Here is my list for travelling in France, Spain and Portugal.
Get the relevant phrase books or learn the language.
Aires in France are great plentiful and usually free, there are less in Spain and Portugal.
It is usually very obvious where you can wild camp in Spain and Portugal, the tip being no height barrier or sign and you are okay, but by sensible and park where others are and where is there is lighting.
Getting rid of grey waste is usually easy, getting water is easy if you know the tricks, one camperstop all the campers were using the drinking fountain with there own hose and bottles of water, another campers were using the beach washing points, and as I have now been told there is always water at a cemetery.
And there are always garages where you can fill up with water for a small charge.
Laundry tends to be quite pricey the cheapest being €3 but most are €4/5 so if you wear white clothes wear a lot as a special wash will add up over long stays away.
Gaffer tape duck tape call it what you want is great, water leak fixed temporarily gaffer tape, window inner separating from outer pane, gaffer tape fixed for now, fiamma bike securing arm bolt broken fixed with gaffer tape.
Read the road signs, I met a bloke in France who damaged bits on top of his MH on the warning sign for height restriction, he was an experienced MH driver but having just got off the ferry was concentrating on driving on the right and trying to navigate.
Spain is cheapest for alcohol and Laundry and you can get it done at the larger supermarkets and garages.
Milk as in Fresh milk is not available in smaller supermarkets as locals go for long life stuff.
Curry sauce mixes in Spain and Portugal in a jar are hard to find and expensive circa €4/5 a jar.
Personally I would not drink the water even when it is marked drinking water by 5ltrs for 50 cents, use your tank water for showering and washing up only.
Get a 90 degree drain pipe connector and use this for filling up your tank.
LPG in Spain for re fillable bottles/tanks is hard to find, so if you need it then fill up where ever you see it.
Portugal most cash points will only let you take €200 at a time and as you get charged each time may be better to get larger amounts in Spain of France or bring it with you.
Lots of barking dogs in Spain and Portugal, ear plugs or alcohol will help you sleep at night.
Wifi on most campsites is an extra, find a bar have drink and get their code, check in advance they have wifi by turning on wifi on your device and finding their name of the wifi available. Top tip then go back in the morning and check emails again as the code will be stored.
Ladies should always have toilet roll with them, as some toilets do not provide this and toilet seats are also rare but I don't think carrying your own helps.
If using a campsite check it first without paying and decide if it is worth the money.
Have tape measure in the cab and if gets narrow and your know your width/height check before proceeding.
Have a sticker in your windscreen of you height and width. I've also got a reversible sticker reminding me which side of the road to be on and which way around roundabouts.
Destination or Journey, for me with a long spell away it is about the journey, circa 5000 driving miles in 100 plus days means I can take my time. But if you going for winter sun, hence Spain and the Algave area of Portugal. Then you may wish to plan some long driving days. The residents of one country in Particular need to get from their country to Southern Spain in 3/4 days maximum it seems then park for the duration. That's not me I like to drive a bit see a bit and move on but each to their own.
Note a lot of main land Europeans do not like the English as they think they are Snobby but they do like the Irish. I am English with Irish number plates so I was told as much by several on my journeys.
Sat navs are great but Maps can be better.
Speak to your fellow campers and ask for advice on your next destination.
Additional tips;
I have not found 1 sink to date of any description with a plug, this is a nuisance when washing up and a waste of water bring a plug selection or use your own washing up bowl if using a sink on a campsite.
The next tip is one most of you will know but just in case; make sure you carry a line and plenty of pegs this can really save on laundry prices especially if you are staying at the same place for more than a day.
Take a long EHU lead some of the electric points are quite a distance from the pitches.
Noted a fare few people use their grey waste to wash the cassette rather than paying €2 where some service points don't have water unless you pay.
Road surfaces in Ireland 6 out of 10, Portugal 2, Spain 3, France 4/5. If you wear false teeth bring a good fixing agent.
West Coast of France appears to be closed in Jan/Feb.
Also it is noticeable how much more you spend in the supermarkets in France compared to Spain which is much cheaper for the majority of stuff we buy.
