Spain 2024 - Part 8. Campervan/motorhome Winter long staying. All our limited knowledge in one video
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- We just wanted to gather together all the bits that might be useful to anyone.
The two big things that caught us out were how it wasn't as warm as we expected it to be in a January, and that we really needed some sort of entertainment for the chilly evenings.
January is still like a UK Summer thought (apart from at night), which is perfect because it is cool enough to sleep well.
I’m delighted to find your channel. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thank you😀.
We should get another video finished this week. We’ve been a bit lazy lately (and playing with grandkids)😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Were the same always did Italy Spain Portugal on my bike but have our vw crafter now , been doing Scotland the last 2 years but would love to take the van to Spain purely for the weather but great video very helpful cheers Chris
Thanks Chris😀
Yeah, I still think the bike and tent was the most fun we had though (followed by car and tent, then gopod). I think it's because the less you have the more you do or something😀. But the van allows all season camping of course.
Cheers Brian and Rhona😀
Just found your channel and subscribed. Very interesting information. Please keep the videos coming 👍
Thanks Brian😀
We have one just about ready. It’s late, but we have grandchildren to play with😀😀
Also off to Spain this Spring to tour like we used to😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Good video Robbo. Interesting and informative especially as we are planning a trip to Spain later this year. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you😀
If it helps in any way it’s worth it😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Thanks for taking the time to pass on the advice. It is really helpful for those of us who haven’t gone to Spain for the winter yet. Really looking forward to your next trip to Italy x
Thanks Helen😃
We're glad it's helpful. It's just little things, but if you are on one site for weeks in Winter we found it's the little things that matter. The first time we had to go and buy more clothes because it was colder than we expected! Also we were so glad the site had a library and dvds😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Really enjoy your videos. We've been living and travelling in our caravan for 10 years all over Australia.
Thanks Jan😃
We've never been to Australia, but I believe it is so varied it would be great to travel around😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Really helpful, honest opinion from you both. Your previous videos helped us so much this year with our tour of Portugal and Spain from Santander. Hoping to get out there again next winter🙂
Thanks Ruth😃
I hope that anything we can do to show how easy it is helps😃
I still remember our first time getting on a ferry and how desperate I was for any information, mainly so I didn't do anything too stupid😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Love your videos. Great advice 😊
Thank you😃
It will be nice if it makes someone's trip a bit better (not that any trip is bad)😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Thank you for the information,looking forward to seeing more.
Thank Andy😃
That's much appreciated.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Thanks Andy😀
Much appreciated.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
I enjoy your videos. Real down to earth couple. Just like Kathryn and Steve from Field View Adventures with son Zak and lovely dog Bailey (Boo) looking forward in catching up on your videos xx❤🌹
Thank you Ann😀
That's always nice to hear.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Great video and I've subscribed. I'm 62 heading for retirement and looking forward a long term holiday, I won't be selling my home yet in East Kilbride. Thank you for the information.
Thank you😀
We just tried to cover all the little things that we were unsure of😀. Or things that just make a long stay more comfortable perhaps.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Thanks you, Brian and Rhona, it was very pleasant to see you again and familiar places.
We hope to meet you in the Moncofa more than once (or somewhere else).
Sergej&Nadia
Hi Sergej and Nadia😀😀
It’s great to hear from you😀
It was a real pleasure to meet you. I’m sure we will meet again😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Hi both. Checking video. So informative thank you so much!!!
Thank you😀
It makes us happy that people find it useful😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Great advice, we have just come back from 5 weeks in the Algarve, we stayed on a great site 300 euros per month for our camper van, super weather. going back in September 100 percent
Thanks Gregory😃
We're sitting here on a Scottish campsite in thermals and waterproofs! Storm guys on the wind-out awning. Which is only out to keep the rain off😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Love VillaSol, but if you have an ACSI card, it's €23 per night inc electricity. Just FYI. Nice video, very interesting. We live near Benidorm and have a caravan in storage there and visit all the time. Actually, I don't know if that applies for long stays.
Hiya😀
Yeah, you can only use ACSI for a limited time unfortunately. Winter long stay (in 2024) worked out about the same per night (converting from pounds to Euros), but you don’t get the 4kw of Electricity per day included like you do with ACSI so it’s all on top. When we stayed using ACSI in a January, using our old dual fuel heater on electric for about five hours a day we ended up having to pay about another €2.50 per night on top of the ACSI 4kw.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Yes indeed very good advice, we like you spend winter time in Spain, we have done the Portsmouth/Santander ferry, but it is very expensive, we now use Newhaven/Dieppe it can be be as cheap as less than £100 one way, and we drive through France, slightly different to you we tour around and look for Aires this year we found some great free one's, thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you😀
Yeah, pre covid (and when the economy ferries were still running) we could get a direct ferry for just over £600 return. Only being 6m long helps of course. It’s just the driving from Inverness means we’re pretty shattered even by the time we get to Portsmouth😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
@@RobbotheHighlander We live just north of Bristol so not as far for us 👍
Your lunch in the van looked absolutely delicious surly worth the trip for such colourful, fresh ingredients! I scrimped and saved and managed several months in spain n france it was the best time of my life im saving up again might take a while though 😅 thanks for talking about the stuff others dont very helpfull
Thanks Dan😃
Yeah, we live very quietly at home and save hard to do what we do😃
But at the end of the day I think it feels better because we have had to put some effort in😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Have you ever thought of sailing to Ireland (Stranraer to Belfast ) 🇮🇪then onto Spain (rosslare to Santander) to avoid driving down south ? This is a route we’re looking at.
