Towing down to Algarve late Jan - need o/n ideas

[brissle]

Hi everyone,
We are towing down to the Algarve in late January and I'm struggling with ideas for overnight stops.

We will arrive in Santander at 12.45, so I'm assuming we have 3 or 4 hours driving in daylight - maybe get to Valadolid area? Then a second day down for overnight near the Portugal border, then we cross at Badajoz and down through Portugal and should do it down to Albufeira in the third day.
Unless anyone tells me different......

Would be grateful for any tips for overnight stops at all year sites on the way.
We've been down there in the early summer, but never in winter.....

thanks

 

[Jaydug]

I did a lot of that journey six or seven weeks ago. If you leave Santander about 13.00 you could be in Salamanca 240 miles away by 18.00 just about as it gets dark. If you take the A67 there's a filling station just off the motoway about 11 miles into the journey. There's a rest area at 72 miles and another service area at 188. I stopped at Camping Regio which has a hotel and a campsite in the same grounds. Camp reception will be closed but use hotel reception. Next stop was at Camping Caceres which is 120 miles further on. A great site with a shower and toilet room on each pitch. Both sites have good free wifi. Also if you have an ASCI card charge is only €16 per night. Both cities are worth seeing so I stopped 3 nights at each place. From Caceres you'll need to drive down to Merida before taking the turn to Badajoz. Sing out if you need any further directions.

 

[brissle]

Thank you Jaydug - very useful information.
I had looked at doing the run down to Salamanca that first afternoon, but would like the option of finding somewhere to stop sooner, if we feel the need. Depends on the weather / how we feel / etc.
Yes I have ACSI card and have just looked up Campoing regio which looks fine - thank you for the tip.

We've been to Salamanca and Cacares many years ago and this time want to go straight down to the Algarve without too much delay this time for various reasons.

So if we do get to Salamanca the first day, I'd be hoping for a longer run to get us nearer to Badajoz on the second day, but haven't yet been able to identify any all year sites that far down.

Thank you for the filling station and rest area info - that's very useful - am looking forward to Spanish diesel prices.....!!

 

[Jaydug]

Camping Merida will be open in January

 

[LizziePope]

Hi there brissle. That sounds like an exciting trip! I've posted your query to our Facebook and Twitter feeds, in case anyone on there can offer you any help. Have a super time.

 

[brissle]

Thank you Lizzie - much appreciated - all advice welcome. I don't use Twitter or Facebook so wouldn't have thought of getting information that way.

Also thank you Jaydug - have tracked down Camping Merida in the ACSI book - don't know how I missed it. Useful tip again. Much obliged.

 

[TD42]

I know that "camping car aires" are for motorhomes .but having made the journey my self with a motorhome at the same time of year we found the aires which are not manned .mainly empty & on many occasions caravans overnighting without unhitching & they seemed to raise no objection.so this might be an option for you if you are stuck for an open campsite

 

[Hutch]

Hi lads and Ladies. having towed, in France for the last 4 years , one month every 3rd month but my thoughts would be, stay at recognised , towns villages, ACSi is great , dont stay in the aires overnight., espsially o ????. f you have kids. The trip is half of your holiday, whats a few Euros over a two week, two or three month trip. Or whatever. We have stayed at lovely nice low priced sites, . STAY safe.
Hutch.

 

[TD42]

Hi I am not referring to motorway aires, which I agree should not be used for o/nights ,But referring to camping car aires Indicated with a blue sign depicting a m/hom over a waste disposal pit which are set up specifically for motor homes in many towns & villages & equipped with waste disposal & fresh water supplies. these are lightly used in the winter season & although aimed at motorhomers are often used by caravans in transit

 

[Hutch]

Ok got you, TD42 , I didnt realise caravans were able to use these, I wish I had known that, especially during the winter months. I have the motorstop, and Bord, links on my Snooper Sat Nav.