All for now.
Regards Jamie
Get the relevant phrase books or learn the language.
Aires in France are great plentiful and usually free, there are less in Spain and Portugal.
It is usually very obvious where you can wild camp in Spain and Portugal, the tip being no height barrier or sign and you are okay, but by sensible and park where others are and where is there is lighting.
Getting rid of grey waste is usually easy, getting water is easy if you know the tricks, one camperstop all the campers were using the drinking fountain with there own hose and bottles of water, another campers were using the beach washing points, and as I have now been told there is always water at a cemetery.
And there are always garages where you can fill up with water for a small charge.
Laundry tends to be quite pricey the cheapest being €3 but most are €4/5 so if you wear white clothes wear a lot as a special wash will add up over long stays away.
Gaffer tape duck tape call it what you want is great, water leak fixed temporarily gaffer tape, window inner separating from outer pane, gaffer tape fixed for now, fiamma bike securing arm bolt broken fixed with gaffer tape.
Read the road signs, I met a bloke in France who damaged bits on top of his MH on the warning sign for height restriction, he was an experienced MH driver but having just got off the ferry was concentrating on driving on the right and trying to navigate.
Spain is cheapest for alcohol and Laundry and you can get it done at the larger supermarkets and garages.
Milk as in Fresh milk is not available in smaller supermarkets as locals go for long life stuff.
Curry sauce mixes in Spain and Portugal in a jar are hard to find and expensive circa €4/5 a jar.
Personally I would not drink the water even when it is marked drinking water by 5ltrs for 50 cents, use your tank water for showering and washing up only.
Get a 90 degree drain pipe connector and use this for filling up your tank.
LPG in Spain for re fillable bottles/tanks is hard to find, so if you need it then fill up where ever you see it.
Portugal most cash points will only let you take €200 at a time and as you get charged each time may be better to get larger amounts in Spain of France or bring it with you.
Lots of barking dogs in Spain and Portugal, ear plugs or alcohol will help you sleep at night.
Wifi on most campsites is an extra, find a bar have drink and get their code, check in advance they have wifi by turning on wifi on your device and finding their name of the wifi available. Top tip then go back in the morning and check emails again as the code will be stored.
Ladies should always have toilet roll with them, as some toilets do not provide this and toilet seats are also rare but I don't think carrying your own helps.
If using a campsite check it first without paying and decide if it is worth the money.
Have tape measure in the cab and if gets narrow and your know your width/height check before proceeding.
Have a sticker in your windscreen of you height and width. I've also got a reversible sticker reminding me which side of the road to be on and which way around roundabouts.
Destination or Journey, for me with a long spell away it is about the journey, circa 5000 driving miles in 100 plus days means I can take my time. But if you going for winter sun, hence Spain and the Algave area of Portugal. Then you may wish to plan some long driving days. The residents of one country in Particular need to get from their country to Southern Spain in 3/4 days maximum it seems then park for the duration. That's not me I like to drive a bit see a bit and move on but each to their own.
Note a lot of main land Europeans do not like the English as they think they are Snobby but they do like the Irish. I am English with Irish number plates so I was told as much by several on my journeys.
Sat navs are great but Maps can be better.
Speak to your fellow campers and ask for advice on your next destination.
Additional tips;
I have not found 1 sink to date of any description with a plug, this is a nuisance when washing up and a waste of water bring a plug selection or use your own washing up bowl if using a sink on a campsite.
The next tip is one most of you will know but just in case; make sure you carry a line and plenty of pegs this can really save on laundry prices especially if you are staying at the same place for more than a day.
Take a long EHU lead some of the electric points are quite a distance from the pitches.
Noted a fare few people use their grey waste to wash the cassette rather than paying €2 where some service points don't have water unless you pay.
Road surfaces in Ireland 6 out of 10, Portugal 2, Spain 3, France 4/5. If you wear false teeth bring a good fixing agent.
West Coast of France appears to be closed in Jan/Feb.
Also it is noticeable how much more you spend in the supermarkets in France compared to Spain which is much cheaper for the majority of stuff we buy.
All for now.
Regards Jamie
