REGIONS/PLACES
France:
Oradour-sur-Glane. Memorial village. N45.93563 E1.02477
Portugal:
The Algarve, Portugal: the warmest place during winter. Because of this it is popular, and some areas can be crowded with many camper vans and motorhomes. Some people like this, as you can easy meet people, make new friends and gain traveling companions. It is easy to find areas to yourself if this is your sort of thing. Most days are sunny during the winter in The Algarve. Late December and January are the coldest periods. Most people can enjoy not having to wear a jumper during this time. Some days are cooler, especially if there is a breeze. During the night however, the temperatures can be much cooler. You should bring plenty of warm bedding if staying during this cold period. Few people use heating in their vehicles, even at night. By February good warm weather is a daily occurrence. The Algarve has a good number of storms during the winter months. Some being gale force. The point at Sagres receives the full-force of southerly or westerly storms. During westerly storms it is better to move to the south coast, as the west coast receives the full force of the Atlantic weather, and gets very rough. The area east of Faro is the most sheltered from Atlantic storms, and the water there remains the warmest. The area east of Faro attracts the most visitors living in vehicles during the winter. The surfers almost always stay on the west coast, occasionally visiting the south coast, when really big swells roll in. Portugal is the cheapest country in which to spend the winter months.
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Porto was really pretty, with some lovely old Port boats on the water and the big old bridge connecting the two sides of the city. We took a walk over the bottom part of the bridge - for cars and pedestrians - and found ourselves a nice restaurant just over the other side, which had the perfect spot for looking out across the water and the other side of the city. we loved walking around and seeing Porto - definitely a highlight of a trip in Portugal.
- See more at: http://www.toureuropebymotorhome.com/tour/europe/2014/4/7/country-hopping-to-france#sthash.UWB5lnHF.dpuf
Evora, Central/South Portugal – Recommended by Derek and Isobel
Spain
Northern Spain:Camping Igueldo, ACSI #2742 (2016), near San Sebastian, WiFi, Cycling, Lit Paths.
San Sebastian: After a good night's sleep we headed off on Saturday morning to San Sebastian. We had found a camper stop in San Sebastian in our book, but had found a review of it being like a gypsy camp, which is the reason for not staying there the previous night. However, on arrival we were pleased to find that it was perfectly fine. The stop was quite busy and we were worried there wouldn't be a space for us at first, but we soon spotted a place. It had water for us to top up, and only costs €3.20 for the night. We decided it might make it an overnight stop after all. We took a walk into the main area of San Sebastian from the camper stop, just around a mile away. We had heard that San Sebastian was supposed to be very pretty. We were pleased to find that it did not disappoint. The beach there is absolutely huge. It is a really pretty bay, and the houses build up from the beach on the cliffside . The whole place is really clean and attractive, and with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky, it made for a really enjoyable day. We took a walk right around the beach, stopping briefly for some lunch, and all the way to the other end. We encountered a mix of different street musicians along the way which was lovely - playing music ranging from old American rock-and-roll to traditional Spanish songs. The traditional group even had a guy playing a saw with a bow, which was very cool. We liked San Sebastian a lot, and were pleased we had stopped for a visit. - See more at: http://www.toureuropebymotorhome.com/tour/europe/2013/12/16/a-quick-escape-to-the-south#sthash.shWenf6R.dpuf
Seville. We found a great camper stop located near the river port of Seville. It was basically a huge car park right next to the water, but it had a separate section for motorhomes, along with toilets, showers and free wifi. Considering its proximity to the port and to central Seville, it was surprisingly quiet too. - See more at: http://www.toureuropebymotorhome.com/tour/europe/2014/3/12/super-seville#sthash.fMFQMi18.dpuf
After a spot of lunch we took the bikes for a ride into the centre of Seville. Our impressions of the city were good almost immediately. Seville has a really nice feel about it, and it also has some big, shaded park areas as well as some beautiful buildings. As we rode around we were both soon in agreement that Seville was our favourite big Spanish city visited - and even among our favourites of the big cities on our trip so far. One great point about Seville for us was the cycle paths. It was totally geared up for cycling, unlike most other places we have visited in Spain. The paths are clearly marked out - OK, not all the pedestrians have quite got used to them, as you get a few people walking into them - but on the whole, this made access into and around Seville really easy.
Cadiz: On Wednesday we rode our bikes down to the ferry terminal, and took the ferry over to Cadiz - it took around half an hour. The weather had really turned warm, and it was a beautiful day in Cadiz. Whilst there were some nice old buildings to see - Cadiz possibly being the oldest city in Europe - it was easy for us to see everything we needed to in a day, especially with the convenience of the bikes. The cathedral is probably the most impressive of the sights, being able to take in the rest on a casual ride around. We found a nice park area for a well needed drink towards the end of the afternoon, before cycling back to catch our ferry.!
