Tam &Toby do Europe ...Take two

[Devon Sue]

If you like fish Tam, head for Olhao, one whole market hall devoted to fresh fish

 

[Northernraider]

I've decided I'm going to try and make a go of Portugal this year....last year I wasn't as keen on it , I found it more expensive etc and harder to find decent spots to park up but this year I'm prepared for it being more expensive so will approach it with an open mind , second year in Spain has left me a little less enamoured...there's bits I love about Spain but other things I really dislike I'm still not sure I could live there full time.
So we will see what Portugal brings

Went out for a wee wander earlier with dogs and stumbled accross a little fruit stall so picked up a melon and some peaches...And there were these weird things that looked good but I didn't know what they were ...wee auld wifey didn't know any English and my Portuguese extends to ola bom dia and obrigado that's it lol so I bought one anyway €6.70 for the lot

Well the weird thing was a little dissapointing, turned out to be like deep fried fish batter but sweet .....meh
it might have been good warm with ice cream but otherwise nah.

 

[Northernraider]

Bloody warm though I mean 7.30pm and still 33° is ridiculous

 

[TM59]

Agree about being more open minded. Take the Motorhome equation out of it. I know you like to keep on the move, try settling in one area for a week or two. Get a real feel for the place. We love Portugal especially Cabanas, Tavira and Santa Luzia. Not far from where you are now

 

[Lenny HB]

I've decided I'm going to try and make a go of Portugal this year....last year I wasn't as keen on it , I found it more expensive

How did you manage that, the first time we went to Portugal a couple of years ago when we went back into Spain we were shocked at how much more expensive Spain was after Portugal.

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[Northernraider]

How did you manage that, the first time we went to Portugal a couple of years ago when we went back into Spain we were shocked at how much more expensive Spain was after Portugal.

Diesel alone is €0.30 A litre more expensive than Spain.
Bit I also found the food more expensive....struggled to find a supermarket I liked to be honest.
I'm a creature of habit lol

 

[Lenny HB]

Diesel alone is €0.30 A litre more expensive than Spain.
Bit I also found the food more expensive....struggled to find a supermarket I liked to be honest.
I'm a creature of habit lol

Diesel yes but you can do an awful lot of Portugal of a tank of Spainish fuel. Food not much different but eating out a lot cheaper and paying Aires a lot cheaper, trains very cheap & ½ price for OAP's. Also taxis very cheap.

 

[Northernraider]

Diesel yes but you can do an awful lot of Portugal of a tank of Spainish fuel. Food not much different but eating out a lot cheaper and paying Aires a lot cheaper, trains very cheap & ½ price for OAP's. Also taxis very cheap.

Yeah I filled up before crossing border lol and stocked up the freezer ha ha

I generally found eating out dearer but will see , few cheap aires around though I might use a couple this time around.

 

[Northernraider]

Well that place is stopped was a fail ....a rave started at midnight and asking a young lad in a car that pulled up it goes on till 7am so I packed up and left lol ....drove 2km along to Altura. Pulled in here and there must be 50-100 motorhomes but it's quiet and beggars can't be choosers lol

Will see what it's like in the Am

G'night y'all

 

[Northernraider]

So woke up in pikeyville lol

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[The Dudess]

Wonder if some of the other campers are thinking the same about you.

 

[Northernraider]

Wonder if some of the other campers are thinking the same about you.

Ha ha probably .....to be fair the place is spotless not the usual rubbish infested places I've seen when there's dozens of motorhomes in one spot.
That said it's awfully close to houses etc I'm surprised they don't get moved on but according to park4night it's an approved spot by the gnr....bakers van been round the morning. Certainly a lot quieter than the remote wee place I had parked originally

Bloody raves .....I wouldn't mind so much with decent music but that boom boom boom talentless crap just fries my brain

 

[Scotch mist]

Ha ha probably .....to be fair the place is spotless not the usual rubbish infested places I've seen when there's dozens of motorhomes in one spot.
That said it's awfully close to houses etc I'm surprised they don't get moved on but according to park4night it's an approved spot by the gnr....bakers van been round the morning. Certainly a lot quieter than the remote wee place I had parked originally

Bloody raves .....I wouldn't mind so much with decent music but that boom boom boom talentless crap just fries my brain

Aye Your getting old lol

 

[Northernraider]

Well you sure have to get up early to beat the Portuguese to the beach....in Spain you were relatively safe till around 11am before the beach was mobbed and lifeguards moaned about dogs but this morning 9 am and already loads if folk on the beach ....we were the only dogs there ....but sod it

Massive jellyfish too like the biggest I've seen. Don't think I'll stay here though not much to see apart from beach that dogs aren't allowed on so I'll move along coast a bit after lunch.

 

[bobandjanie]

It took us ages to alter our clocks, been in Portugal two months now and still have a job getting up in the morning.

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[Northernraider]

It took us ages to alter our clocks, been in Portugal two months now and still have a job getting up in the morning.

Oh I changed the clocks as soon as I got here .....Milo unfortunately hasn't changed his and he woke me up at 7am instead of 8 am this morning.

 

[Northernraider]

I hate insurance companies I really do

So my renewal invite pack has come through and it's a lot dearer than last year

On renewal last year it was on the Frankia at £511 I then obviously changed vans to Toby which is 4 years older and half the value so the price went down a little but really only covered the admin charges etc.

So this year it's £645 , they say that's because allianz are no longer doing motorhomes so it's now a company called highway that's the underwriters.

