First time to Portugal

My2ndhomeismobile
My2ndhomeismobile Forum Participant Posts: 21
edited June 2019 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Now we are both retired we are planning to take our Motorhome to Portugal next January/ February to try and avoid the English winter. We have toured France fairly extensively so are familiar with European driving, but have some other questions:

Which route would people recommend at that time of year? Dover/ Calais and drive through France to Spain/ Portugal, or Plymouth/Santander?

When touring France we have never pre- booked sites. Would we need to do so in Spain and Portugal?

We generally prefer CL type locations, does anyone have any recommendations for Spain and Portugal?

i shall be buying 'All the Aires in Spain and Portugal' and renewing my ACSI membership.

Any other tips gratefully received!

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited June 2019 #2
    This content has been removed.
  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #3

    We’ve recently visited Portugal, entering from northern Spain and exiting via the Algarve to Seville and beyond. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the toll road system beforehand. It’s quite complex and potentially expensive. We don’t do the ‘show bird’ thing, so can’t advise on sites in winter. We did stay on a site near Cabanas de Tavira (Cámping Ria Formosa) in the Algarve which seemed very geared up to long-term winter stays. Not a bad site, near a lovely beach (short boat trip required) good rail links along the Algarve, but I think I’d be bored stiff after a week. Nearby Tavira is a nice town. Northern Portugal has a lot to offer, empty wild beaches - very different to the Algarve. Porto is a fantastic city and we really liked Evora, an old town inland from Lisbon, (also worth a visit). Portugal is quite cheap - food, drink, diesel.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,853
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2019 #4

    Plymouth to Santander ferry usually shuts down in winter. Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao stays open,  but with the big ship out of action for repairs taking ten weeks and being replaced by a small ship I would book as soon as the new timetable is out in July if you decide on that route - especially if you want a dog in bedroom booking. Those cabins sell out fast. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2019 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • My2ndhomeismobile
    My2ndhomeismobile Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited June 2019 #6

    Many thanks for these replies, they are very useful and are giving us much food for thought.

    Next task Is to look into crossings from Portsmouth and  to get a map and book of aires to start planning!

    Thanks again.

     

    Mike

Categories