Eastern Spain: Fornells de la Selva (ACSI site). North of Barcelona. Recommended by Derek. Good cycling
CYCLE ROUTES
Portugal: Tamega cycle path, North Portugal. In days gone by, the approach to Amarante was truly scenic, on the old Tâmega branch train line, with rattling wooden carriages snaking along a single-track route up the valley. Although long discontinued, part of the track now has a new lease of life as the Ecopista da Linha do Tâmega, a “green route” that’s been opened from the old station at Amarante to that of Chapa, a shade over 9km to the northeast. In time, it’s planned to extend the hiking and biking track as far as Celorico de Basto (22km from Amarante) and Arco de Baúlhe (40km), but even now, the shortish stretch to Chapa makes for a lovely day out, along the river valley, through pine and eucalyptus, over the occasional bridge and past abandoned buildings.
Spain
Via Verdes Northern Spain: http://www.campercontact.com/en/routes/RT16970/cycling-through-northern-spain-vias-verdes.aspx.
Crazyguyonabike.com for individual trip blogs about various countries.
ROUTES AND TOLLS
France www.viamichelin.com Tolls worth paying for: https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm 
Going to be at least 70 Euros for us.
Portugal
Avoid Northern Portugal’s IP2, IP3 and IP4 unless you like lots of road works and detours through small villages with windy mountain roads.
In Portugal, some motorway tolls can be paid for with cash or debit card, however increasing numbers of tolls are levied electronically.
Easy Toll – This payment method was introduced in 2012 and designed for tourists. You must sign up for an account at the border, and this will link your licence plate number to your credit card. You will receive a ticket as proof, which is valid for thirty days. To pay for the toll, the credit card must simply be entered into the payment terminal, and the licence plate will be associated with the credit card, which will deduct the relevant amount from the account linked with the card.
Toll Card – This is another payment option for electronically levied tolls. The card is activated by sending a text message with the card’s code and your licence plate number. The card differs from the Easy Toll as it is pre-loaded with a given amount, and this can be paid for by cash or debit card as well. You can check the balance left on your card online to make sure you always have enough for whatever distance you are driving, although an SMS alert will also be sent when the balance runs out.
Toll Service – These tickets are a convenient option for those who are travelling through the country for a shorter time period or have a defined journey in mind. You can purchase a ticket, for example, for unlimited use for the duration of three days, or for a specified journey, such as driving from Spain to Faro Airport via the A22 motorway. The price of the pre-paid tickets depends on your car and on the journey you are planning, if you are purchasing a ticket for a pre-defined journey.
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The EASYToll system is a new solution for automatic payment of electronic tolls, for tourists and immigrants, with the association of a credit card (Mastercard and Visa) to the license plate of the vehicle. The driver, not having to leave the vehicle, enters the credit card in the payment terminal and the system automatically associates the vehicle's license plate to the bankcard. The tolls rates owed are directly debited to the account associated with the card.
At The time of sign up, valid for 30 days, a ticket is issued as proof and must be kept. The driver is always able to correct license plates numbers or cancel the membership, through the Call Center:
707 500 501 (if in Portugal) or 00 351 287 95 55 (from abroad) or EasyToll Services.
The sign up has a cost of 0.60€+VAT and each journey has an administrative cost of 0.26€+VAT.
Sign up at the Welcome Points located at the border posts at the following locations: A28 - Viana do Castelo; A24 - Chaves; A25 – Vilar Formoso; A22 – Vila Real de Santo António
Spain
Map of motorways including toll and non-toll: http://about-spain.net/travel/map.htm NB this is also saved as spain-road-map.pdf in the Documents folder of the laptop.
Recommended route – looks like the same one Jack recommends to Eastern coast
The route starts from the French border crossing on the A64 motorway or D810 (ex French N10 route) at Biriatou or Irun, in the southwest corner of France, near Bayonne.
Immediately after the Spanish border crossing on the motorway, leave the motorway at Biriatou, at Spanish Exit 1 (not French exit 1 before the border) clearly marked as the exit for N121a for Pamplona.
The N121a is a good modern Spanish main road, avoiding towns and sharp bends. It winds gently and easily up through the Spanish Basque country to Pamplona, a distance of just over 70 km.
Skirt round Pamplona to the east, following the signs for Zaragoza. Briefly join a free section of the toll AP15 motorway at the exit from Pamplona, before leaving at exit 81, signed N121 for Tudela, Zaragoza and Madrid.