Also because of that guy in June that claims my skylight hit his old beaten up landrover it's affected my no claims bonus

But I had 9+ years and they've knocked that down to 3 years ncb which I think is scandalous given 1) there was no proof or witnesses to say it did hit the landrover

2) it wasn't something I caused or had control over .....I can't help the wind

3) 6+ years ncb is a lot to lose for 1 incident.
They claim anything over 5 years doesn't count and they automatically knock back to 3 years


I really can't be assed phoning around other companies etc

I'm generally happy with safeguard as it includes 365 days European cover + plus breakdown anywhere, unlimited miles and unlimited glass cover
But I also hate feeling ripped off

So I've sent him off to speak to the underwriters and see if they have paid out on that claim or not and how much they claim it cost

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

I know what you mean about not liking the feeling of being ripped off, and it is a big hike, but still less than £2 a day if you look at it from a different perspective, and given the time you are having, and Toby isn't just sat in a driveway .......

 

[Clarky]

Like you I’m with Safeguard and like the cover they offer but the price has gone daft this year.
I also had a claim before renewal so expected a rise in premium so I’m not sure how much was due to the claim and how much was due to the change in underwriter.
There have been quite a number of people complaining about a big rise in Safeguard premiums this year.

Richard

 

[Northernraider]

I know what you mean about not liking the feeling of being ripped off, and it is a big hike, but still less than £2 a day if you look at it from a different perspective, and given the time you are having, and Toby isn't just sat in a driveway .......

Aye that's true I just hate the fact I repaired Toby myself and I'm careful etc and I still think the landrover guy was a chancer. So I'm curious to see if they paid out and how much

I suppose I did also get a new windscreen fitted which would have been £1500 So can't complain really
Although I plan to pop in to psv glass on my way home and demand they remove it and fit a new rubber as the fitting is shocking it's all bumpy and I get wind noise

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[Northernraider]

Like you I’m with Safeguard and like the cover they offer but the price has gone daft this year.
I also had a claim before renewal so expected a rise in premium so I’m not sure how much was due to the claim and how much was due to the change in underwriter.
There have been quite a number of people complaining about a big rise in Safeguard premiums this year.

Richard

Not just me then.....as I'm in Portugal and i dont plan to be home before mid to end november I really don't want the aggro of phoning round places so I will likely just renew it but peed off more about the ncb

I mean I actually have about 15 years but they say 9+ then they claim anything over 5 doesn't count anyway but knock it down to 3 if a claim

Seems unjust I reckon if you have that amount of ncb you shouldn't be affected for a minor claim like that will be .....

 

[Langtoftlad]

I too was with Safeguard for a couple of years, and was faced with a big hike so am now with Comfort which is less than Safeguard pre hike...

It's worth doing an online quote...
https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/motorhome-insurance

 

[teddybear]

Been with comfort for 3 years , renewal this time was only£10 more than 1st year

 

[Langtoftlad]

I really don't want the aggro of phoning round places so I will likely just renew it

Must be nice being so wealthy that you can't be bothered to save a couple of hundred quid for 10 mins online - call yourself a Scot!

 

[TCG]

Been with comfort for 3 years , renewal this time was only£10 more than 1st year

yes ours was £35 more with comfort this year, but i did have a speed fine and 3 points a few months ago so can not complain

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[Northernraider]

Must be nice being so wealthy that you can't be bothered to save a couple of hundred quid for 10 mins online - call yourself a Scot!

The last quote I had from comfort for full time or long term touring (365 days ) was £1870 with 10000 miles and pretty sure it wasn't limited glass.

Problem is at the minute instead of my 9+ years ncb my renewal shows 3 years ncb because of this pending claim

....And according to safeguard who just called me back allianz is contesting the claim and advised the landrover guy of that on the 19th June and heard nothing back
Unfortunately they leave the claim open for 6 months in case he proceeds so meantime my ncb takes a hit which I think is unfair

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

You should get a refund later on, after the six months if it is sorted in your favour. I had something similar where a car coming towards me turned right and clattered the side of my ZXR750. Despite (to me) it being a no brainer, I had an outstanding claim at renewal, but when it was sorted out they honoured my no claims and gave me some dosh back.

 

[Podney]

Remember,it’s a no claim bonus,not a no blame bonus.

Hope you enjoy Portugal this time. Try and get involved with the Portuguese,not the tourists,they are very friendly and generally have a great sense of humour.

In my opinion,The Algarve west of Faro gets better the further west you go. JJ will tell you it’s not real Portugal,but what does he know,the man lives on Fray Bentos pies,which may lead one to question his judgement......not that I would do that of course.

 

[Northernraider]

Downside of Portugal .....21: 10 And it's dark already ...

This bloody annoys me though, family in a car offloaded this lot out their car before driving off , they originally dumped a load of plastic water bottles too...but after he overheard me saying why don't you take them home or too a proper bin he walked back and put the plastic bottles in the bin

Feckin eedjits how hard is It to drive to the next proper bin

 

[Bognor Saint]

Downside of Portugal .....21: 10 And it's dark already ...
View attachment 321517View attachment 321518View attachment 321519View attachment 321520View attachment 321521View attachment 321522View attachment 321523View attachment 321524View attachment 321525View attachment 321526View attachment 321527



This bloody annoys me though, family in a car offloaded this lot out their car before driving off , they originally dumped a load of plastic water bottles too...but after he overheard me saying why don't you take them home or too a proper bin he walked back and put the plastic bottles in the bin

Feckin eedjits how hard is It to drive to the next proper bin View attachment 321530

Just like people who can't be arsed to return supermarket trolleys 5 feet to a trolley parking point.

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