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

[Lenny HB]

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

I don't think they are valid in the EU, unless they are the dual green/pink with EU on them. Probably just as easy to get a photo license.

 

[StevenLynne]

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 are in southern Spain at the moment. Been here since the end of January. Weather has been poor so far. A few sunny periods but mainly cloudy and overcast. Unless you're on a site, with ehu, you need your own heating system as it gets cold during the night. We've been doing this for the last 4 winters, and up until now, have had really good weather. We could do with a few more Brits down here, the place is full of Germans, a few Dutch and one or two French and Belgians. We are at the moment, in Los Olivos camper park, near Cartagena for a few days respite from wild camping. It's nice and quiet here. Sun's out today and it's warming up. Check it out online. It has all the facilities to make life more comfortable. We are all set up to wild camp for 3 nights at a time because we have to find somewhere to top up with water in between. We carry two toilet cassettes and our m/h is equipped with two large Gas Flow bottles and three solar panels.
You're able to wild camp along a lot of this coastline but in some of the areas around Almeria and further west the police are stopping overnight camping in the towns. You'll be able to check that out by researching the areas first.
Hope you enjoy it!

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.

 

[tufty]

It's a bit YES to winter in Spain from us. We are 1st timers here this year & with dog (crossed on tunnel in Jan) as we've never had enough time to do it before.
I only booked one site in advance; Bonterra Park in Benicassim. That was just so we had something to aim for & have a secured break for a week after all the driving. Great site & brilliant campsite menu of the day & took advantage of 2 yoga sessions & 2 Spanish lessons.
We did free aires in France & across to Valencia on the Western route over the first week, driving about 3 hours a day. Love France whatever the weather. It was v v cold & we used a whole 6kg tank of gas to heat the van. Big learning curve there as we didn't bring enough variety of winter clothes & definitely don't have enough gas for 6 weeks away (have another 11kg bottle which we are now being v frugal with) as we thought it would be warmer. Need to be better prepared next time as it's now limiting our ability to do more inland stuff using aires.
We stayed on the camper Park in Valencia for 3 days using the metro, fantastic city & enjoyed beach area & Oceanographic.
Decided to give Benidorm a go just to see what it's all about. Thought it wouldn't be for us as it's too Brit heavy & busy but we actually really enjoyed it & ended up staying 6 nights on Raco site. Wished there was more proper Spanish food on offer nearer the site but enjoyed our walks down town along the prom, tapas in the old town & cycling to Altea & walking the Serra Gelada for fabulous views.
We've still only got as far as Villajoyosa & it's warming up now enough to do more off site nights & get stuck into some of the smaller inland places as we head south. Keeping fingers crossed we have enough gas for another 3 weeks as we know we'll need it travelling back North through France.
Next time will bring extra blankets more warmer clothes to layer up & get refillable tanks fitted.
Let us know how you get on if you do it.

 

[Speve]

We are currently at El Rocio been here since last Saturday and it’s warm and sunny shorts on today lots of Dutch and German vans not many Brits, haven’t needed to book sites and €23 per night here with ACSI at Caceres two weeks ago €21 per night with ACSI

 

[Boldly]

It's a bit YES to winter in Spain from us. We are 1st timers here this year & with dog (crossed on tunnel in Jan) as we've never had enough time to do it before.
I only booked one site in advance; Bonterra Park in Benicassim. That was just so we had something to aim for & have a secured break for a week after all the driving. Great site & brilliant campsite menu of the day & took advantage of 2 yoga sessions & 2 Spanish lessons.
We did free aires in France & across to Valencia on the Western route over the first week, driving about 3 hours a day. Love France whatever the weather. It was v v cold & we used a whole 6kg tank of gas to heat the van. Big learning curve there as we didn't bring enough variety of winter clothes & definitely don't have enough gas for 6 weeks away (have another 11kg bottle which we are now being v frugal with) as we thought it would be warmer. Need to be better prepared next time as it's now limiting our ability to do more inland stuff using aires.
We stayed on the camper Park in Valencia for 3 days using the metro, fantastic city & enjoyed beach area & Oceanographic.
Decided to give Benidorm a go just to see what it's all about. Thought it wouldn't be for us as it's too Brit heavy & busy but we actually really enjoyed it & ended up staying 6 nights on Raco site. Wished there was more proper Spanish food on offer nearer the site but enjoyed our walks down town along the prom, tapas in the old town & cycling to Altea & walking the Serra Gelada for fabulous views.
We've still only got as far as Villajoyosa & it's warming up now enough to do more off site nights & get stuck into some of the smaller inland places as we head south. Keeping fingers crossed we have enough gas for another 3 weeks as we know we'll need it travelling back North through France.
Next time will bring extra blankets more warmer clothes to layer up & get refillable tanks fitted.
Let us know how you get on if you do it.

