Spain and Portugal

Contents
1 Spain
1.1 Costa Calida
1.2 Costa Brava / Dorada
1.3 Andalucia
1.4 Extremadura
1.5 Spain Night Halt Short Stay
1.6 Sites we would avoid
2 Portugal
2.1 Portugal Night Halts

Spain

Costa Calida

Puerto de Mazarron, ☼ ACSI Camping Los Madriles

Many weeks here over 3 visits. Large serviced pitches on pretty terraces with good views. Naturally heated outdoor pools. Site shop and some village stores but for a big shop, Puerto Mazarron (about 8 km) or Cartagena (24 km). Popular and full during winter months. Is a bit off the beaten track for sight seeing (2004)

Costa Brava / Dorada

Sant Pere Pescador Las Palmeras

Well run by friendly management, good cycling to village and natural park. 250 m from beach. Roads not tarmac but well drained and maintained. Restaurant and take away .Some "super pitches" with water and drain available at extra cost.

Discounts for pensioners and long stays, credit cards not accepted but cash machine on site (2013)

Estartit Les Medes

One visit, good pools and close to nice town walking or cycling. Ok but we thought cramped and pricey off-season. 2004

Vilanova I La Geltru ☼ ACSI Camping Vilanova Park

Large and very well maintained with good facilities. Bus stop outside to railway station for Barcelona. Think best pitches are near to zoo. Pensioner’s discounts (2006)

Sitges ☼ ACSI El Garrofer

Worth putting up with for a couple of days to get into Barcelona using direct service bus from gate. (2005)

Cambrils ACSI Camping Playa Montroig.

Adjacent to beach, good facilities. Very expensive, even out of season. (2006)

Andalucia

Conil de La Frontera ☼ ACSI Camping Rosaleda

Eight visits and many weeks here.

This coast is very windy much of the time and awnings need to be well anchored, the steady breeze is welcome and keeps the terraced site more comfortable when it gets hot. Good facilities and views. Serviced pitches, water, drains and free WiFi .Electricity is metered but not expensive. Pitches can be a tight fit for larger outfits, some double pitches available for extra fee. Dogs only allowed in certain areas. Bus from gate, supermarkets close and in Conil (about 3 km), super fish market. Beach could be walked to but better cove beaches 3 and 6 km. Popular and full during winter months. Big reductions for long stays (cash in advance)

Arrive after May Day holiday. (2013)

El Rocio ☼ ACSI Camping La Aldea

Newish site with good facilities, walking distance from a remarkable village. Donana National park visitor centre close (3 km). Not much shopping in village get supplies in beforehand. Probably impossible to get in during Pentecost festival week. (2013)

Extremadura

Plascencia ☼ CC ACSI Parque Natural Monfrague

Useful halt about 480 km north of Cadiz. Excellent bird watching in Monfrague National Park (particularly Vultures) and around the site where Azure Winged Magpies abound. Site a bit Spanish but ok. Avoid the Ex108 road through the park with van in tow. Swimming pool and useful restaurant on site. Shopping about 8 km. (2019)

Spain Night Halt Short Stay

Madrid Area

La Cabrera ☼ ACSI Camping Pico de la Miel

60km North of Madrid alongside N1. Picturesque surroundings. Good facilities, open all year. Separate tourers area, be careful to leave pitching area by same lane as entered otherwise it’s into a maze of statics where you may have to uncouple to get out (2012)

Riaza ☼ ACSI Camping Riaza

Fairly new site approx 100 km North of Madrid and 8 km off the N1. Good facilities and surroundings short walk into town. Lots of open space for larger outfits, good NH.(2013)

Olmedilla de Alarcon ☼ Camping Pantapino

In an area with few sites this simple site is in a very useful location for visits to Cuenca and Alarcon or NH . Friendly helpful owners run a small bar and restaurant. Large pitches and covered for shade at times (2018).

Santa Elena ☼ ACSI Camping Despenaperros

Good NH 260 km South of Madrid, close to A4 and walking distance out of pleasant village. Nice surroundings and friendly warden. Entrance through village and site archway a little tight. (2013)

Aranjuez ☼ ACSI Camping International Aranjuez

40 km South of Madrid on route to Cordoba. Site has been renovated since we visited when it did have good facilities but scruffy unmarked pitches,and long grass. Friends report marked pitches now grass no better.Walking distance from beautiful town, Royal palace and gardens. (2005)

El Escorial ☼ ACSI Camping El Escorial

Very big site about 50 km from Madrid, there are buses from the gate (not tried). Valley of the Fallen near and Avila and Segovia visiting distances. Pitches a bit small and crowded. Weekends busy with locals. (2004)

Andalucia

Villafranca de Cordoba (15Km North of Cordoba) ☼ ACSI La Albolafia

Well signed fromA4 exit 377. Public transport to Cordoba (not tried).Good NH, Helpful staff. (2018)

La Carlotta (25km South Cordoba) ☼ Camping Carlos III

Convenient night halt/short stay, adjacent to main road, 25k south of Cordoba.

Tidy site with a town in walking distance. Expensive. (2008)

Granada ☼ ACSI Camping Reina Isabel

Cramped and busy but very useful for visiting Granada using bus at the gate. Shopping in village. (2003)

Top

Castile-Leon

Burgos (15k south) Estepar ☼ Camping Cabia

Small site on main road N620. Useful night halt and good for visit to Burgos. Possible to remain hooked up. Friendly owners run a modest restaurant. New sanitary facilities a great improvement (2019)

Sites we would avoid

These are all in Spain and may not even be open any more but visited once we will not be looking them up again.

Arganda Camping Arganda Not in CC Guide any more

Poor facilities, mainly scruffy statics, facilities were unusable when we visited (no water). Paid €20 (May 2004) to park in site road. Tight turns and low trees on site, scary staff in office!

El Masnou Camping Masnou

On coast north of Barcelona, walking distance from train to Barcelona. Horrible, expensive and seems to attract very unsavoury types.(2004)

Comillas Camping La Playa Oyambre Not in CC Guide any more

Dreadful site with hundreds of scruffy statics and broken facilities.(2003)

La Cabrera Camping D’Oremor.

Signed off N1 at Km50 north of Madrid. Scruffy expensive broken facilities, very long grass and dubious residents. Don't mistake this for Camping Pico de la Miel nearby.(2002)

Portugal

Algarve

Lagos ☼ ACSI Camping Turiscampo.

Eight visits, very pretty, well run site with good facilities and useful shop. Popular winter site. Becomes more popular each year and the better pitches on the terraces are in particular demand and long stays need booking well in advance.

Restaurant with set price buffet. Some serviced pitches at extra cost.

Associated with Yelloh Village organisation and the emphasis on bungalows is increasing at the expense of the camping.

Good reductions for long stays, Credit Cards accepted and discounts given for cash.(2017)

Portugal Night Halts

Evora ☼ACSI Camping Orbitor.

Basic site with a tight entrance. Good swimming pool, good for short stay or NH, outside interesting town that is well worth a visit. (2011)

Evoramonte ☼ Camping Alentejo

Small site ideally situated for a night halt or longer stay in a beautiful historic area. Short days run from the Algarve, good facilities, large hard standing pitches and views. Friendly helpful owner. (2017)