To Spain or not to Spain, that is the question.

[stevec]

We are complete Spain newbies (not even a package holiday!) and are contemplating getting some sun in February. We have done France a couple of times a year for 7 or 8 years so are comfortable there but are baulking a little of the idea of going somewhere completely foreign(!). We've heard that most places will be packed which concerns us a bit. Probably looking somewhere on the coast 'cos there won't be any snow there. Not out in the sticks as SWMBO likes a population centre to look round (but not too big). Maybe a club site (we are in both at the moment)? We'll allocate 4 or 5 weeks total and would probably want to stay in 2 or three places just to get a feel for different areas. Is booking essential? Are there sites that are not quite so crammed? Will we be motoring around like waifs and strays trying to find a vacant pitch?

Looking to hear from recent first timers of their experiences.

 

[iandsm]

I havn't been to Spain in our camper but have toured France/Germany/Netherlands extensively over ten years or so. I Made the huge mistake of booking sites for our first trip through the Caravan and Motorhome Club and was royally ripped off. I discovered the charged half as much as booking the sites yourself, and sometimes even more. Never again. I would advise you to take recommendations from members here and where possible book direct. I am sure you can make bookings over the internet and get good prices and there are some places listed on Search for Sites website. Have a great trip.

 

[Reallyretired]

Neither of the clubs has any sites outside the UK though will book them, for an exorbitant price.
Don't think twice about it, get over there you will never want to motorhome in the UK again. For the best price on sites get acsi. We never book but it is advisable if you want to go to one of the very popular spots on the costas.

 

[Littlewheels]

If you are only comfortable on a campsite then booking is advisable,however, there are now a lot of Camperstops but rarely next to the amenities you appear to be looking for. Club sites do not exist as in CMC etc. There are plenty of places you need to be a little adventurous and find your way.

 

[iandsm]

Neither of the clubs has any sites outside the UK though will book them, for an exorbitant price.
Don't think twice about it, get over there you will never want to motorhome in the UK again. For the best price on sites get acsi. We never book but it is advisable if you want to go to one of the very popular spots on the costas.

Yes I should have mentioned they don't have sites but book them for you. obviously of a very nice chunk of commission. ACSI is good advice

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[Mikeco]

Go for it, we set off on Tuesday which will be our 15th year of being in Spain for some of the Winter, used to be 6 months but now content with 90 days. You can book sites through the Caravan Club and I would advise doing that for February just to get you started.
We are heading for Camping Imperium at Villajoyosa which is a nice spot just south of Benidorm.

 

[Tombola]

Just go ! You won't regret it. Get as far south as quick as poss and find what you want when you want.
There will be plenty sites but as said before maybe your first time book a couple for piece fo mind.

 

[f6c]

Just go for it. Enjoy

 

[Speve]

Try not to over think it? Follow the advice already given and enjoy the pleasures of beautiful Spain in winter you’ll not regret it

 

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

It really is easier than you think. Agree 100% with recommendations to get an ACSI card, if you have time, to save on campsite costs. The system of aires is also brilliant. We spent around a month in Spain in early 2020 and never booked ahead, although we only used campsites a couple of times a week and stayed mostly on (mainly free) aires. Only found one or two places that were busy. Would have stayed longer but Covid forced us home.

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[seasideBill]

Deleted.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just go for it generally no need to book as so many places to stay, we have neve book.
Have a look at my travel threads, links in my signature done a few trips to Spain.

 

[3 cabbages]

We have done France a couple of times a year for 7 or 8 years so are comfortable there but are baulking a little of the idea of going somewhere completely foreign(!).

Spain is , a lot less "foreign" than France - by a long way!

 

[Lenny HB]

Spain is , a lot less "foreign" than France - by a long way!

Too many expats there, last thing I want when abroad is an English fry up much prefer local food.
It's pretty good if you avoid Benidorm, I tried it eairler this year we lasted 4 hours never want to go back there.

 

[JockandRita]

stevec. We'll be heading off in about 9 x days time, using tonka's Western Route as normal, (can be found in resources), utilising safe Aire type stopovers on the way down.