Spanish bottles easily available and regulators easy to change over and probably less than 25€ plus the gas

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tufty]

Spanish bottles easily available and regulators easy to change over and probably less than 25€ plus the gas

Thanks, yes could go down that route for next time. Will have to give it some consideration on what's the best way to do it. Bringing 1x 6kg & 1x 11kg calor just isn't enough for 6 weeks winter in Spain we're discovering esp doing a slow drive though France. It's limiting the time we can spend away from the coast & off campsites which wasn't the plan. Live & learn.

 

[JockandRita]

We are currently at El Rocio been here since last Saturday and it’s warm and sunny shorts on today lots of Dutch and German vans not many Brits, haven’t needed to book sites and €23 per night here with ACSI at Caceres two weeks ago €21 per night with ACSI

We are hoping to be at El Rocio sometime next week, en route from Gibraltar.

Cheers

Jock & Rita.

 

[Carpmart]

Thanks, yes could go down that route for next time. Will have to give it some consideration on what's the best way to do it. Bringing 1x 6kg & 1x 11kg calor just isn't enough for 6 weeks winter in Spain we're discovering esp doing a slow drive though France. It's limiting the time we can spend away from the coast & off campsites which wasn't the plan. Live & learn.

I think you’re missing the point. Buy a regulator here in Spain now, get a Spanish bottle and no more gas worries on this trip!

 

[tufty]

I think you’re missing the point. Buy a regulator here in Spain now, get a Spanish bottle and no more gas worries on this trip!

We're already on our weight limit though & don't really have room for extra bottle. Don't want to get rid of the bottle as we also use calor for our narrowboat & it's difficult & expensive to get a replacement.
Anyway it's not so much of a problem this time as we haven't been to Spain in the van before so we are seeing new places anyway, albeit in different places to where we thought we would go.....& it's warmed up & I bought an extra blanket & got my skiing socks so all good for going back through the middle.

 

[Lenny HB]

We're already on our weight limit though & don't really have room for extra bottle. Don't want to get rid of the bottle as we also use calor for our narrowboat & it's difficult & expensive to get a replacement.
Anyway it's not so much of a problem this time as we haven't been to Spain in the van before so we are seeing new places anyway, albeit in different places to where we thought we would go.....& it's warmed up & I bought an extra blanket & got my skiing socks so all good for going back through the middle.

Why not fit refillables that is what most us do who go abroad regularly do, so much easier & no heavy bottles to lug about.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carpmart]

We're already on our weight limit though & don't really have room for extra bottle. Don't want to get rid of the bottle as we also use calor for our narrowboat & it's difficult & expensive to get a replacement.
Anyway it's not so much of a problem this time as we haven't been to Spain in the van before so we are seeing new places anyway, albeit in different places to where we thought we would go.....& it's warmed up & I bought an extra blanket & got my skiing socks so all good for going back through the middle.

Fair enough, if you were really cold and miserable, dump one of the bottles (safely and environmentally) get a Spanish bottle and regulator and ‘Robert’s your mothers brother’ you can luxuriate in warmth and contentment.

Facebook local will provide a replacement calor bottle when home cheaply!!

 

[Emmit]

I think you’re missing the point. Buy a regulator here in Spain now, get a Spanish bottle and no more gas worries on this trip!

"Buy a regulator" No.

Buy an Adaptor. A Regulator is only any good if you don't have a Regulator bolted onto the Van and Tufty has a Carthago. (I'll assume it's post 2001)

An Adaptor allows the gas to flow through from the bottle to the Regulator that you have fitted.

If you fitted a Regulator it would 'Regulate' the gasflow twice. Once at the bottle and then at the Bulkhead
and it would therefore be at a trickle and be no good.

 

[Emmit]

tufty

Come back on here if you would like guidance on how to get to enjoy
your trip without shivering.

 

[Lenny HB]

Buy an Adaptor. A Regulator is only any good if you don't have a Regulator bolted onto the Van and Tufty has a Carthago. (I'll assume it's post 2001)

A Carthago like most German vans will have a bottle top regulator unless the option of a changeover valve was ordered then you get the bulkhead one.

 

[Carpmart]

Thanks guys, poor use of terminology, I of course meant an adapter…

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[stevec]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. In the end we decided not to go as the weather didn't look good enough to go that far for. As it turned out that was not such a bad decision as my MIL died last week and we would have had to cancel anyway. Maybe next year.

Spring/early summer trips are a bit vague at the moment as we are waiting for a new Carthago to turn up. Currently scheduled for build first week of March for delivery end of April (ordered Sept 2021!).

