If the weather is reasonable we can recommend a few nights stop for some cycling or beachcombing. a lazy morning, and stop en-route, so you have the best chance of finding a spot around this time, but thats when the day is at its hottest, so be careful. These are surprisingly effective! Campsite review: South Lytchett Manor Caravan & Camping Park. The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. The AP7 on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol retains some charges, but they are minimal and are no longer decided by the weight of your vehicle, making them even better value for motorhomes. Route 1 is via Tours, Bordeaux and down the Atlantic coast on the N10 until you cross the border between Biarritz and San Sebastien. But the Spanish government . Tipping Service is usually included in a restaurant, but do check. If you love motorhomes, road trips and a bit of adventure, dive right in! ferry or tunnel from UK to France (there are pros and cons to both). We stayed at thePort of Gelvesjust outside the city but accessible by scooter or public transport. A perfect and peaceful escape for you and your touring caravan, motorhome or tent, or you can purchase your Editor's picks - ideal campsites for Christmas holidays. Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen, they either add too many miles or progress is frustratingly slow. If bakeries open on Sundays, they are often closed on Mondays instead. Should I Take My Motorhome to Spain for the Winter? If youre feeling brave, go to Valencia during Las Fallas, the famous fire festival. Its a long crossing of 32 hours, but does give you the chance to have a proper nights sleep if you book a cabin. Motorhome aires in France are so well located - we've stayed in inner cities, within castle walls, at the bottom of ski pistes and steps away from a lake's shore. Is this your first time visiting Spain? Of course, if you only have a week for your holiday, travelling from the UK and back leaves only a few days to explore the country, and the further south you go, the less exploring time you have. A visit to Lourdes is also possible. such products do not require refrigeration before opening. The mighty SierraNevada is home to the highest point of continental Spain and the third highest in Europeafter theCaucasus Mountainsand theAlps; Mulhacnpeaks at 3,479m above sea level. We stayed several nights at thisgreat spot,perfect for getting the bus to the start of the hike and then walking back from the end, via the bar of course! Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices and excellent service. They will probably be smaller than other pitches and perhaps not as favourably placed. Motorhome Route France, Spain and Andorra - Straight through the Pyrenees Developed by: NKC - travel guides (the NKC is the Dutch parent company of Campercontact) Described route: 15 travel days The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain and are richly blessed with natural beauty. Expect to show your passport or identification on arrival and many places require you to leave one passport behind the reception. On roads where there is no pavement so that vehicles and pedestrians share the road: 20 km/h. At 35 a night, this is without doubt, the poorest value-for-money motorhome campsite site we have ever stayed on, although our research suggests its the best motorhome site in Madrid! In practicality, youll find that the further than civilisation and the beach you are, the better your chances of finding a quiet, free overnight parking spot will be. Book with Eurocampings for the best deals on over 520 campsites in Spain. Things you need to drive in Spain- safety gear, Road trip accessories you MIGHT need when campervanning in Spain, Motorhomes or campers with a total train length of over 12m. which could distract you when driving should be positioned where you cant see it. A prosperous and cosmopolitan city with a great vibe. (If you do need an IDP, heres anin-depth guide on how to get an International Driving Permitand which one(s) you needfrom a UK post office. But let's get down to practicalities. As you can see very little time difference between the routes. Tarifa, Spain is one of our favourite places for van life. There is a lot of diverse hiking here but the weather can be unstable and the terrain unforgiving. Broadly speaking from the UK you have three options. All that walking demands you sample the tapas scene, arguably the best in Spain, with regular live music and tapasthat are a bit more inventive than the normal tourist offering. As you leave the ferry terminal stay on the main road, dont turn into town unless you intend staying on the aire near the harbour. b) Short crossing to northern France, motorways to Perpignan, then the Spanish AP7 coastal motorway to your destination. Shops Food prices are pretty inexpensive. The readers of the specialised German magazine Promobil have named Fiat Professional Ducato As in France, sometimes there is a fee per night but often there is no charge and basic services are provided. Top Guide To Buying A Motorhome; First Motorhome Trip Abroad; Winter Motorhome Trip Spain; Campsites For A Ski . Join our email list here and get access to our FREE resource library. Our quintessential