Although booked on a site from 10th January, we'll be using Spanish Camper Stops before then, in the Alicante region. After a few weeks at our site booking, we hope to head west, (weather pending), for Seville, Gibraltar, Cadiz, and hopefully Portugal, with nothing booked or planned.
We'll be using 2 x Apps, ie, Search For Sites, and Camper Contact, and possibly ACSI if I can pick one up in Benidorm.

It is a little daunting first time around, but once you've given it a crack, you'll wonder why you haven't done it before.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Bobandfay]

Jock the camping shop opposite El Raco camp site was selling the ACSI books back in January when we were there.

 

[royandsharont]

Never camped there in February but I think the snowbirds are generally going north by then so perhaps the campsites won’t be as full.

I’ve spent years visiting all over Spain looking for somewhere to live after retirement, then lived there, and now camp there generally in April, May then September, October. Almost never booked anywhere, but in September found it safer to check the day before re availability along the coast from say France down to Benicassim as one year I found many sites full, not normal in previous years.

Never had a problem though and have always stayed on campsites or camper stops with full facilities.

If I were going for February/March I would not book anywhere unless there was a particular campsite I wanted to stay at then I would contact and ask if recommended to book. I have generally found them to be honest in their answers and not wanting to just get bookings when not needed.

I almost guarantee you won’t find yourselves without a site, even if not the exact one you fancied and if your happy to use Aire type places you’ll be just fine.

Coming back through central Spain in March when the blossom trees are out is a sight to behold.

 

[stevec]

Thanks for all your replies. I think we have decided to go Feb into March and call in on Barcelona on the way back to look at the architecture and stay on the local site that opens on 1st march and has a shuttle bus service to the city (not sure of it's name). Probably have to book that one.

When in France we generally do aires with occasional campsites when we need to do washing so have no problems with similar in Spain. We also use ACSI so will get a new card in Jan.

Will I need winter tyres? I shall probably follow one of the established routes down the west of France (Tonka's route).

We are not ones to seek out "English" stuff. I spent 18 years working in Great Yarmouth and have seen way too many English on holiday in that sort of environment!

We use Search for Sites and similar for choosing our stopovers. Presumably they work as well for Spain as they do for France?

 

[JockandRita]

Jock the camping shop opposite El Raco camp site was selling the ACSI books back in January when we were there.

Thanks Bob. Arena Blanca Reception do them as well if I get stuck.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Carpmart]

Whilst it appears daunting, it’s really not. The advice given is all spot on!

I’m off to SE Spain in a few days (Boxing Day), back end of April…

Just do it and have a great time!

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[Spara4042]

We are complete Spain newbies (not even a package holiday!) and are contemplating getting some sun in February. We have done France a couple of times a year for 7 or 8 years so are comfortable there but are baulking a little of the idea of going somewhere completely foreign(!). We've heard that most places will be packed which concerns us a bit. Probably looking somewhere on the coast 'cos there won't be any snow there. Not out in the sticks as SWMBO likes a population centre to look round (but not too big). Maybe a club site (we are in both at the moment)? We'll allocate 4 or 5 weeks total and would probably want to stay in 2 or three places just to get a feel for different areas. Is booking essential? Are there sites that are not quite so crammed? Will we be motoring around like waifs and strays trying to find a vacant pitch?

Looking to hear from recent first timers of their experiences.

We were first timers this February & returned in May.

Did the Tunnel & followed the Western route, so didn't need winter tyres or snow chains.

Booked on the Camping Mar Menor site, which was quite busy but had a few spaces. Apparently busier than usual due to people not being able to go to Morocco but shouldn't be an issue next year. Just outside Los Alcazares, 15 minutes walk or 5 mins bike ride. There's also an Eco Park & free parking area which are both closer to the town. Great place for chilling, right on the beach but I wouldn't fancy swimming in the Mar Manor. Aldi, Lidl & Mercadona all within 15 minutes cycle or 5 minutes drive.

Heading back there in February to meet up with fellow funsters that we met this year, before exploring further south & inland.

Definitely recommend trying it



Fuel was a lot cheaper

 

[jumar]

Thanks for all your replies. I think we have decided to go Feb into March and call in on Barcelona on the way back to look at the architecture and stay on the local site that opens on 1st march and has a shuttle bus service to the city (not sure of it's name). Probably have to book that one.

When in France we generally do aires with occasional campsites when we need to do washing so have no problems with similar in Spain. We also use ACSI so will get a new card in Jan.

