Spain Newbies looking for advice
My wife and I have booked a ferry to Bilbao and a few nights at a site near Alicante. We have joined ACSI and wondered if anyone could offer tips on routes and accommodation en route
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If I were to go I would be a newcomer on that route too....but would just look at ViaMichelin.com for suggested routes and timings, would look in the ACSI book or app to see which campsites are open at the time of year In question, would look at Campercontact to see what Motorhome Aires are available, would look at reviews and photos of those various stopping places, and would decide which museums, historic places and galleries I would like to visit on the way. Enjoy your planning.
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I've done ALC to Bilbao in eight hours, albeit solo and driving overnight. Unless you want a particularly leisurely trip, I would imagine only a single night stop would be required.
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Hi Glen
We live in Alicante and from Bilbao you will only need one stop, i prefer the A23 route through Zaragoza where there is an OK municipal campsite then down to Valencia and onto Alicante. This route is motorway all the way and it may be toll free now it is from Zaragoza, the Spanish are in the process of making all roads toll free but coming out of lockdown some might have not happened yet, i think the Madrid tolls are still working. Is the campsite in Alicante set in stone because there is a really nice camper stop just outside at the sea side resort of El Campello for 16e a night showers/electricity/wifi included and a tram ride into Alicante or Benidorm the other way.
Phil
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there is a really nice camper stop just outside at the sea side resort of El Campello for 16e a night showers/electricity/wifi included and a tram ride into Alicante or Benidorm the other way.
That is worth knowing thanks Phil.
Is it not toll free from Burgos on the Autovia del Norte to Madrid and then beyond to Allicante? There is also Camping International Aranjuez just south of Madrid for a night stop.
peedee
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Sorry i mean to add web address which is
here been open two years now ttps://www.camperarea7.com/
we were there last weekend short walk down hill to the prom which is one of the best in Spain where the Tram runs into Alicante. Not been out of the Alicante Province since lock down so don't know actually whats happening in other parts of Spain concerning the tolls
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Hi Glenn1405, one place I'd really recommend for a visit is the Monasterio de Piedra, SW of Zaragoza - check out the monastery and park on Tripadvisor. We discovered it by accident! You could easily spend a full day there. Excellent value 'menu del dia' at the Restaurante Piedra Vieja. No idea of campsites nearby though - we were in the car and stayed in the Monastery itself, which was amazing. I can confirm that Spain are in the process of removing motorway tolls as the contracts come up for renewal, the AP7 is now toll-free between Valencia and Alicante.
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I’m not sure if you’re used to travelling in the EU but there’s no need to rebook sites on your way. There are lots of sites and motorhome Aires, particularly in France. I tend to have a rough plan of my route but never pre book sites on it. When we feel we’re ready for an overnight stop I look at the Campercontact app and choose one nearby. We’ve never had a problem in decades, especially if you arrive before evening time.
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Hi Glenn, we have made the trip from Bilbao to Villajoyosa (Alicante Imperium) in 2019 with our caravan stopping overnight at Zaragosa. I believe the municipal site there has been upgraded but was perfectly adequate for one night when we were there. Martin
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If you need to stay around Bilbao at the start/end of your journey, I can recommend Área de Autocaravanas de Kobetamendi
It’s basically an aire but has a toilet, sells essentials (inc Pizza) and has the usual motorhome point facilities. It’s elevated, terraced position overlooking Bilbao is what makes it special - fabulous city view, especially at night.
Easy bus route into Bilbao which is definitely worth a day visiting. Guggenheim Museum building is stunning, but not sure it’s worth spending money to go inside.
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Hi Glenn, a bit after the OP but you may get to see this. We have lived before, and now frequently visit Spain, in a Motorhome. It recent years we have noticed some big changes re availability of campsites. We tend to use the ACSI App as a guide, but not restricted to ACSI sites and we generally do not book in advance. For example if you are travelling along the coast from the Costa Brava heading south in September there are now many more campers, particularly French who once would have gone to Morocco or stayed in France, and this makes it difficult sometimes get a site. We have even visited 3 sites along the way on one days travels and there were no pitches at all. Now, at this time of year in this area, I tend to check ahead and book the night if necessary and I know I am going to save any problems. We also tend to try and be put for the weekend along the coast and arrive on a Thursday. This is because caravaning is a big hobby for the Spanish and once the July/August full months holiday season ends they go away every weekend from Friday after work until Sunday leaving late after showering the kids for bed & school the next day. Very different to the UK you see lots of young Spanish families hire motorhomes for the weekend too. This seems to carry on right up to the Spanish National Holiday on 12th October and after then it's like a switch and they become much more fewer. The French are now staying in Spain along the coast in much greater numbers in recent years and also now travelling further south than they once did. Also many more Swedes are travelling there for over the winter, hence the numbers are going up. We also try to avoid Easter and depart the UK after then or if there book or stay away from the coast, but even the inland sites can be full at this time of year as it is a very big holiday there and the start of the season for many. These are our observations and have now affected how we plan our trips. Hope this gives you some food for thought. Enjoy, make sure you get into Alicante on the coastal tram or bus, a lovely city to visit. Regards, Roy
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Absolutely David, I was not thinking clearly from a UK perspective and it needs pointing out that in Spain the Easter, as I called it, is a week long festival culminating often on the Friday (Good Friday) night into the Saturday with a 24 hour religious extravaganza. Processions that go all through the day and night in certain cities. Hence the name 'Santa Semana' Holy Week in Spanish. We love to see it, if staying in a house or hotel, but now avoid the whole week in the motorhome if at all possible. The Religious Floats and Belen (Nativity Scenes like whole villages) exhibitions are remarkable. If Easter is late in April then we try to arrive in Spain just after it's finishing. Regards, Roy
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As mentioned above the Spanish love their summer camping weekends and that often involves a large, boisterous gathering of friends & family. They generally don’t follow the conventions and rules observed on UK sites. Nobody will bat an eyelid if the kids are still running around at 11pm and it’s definitely not peace and quiet after 10pm. That’s just how it is, but it’s not ideal for some. You might want to check out the site before you pitch up? The locals generally stay in caravans already setup on site with large awning, big fridge etc, so easily spotted.
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Love it, massive paella pan big enough to feed a couple of dozen and staggering into bed in the wee small hours, we also have some great parties with our German friends, but somehow Spanish and German dont mix so easy as Spanish/English, but what i like, is everybody has a great time and no trouble, somewhat different to some of the english sights we have been on.
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