motorhoming in Spain road trip begins in the northern city of Barcelona, taking you through snow-peaked mountains and medieval towns, before heading south to the warmer climes of the historical Moorish region of Andalucia. You cannot book aires for camping in Spain, it is advisable in the holidays and in popular places to try and get there early in the morning or just after lunchtime. Some go for up to six months from October onwards, we prefer to spend Christmas at home and travel out in January. Dont try and wild camp in busy/ popular areas- like the Costa del Sol- unless youre visiting in the lowest of low season. The following kit are things you might need to carry in your car, motorhome, caravan or campervan, depending on when you are planning your road trip in Spain. Just make sure to ask how to get from the airport to the rental agency- not all of them are at the airport itself and you might need to book a taxi. Peaje or AP is a toll road. Okay, it's winter and may be raining, or worse, but you get to visit towns and tourist sites without the summer crowds. Enjoy holidays year-round with this selection of sites that are open all year Editor's Pick - The best campsites in Devon. Road map of Spain. Contains eBook, checklists and more. Unlike other countries in the continent, in the UK there are no Areas enabled for overnight stay for motorhomes or campervans. Discover incredible deals for motorhome/ camper rentals, 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome, aires and approved free overnight motorhome stopovers across Europe, step-by-step guide for motorhome wild camping. Motorhome camping in and around Barcelona is challenging. Spanish supermarkets are generally ok, all offering the basics and some a bit more upmarket, such a Carrefour. If you have refillable gas bottles in your motorhome, you can find LPG pretty easily while touring around Spain. You can find out more informationhere. As with most countries in Europe, you have four options when it comes to where to park your motorhome or camper overnight: Sadly, Spain is getting tougher about free overnight motorhome parking spots and many places now ban them completely. Norway is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever visited and a real bucket list destination. We have been using and recommend ConnectPlus for cloud sim connectivity in the UK and Europe. For us option C is the only contender. Anywhere near the beach will be tough all year. 6 awesome Campervan Storage Ideas youll regret not using! There is history and culture everywhere you look, as well as friendly and welcoming people, delicious food and SUNSHINE- even in winter. NEWS : The Spanish authorities have (for the time being) removed the tolls from the AP7 motorway between the French border and Alicante. Many shops and businesses also shut for a long lunch (between 12-2pm) and some will not open on Wednesday afternoons. You may be surprised at how many motorhomes from northern Europe travel to campsites in Spain for the winter. Its common to tip other services, like taxi drivers. When you sign up to our FREE newsletter, we'll send you the latest Each four-weekly issue is packed with the best motorhome travel features, genuine reader reviews of campsites, in-depth motorhome reviews, plus the latest technical advice, buying tips and much more. Barcelona is a real foodie city, with a great central market and lots of fantastic tapas bars and seafood restaurants, check out thebest restaurants in Barcelonafor an authentic gastronomic experience when you visit the city. If the weather is good there are two low altitude passes you can take instead. Spains fabulous climate will seduce you and its people charm you. This is designated motorhome parking, well-lit and manned with CCTV and services but no EHU. I am a pretty competent driver and not nervous of driving in mountains provided the roads are sensible and not too narrow. The Spanish government caps the price of gas, and you should expect to pay around 15-18 for a replacement bottle. With short breaks, and sharing the driving, we usually arrive at the overnight stops around 4pm (ish) after a 7am (ish) crossing, and after leaving Poitiers around 9am. READ MORE: How to get a UK Animal Health Certificate after BREXIT. Most of the routes i have seen on the forum have avoided toll roads. You are allowed to cross a white line to overtake a cyclist AS LONG AS nothing (not even another cyclist) is coming the other way. If you are driving a motorhome or campervan in Spain and towing, and the overall length is more than 12m (which would be one large motorhome and trailer! Look out for Ainsa, a beautiful medieval hilltop town inAragn, with incredible mountainviews. As a result I'm looking for as much help as I I can get. The first question to ask yourself if whether you want to drive from the UK through France and down to Spain, or whether you want to take a ferry direct from the UK and sail around the coast and down to northern Spain. Head to Zahara de la Sierra and follow the spectacular CA-9104 road to Grazalema, which climbs to the Puerto de Las Palomas (Pass of the Pigeons), at 1180m its a spectacular drive and worth the fuel to get there this is what motorhoming in southern Spain is all about!