Follow the N121 for 34 kms, before rejoining another free section of the AP15, shortly after an exit to the village of Pueyo. Leave the AP15 again after bypassing Tafalla, and return to the N121 at exit 50. Keep following Zaragoza on the N121, which after 36 km becomes the N113 . It's all clearly signed.
After 2.5 km on the N113, at a roundabout, take another free section of the AP15. Leave AP15 again at exit 6, signed A68 Tudela.
You will now follow a route which alternates between A68 (free autovia) and N232 , as far as Saragossa. This free route runs parallel to the toll A68., which it joins just short of the Saragossa ring road. On approaching Saragossa, follow signs for A23 Teruel.
Keep following signs for Teruel, leaving the Saragossa southern ring road (Z40) at exit 29, marked A23 Cariñena and Teruel.
Wine-buffs may like to go off at exit 240 and visit the small town of Cariñena, a reputed wine-growing town with wine museum. If stopping off, stay at the Hotel del Vino, a wine themed hotel surrounded by vineyards. Rejoin A23 at exit 232, south of the town.
From now on, it is hassle free driving for almost 300 km along the A23 Autovia Mudéjar motorway, a modern free motorway with relatively little traffic. This motorway crosses the heart of Spain, and between Saragossa and Valencia there is only one small city, which is Teruel, capital of the province of this name.
The A23 meets the free Mediterranean coastal motorway, the A7 , at Sagunt, just northeast of Valencia. From here on, follow the A7, then A77 , then A70 , after which the A7 again following signs for Murcia. The free A7 continues to Almeria and beyond.
For Granada, Sevilla and the Costa del Luz, take the free A92N at Puerto Lumbreras.
GENERAL HINTS AND TIPS
France
Tips for France in Your Motorhome
In winter the water supply on aires may be closed. Carry enough water for a few days. Waste facilities including toilet cassette drains are always available.
If the aire has electric it’s worth connecting, even in winter power may still be on.
Payment for aires is often suspended in winter, ticket machines are disabled or the money collector just doesn’t bother to turn up.
Keep a ticket machine fund, suggest €20, with 10, 20, 50cent and €1 coins. Machines rarely give change or take notes although credit card payment is increasing. Can be a problem when the bank or atm has issued high value notes. The ferry money desk may change a note to get you started.
Use large supermarkets for ‘better value’ fuel and fill up when pay booths are manned and popular credit/debit cards can be used. At the 24/7 pumps UK cards may not work. Avoid refuelling on Sundays, pay booths are invariably shut.
Spain
Campsites along the Med coast are busy in the winter. Many people pre-book, but this does fix your travel time and itinerary. If you prefer to tour without booking then arrive by lunchtime for a better choice of available pitches.
Campsites in Spain away from the coast, even by just a few miles, will be quieter and pre-booking is not necessary.
Motorhome aires are not very common but there are a growing number of motorhome parks, small campsites just for vans, springing up along the popular coastal areas.
Wild parking is much less acceptable than a few years ago and large groups of vans which stay too long will be moved on by the police.
There are plenty of fuel stations in built up areas and prices don't seem to vary greatly. Often there's forecourt service and we have not encountered problems paying by card. Unlike France there is little opportunity to get better value fuel at supermarkets. Make sure you fill up before crossing the remote centre.
Tomatoes: Kumato tomatoes are supposed to be most tasty
LPG
Spain: http://www.mylpg.eu/stations/spain/
Portugal: as above but Portugal
France: As above, but note: Warning for motorhome owners:
The French regulation authorizes the tank refill only if the tank is EN1949 European Standard compliant. It is forbidden to refill standard cylinders.
In the past, an accident took place in France on a campervan. It resulted in reinforcement of the procedure related to the refilling of EN1949 tank. Some retail owners took it a step further as to reject all refillable LPG bottles due to the complexity for the retail station staff to control and identify if the tank complies with EN 1949 European Standard.
Turiscampo on the Algarve
Routes thread to check in case it fits with us - http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/route-fuengirola-to-santander.120747/
http://www.parcverger.com/Oursite2012.htm - Limousin France. 10% discount for MotorhomeFun membership
Read this later: http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/portugal.141006/
Recommended Sites (British guy at Zaragossa)
Alegria del Mar, Benicarlo. (ACSI)
Bonterra Park - avoid and go to the smaller one up the road
Guardamar del Segura. A Majal site – check on web. Used by C*CC for rallies.
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CamperContact Aire near Valencia: Carretera del Rio 556B, 46001 Valencia, Spain
Only 6.5/10, no electric (or maybe electric E3 extra?)
