Portugal freecamping now illegal.

[Northernraider]

Just consider for a moment those who live in Portugal who own motorhomes ! They must be furious that behaviour by visiting tourists has caused their government to make these new laws.
My brother has a property in the Algarve and also owns a motorhome, so weekend trips to the coast look to be a lost pleasure. He hopes that these new measures are aimed at giving the GNR the powers to issue on the spot fines to those that consistently cause problems, rather than those who act responsibly, but who knows.

The same can be said in any country ....thats why there's a campaign for Aires in the uk

P.s the Algarve is on the coast ....most of the west coast of Portugal is national park.
The middle and the east side is quieter for motorhomes but its also nowhere near water so if like me you like coastal areas then Portugal has sadly lost a lot of its appeal.

Thats my biggest issue with laws and regulations either make them and enforce them 24/7 or don't make them because picking and choosing when to enforce them leaves room for people to pick and choose when to obey them.

personally im in the camp of theres too many laws and rules and the land was at one time all stolen ....go back far enough and someone just decided it was theres.
too much of society just blindly allows their freedom's to be removed.

but also some are their own worst enemy

 

[Northernraider]

And all of Wales is terrible as well, we don't want any if you dreadful motorhome types here either

I was being sarcastic whereas youre speaking the truth lol

 

[BreweryDave]

Northernraider theres not enough museums and churches for you here anyway
You’d be bored sitting in the bar overlooking the glorious beaches......and you’d probably lose your phone again anyway

 

[Minxy]

To be fair there are no emptying facilities here either .. ive not used my cassette in 2 months..

Ive got lots of dog poo bags though and 2 wide necked milk bottles

There are ways and means

I am sure i know the place in your pics. My wife and i walked through it , the other year and on turning a bend were confronted by a guy doing his business at the side of the track!!! and not a no 1 ,i might add.This kind of thing ruins it for us all.

Cheers Cris.

PS, if not where i am thinking ,it looks the same but the comment still applies.

Please tell me this wasn't you Northernraider !!!!

I joined MHF because it was fun. It is now as bad as some of the facebook groups that are nothing but insult trading spaces. If you like campsites, fine, but don't act like a superior being. Don't try and label everyone else as low life.

We are having fun hence why we take a silly 'label' and take the P out of it ... we wild camp and use aires exclusively so would also be a FLT but in the context of Fun Loving Travellers ...

But the definition of a FLT is about MHs who put nothing into the system and as an excuse talk about freedom and the there right to roam and then complain about lack the shower block

As above

 

[Northernraider]

Please tell me this wasn't you Northernraider !!!!



We are having fun hence why we take a silly 'label' and take the P out of it ... we wild camp and use aires exclusively so would also be a FLT but in the context of Fun Loving Travellers ...


As above

Not me ...i conduct my business inside the mh and dispose of discretely
I don't even pee outside

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[bobandjanie]

Spain is going the same way, the trouble is there's inconsiderate people that want to park side on to the sea, in the end they pi$$ the locals off, and the police have to do something about it.
How many years has it been posted on here, about the difference between parking and camping, JJ has had the pleasure of our company on many occasions over the years, on a few occasions we have managed to get him to camp.

But on most occasions you can't get him outside on his chair, our biggest downfall is hanging
washing out but it's not out long.

It's not what you do, it's where you do it, and no matter what country you're in, if you wish to park and use that space and more often 2 or 3 spaces to camp your asking for trouble, if you leave prime parking spot for the locals go inland a bit you won't have a problem.

The last time we met up with JJ in Portugal, there was 3 of us, he walked over to the house and asked if it was OK , he said it was not a problem even though we had a better view than him. Bob.

 

[chaser]

I am at a motorhome park in Silves... it too looks like a Gypsy camp but with slightly less gold jewellery on the men


Neither Dave (Ruth?)... it is a VERY well priced one... approximately €30...


JJ

 

[Sundowners]

We have been motorhoming in portugal since the mid 80's------ back then we were usually the only one parked on a spot---- to see a GB reg car or motorhome was very rare------ what has happened is the result of so many people catching on to the freedom and economical way of travelling.
This way of life was a victim of it's own success.
There were far too many vans parked for too long in the " wrong" places------
None of us yet know how rigorously this new set of laws will be enforced?? but I am hoping that an odd van parked well out of the way will be left alone-- time will tell??
If we didn't have our own place to put our motorhome here in portugal, would we still come here??
MOST DEFINITELY WE WOULD-------- the country and people are amongst the best you can find.
There are loads of free aires and there is a program at the moment of constructing many new small ones (at least in central portugal)
The days of wild camping along the beaches have come to an end---- so if that is what you want to do dig deep to help the Portuguese economy or look elsewhere.
Covid is another issue completely!!!

