Abb Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 We are planning on spending 4/5 months starting mid-Oct touring France,Spain,Morrocco,Algeria,Tunisia,Sicily,Italy. Could you all please help. We bought books,maps,gps etc...But nothing would better your experience on the subject. Any help is appreciated, just keep them coming. We only ever toured France, Belgium, Germany and switzerland. We've never been to either Spain or Italy. In Spain are there aires like in France and Germany, Is security an issue ,are most campings sites open in December etc... I'll be grateful for your advice/help/does/dont.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Spanish camp sites will probably be closed in December, but if you want you can wild camp all the way down to the ferry, December is well out of season and you shouldn't have a problem finding somewhere to stay. Have a look at vicarious books website and you will find a book in German listing many beach wild camping spots with GPS reference. If you go via Bilbao or Santender it's a long trip down with a few (closed) campsites, you will have to wild camp, there are lots of places when you know how. Ask me if you need any specifics. Security in Spain away from the cities is fine, but like anywhere you have to be careful, if you leave your vehicle in the cities pay for a parking area that is supervised. Morrocco can be a problem, there are a few camp sites, but some new "compound" types along the coast roads. Security is a problem, you will need to find a "guardian" to keep an eye on your vehicle at all times, I paid about £1 a day. Roads are either not bad or awful, particularly inland, if you go off the main road the roads are bad in places. You can't buy food away from the cities, at least food as we know it. It will be fresh from the market place, they kill it for you while you wait! I lived on bread and "Laughing Cow" cheese. The kids might throw stones at your vehicle, and expect to be mobbed every time you stop, it gets a bit wearing after a while. Booze is available in hotels etc only so take your own. Fuel is cheap. A little French is very useful, only the young people will speak any English, unless it's someone trying to sell you something (usually dope) then they speak six languages fluently. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detourer Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 The border between Morocco and Algeria was closed in 1994 when Morocco accused Algeria of involvement in a Marrakech hotel shooting and then decided to impose visa restrictions on Algerian nationals. Although visa requirements were later lifted by both countries, the border was not reopened. Back in March this year the king of Morocco asked that border restrictions be lifted, but this is subject to conditions, so don’t hold your breath. In any case, Algeria is not exactly a healthy place to be at the moment, especially in the north….and the south is defiantly not normal Motorhome country. Tunisia is no problem, being a popular tourist destination for many years, and has some nice features. Regular ferries [expensive] from France. You can cross into Algeria from Tunisia but you will need a load of paperwork [invitation etc] and plenty of time for the border, so may not be cost effective or viable. Most Motorhome’ers only do the coast in Morocco, which is erhhhhh…..OK’ish, but not real morocco. You can now drive from Tangier too Marrakech, via Casablanca, by Motorway. Soon this will extend to Agadir. A massive road improvement programme has meant that much of the main inland network is in fact better that Europe. Food in markets/shops is cheap as is eating out. At the moment fuel is around 0.73 Dhm ltr [15Dhn = £1] and even cheaper further south. Huge French supermarkets outside most cities mean that you can get all euro stuff you wish, even booze, as and when. Only real problem is the ferries…..they are pushing prices up……Crossing Algeciras-Ceuta return for Sept is nearly 600 euro! But, everything is possible if you really wish [we are doing Morocco-Mauritania and Tunisia-Libya next year]. Start by looking at the specialists web sites, more for the solo biker/4x4, but read between the lines!..........Just do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 Hello Geoff and thank you for the post For wild-camping, commonsense prevails. Will certainly wild camp if conditions inspire confidence!... The German book idea is brillant. Who would have tought to look into a German publication to wild camp in spain? only travellers like yourself..Funnily enough, I ordered few book yesterday from Vicarious and it listed the German book and I didn't even considered it..Thank you.. If it's that cheap to have a gardian, I'll have two! I know the feeling when you look at the way the food is prepared in certain part of the world.We lived on fruit in China!!!! Many thanks Geoff. I will certainly come back for more once I decide the itinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 detourer - 2008-08-21 12:32 AM The border between Morocco and Algeria was closed in 1994 when Morocco accused Algeria of involvement in a Marrakech hotel shooting and then decided to impose visa restrictions on Algerian nationals. Although visa requirements were later lifted by both countries, the border was not reopened. Back in March this year the king of Morocco asked that border restrictions be lifted, but this is subject to conditions, so don’t hold your breath. In any case, Algeria is not exactly a healthy place to be at the moment, especially in the north….and the south is defiantly not normal Motorhome country. You are certainly well informed..I did estern south of Algeria on 4x4 in 2000 and it was facinating. We went as far as Guardaia. A magnificent 'circular' town built around a medieval castle. A world heritage site. We did not venture away from the tarmaced route to towns and villages. The road surfaces were not bad unlike the macho drivers! Crossing the border from Morrocco to Algeria I know is not yet possible. But what I didnt know is what you said about the king wanting to open the border. I will give the Morroccan/Algerian embassy in london a ring to find out. I do apreciate and thank you for taking the time to help.