 December and returning home in late January, so about 6 weeks away. But we need some advice about how to get the best out of the time we are there from you funsters who have done it before.

Firstly we would like the weather to be as warm as possible, so what are the best areas for that? And what temperatures could we expect please?

We like to tour around rather than staying a long time in one place. But I suspect we will want to stop in one place just before Christmas and then stay to see the new year in. I understand that Spain has lots of parades on 6 January, so would like to experience that too. We don't mind campsites, camper stops or a bit of wilding. But, as usual we have not booked anything. Will we be able to find places easily or will there be no room in the inn?

Looking at the 2022 ACSI Discount book a lot of the sites are offering discounted rates up until the new year and after, which normally means they will probably have space for turn-ups. Any suggestions please of places along the coast from Valencia all the way to the Portuguese border, as I guess inland would be too cold for us. If there are some funsters to meet up with that would be good too.

Another option could be Portugal, which we love. What will the weather be like there please? I suspect we would have to stick to the Algarve to get the warmer weather. Are the camper stops along the coast full at this time of year? And how do the Portuguese celebrate Christmas?

Many thanks for any help you can give us.

Where can i find tonkas western winter route pls, we are going to bonterra park innjan first time.

 

[Sheddy]

Even though a lot of Villasol is closed off for the work on the pitches there seems to be plenty of available space. Because of the ongoing building work the site is noisy during the week which is putting folk off. During the recent fiesta's the usual rush of Spanish campers didn't turn up, however that may be different over Christmas and the 3 Kings. Email the site for a quote they usually reply fairly quickly.

 

[Ditcha]

Where can i find tonkas western winter route pls, we are going to bonterra park innjan first time.

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular. https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/resources/tonkas-western-route-to-spain.99/

 

[peterc10]

Where can i find tonkas western winter route pls, we are going to bonterra park innjan first time.

Not sure, I just followed a link provided by Minxy . Or maybe tonka can help

Ditcha beat me to it

 

[PlatypusKiwi]

We have often been to Spain and Portugal in the motorhome in the spring and autumn. But now we have made a late decision to go to Spain or Portugal or both for Christmas. We will take the tunnel and drive down through France using Tonka's Western winter route. Leaving about 8 December and returning home in late January, so about 6 weeks away. But we need some advice about how to get the best out of the time we are there from you funsters who have done it before.

Firstly we would like the weather to be as warm as possible, so what are the best areas for that? And what temperatures could we expect please?

We like to tour around rather than staying a long time in one place. But I suspect we will want to stop in one place just before Christmas and then stay to see the new year in. I understand that Spain has lots of parades on 6 January, so would like to experience that too. We don't mind campsites, camper stops or a bit of wilding. But, as usual we have not booked anything. Will we be able to find places easily or will there be no room in the inn?

Looking at the 2022 ACSI Discount book a lot of the sites are offering discounted rates up until the new year and after, which normally means they will probably have space for turn-ups. Any suggestions please of places along the coast from Valencia all the way to the Portuguese border, as I guess inland would be too cold for us. If there are some funsters to meet up with that would be good too.

Another option could be Portugal, which we love. What will the weather be like there please? I suspect we would have to stick to the Algarve to get the warmer weather. Are the camper stops along the coast full at this time of year? And how do the Portuguese celebrate Christmas?

Many thanks for any help you can give us.

Almeria province is the Driest place in Europe.I think best weather at Xmas generally.3 years ago 27 degrees Xmas day, too hot for our Xmas jumpers lol.In Mojacar sadly they are marking up prices in restaurants for Xmas day but we just go to a Spanish restaurant ( no mark up) and avoid that.New years day swim on the beach at midday if your up for that.Quite a few attend with warm drinks such as mulled wine and many mince pies and snacks.

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[jumar]

Don’t think el Raco do ACSI anyway and Christmas the price goes up. It’s cheaper before and afterwards.
It’s our first time there and was recommended. So will see how we enjoy it.

Hope you enjoy it in Benidorm, ignore the negativity, perhaps next time you could try Spain.

 

[PlatypusKiwi]

First time dipping your toe in the water you'll love it you will be surprised how close all the site's are to each other go on a reccy around them all for next year you have to start somewhere.
Great shop on Raco they sell cracking Pâté

El Raco don’t do Acsi Card.I have just come back from there

 

[Lenny HB]

Where can i find tonkas western winter route pls, we are going to bonterra park innjan first time.

If you are over 3.5t it's best to avoid the N10, most of it is dual carriageway with hard shoulder but over 3.5t speed limit is 80kph and no overtaking and it's rammed with trucks, I hate it.

