spain portugal

As October turns into November lots of places fill up with us northern Europeans heading south for the winter. If you have a bit of a plan it is no harm to try and book a few places ahead of time. I know it's not the way we like to be free and easy as we tour. Last year when we were in Portugal and Spain in January, February and a lot of March, basically until the snowbirds started heading back north to home we often ended up parked on streets after finding three or four campsites or Aires full and no 'room at the Inn'. Both countries are cracking down heavily on unofficial overnight parking at beaches.
Get the paid version of the Campercontact and Park4Night apps, they are well worth the few Euro.
Regarding the phone, many offer unlimited data but chech how much you will be getting while outside Ireland.

Nice one amethyst, (cant say I'm not jealous, but unfortunately still have to work and raise kids. Lol!)..we are just back from France and Spain in a self built crafter 5berth. I swear that I got 32mpg from my 2.5tdi 5cyclinder and kept it between 55and 60mph, thats fully loaded and often carrying a full 100litre water tank. I used redex with every fill. You will enjoy the repsol diesel reduction of 25%...we got diesel at 1.45euro per litre, and also you will enjoy the price of groceries in mercadona....its unreal how we are getting shafted by out cost of living. Happy truckin...

As you can imagine I am new to this bringing a camper abroad
It will be northern Spain and Portugal
Any particular documents needed
Do I have to have the headlights adjusted
Any stickers I have to put on
Tools equipment
Anything you found handy like thank god I brought that
Thanks everyone

I spent last winter in Spain, then bought a house (in Spain) and sold the van. My observations from travelling, in no particular order:

The Spanish are keen on campervans and aires tend to fill up Friday afternoon then empty out on Sunday. If you're staying on aires I'd suggest getting there by midday Friday and not leaving until Sunday, finding a park up on a Saturday can sometimes be tricky.

The middle of Spain is known as "empty Spain", everyone left to find work in the towns and cities. You won't have to drive too far out of Bilbao to find it and Empty Spain can be a depressing place, there's a government ministry set up to try and find solutions. What looks like a nice place to stop on Park4Night can be a village with 3 elderly residents, a mobile supermarket that stops once a fortnight and a bar that closed twenty years ago. Spain suffered with the financial crisis in the late 80's and is full of half built flats and houses. Put those on the edge of a crumbling village with very few residents and it can be a disheartening experience.

Once you find the bits where people live, Spain changes into a vibrant, happening place. There are so many places to see and things to do you'd need a couple of lifetimes to get it all done. The Spanish people are lovely, friendly, helpful. As usual keep your wits about you, especially in the bigger places, there's no more crime than anywhere else though and I feel very safe here.

The country is mountainous and can get it's share of snow, something to be aware of if you're driving around in the winter.

I've been driving in Europe for many years and have never bothered with headlight beam adjust stickers. I've never been stopped or flashed by other drivers at night. You should carry 2 warning triangles and a flouro vest for every occupant of the vehicle. I think there's a law about having a spare wheel or being able to fix a puncture but that's something I'd recommend everyone has. Be aware of the speed limit for your type of van, the Police aren't shy of handing out on the spot fines.

If you're using campsites in the off season an ACSI card might be useful.

There was a thread about hose connectors a couple of weeks ago, bring all the stuff I mentioned on it. A means of filling the van water without being next to a tap is handy too.

If you're using electric hook up get a 2 pin adaptor for your 3 pin lead as mentioned above, you'll probably definitely more than likely use it.

The beach park ups can get full very quickly, which leads to illegal parking, which leads to the Police knocking on the van at 4am with an on the spot fine and being told to move or you'll get another fine. If you fancy the seaside, and who doesn't (me actually, I've no interest whatsover in beaches) talk to other people you meet and get tips from them as to where is full, good, bad.

I've no opinion or advice on Portugal, it does look very nice though.

Forte de São João Baptista de Vila do Conde
just checked this out in google maps
if this is the area you are talking about
then its areaies like this i like
I used to have a wooden sail boat; kings ametyst'
I wouldn’t mind a day or two just walking around
Looking at history

Hope everyone is well.
I never got to Portugal circumstances beyond my control.
This is my second try lwb Renault Master
Hoping to travel off grid
525 watts of solar 500ah of lithium
Dc to dc charger diesel heater induction hob everything you would need to be off grid.
Hoping to head off to Spain Portugal in January
Plan was originally to head along the northern coast of Spain Portugal then south.
This time because I have more time I hope to land in Santander or Bilbao
One way ticket
Ill return when I’ve had enough maybe six weeks or more I’m in no hurry.
head south true Spain towards Valencia then hug the coast from there heading west until I get to northern Portugal.
any comments welcome

Arrive in Santander and head south.
Diesel heater fitted connected to diesel tank.
Trying to pick a route away from mountain ranges
I head for Alicante area and give Valencia a miss.
I will most likely have to stop on the way most likely north of Madrid
I’m in no hurry.

Only a small area on the outskirts of Valencia city suffered the devastating flooding. For example camping Devesa Gardens which is just 15km south of the city was unaffected, approach roads undamaged and continues to operate as normal.

We passed through the city just 3 days after the flooding as a section of the AP7 ring motorway had collapsed and was closed.
Incredibly, a new motorway loop around the collapsed sections was built and opened within 3 weeks. Compare that to what would happen in similar circumstances here.

So, no need to avoid Valencia city / region or using the reopened main arterial motorway South, that passes close by.

You should fit a few metered sockets to your van and sell leccy to other less fortunate campers nearby

Booked a return flexy ticket for the 13th of march
front and back pads
Four new tires and I serviced the van
changed the engine oil while I was under there, I changed the oil in the gearbox
fuel and air filter looked as if they had never been done
changed the antifreeze
a few more jobs to do fit a folding step
a few alterations to the garage area to be able to store and charge an e-bike
fishing rods waders and such
checked with insurance they informed me I do not need a green card
if I wanted one, they would charge 45€

I'll be changing the gearbox oil shortly and will be added Liqui Moly
It's supposed to be great stuff for hardworking gearboxes and differentials

Would ca and cl roads be decent enough in Spain im planning a route atm and a 2 hour drive on a Cl road is one of them, it’s got a lot of bends also Aguilar de campo to potes,

Ok -forgot to say it will be easter time

We are heading 14th jan to santander, heading south. Done it jan this year and as said, it's baltic at night

off the boat in bilboe at seven
so i might as well try and get to tarragona in one go

The only part of my travel plan that’s cast in stone
Cork to Rosslare
Rosslare to bilbao
Everything else is on a hope and a prayer
My first thoughts were to drive to Logrono or Zaragoza then head towards either Barcelona
Or Torredembarra stay in a please for a day maybe two or a week
Just go with the flow
Ive a lot of places marked on google maps where I might like to viset
Mostly along the coast of Spain and Portugal
I’m hoping I will have plenty of time along the way to plan my next stop

Don't be in too much of a rush, Bilboa and Logrona are worth a bit of time to visit, in their own right.

If the weather is warm i.e. 12 to 15 degrees
Then I may spend a little time sight seeing
A castle, monastery, church, anything really
I’m not in any hurry

I’m heading to Spain and Portugal in April. Hoping to do northern Spain across to Portugal and then down the coast! Would love some tips/must see locations

Also Porto is worth a look