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Regards limited payload discussed on my A class thread. Have you considered upgrading yours to 3850 - 4000kg? thats if the chassis has the spare capacity *-) SVTech are a popular UK company for this, and will tell you over the phone if its possible. sometimes it is simply a paper exercise....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 JudgeMental - 2008-08-21 10:20 AM Regards limited payload discussed on my A class thread. Have you considered upgrading yours to 3850 - 4000kg? thats if the chassis has the spare capacity *-) SVTech are a popular UK company for this, and will tell you over the phone if its possible. sometimes it is simply a paper exercise....... I will certainly give them a ring to find out the possibility. When ordering the van I didnt consider upgrading it a necessity. I thought the quoted 395kg is adequat for our need. But the reality is different. I wish someone with kudos challanges these manufacturer manufactured specifications in court. Do SVTech advertise on MMM? or would anyone know their phone please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Hello Abb. Try SV Tech on 01772 621800 When you talk to SVTech make sure you tell them where and how you intend to use your vehicle as it may affect their advice. The phrase its last straw that breaks the camels back might be appropriate. Best of luck if you do go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 George Collings - 2008-08-22 9:50 PM Hello Abb. Try SV Tech on 01772 621800 When you talk to SVTech make sure you tell them where and how you intend to use your vehicle as it may affect their advice. The phrase its last straw that breaks the camels back might be appropriate. Best of luck if you do go. Thanks to you and Judge for suggesting SV Tech. I contacted them and they send me two forms to fill in with the details of the van. I'm waiting the result of their appraisal. I should have taken the the 3800kg upgrade option from Rapido. But how am I to know that the 395kg that Rapido quote is nothing but hot air. And all manufacturers are guilty of the same lies n their specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 hallii - 2008-08-20 9:17 PM Have a look at vicarious books website and you will find a book in German listing many beach wild camping spots with GPS references. You can't buy food away from the cities, at least food as we know it. It will be fresh from the market place, they kill it for you while you wait! I lived on bread and "Laughing Cow" cheese. Geoff Hi Abb, I think Geoff is referring to the Bord Atlas which only lists about a half dozen stop overs in Spain. See http://lapaca.org/areas/espana.php for stop overs, there aren't all that many but they are getting more every day. We have not been to Morocco for ten years and even in those days we had no problem at all buying food outside towns in fact in those days there were no large French supermarkets. We have toured Morocco extensively over the years and it's a fabulous place, try and get off the beaten track and don't be frightened to stop and chat to the locals. Most of the urban myths are started by people who have never been to Morocco. Safe travelling. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share Posted August 23, 2008 Don Madge - 2008-08-23 9:46 AM Hi Abb, I think Geoff is referring to the Bord Atlas which only lists about a half dozen stop overs in Spain. See http://lapaca.org/areas/espana.php for stop overs, there aren't all that many but they are getting more every day. Don Thank you Don. The above site is valuable. I even understood most of the information listed in spanish. My problem now is how to store the information from this site for future usage once I'm in Spain. Why ? you would ask. Well simply because access to the internet in Spain may not be possible for me. I bought 'Guida Camper Aree Di sosta' at first sight it's brilliant. A nice map of Italy at 1:300 000 and well explained stopovers. I wish they do the same for Spain. Don you're wonderful and I'm sure your contributions is well apreciated by all who have read your posts over the years. The same goes to a lot of the contributors to this forum. What a bunch of nice people you are...NO bull sh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potjoe Posted August 24, 2008 Share Posted August 24, 2008 HI,Take alook at the Camperstop Book it as lots of stops and you can down load POI`s onto your sat nav if you have one.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 caljoe - 2008-08-24 6:33 PM HI,Take alook at the Camperstop Book it as lots of stops and you can down load POI`s onto your sat nav if you have one.john Thank you Caljoe; sound very interesting. Does it list Spanish Aires/stopovers as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Abb - 2008-08-23 10:12 PM Don you're wonderful and I'm sure your contributions is well apreciated by all who have read your posts over the years. The same goes to a lot of the contributors to this forum. What a bunch of nice people you are...NO bull sh... See the way it works is this, we as individuals help with what info we can offer. Then hopefully when you return you add to that knowledge base and widen our understanding with your first hand experiences, good and bad lol. So really its enlightened self interest :-D Spain does not have the vast network of Aires that other European countries have... there are a growing number of private ones I believe. why don't you download all the camp site/aire POI to a sat nav? makes life much easier when looking for a stopover.... have a great trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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