leisurepower Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi Can anyone help with stop over sites Spain Portugal 25Th Jan 2011 onwards. Going to CCC rally Argarve Thanks Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilmac Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Hi Alan, have you got a more detailed idea of your route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w1ntersun Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 And also what time of day you are crossing and which port as it affects travelling time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Vicarious Books do a book called ALL THE AIRES SPAIN and PORTUGAL, it is very good, I used it going to Portugal this year, we left England on 6th January, be prepared for snow and ice this time of year, after leaving France St Jean d Luz Aire we travelled to Palencia in Spain, an Aire there, then on to VITORIA GASTEIZ another Aire, next stop was CASERES on another Aires, we had two nights here free and free electricity if you are lucky enough to be able to hook up.We looked in at ZAFRA , another free Aire but it was too early to stop so we carried on to VALVERDE DE CAMINO, another free Aire, nice town and a good stopover,.We then entered Portugal at Castro Marin and stayed on the free Aire there, it was a very good route and very easy, all the Aires we used are in the Vic. Book.All the stopovers were very pleasant and we had a good wander round at each stop . Of course it all depends on where in Portugal your rally is as to which route you take, but there are lots of stopovers listed in the VIC--BOOK whichever route you take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Part Time Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 If you go that way then give yourself enough time to have a good look at Caseres. The old city is fascinating and readily accesible. We used the site in the ACSI book which was very good and if you want does a very reasonable dinner in the site restuarant. Bus stop close by to city centre. Site staff also very helpful. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurepower Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 Hi Neil Thanks for your reply Using AA rout at the moment Valladolid Salamanca into Portugal and then down to Santarem but campsites may dictate a different way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurepower Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 Landing Santander 11.30 am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurepower Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 Hi Malc Many thanks for your reply. I have noted your information and will buy Aires book do you think Aires are safe in Spain? you hear so many tales !! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisurepower Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 Thanks for info it will be a great help Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek500 Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 leisurepower - 2010-09-16 7:23 PM Hi Malc Many thanks for your reply. I have noted your information and will buy Aires book do you think Aires are safe in Spain? you hear so many tales !! Alan What tales have you heard? I've stayed at many, never had any problems and never heard of any from other people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilmac Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 leisurepower - 2010-09-16 6:23 PM ..... do you think Aires are safe in Spain? you hear so many tales !! Alan Hi Alan, You do hear many tales about Spain and folks do seem to revel in it being 'bandit country' (as someone described it to us) - load of tosh! No worse than any other country and if you keep your wits about you (as you should anywhere) you will see that for yourself. We live a fair part of every year in Spain, a lot of which is in our motorhome, we use aires exclusively - except for the very occasional wild camp and have never had any problems. We spoke to other motorhomers earlier this year, when we visited Portugal, who actually admitted to dashing across nothern Spain as quickly as possible between France and Portugal because of what they had read on the internet or had been told. When you try to get to the bottom of these stories there is seldom any firsthand experience involved, tends to be campfire story stuff. Just use common sense and enjoy! Its a beautiful country :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonB Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Aires in towns or villages are normally safe, whilst aires on auto-routes and service station parking areas on auto-routes should be avoided like the plaque. The hotspot for trouble is the eastern through-route approaches to the French/Spanish border, approximately covering the area of Montpellier to the south of Barcelona. This is one of the reasons why most experienced drivers choose the western route if practical. As you are landing at Santander then you will obviously avoid this neck of the woods anyway. And yes, I do speak from direct experience. Stating that these things don't happen on the basis that it has never happened to them is the same as saying that burglary, mugging, etc; doesn't happen in Britain just because they haven't been a victim of it - and we all now that this is not the case. If you haven't already, do invest in a good alarm system if only to give you peace of mind. Something like the Van Bitz 'Strikeback' which has a perimeter setting allowing you to move about inside the van whilst the alarm is on is a good example. Finally, don't be paranoid about safety, normally these people are only low life thieves and actual violence is rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
