Winter in Spain anyone?

[2657]

I spent 69 nights at Isla Plans and not a drop of rain,,up the coast north of Cartagena it was flooded twice during the same period.BUSBY.

Luck of the draw, every winter someone gets it

 

[busby]

Luck of the draw, every winter someone gets it

That's the beauty of a van you can move and follow the Sun.BUSBY.

 

[Minxy]

That's the beauty of a van you can move and follow the Sun.BUSBY.

Yup ... so long as you haven't booked and paid for a site for 3 months ... I'd go stir crazy after a few days in one place.

 

[2657]

Yup ... so long as you haven't booked and paid for a site for 3 months ... I'd go stir crazy after a few days in one place.

You stir crazy at home then?

 

[Minxy]

You stir crazy at home then?

At the moment ... YUP! We haven't been away overnight in our MH since we got back in February.

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[Al n Val]

Could you please tell us name of insurance company and how long its for, Cheers

yes its Staysure, when you choose the plan and select it, it then opens up a new window where you can choose to add the FCO countries and add the 100 days per trip option which is perfect for us, and 183 days per annum.

We go on the 21st Sept and fly home for christmas on 20th December, fly back 4th Jan and stay until we want to return.

Perfect

Al

PS. search for discount codes as well and get 20% off, ring them if it doesn't work and they will apply them for you

 

[PeteH]

I`ve sailed the Mar Menor in February before to-day, albeit in a wet suit, But no where near as bad as it used to be sailing some of the UK locations in July. Weather, is a subject close to the hearts of the English. An almost universal "opening gambit" in conversation. Just as comparison, we saw snow and frost In Florida after Xmas. And where BBQ`ing on the campsite the next day in T`s and Shorts. Similarly In Texas in the new year we where sat out until well after sundown. But had had snow and ice on the way down to the Mexican Border.

I think it is a question of the overall number of "pleasant" days that are the yardstick. In the UK it`s a very small number between Oct and March. By Comparison there are far more in (say) the Costa`s in the same period.

 

[Al n Val]

we returned to Benidorm this year on 18th January knowing we we’re “in for it” weather wise on the Sun/Mon.
Come Tuesday 21st as far as I remember we had sunshine everyday until we left 14th March.

That said we had beautiful weather in the UK didn’t we mar/apr/may but I know where i’d rather be Oct to March

Al

 

[TerryL]

If we knew the UK weather would be the same as in March-June this year I think I'd just hibernate Jan/Feb and forget about going abroad.
But sadly the UK weather doesn't do that......................!

 

[Garry - June]

We're going in 3 weeks.... keep hearing from everyone there that everything is fine...most places open ....and not busy so plenty of space....which is a bonus....in fact one of the bonuses of Brexit too....will stop people clogging up sites for six months at a time so may have a chance of actually getting a pitch even if it is only for 90 days..

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[Concorde]

We have been down here near Cartagena for a few days now. As devoted wild campers we have had to make some changes. Our plan was to visit some of our favorite wild spots down from here to the Cabo de Gata over the next couple of weeks. Buy! First off the Guardia are even less happy about us just parking up off grid away from official aires or campsites. Some of locals also see us as vectors for the virus. Coming from the North Norfolk Coast the attitude is no different to what we have seen all summer at home. Ok we have traveled down a couple of weeks earlier than normal so maybe that also has a bearing on not having seen a single UK plate on the road all the way down from Calais. We could be early for snowbirds!

The run down through France was fine. We stopped to do a biggish shop at a SuperU north of Poitiers and were impressed with the system. Absolutely everyone was masked, Sanitized shopping carts, mandatory gel before entry, alcohol gel stations at the ends of most isles, disposable gloves for fruit and veg, gel at scales, gel at checkout. The overpowering smell of bleach everywhere suddenly becomes quite reassuring.