 

[BreweryDave]

Pete, Beni will be great over Christmas, plenty happening, as there always is! I miss it, and even we are loosely planning a week there end of Jan ish ( will book a room somewhere, if we can sort a dog sitter) when there’s a good gang of funster regulars there
Knowing you and Ang, I think you’d both enjoy it, albeit for a ‘limited’ stay

……but even we couldn’t really do more than a week
Alvor will be quieter, and as for the weather…..won’t know till a few days before! The Portuguese tend to do the family thing on the 24th, the Spanish not much till 6 Jan, it’s only the English that eat and drink too much on the 25th
If you ended up here, I’m sure I’ll end up offering you a ‘traditional’ dinner

 

[flyboyprowler]

For the weather you may need to be as far south as possible. We live in the Mojacar / Almeria area but we spend Christmas and New Year in a site in Torrox Costa. Obviously with climate change, the weather cannot be guaranteed but generally expect at least 18 degrees and a pully on at night. We are paying €13.50 a night plus electric, but includes Wi Fi and showers. There are beach restaurants and shopping close by, and Malaga is about 1 1/2 hours drive and the Christmas lights are amazing. We use Camping Milucar on a regular basis, but are in Paradise Beach this year. I know that the sites are very busy and Milucar is probably full. Camping Garoffa near Almeria is good, but our 8.3 metre van is too big, Almeria is accessible. 3 kings falls on the 6th of January, but as others have said, the Spanish have embraced Christmas

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[bobandjanie]

Don’t think el Raco do ACSI anyway and Christmas the price goes up. It’s cheaper before and afterwards.
It’s our first time there and was recommended. So will see how we enjoy it.

Just checked Arena Blanca they accept Acsi for the whole period not only is it €18 a night it's also 7 nights for the price of 6.
Do you want me to tell you how many more you could have.

Camping Arena Blanca | ACSI

Small, charming and sunny campsite. Swimming is possible all year round. In winter, the swimming pool is covered. Campsite with restaurant, wifi and...

www.campingcard.co.uk

Bob.

 

[jongood]

Not sure, I just followed a link provided by Minxy . Or maybe tonka can help

Ditcha beat me to it

Benidorm normally is not our cup of tea but last year it was much quieter as the overwinter lot found it difficult to fly there, so it actually suited us nicely. We were there in late Jan and it certainly did seem to have a microclimate as we tried going further south it just got steadily wetter until we turned around. We stopped at Vilasol, we were able to find an elevated pitch that gave us quite a nice view over towards the cross. We did also try the ACSI at Altea but found it too shaded and totally Dutch run. calpe is quite nice but a lot of concrete and some eye watering camperstop prices - now I don't mind paying extra for a nice pitch but these were a square of tarmac surrounded by high concrete walls and a building site next door.

Routing wise, I would have a think about whether to go to Irun and turn south ( which is a bit of a zig zag) or cut through Somport weather permitting. The tunnels by Andorra are really expensive.

 

[MikenPauline]

Another vote for Bonterra Resort in Benicassim for Christmas and New Year. Def check via phone or e mail for availability asap if considering. Lovely clean site, nice bar restaurant, lovely town and beachgood mix of nationalities. We will be there for the 3rd time this year...

We will be thinking of you-hopefully we will get there next year and hopefully you will be too

 

[Lenny HB]

We did also try the ACSI at Altea but found it too shaded and totally Dutch run.

Cap blanch is quite nice right at the westen end of Altea bordering L'Albir, right by the beach and loads of good restaurants a short walk away.

 

[Paulypaul]

Cap blanch is quite nice right at the westen end of Altea bordering L'Albir, right by the beach and loads of good restaurants a short walk away.

Trouble is Lenny is that Cap Blanch and San Antonio just up the road don't take bookings so its a risk if you get down there and they're full up?

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[Lenny HB]

Trouble is Lenny is that Cap Blanch and San Antonio just up the road don't take bookings so its a risk if you get down there and they're full up?

True, we were there in April plenty of space then, might be a problem Dec/Jan/Feb.

 

[peterc10]

Cap blanch is quite nice right at the westen end of Altea bordering L'Albir, right by the beach and loads of good restaurants a short walk away.

Stayed there a few years ago with a meet up of funsters. It turned out to be a great place to gate crash a wedding BreweryDave Clive

 

[NicandJay]

We will be thinking of you-hopefully we will get there next year and hopefully you will be too

We are thinking about a later arrival next year, so maybe going to Morocco from 2 nd week November 2023 till after New Year 2024 then off to Bonterra for a couple of months but a lot can change by then.

 

[jongood]

Cap blanch is quite nice right at the westen end of Altea bordering L'Albir, right by the beach and loads of good restaurants a short walk away.

Thats the one that last January was mostly in the shade, there are some high buildings next to it and a lot of trees. Its also another one that is right next to the sea but you can't get a view.

 

[Paulypaul]

Thats the one that last January was mostly in the shade, there are some high buildings next to it and a lot of trees. Its also another one that is right next to the sea but you can't get a view.

San Antonio? In full sunshine but walled along the front ?

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