Lots of FLT at La Zenia (SE Spain)

[Just smiffy]

I’ll stay where I want to be, whether it costs me money or not… I know for a fact that I contribute to the local community.
I’ll park anywhere if I’m parking, if I want a bit more of a camping stay then I’ll be in a camping environment and that doesn’t necessarily mean a campsite…

 

[cookie]

Stayed at ikea murcia recently , luckily found a spot on the aire part. Lots of vans been here for months some came as long ago as October. a few caravans as well. Many spots being saved for friends or while they drive for gas or fill with water .Notably this year lots of dutch vans.

Police have been seen taking pictures as well.

Spoke to a Spanish guy and he said its getting out of hand now and many Spanish had reported how bad it is.

 

[Mr porky]

Stayed at ikea murcia recently , luckily found a spot on the aire part. Lots of vans been here for months some came as long ago as October. a few caravans as well. Many spots being saved for friends or while they drive for gas or fill with water .Notably this year lots of dutch vans.

Police have been seen taking pictures as well.

Spoke to a Spanish guy and he said its getting out of hand now and many Spanish had reported how bad it is.

A small charge per day should help. Maybe.

 

[InvictaMoto]

Done properly there’s nothing wrong with a free park up.

Wasn't that the point of the thread? "Done properly".....

 

[cyberyacht]

Did you note any decent alternatives ?

There's Parking Centro Historico about 600M north but it was €24 a night back in April and a bit of an awkward slope. Fresh, black & grey facs.

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[jumar]

As I’ve said before, we enjoy ‘free parking’ and the ability to conveniently park and sleep in the motorhome across Spain is a wonderful thing!

The issue is a significant number creating pseudo campsites in inappropriate areas, abusing the parking/sleeping rules, leading to the tarring of all Motorhomers with the same brush by local communities, Police Local and local administration!

It’s easy to envisage the outcome is obviously not going to be great! More local bylaws and the ‘not beyond the realms of possibility’ of a Portugal type approach with a complete ban being taken by the Spanish. Really annoys me!

I agree, with most of your comments and feelings...there could be a total ban or very severe restrictions eventually.
No one person has the right..to camp as they please...there are campsites and camperstops built for your needs...that's the law in Spain...if you want confirmation of this it's clearly documented. Just Google N322 motorhome parking....
What you can do is park in a parking area sleep and prepare a meal..
Where the problems are is a crossover between the two..parking, awnings out, tables and chairs, sun loungers, generators running and cooking outdoors..these actions are going to cause the authorities to make changes..
There are severe rumbles in the Spanish motorhome forums...those who work Monday to Friday and want a weekend away...turn up to find their chosen weekend retreat where they have promised the kids, a place to ride, walk and enjoy a pleasant weekend away, full of law flouting Northern Europeans who are lounging on sunbeds, awnings out etc...Because their fellow countrymen have beat them and got the best coastal locations for the whole winter.
This is forcing more visitors inland..they don't want to be there...but anywhere will do...hence the IKEA and La Xenia situation..
More camperstops are being built...but this will only ease the situation slightly...because many will prefer an option to camp for free..

 

[Mr porky]

There's Parking Centro Historico about 600M north but it was €24 a night back in April and a bit of an awkward slope. Fresh, black & grey facs.

It only charged us €19.95 when we stayed there a few weeks back.

 

[Just smiffy]

A small charge per day should help. Maybe.

Yes, a €5 a night at murcia should clear around 85%of the vehicles…

 

[Mikeco]

We quite enjoy our 90 days in Spain during the Winter and I don’t mind paying £15 a night for our spacious serviced pitch, we are however in our late seventies so we need a bit of comfort and security. Even trailered the smarty behind our panel van as well.

 

[Lenny HB]

We stayed at the murca IKEA in April 22, we stayed on the proper aire for 3-4 days. Plenty of room, this was after the police had cleared them all off I presume.
It's not just that this and other spots are free, it's also there damn convenient for visiting the sites, either by walking or public transport.

No problem in April we were there last April, loads of room all the snowbirds have gone home by then. When it's not rammed with the snowbirds it's quite a nice Aire plenty of space nice tree lined parking area.

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[Lenny HB]

Yes, a €5 a night at murcia should clear around 85%of the vehicles…

Even better would be to restrict it to 3 nights & no return within 7 days & enforce it.

 

[Mr porky]

Even better would be to restrict it to 3 nights & no return within 7 days & enforce it.

Yes, which is the reason for most aires a temporary place for motorhomes to enjoy what the local area has to offer.

 

[Paulypaul]

We stopped at the mall at San Javea for a couple of nights recently so we could visit a vet for our poorly dog. Tbh, it's no different to the average Spanish camp site that are basically gravel car parks with services, except at San Javea you can have more space between vans but no services.

