Portugal - any advice?
After visiting Spain a couple of times, we have decided to try Portugal this year. We are taking the ferry to Bilbao, mid March, and stopping for 8 weeks. We are thinking of driving through Spain to the Algarve and then heading north through Portugal along the coast. We have seen a site on the Algarve, called Camping Alvor at Alvor Portimao (ACSI site 3000). Has anyone stayed there or has any info on this or any suggestions for good sites in Portugal. As we are travelling with 2 small dogs, good walks near-by would be a bonus. Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on beaches and public transport?
Any general advice on Portugal would be welcome and suggestions on places to visit. I know from what I have read on here that the tolls are confusing and I have looked at the tolls website, but I still find it confusing. Does anyone have any recent updates on the situation?
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You can choose to try to avoid the tolls if you wish and I am unsure if they chase them up or not but unless things have changed since 2016, the tolls situation involves 3 systems:
Manual toll booths (older motorways) always keep to the right to get your ticket or pay. If you don't have a ticket there is a high fixed charge at the next booth.
For the newer motorways which were constructed with EU money and not designed to be tolled, they added overhead gantries with ANPR cameras. This means that you have to have an account with your reg number tied to a credit card or an alternative.
Info here:
http://www.portugaltolls.com/en/web/portal-de-portagens/home
Sanef (French tags are normally praised) now claim to do ones for Portugal and Spain but I'm unsure which of the systems in Portugal are covered - perhaps ask them and report back?
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
The tolls on the Lisbon bridges are separate again and if you go through the automatic barrier without paying you have to go to the main office on the Ponte 25 de Abril to pay (or choose not to)
It all depends how you view keeping to the laws of other countries and the risk of being chased later.
Look at
They had a special passport deal which makes their (reasonable) sites quite a bit cheaper.
Depending on your needs/views, consider
The Algarve site mentioned above (still in CAMC guides and best we stayed at - don't expect CMC standards otherwise?)
Obidos (quaint walled city)/Foz do Arelho
Fatima (a sight, even if not religious)
Coimbra (https://coimbracamping.com/) Never used but another group option)
Porto (Villa Nova de Gaia) for the city and port lodges. Wife got ill there and public hospital was a bit like a war zone)
Caminha (nice area)
We headed back to Santander via Ponferrada and Picos de Europa (ACSI is useful)
We went down through Spain and stopped at:
Madrid (ACSI site to the west was handy for the city but only as a stopover)
Corboba: The Alcazar
Seville: Donarrayan Park had just come into the Yelloh group and was showing promise - right in the national park and don't miss El Rocio - crazy Wild West town with hitching rails! The festival in May was amazing)
Hope this adds to your planning or confusion!
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Our very first 'story' on club together was our 'Postcard from Alvor' in 2012. The story was trashed by an update to the CT website, so we can't link you to that account. We loved Alvor in Februray, sunshine and miles of beach, a board walk, and a very pleasant old town and harbour. Camping Alvor used to be Camping Duorado then a young couple took over the management to make improvements. The site used to be cheap but pretty dire in terms of facilities, but then improvements were made. The site is a brisk walk down to the town and then the boardwalk to the miles of beach. You and your dog will love it! In later years a new supermarket Pingodoce opened up next door which robbed the village shops of custom.
If we still could, we'd be off to Alvor tomorrow! Our avatar photo was taken on Alvor beach. Ps Portimao is pronounced portomong not mayoh.
Here are some photos.
p.s You can get buses to Portimao and Lagos.
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I have made a few trips to Portugal both north and south but none since 2009 something I must put right in the not too distant future. I cannot help with toll roads, I too find the information posted about the toll charge systems and costs confusing. It was all so much easier when all you had to do was take a ticket and pay on exit. If it is any help on what to see and where to stay have a look at my notes on our visits >here<
peedee
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We’re at Turiscampo for the second time on the other club’s rally. It is a very nice site, good bar and restaurant and excellent toilets and showers (with toilet paper!) It’s a bit of a hike to Praia de Luz but the beach when you get there is well worth it.
We’re going to Albufeira next which is our favourite site here. Lovely restaurant, good facilities. The site isn’t neatly laid out, you more or less pitch wherever you want where you can reach an electric hookup. The town is about 25 minutes walk through a little park. Loads to do in the town and absolutely amazing beach.
We let the dog run on the beach, nobody seems to bother and everyone else is doing the same. I get the impression that the reason they say no dogs is more to do with sand flies than dog mess over here.
Apparently dogs are not allowed on public transport unless they’re in a crate or something. I’ve bought a papoose carrier thing but don’t know if I’ll get away with it. I’ve only got a Jack Russell but I don’t quite know how you’d manage with a Doberman or a Great Dane. Car hire isn’t too expensive though.
Road tolls are incredibly confusing. Coming from Spain last spring we got a ticket on the motorway which had our registration on and was linked to a credit card. It was valid for a month but nobody seemed to know what you did after that, short of going back to Spain and starting again. Yesterday we came through a lot of gantry cameras but no indication of how to pay!