Hiya😀
We did have a look at it when the January UK/Spain direct ferry became a two nighter on the way over. I think it’s a good idea, but we thought we would try the direct ferry one more time and it turned out we quite liked the two nighter (as long as it’s not too rough). I don’t know if this makes sense but also in a January we are always prepared to head to Portsmouth days earlier than planned if necessary if really bad weather is coming.
I suppose with just one ferry there is only one link in the chain.
We’re going to Spain in the spring this year (Ferry booked ages ago), but I wish I had remembered to look at the Ireland option😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Thanks for the info another great video very informative for our journey 👍 🏴
Thanks George😀
It’s little things, but we hope it helps😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Fantatstic advice and gratefully received. We have not done this as yet but one day we may try it. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Thank you for commenting 😃😃
It's really much appreciated😃
We love your videos, and I think your editing is amazing😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
So nice to see you both again , really informative video well explained, looking forward to when you are back on your travels, your lovely lunches always look delicious and it's great when you go out and about the towns for tapas and wine puts me in the mood for a holiday . Take care and don't wait too long to upload another wee jaunt 😂 best wishes from Glasgow. ❤
Thanks Sandra😃
That's really encouraging😃
We're like accidental UA-camrs and full of doubt at times, so thank you😃. Everyone really has been so nice😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Another great video, late? hell no and well worth waiting for!
We have our own Ducato camper and just wish we had the confidence to do what you do.
Awww thank you😀. I really hope the videos have some use. Its all pretty easy really😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Hi Robbo, I'm 78 with arthritic knees and fancy 3 months in the sunshine ( Scottish Person ) living in Leeds. Love your advice . Thanks.
Hi Billy😀
Yeah that’s the thing, it’s good for the health as well. I’ve always had a bit of joint pain (just things worn out and broken due to working in construction).
Nothing like the pain of arthritis of course, but even i notice how much better it feels to be warm in Winter.
I think for the people much older than us (and where the travelling may seem like much more of a chore) the health benefits are perhaps the main reason for doing it.
Hopefully the rest of the Winter here (we’re at home this Winter as well) will be better😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Always enjoy your videos and I can't wait until I get a camper van!
Thanks Sandy😃
Yeah it can be a bit of a life changer for sure😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Cheers guys
Thanks Patrick😀
Thanks Robbo ,great stuff .
Cheers😀
Very good video and thanks for the information 👍
Hi Brian😃
Thank you😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
We haven’t yet bought our motorhome yet, but plan to next year. We love coming up to Scotland, especially Sutherland. We generally stay in either Airbnb or hotels. We loved this video and we have now subscribed
Thank you John😀
That’s much appreciated. Glad you liked the video😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Now catching up on your old stuff, I hope that you have done some in Scotland. Oh we have bought the Action 4 to 😊
It's a great camera😃
The GoPro is great as well but they do tend to freeze occasionally.😃
Great information 👍🏼
Thanks Michelle😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Really enjoyed- very informative
Thank you Dawn😃.
That's really nice to hear😃.
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Excellent advice and proof that you can travel on a budget and still drink lots of beer 🎉😂 I didn't catch the name of the campsite across from the loch that you used to work at?..it looks great. Looking forward to the next set of vlogs - safe travels from Leanne in Portsmouth 👍
Thanks Leanne😃
Yep, Spanish campsites in the Winter are full of people doing the walk of shame to the bins with empty bottles clanking😃. The campsite is the Inverewe camping and caravanning club site. The facilities are pretty dated, but it's right next to Poolewe. And the area is really scenic😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Great video, really informative, thanks.
Thanks Graeme😃
It's much appreciated😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Superb video, very helpful, many thanks
Thank you😃
Enjoyed the vid. When I look at long stay videos the campsites always seem rammed and everyone on top of each other. Does it get claustrophobic, noisy or do you ever have neighbours you don’t take a shine too.
Thank you😃
In Winter it is mostly older people so it's a lot quieter. For example we've been to Benidorm in January and May and it's like two different places. In January it's much more chilled but still lively enough to be fun😃
On the quiet parts of Spain we tend to go now, everyone is normally tucked up by dark😃
The pitches tend to be right next to each other, but on an international site in Winter you are camped with people from all over Europe (especially people from the Netherlands and Germany). In our experience they have all been great campers and very respectful of other peoples space, peace and privacy. We also feel we learn something from camping beside people from other countries. This year, Holland, Germany, Austria, Lithuania etc. Other years Estonians and Italians as well.
