Northern Spain/Portugal

[Alex_374373826]

Just got over this year's hol and thinking about going to Portugal via Northern Spain and the Santander Ferry.

Has anyone one done this, any thoughts on good sites etc. It should be next September.

Thank you.

 

[angela_5125767]

Hi

Went from Bilbao September before last stayed at Salamanca and from there went into Portugal and stayed at Evora which is a lovely site close to the city. From there we went straight down to Turiscamp near Lagos which is also a good site but took the National Road in Portugal not the motorway as it is very expensive. The roads were all very good all the way down.

Angela

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Alex - my advice is Go For It, you will have a great time.

We went down via P&O Portsmouth/Bilbao last year, and came back overland. This year we went both ways overland. Both are enjoyable, it depends how much you like driving.

Turiscampo on the Algarve is an excellent site - lovely pool, nice setting, nice bar (beer and wine on draught at 1 Euro/glass) and restaurant, cheap wi-fi. On Camping Cheques it is a bargain - they do 6=7, 11=14 and 23-30, and you get a free bottle of wine. We stayed there three weeks this year.

Also been to Evora - nice site and pool. Nice town too, with lots of history. Only 10 euros in ACCI book - a bargain.

Last year we stayed at Vale Paraiso (also in Camping Cheque book. Nice site/pool etc but a bit dead when we went there in late April.

Also stayed on Municipal site in Monsanto Park Lisbon. Nice site, very convenient location - short bus or taxi ride to Lisbon.

I second Angela's comment about the motorway toll from Lisbon to the Algarve (A2). We paid 40 euros last year. This year took the National Road between Evora and the Algarve which was very good, and quiet.

Have also stayed en route in Spain at El Astral (Tordesillas), and Ruta de la Plata (Salamanca). Both OK - El Astral is the better site of the two, but Salamanca is a very nice (old) town, worth looking round. Both in Camping Cheques book. Both sites are a bit tight on access to pitches unless you have a motor mover

One site I would not recommend is Camping las Canadas (Camping Cheques no 562) near Bejar. The bar/restaurant is excellent, but the site is taken over by seasonal Spanish outfits - hardly any space for tourers. We were the only non Spanish there (nothing wrong in that, the Spanish are friendly, but do have large families, lots of children, and "enjoy" themselves late into the night).

Incidentally the road from Salamanca south to Merida is an excellent non toll motorway now,and a good way to reach the Algarve, via Badajoz (and Evora). Maps and sat nav are generally not up to date - the roads are being built very quickly, with EU money.

The Portuguese motorway from the border near Guarda is also very good, and toll free until you reach the Porto/Lisbon motorway A1.

The Algarve coastal motorway to Spain is also very good, and toll free.

Hope at least some of this is useful to you

Keith

 

[Alex_374373826]

Thank you, Angela and Keith,

I will consult the map over the next few days and get back with more questions no doubt.

Alex

 

[Alex_374373826]

Well I have consulted the map.

We only have 2 weeks so south Portugal may prove a bit too much.

However have you travelled along the North of Spain and then down into Portugal (via Santiago).

What is the road like from Santiago to Aveiro? It looks a bit hilly. We intend to go so am just playing with ideas at the moment.

Thank you again.

Alex