 

[TD42]

they ARE specifically for motorhome use & caravans are not supposed to use them ,but as the aires are lightly used in the winter months the occasional caravan is usually ignored if only overnighting arriving around 1600 ish & leaving 0800 ish which is why I advised not to unhitch & suggested them as a last resort if no camp sites were open nearby
TD

 

[CARCPORT]

Hi,
May I recommend places to stop.
1. Brittany Ferry Santander to Camping Olimpia 216 miles
Camping Olimpia details Tel (0034)923080854 Email - info@camping olimpia.com (English is spoken)
GPS COORDINATES CAMPING OLIMPIA - N41.058292 W5.545597.
From Santander follow A67 and then A62 - leave A62 at exit 225. The campsite is only 2 minutes from the exit.
Best to ring or send an email telling them approx time of arrival.
If not full will let you remain hooked up.

2. Camping Olimpia to Camping Alentejo (Evoramonte) 267 miles
Camping Alentejo details Tel (00351)268959283 Email - info@camping alentejo.com
GPS COORDINATES FOR CAMPING ALENTEJO - N38.792567 W7.688437
From Camping Olimpia return to A62 then A66 (Don´t take Ex100, continue straight on towards Merida) then A5 then A6 and leave at Exit 7 then IP2 to N4 to N18.
From Santander until A6 Junction 7 it is all dual carriageway/motorway - easy driving.

3. Camping Alentejo to Camping Albufeira 181 miles
Camping Albufeira details Tel (00351)289587629 Website www.campingalbufeira.com
GPS COORDINATES CAMPING ALBUFEIRA - N37.106453 W8.254146
From Camping Alentejo take N18 then A6 then A2 then A22 leave at exit 9 for IC1 then N125 then N395. You will come back on yourself to get to the campsite entrance.

In Spain there are no tolls for this route but once you enter Portugal you will start to pay tolls. The areas are clearly sign posted. You may have to pay or just take a ticket and pay when you leave.
Once you leave the A2 for the A22 keep a good eye out for signs for foreigners to follow. There is a different payment system on the A22 so it would be best to pay in advance if possible. If you can´t do this then you can pay 48 hours later at a post office. Best to ask other Brits at the campsite about this.
I have stayed at Camping Olimpia and Camping Alentejo and both are very good.

Best to have a look at the route using Google maps.
Safe journey
CARCPORT

 

[brissle]

Thank you carcport for that very comprehensive list - one way or another we now have plenty of good recommendations for the route. I had heard about the Portugal motorway tolls - and the need for a smart card or something - I will research that.

One thing does occur to us - if the Britanny Ferries ship is delayed in docking (due to bad weather or whatever) we might need to stay quite close to Santander. I imagine the ACSI book or the Caravan Club book will have suggestions, but I always prefer personal recommendations such as we have had on this forum. So any suggestions would be welcomed.

Also, on the way back at the end of March, we are sailing back to the UK from Bilbao (best deal at the time I booked). We'll plan to get to the Bilbao area the day before, so would be grateful for any suggestions for an overnight stop within reasonably easy reach of the ferry (and maybe a supermarket for shopping for wine to take home.....).

Happy Christmas everyone

 

[Jaydug]

Sometimes when I arrive in Santander it's already dark and around 18.30. If so, I go to Virgen del Mar which is about 6miles across town from the ferry port or ten miles if you go by motorway. I usually stop there for my last night in Spain before catching the ferry. http://campingvirgendelmar.com/en/
To read about the site and see piccys, see the end of my blog for 2014/15

 

[CARCPORT]

Hi CARCPORT again,
Regarding your return journey. There is a campsite about 60 miles from Bilbao which I have used and is very good. Easy to get to Bilbao ferry terminal along the dual carriageway.
Gran Camping Zarautz Tel (0034)943831238
Email - info@grancampingzarautz.com
GPS COORDINATES N43.28970 W2.14649.
ACSI 2567 (2015 BOOK)
There is a good restaurant, not expensive.

 

[brissle]

Thank you both for those suggestions.
I'm really grateful for all the advice.
Season's greetings