The only thing I would mention is research processional caterpillars. They are a serious issue in some places, more in Spain than Portugal I think, but we’ll worth being aware of and being vigilant.
Have a wonderful time.
Nora
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Dogs are not allowed on beaches but its widely flouted
We let the dog run on the beach, nobody seems to bother and everyone else is doing the same. I get the impression that the reason they say no dogs is more to do with sand flies than dog mess over here.
We have for some time been considering a visit to Portugal but the two comments above will certainly influence our decision.
I have no doubt that there are 'rules' that we all ignore at some time or another but being faced with dogs that are 'allowed to run on the beach' is not something that we would want to travel all that way to face.
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I am not an irresponsible dog owner. There are actually signs that I have seen saying dogs are not allowed on beaches so I am not flaunting anything. Sand flies can apparently be very dangerous.
Please check your facts before you criticise.
Nora
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You know what? I understand what the sign may look like as it’s pretty much the same as in the UK.
I will reword my remark so it may be clearer for you.
i was led to believe that dogs were not allowed on some beaches but I have yet to see signs saying so and certainly there are a lot of dogs being walked on the beaches by locals and holiday makers. Do be aware of sand flies during the summer months as these can be harmful. A quick look on Google will give you the information.
I think we should move on now for the benefit of the original poster.
Nora
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We let the dog run on the beach, nobody seems to bother and everyone else is doing the same. I get the impression that the reason they say no dogs is more to do with sand flies than dog mess over here.
Are these the words of a responsible dog owner?
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How, precisely, do you define “responsible “? I’m confused as to what I’ve done wrong by your definition and am leaving this conversation now. There’s no reasoning with some people.
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I thought for a moment there that the dog thread had been resurrected.
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Hi David, much as I dislike coming across dog mess it is the prospect of dogs being allowed to run around off the lead that we find unappealing.
I understand that there are many many responsible owners but whenever dogs have been an issue for us any attempt to request that they be controlled has been met with an unpleasant response or a flat denial that there is a problem despite making it clear that,for us, there is.
A recent thread had comments from people who find the use of high bridges makes them feel uncomfortable, and how they will avoid them, and that's how we view dogs being allowed to run in an uncontrolled manner-it makes us uncomfortable so, wherever we can, we will avoid putting ourselves in that position.
So, the $50,000 question-what should I expect in Croatia?
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So, the $50,000 question-what should I expect in Croatia?
I toured Croatia in 2006 and have been back a couple of times since but not in my motorhome. We may go back in the motorhome again this year. Its a great place to visit. My >2006 notes< and photos of the trip we made should give you an idea of what to expect.
peedee
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Ok, I know I said I was leaving this thread but I’m afraid I believe I have a moral right to be able to defend myself when I’ve been wrongly accused.
1. I always pick up after my dog. I have not seen any dog mess on the beaches here. Along the roads is a different matter.
2.i understand not everyone loves my dog and she is only allowed to go to people who encourage her. I think people with children should do the same.
3. There are very few areas you can exercise a dog, especially on sites. Which is why we like sites near the beach.
4. Dogs are allowed on the beach here until 4th April. So I’m not flouting the rules.
That’s all.
Nora
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We visited last year and really like Portugal. We came over from mid-Spain (Evora) and stayed at the middle and northern areas rather than the Algarve. We used our satnav and didn't use a single toll motorway - ok when you're not in a hurry and if you're not too worried about bumpy roads!
Lisbon is a must, we stayed at the very large campsite in the suburbs and took the bus in, Porto was one of our favourite, we stayed in an Orbitur campsite south of the city with a very handy bus nearby. The port lodges were fab, we sat in the gardens at the Taylor's port one watching the peacocks.
There is a free stop-off in the old campsite in Tomar - it's for motorhomes only and only has a few toilets,open during the day only. The castle is fascinating - it was a Knight's Templar HQ and has a gorgeous temple. We also stayed in the car park below the shrine of Bom Jesus with it's hundreds of steps and beautiful views, and stopped off at the pilgrimage site of Fatima.
Other highlights were Coimbra with it's amazing old university, Avero (canals), and Barcelos (home of the cockerel folk tale)
We had to spend more time nearer to the sea as there were very bad forest fires whilst we were there, we hope to return to see the bits we missed!
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I use >this site<
peedee
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Hi,
Totally agree, shame the Dogs took over your blog !.... We to are travelling from Bilbao over to Portugal in May, We have booked a site when we get of the ferry at Laredo 'Camping Regaton' then are heading up to Salamanca and staying at Camping Regio.... from there we are taking the N62/A25 into Portugal, not sure if to stop at Aveiro or continue onto Figuero de Foz, where we can get the train into Porto and Lisbon .... Can't wait, not sure after that as we're having 10 weeks travelling, just Me, Hubby the Car and Caravan....no dogs !!... Oooh we were wardens on a touring site, and our main pain.... dog owners not clearing up after their dogs.... and we had the biggest dog exercise field.. but they still let the dogs of leads around our site !!.... no fun having to confront the owners..... not the dogs fault !!.... Happy Hols Mr Fat !!
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