The Motorhome Diaries
  • Welcome to our Diaries
  • About us
  • Where have we been?
  • Iran
  • Snapshots from our travels
  • Argentina
  • Bulgaria
  • Belgium & Holland
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
    • Český Ràj
    • Adršpach Teplice Rocks
    • Prague
    • Český Krumlov
    • Telč
    • Olomouc
    • Štramberk
    • Motorhoming tips
  • Denmark and the Baltic States
    • Denmark
  • Estonia
    • Tallinn
    • Soomaa National Park
    • Laheema National Park
    • Narva
    • Puhtitsa Convent
    • Lake Peipsi
    • Saaremaa Island
  • France
    • Aires de service
    • Mont St Michel
    • La Venise Verte
    • WW1 sites
    • Burgundy
    • Cycling the Burgundy Voie Verte
    • Chateaux
    • Cycling around Lac de Liez
    • Mirepoix
    • The Camargue
    • Minerve
    • Carcassonne
    • Blois
    • Millau
  • Hungary
    • Introduction to Hungary
    • Saraspotok
    • Tokaj
    • Hortogbagy
    • Budapest
    • Tiszafured
    • Eger
    • Motorhoming tips
  • Italy
  • Japan 2014
    • Food
    • Izu Penninsula
    • Temples & Shrines
    • Our vehicle
    • Tokyo
    • Western Honshū
    • Michi no Eki
    • Central Honshū
    • Kyoto
  • Tips for Japan
  • Japan 2016
    • Tokyo 2016
    • Nikko
    • Waterfalls & Lakes
    • Snow Monkeys
    • Matsushima Bay & Ishimomaki
    • Mount Myogi
    • Gorges
    • Dewa Sanzan
    • Oga Peninsula
    • Zenkō-ji
    • The Japan Alps
    • Matsumoto
    • Obuse
  • Lithuania
    • Klaipeda
    • Haapsalu
    • Vilnius
    • Hill of Crosses
  • Latvia
    • Riga
    • Jurmela
  • Morocco Introduction
    • Morocco
    • Morocco slide show
  • New Zealand 2012
    • New Zealand - Highlights
    • More New Zealand pix
    • Practical Tips for NZ Motorhoming
  • Poland
    • Krakov
    • Zakopane
    • Salt Mine
  • Portugal - an introduction
    • Wintering in Portugal >
      • Terra da Maio Azinhal 2015
      • Folclore Evening
      • International Zip wiring
      • Vaqueiros Hot Bread and Fresh Cheese Fair
      • Keeping fit
      • Querença Sausage Festival
      • Algarve Markets
    • Loulé Carnaval
    • Armaceo de Pera
    • Aveiro
    • Bragança
    • Camping on the Douro River
    • Citania de Briteiros -Celtic settlement
    • Elvas
    • Evora
    • Lisbon
    • Monsaraz
    • Obidos
    • Porto
    • Tavira
  • Romania
  • Slovenia
    • Introduction
    • Bled
    • Bohinj
    • Vintgar Gorge
  • Slovakia
    • Introduction to Slovakia
    • Spiss Castle
    • Dreveny artikularny kostol
    • Wooden Churches
    • Vlkolinec
    • Motorhoming tips
  • Spain
    • Cadiz
    • Salamanca
    • Burgos
    • Segovia
    • Santillana del Mar
    • Santiago de Compostella
    • Cordoba
    • Torcal de Antequera
    • Barcelona
    • Guadix
    • Italica
    • Monfrague
    • Trujillo
    • The Alhambra
    • Ebro Delta
    • Seville
  • Turkey
    • Istanbul
    • Hattusas & Yazilikaya
    • Cappadocia
    • Mount Nemrut
    • Sanliurfa
    • Harran's beehive houses
    • Eastern Mediterranean
    • Aspendos
    • Olimpos
    • Myra
    • Saklikent Gorge
    • Pamukkale & Hieropolis
    • Ephesus
    • Bergama
    • Trip Home & Conclusion
  • Birdwatching
  • Contact Us
  • Comments
  • Useful links&info
  • Useful apps


                      Portugal

Picture
Tavira

 Introduction

Portugal seemed the natural destination for a late autumn trip in 2007: it was likely to be warm and more importantly "open" - campsites in the rest of Europe start to shut down in the middle of September.
We usually take the ferry to Calais and saunter slowly down to the Algarve but many people choose to get the ferry to Santander and have a relatively short trip down to the sun.  Check out Britanny Ferries if this is for you.

Portugal was a revelation, it is cheap, the wine is cheap and good,  the people are very friendly and there are lots of interesting towns to visit. The campsites vary and some are pretty basic although they do have all facilities but amazingly cheap, cheaper if you opt to stay for more than a month.  There are not many sites shown in the ACSI or Camping Cheques books but there are plenty of them and off season it is not usually necessary to book.There are also lots of opportunities for wild camping in Portugal although on the Algarve the "free" camping spots  such as those at Manta Rota and Villa Real are being changed, limited facilities being added and as a result a small nightly charge is being made.

Most campsites are independent but there is a chain of Orbitur campsites and if you click here you will get more info. Once you get to Portugal you wil find a locally produced guide giving you details of campsites large and small all over Portugal, last one I bought was about 7 euro.

We found we enjoyed Portugal so much that we have been back every year since that first trip..The picture above is of Coimbra which many years ago used to be the capital of Portugal.

Eating out is generally inexpensive, although the tax has recently been increased to 23% on restaurant food. Specialities are chicken piri piri and dried cod  (bacalau) dishes.

The roads are  generally ok, there are motorways where you collect a ticket and pay at the toll booths but beware there are other roads where you have to pay (eg A22 in the south) where the powers that be have introduced a non -user friendly system that makes it difficult for tourists to use. There is more information further down on this page.
                        

Wildcamping News

Therehave always been  a number of wild camping spots in the Algarve, the quality varied and in some cases the police would regularly move campers on  or even fine them before moving them on but  in 2012  many of these seem to be changing and a small charge is levied  but there are now  some limited services being  provided. In 2012 we came across a new one in Alvor - close to the town with water electricity and dumping facilities  for 4 euro a night. Vicarious Books sell Aires in Portugal and Spain book.


                    


Picture
The aire at Alvor

A22 toll road

 Go to http://www.estradas.pt/web/portal-de-portagens/tollcard  This website gives you more details on how to pay for use of these  unmanned toll roads allows you to get a costs estimate for particular trips and allows you to establish what class your vehicle is.

The system is still pretty creaky and the A22 is barely used at present and there is talk about improving the system. 


If you are hiring a car then your vehicle may come supplied with a smart box which will deduct the toll charges from your credit card. if it doesnt have a box then you have to go to a PayShop a few days later and pay there. The webpage will give more details.


If you are in a foreign registered car then you can buy a prepaid card, and register your vehicle via text message. Or you can register your vehicles and credit card at the border.

Put simply, the system is a mess and you wonder why the authorities could not have created a more user friendly method of charging for use of this road.
Click on the buttons below to read more about some places in Portugal.
Elvas
Tavira
Porto
Obidos
Lisbon
Monsaraz
Douro River
Armaceo
Winters in Portugal
Evora


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Independent travelling - tailored by us for  us
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Pergamon, Turkey
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Cistern at El Jadida.Morocco
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Jerez de la Frontera
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Driving through the Andes in Argentina
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Inuyama Castle, Japan
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Japanese snow monkeys
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