That in itself is a problem for us cause as long as we're all emptied waste wise and full of fresh we're self sufficient. It's got the bonus of Carefour, Lidl, Decathlon and Asia Home shops for those things you might need (we got one of those dog beck funnels for €5)

One of the nights we were there a car and motor bike came in and started screaming round doing donuts so I guess it's locals trying to scare the beejesus out of campers. Granted, there are obviously long stayers there but they're like a plague down that part of Spain I think?

The free aire at Los Alcazares has a couple of French and a German van on there that have been there for over 2 months which I thinknis bang out of order seeing as it's a 72hr max stay, but that's because it's not policed and they're selfish p/$$ takers.

We don't stop on sites but wouldn't dream of getting chairs and tables out on a car park or road side, why would you?

We went to La Manga and the moho parking aire was full of D and F vans who were there for a good while. A €400,000 Concorde Liner with a smart car inside being one of them. A dutch fella we got talking to found out they are dumping their rubbish in the sea....I think it's got worse these last few years, shame on them.

 

[nicholsong]

I read quite a lot of threads which contain reports of parking restrictions in Spain, but then I read other threads where people seem to manage to park OK with no problems, e.g. Tam in his recent posts in thread 'Doc on tour, France, Spain, Morroco.' and others.

I wonder whether the problem arises where there are 20+ MHs which attract police attention and that spots with only 3-4 are left alone.

 

[jumartoo]

I read quite a lot of threads which contain reports of parking restrictions in Spain, but then I read other threads where people seem to manage to park OK with no problems, e.g. Tam in his recent posts in thread 'Doc on tour, France, Spain, Morroco.' and others.

I wonder whether the problem arises where there are 20+ MHs which attract police attention and that spots with only 3-4 are left alone.

20+ would be no problem. Think more 100/150+

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[Northernraider]

We are all different so it is difficult to comment without equal number of funsters having equal and opposite views. I'm one of those who has never been able to understand why anyone would want to spend any length of time camped up in a retail car park and claim its living the dream or a lifestyle choice, surely we dream bigger dreams than this? Surely those that spend £100k plus on a van had a bigger vision than this when they laid their money down, surely they were not thinking 'Great, I can holiday at Lidl in this now', surely their partners (male or female) secretly long for something more than this? Stopping off for a few hours kip in transit I can understand, (I use Sainsbury before going through the tunnel) stopping for a visit to town, where permitted, I can understand, however, as a destination of choice and staying there for days, I can't get my head around at all. Always makes me think of those less fortunate like the van lady in the Alan Bennett play or the film Nomadland where it was all about survival not living a dream or a lifestyle choice.

I personally think many of these are fulltime van motirhome dwellers and they're not fussed about sightseeing anymore they're just wanting warmer weather. There are people who will go anywhere as long as its sunny . I can live fairly cheap in a motorhome each year and I move around and do a fair bit of miles . Some of these big rigs I've seen in Greece and Spain who park in the one spot for 3 to 6 months could well be living on less than €5k a year unless their food bill is extravagant. I couldn't stay in one spot that long but they seem to know everyone around them so it becomes an established neighbourhood community

 

[Northernraider]

The old comment.

“Spend a £100k on a van and stay in a car park”

No you don’t have to have bigger dreams than this. Very condescending comment.

Why? Because we gave up work when we had enough to live on. We are in charge of our life now answering to nobody and personally we prefer free camping over overrated overpriced need to book months in advance. No chance of changing at a moment notice campsite.
When we worked we booked camping months in advance. Because we had to.
I might wake up in a Lidl car park or next to a sports complex or by the side of a road. But I wake up a free man.
I survived a life changing cycling hit and run years ago. It makes you realise how important life is. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Now if people don’t get it. That’s fine.

Keep working until you can afford all the good stuff you want in retirement. Because you are obviously going to live a long and happy retirement.

In the meantime we will enjoy the freedom in our £100k van. Beholden to nobody and living the dream together.

I agree

But just think what you could do in a 30 grand van

 

[Northernraider]

Even better would be to restrict it to 3 nights & no return within 7 days & enforce it.

It's meant to be restricted to 72 hours at present, there's even a guard on a motir scooter but he does nothing.

The most annoying bit about that aire at Murcia is you go to use the services and you can't get peace from all the longtimers coming and filling up hundreds of bottles or emptying cassettes over your shoulder while you're trying to sort your van out. I had one cheeky German stand right behind me when I was emptying my cassette and loudly utter " pheeeeew" when I did ...like toilet emptying is a spectator sport in Germany or summit.