 

[tufty]

tufty

Come back on here if you would like guidance on how to get to enjoy
your trip without shivering.

Yes please. I'm open to any advice. Though I have to say we aren't shivering atm at Imperium in Vilajoyosa. Had a lovely walk over the hills & along the coast path via Finestraat back towards Beni today. Knackered now!
I've been having a chat with our neighbours on site who have given us some tips on places to explore inland so keen to try and get away from the coast if it can just get a tad warmer.

Why not fit refillables that is what most us do who go abroad regularly do, so much easier & no heavy bottles to lug about.

That's will likely be our solution for next time

 

[tufty]

Fair enough, if you were really cold and miserable, dump one of the bottles (safely and environmentally) get a Spanish bottle and regulator and ‘Robert’s your mothers brother’ you can luxuriate in warmth and contentment.

Facebook local will provide a replacement calor bottle when home cheaply!!

Yes would do that if I was cold enough or miserable enough but although I'll admit to being a bit cold & I'm never miserable

 

[tufty]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. In the end we decided not to go as the weather didn't look good enough to go that far for. As it turned out that was not such a bad decision as my MIL died last week and we would have had to cancel anyway. Maybe next year.

Spring/early summer trips are a bit vague at the moment as we are waiting for a new Carthago to turn up. Currently scheduled for build first week of March for delivery end of April (ordered Sept 2021!).

Sorry to hear about your MIL
Definitely try again another time, we love it as 1st timers over here. Don't take any notice of me mentioning the cold. Yes I've been wearing my ski socks & kitted out in full thermals & merino at night on a few occasions but I've also been in shorts & T shirt by day too....my own fault assuming it would be a lot warmer here than it has been this year. Just don't make our mistake of not bringing enough gas esp if travelling slowly though France before you get here. Hope the Carthago arrives on time. We love our Compactline, it's been a dream to live in & travel in.

 

[Spidey]

We are about 4 weeks into our first ever Spanish trip. Stayed on some great sites and camper stops. Loved the whole experience so far. We started off taking the boat to Santander. Our first ever aire was in a village and we were the only ones! Very cold even snowed. Then down to the coast and been making our way along now at La Rosadela just south of Cadiz. Making our way to Portugal next week to work our way back up to the ferry towards the end of March. Acsi has been great and camper contact app. Loved it all but colder than expected and very windy!
Excited for our next trip which maybe March to May

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JockandRita]

We are about 4 weeks into our first ever Spanish trip. Stayed on some great sites and camper stops. Loved the whole experience so far. We started off taking the boat to Santander. Our first ever aire was in a village and we were the only ones! Very cold even snowed. Then down to the coast and been making our way along now at La Rosadela just south of Cadiz. Making our way to Portugal next week to work our way back up to the ferry towards the end of March. Acsi has been great and camper contact app. Loved it all but colder than expected and very windy!
Excited for our next trip which maybe March to May

We'll be doing exactly the same over the next few weeks.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[jumar]

It's been a cold and windy period, however we still use our van for adventure trips...we could stay in our apartment with all Mod Cons..20 minutes from some of the cleanest beaches on the Costa Calida...but it's fun to be able to travel in all seasons...and why not...Summer here is hot and can start as early as May extending well into the end of October...this period can be more challenging for Motorhoming as 38°c in a tin box is no fun...

 

[Wingingit#1]

tufty

Come back on here if you would like guidance on how to get to enjoy
your trip without shivering.

Can you advise how or if its possible to add another gas bottle when we're in spain ?
We've got 2x11kg gaslow fitted at the mo and trying to decide whether its worth swaping one for a spanish bottle or just buy the adapters and go out to refill every time .

 

[JockandRita]

not...Summer here is hot and can start as early as May extending well into the end of October...this period can be more challenging for Motorhoming as 38°c in a tin box is no fun...

Tell me about it Martin. That happened to us in Calpe one September...........despite warnings from tonka Steve, who advised that we wouldn't like the heat. How right was he? We shan't be doing it again, hence our winters in the sun, rather than summers.

We've got 2x11kg gaslow fitted at the mo and trying to decide whether its worth swaping one for a spanish bottle or just buy the adapters and go out to refill every time .

Get the adapters and fill up as soon as one cylinder empties. If you know you will be staying long term on a Spanish site, get yourself a Gaslow Spanish cylinder connector, (not a regulator), and also procure a Propano cylinder for about €10 which you then exchange for a full one, and connect it through your gas fill point. This allows the gas from the Spanish cylinder, to enter your open Gaslow refillable cylinder, and reach you appliances via the onboard regulator. Keep the second Gaslow cylinder closed, in reserve. Don't get a Butano cylinder at this time of year. It has to be Propano, due to the lower ambient temperatures overnight.

HTH,

Jock.