Camperstop Sierra Espuna, near Totana, Correct Lat Long: N37.47.575 W001.30.585
Camperstop Sierra Espuna (As above)
Av. Parque Natural
30850 Totana
Spain
Camping Almafra Benidorm
Camping Raco, Benidorm
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Good Camper Stops Recommended by Guy at Sierra Espuna
FRANCE: Montreuil sur Mer
on the D901. N 50.45921 E 1.75962
Nice looking Aire in town, near to shops and cafes.
SPAIN: Teruel
Dino Park, large parking area on/near the N330.
N 40.332437 W -1.086612
Large area, well used, café nearby, fuel nearby.
Dinopoulis Teruel 40.33238 -1.08305
There's a single carriageway bypassing Zaragoza to the south west. The surface is only fair but there's so little traffic you can choose the optimum track. The surface improves the further south you go.
HGV's use it as it saves 16 miles and much time. - come off at Magellon in the north, head for La Almunia de Dona Godina and rejoin A23 near Carinena
How to get round Rouen.
Going North, from Oissel on the E402, follow signs for Calais. Takes you through industrial area along the river, then over the river, through short tunnel and the longer tunnel. Misses central Rouen completely.
Going South, using the motorway (Toll, I think), head towards Rouen. After long tunnel and then mini tunnel, cross the river. Don’t take the first exit, which will send you north/through city, but the second one very close after it.
This will take you along the river, through the industrial area and clear of the city in the direction of Evreux (possibly on the E338)
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Recommended by Terry and Sue:
Country location camper stop: Olvera. In CamperContact list.
Area de Olvera Ctra.Les Marines Km 11,6 (Paralela a C/ Riu Vernissa) (sitecode 10732: Access might be steep.
ALTERNATIVE: ACSI Site at Camping Pueblo Blanco. http://www.campingpuebloblanco.com/en/reservas.html
Ricote Municipal CamperStop. Water wheels – Abavan, Blanca, Ricote, Villanueva. Co-ordinates on Terry’s note in green folder.
De Povoa and other reservoirs in Portugal (Barragems)
‘Camping Alto de Vinuelas near Granada (18 KM) Bus into Granada less than 2 euros. (TinCanFamily)
Murcia region. Playa del Arroz, 30889 Calabardina, Spain. Free. Beach. Not busy December 31 but may be busier later. No facilities.
Camping Cap Blanche, Altea, North of Benidorm. No pre-booking, but overflow area outside. ACSI 19 Euros. Quite close to national park along the coast.
AC Indalo (AC Vera), Vera, South of Aguilas. 11 per night inc elec. 10 for 4+ nights. Recommended by Dutch man at Sierra Espuna.
Sierra Maria. Set back from the coast apparently.
Milfontes Portugal
Sanlucar de Barrameda
Alfonso has one just outta town quite cheap big plots a bit shabby mind but ok. Totally dead in winter when I was there. Hookup, breadvan, toilets and shower. Its in the aires book. Gates locked at night you get a key, quite secure and quiet 30s from beach 8 euros.
Motorhome 11 digit key for road tax renewal (Due end of June so you can renew online after 5th June):
3317 528 2915
BELGIUM (Courtesy of Stanny and Carina)
Houthalen, Kelterhof. Good for bikes.
Werwik, De Baloheren,
Genk
Demerstrand
Depenbeek Village
Domain Bovy
Heusden Zolder, Good cycling
FRANCE (Courtesy of Richard (Kate))
Caumont sur Garonne
Parc Verger Near Limoges. (Think this is where Allan and Linda live)
Champagnan La Riviere
AUTOGAS
Repsol Cred Crevillente,
0330 Crevellente
24 hour service off the A7 at Exit 526.
I think this might be the one we used on the way down.
Post Restante in Spain
Mead Gerald.
Lista de Correos
AV. JUAN CARLOS I, 87
30840 ALHAMA DE MURCIA (Murcia)
Spain
OR
CALLE DE SANTA BARBARA, 14
30850 TOTANA (Murcia)
(Both Open 08:30 to 14:30)
Marcilla is the name of the aire, no.29226 on CamperContact.
GPS 42.320760N 1.731310W
Leave the AP15 at J 29 and go through peage. At top of slip road turn left on to NA-128, signed Marcilla. Immediately after petrol station on left (petrol station has bread), turn left and carry on through the edge of town and into countryside. After about half a mile turn sharp right (signed) along narrow lane then turn left into gate (also signed).
Park by tennis courts and go to bar to pay, €3 and get gate code.
Good camperstop recommended by Dutch couple.
SENS Sleep, Perin, Cuesta Blanca
Camper Contact Code: 62058
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