Now the big Chinese shop has closed though its lost its appeal

 

[jumar]

It's meant to be restricted to 72 hours at present, there's even a guard on a motir scooter but he does nothing.

The most annoying bit about that aire at Murcia is you go to use the services and you can't get peace from all the longtimers coming and filling up hundreds of bottles or emptying cassettes over your shoulder while you're trying to sort your van out. I had one cheeky German stand right behind me when I was emptying my cassette and loudly utter " pheeeeew" when I did ...like toilet emptying is a spectator sport in Germany or summit.

Now the big Chinese shop has closed though its lost its appeal

The guard on the scooter Tam has no powers or authority...he is there as a gesture, a pair of eyes and can call the police...after all what's he guarding...parked cars...sorry motorhomes...no space for cars..
The concept of a city camperstop is brilliant....it allows easy access into the city....Murcia is worth a visit...it's not the best city by far, but it's worth a night or two...but not a long stay holiday...for goodness sake...
I haven't read anywhere, seen anything from any source, what needs to be done to ease the overcrowding..
No good saying build more places for motorhomes...that takes time...land is a premium price in the places folk want to come...planning permission, build time...this isn't going to happen overnight...and then...to re-coup the expenditure, charges for use will need to be collected..the thought of paying will make this places unattractive to many..
Anyone else offer anything that might help ease the situation...?

 

[Northernraider]

Here's an example of selfish questionable parking ... one has to ask why .

Everyone else bar one big morelo is parked in proper bays

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[jumartoo]

There's a German free camped down on the coast near Percheles, who has carved out a rectangular area to make a pitch. He has a groundsheet and plants in pots etc. but, even better, he's had gravel delivered to mark out "his land"!

 

[Northernraider]

The guard on the scooter Tam has no powers or authority...he is there as a gesture, a pair of eyes and can call the police...after all what's he guarding...parked cars...sorry motorhomes...no space for cars..
The concept of a city camperstop is brilliant....it allows easy access into the city....Murcia is worth a visit...it's not the best city by far, but it's worth a night or two...but not a long stay holiday...for goodness sake...
I haven't read anywhere, seen anything from any source, what needs to be done to ease the overcrowding..
No good saying build more places for motorhomes...that takes time...land is a premium price in the places folk want to come...planning permission, build time...this isn't going to happen overnight...and then...to re-coup the expenditure, charges for use will need to be collected..the thought of paying will make this places unattractive to many..
Anyone else offer anything that might help ease the situation...?

Build a big greenhouse over Germany and Holland lol

 

[Lenny HB]

There's a German free camped down on the coast near Percheles, who has carved out a rectangular area to make a pitch. He has a groundsheet and plants in pots etc. but, even better, he's had gravel delivered to mark out "his land"!

Have you got a friendly mate with a bulldozer?

 

[jumar]

Yep...seen this in another location...I sent eMails to the Town hall and Police Local...they are responsible for controlling this behaviour....Lots of folk talk about it, tut about it...The Spanish report these type of actions....as you know Tam...I ain't nowhere near Spanish...but I do report these problems..
A couple of weeks ago...I went to the Police Local and the Guardia Civil office in Mula...because there had been some youths throwing stones at Motorhomes in a local camperstop...we were due there for a couple of nights...so I wanted to know what's been done....they couldn't tell me for sure...but apparently it had stopped....and further to this advised me what I could do if it happened again... answers by PM only...

 

[Northernraider]

There's a German free camped down on the coast near Percheles, who has carved out a rectangular area to make a pitch. He has a groundsheet and plants in pots etc. but, even better, he's had gravel delivered to mark out "his land"!

As far as German motorhomes are concerned the war isn't over the invasion has just slowed down ....they've been invading coastal locations, poolside sunloungers etc ever since .

And still have the biggest tanks lol

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[pandas]

The guard on the scooter Tam has no powers or authority...he is there as a gesture, a pair of eyes and can call the police...after all what's he guarding...parked cars...sorry motorhomes...no space for cars..
The concept of a city camperstop is brilliant....it allows easy access into the city....Murcia is worth a visit...it's not the best city by far, but it's worth a night or two...but not a long stay holiday...for goodness sake...
I haven't read anywhere, seen anything from any source, what needs to be done to ease the overcrowding..
No good saying build more places for motorhomes...that takes time...land is a premium price in the places folk want to come...planning permission, build time...this isn't going to happen overnight...and then...to re-coup the expenditure, charges for use will need to be collected..the thought of paying will make this places unattractive to many..
Anyone else offer anything that might help ease the situation...?

Quite pleased everyone is migrating to southern Spain as it means they are not elsewhere. Spain will get what it deserves until they either sort the issue out or don’t bother.