 

[Northernraider]

Northernraider theres not enough museums and churches for you here anyway
You’d be bored sitting in the bar overlooking the glorious beaches......and you’d probably lose your phone again anyway

Yes i did find it lacking a little..

 

[nicholsong]

So you want other people to do the research for you?

I very much doubt that there is one authoritative source for this information covering the whole of Portugal, some of us know of a few, some of us may know of a lot but sites like Park4night do not specify.

No, but since I do not know the system in Portugal I do not know whether the places are authorised by central, regional or municipal authorities and in each one what dpartment one has to approach. Do the tourist offices hold information on 'authorised' places and can one find the information centrally or in each region?

Is there an association of campsite owners and what is its name? Are farms and vineyards authorised like CL/CS and where does one find a list of authorised ones?

On another point, does the law consider parking on farmland with the owner's consent to be 'authorised'? If so I could see a lot of opportunities for landowners to make a few bob if they do not exceed permitted limits needing a campsite licence.

I was hoping some people who know the country might help with those starter clues.

Geoff

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[chaser]

Now you all know, I'm not into paying more than I have to, and do a bit of flt ing where possible but also love Portugal, but I wouldn't dream of going in a motorhome, I know this isn't on at the moment but you can get a Ryanair for about 40 quid which is less than getting to the airport or tunnel, no miether driving, you are there in a couple of hours and b&b is dead cheap, sometimes less than a campsite, why go to all the bother of going in a motorhome?

 

[Lenny HB]

why go to all the bother of going in a motorhome

Because it is nicer and you get to explore a lot more of the country.

 

[chaser]

Because it is nicer and you get to explore a lot more of the country.

Not if you can't park anywhere, and car hire is next to nothing, about a fiver a day.

 

[2657]

No, but since I do not know the system in Portugal I do not know whether the places are authorised by central, regional or municipal authorities and in each one what dpartment one has to approach. Do the tourist offices hold information on 'authorised' places and can one find the information centrally or in each region?

Is there an association of campsite owners and what is its name? Are farms and vineyards authorised like CL/CS and where does one find a list of authorised ones?

On another point, does the law consider parking on farmland with the owner's consent to be 'authorised'? If so I could see a lot of opportunities for landowners to make a few bob if they do not exceed permitted limits needing a campsite licence.

I was hoping some people who know the country might help with those starter clues.

Geoff

Sorry that I can't help you with any specific information, there is, as far as I know no central database.
Tourist offices will be of little value as they will undoubtedly lead you to sites and camperstops.
Free camping and the enforcement of any regulations has always been problematic in Portugal and will probably remain so.
There are many places that have allowed free camping without being 'official' and many are flagged on google maps, some of them in Natural Parks have always been illegal but enforcement has been sporadic.
Perhaps now some of the local authorities will authorise some of these places.
In my area of the Algarve which is in the Ria Formosa Natural Park at least 2 free camping locations have been turned into municipal authorised camperstops charging around €5 a night plus one commercial camperstop in Tavira, part of a chain, that charges around €10 but does have more facilities.
Enforcement of the new laws will in all probability remain sporadic but if you require absolute certainty of authorisation then campsites and camperstops seem to be the only option.

 

[pjay]

No, but since I do not know the system in Portugal I do not know whether the places are authorised by central, regional or municipal authorities and in each one what dpartment one has to approach. Do the tourist offices hold information on 'authorised' places and can one find the information centrally or in each region?

Is there an association of campsite owners and what is its name? Are farms and vineyards authorised like CL/CS and where does one find a list of authorised ones?

On another point, does the law consider parking on farmland with the owner's consent to be 'authorised'? If so I could see a lot of opportunities for landowners to make a few bob if they do not exceed permitted limits needing a campsite licence.

I was hoping some people who know the country might help with those starter clues.

Geoff

Geoff,

The only one i know of that specifically lists Portugal 'areas' is this one but I don't think its a definitive or 'official' list and don't know how up to date it is nowadays.

CampingCar Portugal

Pete

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[nicholsong]

Now you all know, I'm not into paying more than I have to, and do a bit of flt ing where possible but also love Portugal, but I wouldn't dream of going in a motorhome, I know this isn't on at the moment but you can get a Ryanair for about 40 quid which is less than getting to the airport or tunnel, no miether driving, you are there in a couple of hours and b&b is dead cheap, sometimes less than a campsite, why go to all the bother of going in a motorhome?

Possibly because one can enjoy Germany, Luxembourg, France and Spain on the way, including calling on on or meeting up with friends, and not imposing on their hospitality for accommodation, even invite them for dinner in our 'home'.

Geoff

 

[Lenny HB]

Not if you can't park anywhere, and car hire is next to nothing, about a fiver a day.

100's of free Aires all over Portugal.