so what’s it like here in Spain? Well if you are in the anti mask brigade you had better stay in the UK. The moment you step out of your van, or even off your pitch if on a camp site, then it’s mandatory. The Guardia do make patrols of the camp site here, and woe betide you if you aren’t masked, you will be fined!
on the plus side, hygiene it taken really seriously. On the camp site the washrooms here now have a full time cleaner. Limited number can enter, and after each use there is a good clean down. We however chose to use our van and keeping it as our safe zone.
If you are heading down expecting things to be just like previous years you are going to be in for a big shock.
camp sites are really empty, so finding a spot is going to be easy should you venture down. We have taken the decision to rent an apartment as, like the campsites, places are empty now the domestic summer rentals are over. Form our point of view it will reduce our exposure to both people and virus to a more acceptable level and still allow us to enjoy the warmth of a Spanish winter.

Just stay safe everyone, and enjoy your travels wherever they may take you

 

[discokid]

Normally we would spend 6-7 weeks touring Europe. This year we have used our MH in the UK for one overnight stay just to check a few things over. So now, reluctantly, we're staying home and not going anywhere - we think it's the right thing to do to help stop the risk of spreading the virus. There will be another time .....

 

[beerdrinker1]

Sun and warmth ... that's why we go, having done 2 part-winters there being in the UK fills me with dread as I don't "do cold" well at all.

Sitting out on the beach in lovely warm sunshine with the dogs lolling around is bliss, can't do that in the UK unless you want to freeze!

You are so right !!!!, having spent the last 7/8 years enjoying the warm winter weather in Benidorm, I can assure anyone that its a million times better than the existence of a Scottish winter, most days t shirt and shorts, but be careful after 4pm, then it can get cold Brrrr,

I'm already booked to go back, had to rearrange things due to FCO "advice" not to travel, and the prospect of health insurance being null and void if you disregard that "advice", but will be off as soon as that "advice" is lifted, the prospect of spending a winter here fills me with dread !,

Oh, I almost forgot the 1.50 euros for a pint in Beni heehee,

 

[Midnightflyer]

Ferry booked for end of Feb, Portsmouth to Bilbao then three and half months touring Spain and southern France. Got to get away from this S--- it's spoilt our holidays this year not going to let it spoil next years.
Provided we can get out of the UK and Spain accepts us WE ARE GOING.

 

[Al n Val]

Ferry booked for end of Feb, Portsmouth to Bilbao then three and half months touring Spain and southern France. Got to get away from this S--- it's spoilt our holidays this year not going to let it spoil next years.
Provided we can get out of the UK and Spain accepts us WE ARE GOING.

this time next sunday we’ll be on the road travelling to the tunnel, the moho has just had a service and hab check, all 100% healthy so unless they build a mexican wall at Folkestone we’re off

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[Ingwe]

this time next sunday we’ll be on the road travelling to the tunnel, the moho has just had a service and hab check, all 100% healthy so unless they build a mexican wall at Folkestone we’re off

Go and enjoy. Don't give Boris the idea of a wall. He likes to follow his orange chum.

 

[Minxy]

Ferry booked for end of Feb, Portsmouth to Bilbao then three and half months touring Spain and southern France. Got to get away from this S--- it's spoilt our holidays this year not going to let it spoil next years.
Provided we can get out of the UK and Spain accepts us WE ARE GOING.

You'll have to stick to 3 months (90 days) to be 'legit' ...

 

[busby]

You'll have to stick to 3 months (90 days) to be 'legit' ...

Not done and dusted yet BUSBY.

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

Why all the stay at homes?
When you go out in the UK, do you have to do anything differently than you would in Spain or Portugal? Wear a mask in shops? social distance? etc. Is it riskier in foreign countries? The answer is no, you don't and no, it's no more risky.
Don't be put off by all the scaremongering and quarantine punishments, if you're sensible, you can enjoy the sun this winter instead of being in effect under house arrest in a cold and wet UK.
We're in Portugal and to be quite honest, I feel much safer here than in the UK because the Portugese are i think, on the whole, more sensible.

 

[Al n Val]

You'll have to stick to 3 months (90 days) to be 'legit' ...

I don’t do legit

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[Minxy]

I don’t do legit

Make sure you have plenty of cash on you then to pay the fine at border control for being an 'over-stayer'.