I also think the quieter sites come down harder on people who disturb other campers. Everyone's on the site because it is quiet😃
I think I can say that we would consider everyone we have camped beside as friends 😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Lovely to hear from you two ! Watching now - wondering how you deal with any worries of faults on the van - eg the ones that pop up on the screen whilst driving .
Thank you😃
To be honest we've never had a mechanical problem with any vehicle while travelling. We do always have European breakdown cover though😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
nicely .. cambrils rocks
Sure does😃
Hi Both - Loving the Videos so far - We are contemplating over wintering in Spain.. Could you tell us the name of the resort and site you did the long stay in Southern Spain..? - Also, was there a particular reason you chose that make & model of Van (Is it diesel?) - We are weighing up our options - Many thanks and keep up the videos.. Mike & Jacqui - Thornton, Lancashire 👍
Hi Mike and Jacqui😀
We normally split our time between Moncofa (Monmar) and Cambrils (La Llosa). Please don’t take that as a recommendation though😀 We like them (they are very different) but people have recommended campsites to us and we have not seen the attraction at all. It’s a big commitment to spend that amount of time in one place. Perhaps you already know the South coast of Spain, but if not I would try a few places for shorter times the first year. The van is diesel. We chose a Ducato because they (along with the Citroen relay and Peugeot Boxer…same van) are wider than other vans. That means that if you are under 6ft or so you can sleep across the way, which means you can leave the bed permanently made up and have storage underneath (and that design generally allows for a table at the front and for both front seats to swivel).
When we were looking we also looked at other vans which felt far roomier inside. I realised it was because the other vans overhead lockers were much narrower. The wider lockers are more important for extended trips of course. Normally we find that at 6m long we (and perhaps another couple of vans on a site) are the shortest vans over wintering. People do it in 5m vans (with a big awning normally), but you don’t see it often.
It’s all a compromise. A coach built motorhome or caravan I would say is better for over wintering, but we like the easy access to sites and pitches that 6m gives us.
Hope that helps😀
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀
Hello again Brian & Rhona - Could I ask if you had the ‘Van v Car’ dilemma? - I’m hoping to retire in the next two years and we’re making plans for doing something similar to yourselves with the over-wintering in Spain - Ideally, I would like a van that could do the job of both as the cost of two vehicles would be prohibitive - Do you have a Car as well as the Van? - Be nice to hear your thoughts. Hope you’re both keeping well and enjoying the travel - Mike & Jacqui 👍
Hiya😀
We sold the bigger car we had (Ford Kuga) and bought a really small one (Hyundai i10). We couldn’t afford to run the van and the bigger car.
If we had a 5m pop top van we would have no car at all. If we had to choose between van and car we would have gone 5m pop top and still overwintered with it. The 6m van is better for long stays and extended trips generally, but not so great to use as a day to day vehicle as well. I suppose it would depend on how much you use a car. I think if we mostly travelled on public transport and only used a vehicle occasionally we could ditch the car (if our van wasn’t kept in storage, which it is). However we would be a bit restricted. A 6m high top won’t go into a multi-storey car park or under a low barrier. Sometimes it’s not that easy to park in a busy supermarket car park (although much easier than with a bigger unit of course).
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😀.
Thanks both - Looking forward to the next video!
Great video Guys. For years we used camping Los Gallardos in Mojacar. 260 euros a month but problem wzs it was 13km back from coast or town with no bus service. What area of Italy are yo planning to visit. We live in Glasgow and going Hull to Rotterdam 2nd of June through Germany and Austria to lake Garda.
Thanks Jim😃
Yeah, there's a campsite along from where we were which was 10 euros a night. It's a much longer trip to the town, and the electricity is on a generator which goes off for part of the day. It's just getting the balance of what's right for you I think😃.
We're going down to Peschiera del Garda. We like it because it's busy with lots of Italians😃. Of course give it a few days and we'll be moaning it's too busy😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
Thank you both for a very informative video, it is much appreciated. Can I ask please about tyre pressures? you mentioned about carrying an inflator; is this because of using lower pressures in hotter weather?
Thanks Jeff😃
Yes that's it. From Inverness we're going from very cold to hopefully hot, and then the opposite on the way back. Also the van is sitting on the site for weeks, and having our own 12v compressor means we don't have to find a garage and can check the tyres cold before the long journey North. Saves time😃
Cheers, Brian and Rhona😃
@@RobbotheHighlander Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you again. we have a 6 metre home and wont get to Europe until around early 2026, however, there's no harm doing research beforehand. Cheers both, hope you both continue to enjoy great excursions.
Great informative video
Thank Ray😀
We just hope to show how easy it is really😀