 

[Peter and Julie]

Now you all know, I'm not into paying more than I have to, and do a bit of flt ing where possible but also love Portugal, but I wouldn't dream of going in a motorhome, I know this isn't on at the moment but you can get a Ryanair for about 40 quid which is less than getting to the airport or tunnel, no miether driving, you are there in a couple of hours and b&b is dead cheap, sometimes less than a campsite, why go to all the bother of going in a motorhome?

Dogs!! Mine refuse to fly.

 

[chaser]

Dogs!! Mine refuse to fly.

Different argument altogether and I'm not getting mixed up in that one

 

[Northernraider]

100's of free Aires all over Portugal.

Many of which are pretty poo to be honest

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[chaser]

100's of free Aires all over Portugal.

How long will they be free?

 

[tonyysue]

The suggestion that FLT's don't use campsites because they are mean with their money is not only offensive and wrong but also displays an arrogance worthy of Da*ly Mail readers...

JJ

A little partisan arrogance there - in your pc world pray tell what is acceptable reading?

 

[jumartoo]

How long will they be free?

Or with space?

 

[Crazylegs]

Now you all know, I'm not into paying more than I have to, and do a bit of flt ing where possible but also love Portugal, but I wouldn't dream of going in a motorhome, I know this isn't on at the moment but you can get a Ryanair for about 40 quid which is less than getting to the airport or tunnel, no miether driving, you are there in a couple of hours and b&b is dead cheap, sometimes less than a campsite, why go to all the bother of going in a motorhome?

I posted on this subject in the Autumn as we had to abandon our plans to take the van to Spain and Portugal. In the end I took my own advice and flew to Faro in October and stayed until December, so we avoided the second lockdown completely. We are lucky as both my daughter and brother live in Portugal in different locations so for the most part we didn’t pay for our accommodation. We did go on a road trip in a hired car and used Air B an B for stops at very reasonable cost, we could have spent even less if we had used hostels, and believe me some of them are excellent.
Check this one out.

Lisbon | Destination Hostels

Destination Hostels in Lisbon - Hostels, Dorms, Privates, Events, Parties in Lisbon. Rooftop bar with pool, city and sunset views.

www.destinationhostels.com

We had a brilliant trip and spent much less than taking the van.

For info we paid £40 for two of us to fly to Faro, and similar to return.
€80 pw to hire a Renault Captur, less if a Clio is big enough.
Air B and B €30-45 per night
Hostels will charge approximately €16- 20 per night
Both of the above will discount for longer stays my daughter tells me one hostel in Lisbon charges €150 per month for a bunk room bed, and you would probably get a Air B and B for less than €500.

I’m really not sure what we will do next year.

 

[Lenny HB]

Many of which are pretty poo to be honest

And some are excellent.

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[jumar]

What continues to amaze me is that most of the main causes of motorhome problem makers, ie....staying in one place for months on end are from citizens of countries that have very tight restrictions on motorhome parking/overnighting....so the simple answer to the situation is Ban those who come from these countries. I started a list of European countries where unauthorized overnighting is not allowed, I got as far as Austria....can anyone fill in the missing countries....

 

[nicholsong]

What continues to amaze me is that most of the main causes of motorhome problem makers, ie....staying in one place for months on end are from citizens of countries that have very tight restrictions on motorhome parking/overnighting....so the simple answer to the situation is Ban those who come from these countries. I started a list of European countries where unauthorized overnighting is not allowed, I got as far as Austria....can anyone fill in the missing countries....

I am not sure your idea would be effective, but just for discussion -

Croatia does unfortunately ban it.

Poland and Slovakia do have laws against it but I think they were enacted in Communist time to stop people 'spying' on military installations. They are certainly, from our own experience totally ignored, but then even with outside tourists there are very few MHs moving around, maybe more near the Baltic coast.

I think the same may apply to old laws in most ex-Communist countries, but I have no experience of enforcement or not.

Geoff

 

[jumar]

I am not sure your idea would be effective, but just for discussion -

Croatia does unfortunately ban it.

Poland and Slovakia do have laws against it but I think they were enacted in Communist time to stop people 'spying' on military installations. They are certainly, from our own experience totally ignored, but then even with outside tourists there are very few MHs moving around, maybe more near the Baltic coast.

I think the same may apply to old laws in most ex-Communist countries, but I have no experience of enforcement or not.

Geoff

Sorry Geoff.....A to C misses out B......any takers to fill the missing gap....

 

[Peter and Julie]

Sorry Geoff.....A to C misses out B......any takers to fill the missing gap....

Belgium????

 

[2657]

I suspect that many of the free aires in Portugal are not actually authorised, merely accepted and possibly welcomed by the locals, I may well be wrong on this but a definitive answer is difficult to find.

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