 

[Al n Val]

Make sure you have plenty of cash on you then to pay the fine at border control for being an 'over-stayer'.

if you say so

 

[Al n Val]

So a day early and i'm halfway down the A1 just in the services heading for the tunnel so wish me luck

Al

 

[IanRJ]

So a day early and i'm halfway down the A1 just in the services heading for the tunnel so wish me luck

Al

Enjoy the trip. Just heading north to Girona area ourselves and it looks like everywhere in South East France and Southern Germany is forecast wet and stormy for the next week or so. Hoping it changes but Portugal seems like it's the best spot for good weather.

 

[138go]

We have been down here near Cartagena for a few days now. As devoted wild campers we have had to make some changes. Our plan was to visit some of our favorite wild spots down from here to the Cabo de Gata over the next couple of weeks. Buy! First off the Guardia are even less happy about us just parking up off grid away from official aires or campsites. Some of locals also see us as vectors for the virus. Coming from the North Norfolk Coast the attitude is no different to what we have seen all summer at home. Ok we have traveled down a couple of weeks earlier than normal so maybe that also has a bearing on not having seen a single UK plate on the road all the way down from Calais. We could be early for snowbirds!

The run down through France was fine. We stopped to do a biggish shop at a SuperU north of Poitiers and were impressed with the system. Absolutely everyone was masked, Sanitized shopping carts, mandatory gel before entry, alcohol gel stations at the ends of most isles, disposable gloves for fruit and veg, gel at scales, gel at checkout. The overpowering smell of bleach everywhere suddenly becomes quite reassuring.

so what’s it like here in Spain? Well if you are in the anti mask brigade you had better stay in the UK. The moment you step out of your van, or even off your pitch if on a camp site, then it’s mandatory. The Guardia do make patrols of the camp site here, and woe betide you if you aren’t masked, you will be fined!
on the plus side, hygiene it taken really seriously. On the camp site the washrooms here now have a full time cleaner. Limited number can enter, and after each use there is a good clean down. We however chose to use our van and keeping it as our safe zone.
If you are heading down expecting things to be just like previous years you are going to be in for a big shock.
camp sites are really empty, so finding a spot is going to be easy should you venture down. We have taken the decision to rent an apartment as, like the campsites, places are empty now the domestic summer rentals are over. Form our point of view it will reduce our exposure to both people and virus to a more acceptable level and still allow us to enjoy the warmth of a Spanish winter.

Just stay safe everyone, and enjoy your travels wherever they may take you

Your post makes me thankful we decided not to travel to Spain. I honestly can't see the point of being there, from what you describe.

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[jumartoo]

UK Government advice.

Entry requirements - Spain travel advice

FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Your choice

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

Enjoy the trip. Just heading north to Girona area ourselves and it looks like everywhere in South East France and Southern Germany is forecast wet and stormy for the next week or so. Hoping it changes but Portugal seems like it's the best spot for good weather.

Sorry to burst your bubble concerning the weather in Portugal, we've had thunderstorms the last two days (we're in the North) and more rain and showers forecast.
They need the rain here in Portugal and it's reduced the risk of fires dramatically so all good really. The sun will return soon.....

 

[2657]

Sorry to burst your bubble concerning the weather in Portugal, we've had thunderstorms the last two days (we're in the North) and more rain and showers forecast.
They need the rain here in Portugal and it's reduced the risk of fires dramatically so all good really. The sun will return soon.....

A couple of short thunderstorms yesterday in Tavira, bit windy as well but back to sun today.

Really need some rain though, we passed the baragem at Odeleite on Sunday, never seen it as low.

 

[jumartoo]

We had rain yesterday (Murcia region) but today is lovely. Sunny but with a fresh breeze (and no dust!).

Our forecast.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Your post makes me thankful we decided not to travel to Spain. I honestly can't see the point of being there, from what you describe.

We've been in France and Spain since early July mix of wilding, aires and campsites and not experienced anything like that and loads of others on here have said the same so i wouldn't be put off by one person's experience.

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