Winter in Portugal

[Clare_374307391]

We are planning to travel to Portugal on the 2nd of January 2008 via Santander or Bilbao. Can anyone give us any information on routes, likely weather conditions, stop overs etc. This will be a first time winter trip abroad for us. Many thanks. Clare Mc.

 

[Angela_5076436]

can you give some idea of where you will be ending up ?

Sites in Portugal are not as many as in , say France , and there will be the probablity that many may well be shut.

 

[BeemerMal]

If you intend to travel out in January and want a ferry that goes straight to Spain your only option is P&O from Portsmouth to Bilbao. I don't think the Santander ferry from Plymouth starts until early March.

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

We travelled from Bilboa via Santiago de Compostella to Alvor on the Algarve in January. The weather was cold and wet; we found that the weather was the same as the UK but a little warmer. Each night in Alvor we had to use gas heating in the awning for the evenings.

Next year we plan on leaving a little later and stopping on the Costa del Sol for the first month to allow the Portuguese weather time to warm up.

 

[BeemerMal]

Clare...Also, we spend 3 months in Spain and I tried to book for next year (End January to May) but most sites are reluctant to take bookings for this period because they want to fill the sites with "Winterers". These are caravanners that want to stay from October to March.

Maybe, but i'm not sure, it is the same position for Portugal. Try the ACSI website for sites open all year.

http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/
Mal

 

[peteh1]

hi clare we have been to portugal during the months you are planing the santander ferry dos'ent start untill march and the bilbao usually has a lay up in jan/feb there are several sites open in the algarve and usually the weather is better than at home but the nights can be cold and you will get dats of rain but uoy may be lucky and have wonderful weather as we have. we have found the caravan and camping club rallies very good and have made some long time freinds on them our faverite is quiterra super site a stnes through from the beach and town. but at this time of the year not many resurants/bars open have a good time regards peter

 

[Clare_374307391]

hi clare we have been to portugal during the months you are planing the santander ferry dos'ent start untill march and the bilbao usually has a lay up in jan/feb there are several sites open in the algarve and usually the weather is better than at home but the nights can be cold and you will get dats of rain but uoy may be lucky and have wonderful weather as we have. we have found the caravan and camping club rallies very good and have made some long time freinds on them our faverite is quiterra super site a stnes through from the beach and town. but at this time of the year not many resurants/bars open have a good time regards peter

Many thanks to all that have replied, listening to what you have to say I think we will rethink our plans. The trip was to celebrate a BIG birthday! Any suggestions for a good winter break would be welcome.

Regards Clare Mc

 

[BeemerMal]

peteinnewforset.....The P&O Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry is scheduled to run all year but it has proven to be problematic and is sometimes cancelled at very short notice, if there are adverse conditions in the Bay of Biscay.

I know this only to well. Last year our outward ferry was cancelled due to mechanical problems and this year, only 12 hours before we were due to leave home, it was cancelled due to bad weather in the bay. We had to make hurried arrangements to travel on the Dover/Calais route and drive down through France.

AT ferries have also stopped running this route altogether so we have decided that in future we will not risk this service for our outward leg.

 

[Clare_374307391]

peteinnewforset.....The P&O Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry is scheduled to run all year but it has proven to be problematic and is sometimes cancelled at very short notice, if there are adverse conditions in the Bay of Biscay.

I know this only to well. Last year our outward ferry was cancelled due to mechanical problems and this year, only 12 hours before we were due to leave home, it was cancelled due to bad weather in the bay. We had to make hurried arrangements to travel on the Dover/Calais route and drive down through France.

AT ferries have also stopped running this route altogether so we have decided that in future we will not risk this service for our outward leg.

Thanks for the infomation. We are rethinking our journey, but are a bit concerned about driving through France at that time of year.

Regards Clare Mc