Will I need winter tyres? I shall probably follow one of the established routes down the west of France (Tonka's route).

We are not ones to seek out "English" stuff. I spent 18 years working in Great Yarmouth and have seen way too many English on holiday in that sort of environment!

We use Search for Sites and similar for choosing our stopovers. Presumably they work as well for Spain as they do for France?

Your plan will work fine...as for tyres...this unnecessary expense can be avoided by crossing from France to Spain via a low level route...as for travelling through Spain in the winter....not an issue you would need to worry about.. stay on main routes that cross high ground...if it had snowed, it would rapidly be cleared..February is a busy time, March less so...just have an open plan and be prepared to adjust it as you go on....nothing difficult about being here on your first trip...
As it's winter your gas requirements are greater...prepare for this well, many don't, and source locally, which isn't necessary....if you have re-fillable it's a breeze....Local SIM cards are useful...As for shopping...we now have shops in Spain, so you don't need to bring everything for the duration of your stay...Have a good trip....we did a similar one in 1998....and are still here....

 

[Ditcha]

Thanks Bob. Arena Blanca Reception do them as well if I get stuck.

Cheers,

Jock.

Arena Blanca don't do them anymore Jock I am going to try the camping shop next to raco next time I pass to see if they do .

 

[Wingingit#1]

Its our first time right now and nearly 3 weeks into it .
If you can do france without a worry then spain is even easier ....the drive through france is long and cold (we'd get a boat straight to spain next time) but spain is alot nicer cuz of the temperature
We've chosen not to stay on too many aires as we feel safer on campsites but thats a personal choice.
The recommendations from the good people on here are much more useful than relying on any printed list of sites.

 

[Augusta08]

We are old hands at wintering in Europe, Sicily, Croatia, Morocco etc. but mostly Spain. We used to use the CCC winter sun sites, but now always book direct. This year we are off to Bella Vista for 4 weeks and then on to Playa Tropicana for another 4. In between we wild camp (Aries) using Camperstop and Park4Night apps. The trick is not to arrive too late 1600Hrs is our limit. That way if it's full , closed, full of "travellers", we can always move on to the next one. This year we are taking the Portsmouth Santander both ways, but we have often driven down thru France. We have a house in France but parking the camper is a pain, so we leave it in the UK. So this year Xmas in Chester, 1st week of January down to Portsmouth and away... Back in mid-March do a bit of motorsport, then back to France in April.

Spain is easy to do, but book your core (more than 2 night) stops in advance, but aires are fine, we avoid total wild camps (We have done a couple but don't recommend it)

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[stevec]

Are there any things we need to be aware of regarding any differences between France and Spain (motoring wise). Also for us oldies do I need a different international driving permit to France. We don’t have photo licenses. No doubt a few more questions will be forthcoming.

 

[Lenny HB]

Are there any things we need to be aware of regarding any differences between France and Spain (motoring wise). Also for us oldies do I need a different international driving permit to France. We don’t have photo licenses. No doubt a few more questions will be forthcoming.

As long as you have an EU licence (Pink one) you should be OK without a photo license.

 

[Tombola]

Are there any things we need to be aware of regarding any differences between France and Spain (motoring wise). Also for us oldies do I need a different international driving permit to France. We don’t have photo licenses. No doubt a few more questions will be forthcoming.

different toll systems if you are using main roads.
you can get automated toll transmitters, bip and go (spain) and emovis (france)

 

[jumar]

Are there any things we need to be aware of regarding any differences between France and Spain (motoring wise). Also for us oldies do I need a different international driving permit to France. We don’t have photo licenses. No doubt a few more questions will be forthcoming.

Regarding Driving regulations in Spain...Google N332, Driving in Spain for accurate information...it's a informative web site run by both Guardia Civil Officers and civilian members...it's packed full of stuff that should answer your questions, I have my own view on your license situation, but I'll let you read it for yourself...also DGT has an Informative web site....I believe it can be sourced in English.
Currently there are very few Toll Motorways in Spain...if you plan correctly you may not encounter a single one....
Fuel comes at a subsidised price, expect sizeable discounts at the pump.

 

[stevec]

As long as you have an EU licence (Pink one) you should be OK without a photo license.

Ours are green. Last updated in 1996 when we last moved.

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