Spain Site Recommendations

MDD10
MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335

I have just booked the ferry for 2018 from Portsmouth the Bilbao with the intention of cutting down the driving following this years holiday.  We have two teenage kids, who next year will be 14 and 17.  My wife likes Playa Montroig https://www.playamontroig.com/en/alojamientos/parcela/13/standard which looks amazing and a friend has just returned, however, I am reluctant as it involves a 350 mile drive from Bilbao...exactly what I want to avoid.  Does anyone have any recommendations for other high quality sites similar to Playa Montroig within reasonable distance to the beach (prepared to drive to the beach) and within a couple of hours of Bilbao.

Many thanks and hoping otherwise I will have got rid of one drive to get another!

Comments

  • MJOAP
    MJOAP Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited August 2017 #2

    Hello Sir, 

    I have recently completed the same booking....for next summer.

    It will be our first venture away from the Castels sites in France.

    So from what I can see there is a site Playa Joyel near the Spanish ports that gets good reviews, but the majority of sites tend to involved the trek across Spain.

    Check out

    http://www.bestspanishcampsites.com/ for more info on the above and other campsites.

    We too love the look of Montroig, I don't like the look of their prices though, but I am still intending to book here as soon as the site releases the 2018 dates on their website.

    Friends of mine go to Castell Montgri near Girona every year and love it, and another mate heads for Vilanova near Barcelona with his family.

    I have no experience of any as this will be my first camping trip to Spain.

    Re the drive... my plan is to go half way to the municipal campsite in Zaragoza to break up the journey. There are a lot of varied reviews of this campsite but it appears to be the closest site en route.

    Hope this gives you food for thought.

    Michael

     

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2017 #3
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  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2017 #4

    MJOAP .. we sound similar having done Castels as well.  

    Another David...know what you mean as currently sat near the Spanish boarder in South West France and rain....rain....and rain!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2017 #5
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  • MJOAP
    MJOAP Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited August 2017 #6

    MDD10, 

    Not sure of your exact location, it must be a weather blip.....Ireland has fab weather today, but we had it rough for the last few days.

    Anyway, hang on in there until Saturday and your weather should change for the better.

    To Deleted User Users point.... A days drive towards Tarragona and your in sunshine... the projected weather is reassuringly boring 28 Deg across the board for a week or so........

    Buy hey your in France on holidays, drink more wine and all will be fine.

    Sorry that was not intended!!!!

    Michael

  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2017 #7

    Vielle Saint-Girons. And heading north tomorrow!

    Thanks

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2017 #8
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  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2017 #9

    Another David.  I wouldn't mind trying the Costa Brava but we have booked the ferry to Bilbao and wanting to cut down the driving as this year I drove from Yorkshire right down to Vielle Saint-Giroms which was too onerous in just over 2 days.  Hence frustration at having booked the ferry to Santander to then start discussing long drives in disembarking....but I may be overruled on the matter!

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2017 #10

    There are some absolutely beautiful beaches within a short drive of Santander. Also handy for the Picos if you enjoy hiking.

    We stayed at Noja, Playa Joyel, for a few days early June this year. The beach is stunning but the  campsite is massive, there are lots and lots of apartment blocks in the resort so I expect it can get very busy in high season.

    Yes, it can get wet and misty, but it's not far to drive!

    Wonderful area, worth considering.

    Enjoy, whatever you decide.

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2017 #11

    you dont say when you are going.....ACSI has this site at €16.

    this spring, i did the trip from Irun to Benicassim (an hour longer than your trip) and it was so easy (wide open dual carriageway, no traffic) that we just sailed right on by Zaragosa and onto our destination...just so easy and stress free....

    ok, that was end of January, but even easier than France.

    weve done the 'ferry' trip via Zaragosa a few times and ots a great run..

  • oldagetraveller
    oldagetraveller Forum Participant Posts: 142
    edited August 2017 #12

    As David says, the rain in Spain falls mainly on the north coast. That said, when the weather is fine it is to my mind Spain's best coast. Miles of clean sandy beaches with few crowds, good surfing, old and interesting towns and of course the backdrop of the Picos, a beautiful mountain range. Of course in these days of global warming/climate change who can predict the weather? We were there in May 2009 and were drenched. July 2010 scorchio. November 2014 and couldn't see hand in front of face. March 2015 glorious. My cousin has just walked the Camino and was hot sun all the way. Forest fires in Galicia too.

    I would recommend two great sites for you if you want to chance the weather.  First would be El Helguero, an hour and a half west of Bilbao on toll free motorway.  The site is a few miles inland but handy for excellent beaches.  Nearby are the ports of Comillas with Modernista architecture and San Vincente with an old Moorish castle and the best ice cream shop in Spain. Also handy for trips into the Eastern Picos and the mountain town of Potes and the spectacular cable car at Fuente De

    Secondly, Camping Ribadesella, another hour further west. Again the campsite is set slightly inland, but easy access to beaches, the port of Ribadesella with its caves and cider houses.  There is a river (the Sella) which comes out here which is great for canoeing and trips can be arranged to take you upstream to canoe back down.

  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2017 #13

    School summer holidays.  Decent pitch with service looks like 120 euro per night although some discount for pre payment!!!!! Eye watering!

  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2017 #14

    Old age traveller.  Many thanks and will have a look at them.  Just landed at Castel Chanteloup as part of the trip home and reminded me how much I like Castels

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited August 2017 #15

    We have tried a few times to tour the NW coast of Spain but failed each time due to bad weather and ended up running for the Costas. As others have said its a days run if you get away sharpish, the roads in Spain are good and travelling times are much better than in the UK. 

    I am a little amused by the fact you don't mention an area of Spain you wish to visit just campsites undecided surely the idea of going somewhere on holiday is to see the area.

     

    I certainly wouldn't even consider paying 120€ a night for a pitch, after the eye watering amount you will have to pay for the ferry as well you'd probably be as cheap to take a package somewhere.