campingmaggie Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 We leave for CCC Rally at Abufueria 17 jan.We hit Spain at St Jean de Luce Next stop Hotel Regio, Salamanca 300 miles. Next Orbiter, Evora in Portugal 200 miles.Then only 180 miles or so to Algarve. If you have Carefree Winter sun you will find them and others in it. May see you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 campingmaggie - 2010-11-30 7:24 PM We leave for CCC Rally at Abufueria 17 jan.We hit Spain at St Jean de Luce Next stop Hotel Regio, Salamanca 300 miles. Next Orbiter, Evora in Portugal 200 miles.Then only 180 miles or so to Algarve. If you have Carefree Winter sun you will find them and others in it. May see you there. We did that route last January and found it was a bit arduous. We met a couple in the Algarve and they told us to head for Seville and then the new road straight up through Spain to Hotel Regio, Salamanca and then head for Burgos etc, what a difference this route was, it was so easy and the Diesel is cheaper in Spain as well. We will be using this route in a couple of weeks when we head for the Algarve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROND Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Having done the trip to Poprtugal about 6 times in recent years i have found the best route across Northern Spain to the Algarve is via Vittoria Gastez, a free aire, Palencia which has a good and free aire handy for the town. Then Salamanca stopping at Hotel Regio if you fancy a day or two sightseeing. I tend to miss out Salamanca and stop at Caceres, it has a lovely and very safe and free aire in the sports complex and just a short walk from the old town. The road from Salamanca is now all free motorway and is a nice drive down through Seville, then into Portugal with a free aire at Castro Marim. from here on you can take the free motorway along the Algarve or meander through the coastal villages. RD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomad Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Hi, there's an aire (quite safe) at Miranda do Ebro. You will find it quite easily if you stay on the N1 you'll find it signed on the roundabout just before you cross the river by Hotel Tudenca. Disposal and water facilities but dont put your chairs out cos thats camping and is not allowed, (not that you would in January) There's another at a roadhouse on the N620 at KM169 (La Loba 2000) handy if you are short of a stopover. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 nomad - 2010-11-30 9:37 PM Hi, there's an aire (quite safe) at Miranda do Ebro. You will find it quite easily if you stay on the N1 you'll find it signed on the roundabout just before you cross the river by Hotel Tudenca. Disposal and water facilities but dont put your chairs out cos thats camping and is not allowed, (not that you would in January) Colin We were going to stop at this Aire last New Years Eve but it didn't look very safe and was full of rubbish, so went a bit further and stopped at a little Village called Cabo and parked by the Church for the night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bojitoes Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 We were on CCC rally earlier this year and stopped at Hotel Reggio on way down, Caceras on way back. If you are stopping at Hotel Reggio the hook up is reverse polarity. Campsite in Caceras by the football stadium has individual shower/toilet facilities and restaurant provides good, cheap. food Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smifee Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Most of the aires, until you get far enough south, have the water supply turned off at that time of year. The aire at Palencia had no water when I stopped there in Feb 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magbrin Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Have just returned (not yet home but back in Scotland, now) from 5 week trip in France & Spain. I do not think we are niave, but have not any qualms about staying on aires, or indeed wild camping, in the areas in Spain we visited. Miranda de Ebro has already been mentioned ,and Ibi & Els Montells and Vinaros - all too far east for your trip, but examples. Care should always be taken, doors locked and, if fitted, alarms set (we don't have one) but generally we felt as safe in any of our parking spots as we do in the Highlands of Scotland. We would not use motorway service stations for stopovers, however some have service points (although we did not have occasion to use any) which may be useful. As far as water is concerned - we did not have a problem in Spain but a couple of places we stopped last week in France the service points were disabled for the winter. If you are happy to use them - we did although some were not too well identified on satnav we found the sites on this site useful too: http://www.furgovw.org/mapa_furgoperfecto.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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