Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

campsite availability in peak season - Spain/Portgual/France

campsite availability in peak season - Spain/Portgual/France

Old Apr 16th, 2014, 04:36 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
campsite availability in peak season - Spain/Portgual/France

Hi All,
We are an Australian family planning a camping holiday along the Atlantic coast of Portgual, Spain and France for 5 weeks during July and August ( no choice with timeframe unfortunately). We are travelling by car and will have camping equipment, the idea being to mostly camp with the odd night in a hotel thrown in. Our priorites are good beaches, surfing and sightseeing. We have a low to moderate budget. My question is, do we need to book our accomodation weeks in advance or can we get away with with just prebooking a couple of days in advance or better yet, not booking ahead at all. We normally would never book anything in advance when we travel as we like to stay flexible but we have heard it is very busy in peak season in these countries. Any advice from people who have travelled in this region at that time of year would be greatly appreciated.
Jeanettebolt is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2014, 07:32 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 17,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My son camps with his family. They have a 4 man tent, and never book in advance as they follow the sun and their whim. They are restricted to the first three weeks of August for their holidays. Last year they had no problem in France.
They prefer small sites, with a minimum of facilities and no activities organised, and found them usually on the day of arrival, though they did have a book listing many sites.
With a smallish tent it probably won't be a problem. With a camper or caravan it might be.
hetismij2 is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2014, 08:11 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The coast here in Galicia can get very busy. Some campsites get full because they are quite small.
Wild camping is illegal in Spain.
You can search for website in Galicia using this website: https://www.turgalicia.es/portada?langId=en_US
To be Honest so are pretty awful in high season because tents are pitched almost touching each other..
ribeirasacra is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2014, 08:15 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't speak to Spain or Portugal, nor am I familiar with campgrounds on the Atlantic coast of France, but I do know that the campgrounds in the Dordogne that are nearby my house get booked many months in advance and rarely have spur-of-the-moment openings. People tend to come back year after year.
StCirq is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2014, 08:15 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check out the following: http://www.vayacamping.net
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2014, 08:35 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone for your helpful and prompt responses, I am heartened to hear that there are prople who manage to have a holiday with out pre booking, thanks #1! However it is sounding like the coast of Spain can get very crowded, we might have to go inland at times and do more of the sight seeing and less of the beaches! Maybe we will just book one or two beach places and wing the rest of it going inland if we have to. Does anyone have experience of how crowded inland Spain gets or is it just too hot to camp? Thanks again.
Jeanettebolt is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2014, 08:36 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone for your helpful and prompt responses, I am heartened to hear that there are prople who manage to have a holiday with out pre booking, thanks #1! However it is sounding like the coast of Spain can get very crowded, we might have to go inland at times and do more of the sight seeing and less of the beaches! Maybe we will just book one or two beach places and wing the rest of it going inland if we have to. Does anyone have experience of how crowded inland Spain gets or is it just too hot to camp? Thanks again.
Jeanettebolt is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2014, 10:35 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If I was you I would except all of the coastal areas will be busy, especially if the weather is good.
ribeirasacra is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2014, 10:36 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh I take it you know about the electronic tolls in Portugal?
ribeirasacra is offline  
Old Apr 17th, 2014, 11:57 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's a guide to all camping sites in the Basque Country/Euskadi, both inland and by the sea. Excellent beaches, a surfers paradise, beautiful landscapes and the best food in Spain. http://www.campingseuskadi.com/en/

For beaches and surfing, check out some of the camping sites close to fabulous San Sebastián. The Zurriola city beach is very popular with surfers:
http://www.campingdesansebastian.com/?q=en http://www.campingigueldo.com/
About San Sebastián: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

Other options along the coast and close to San Sebastián:
Zarautz (with great surfing): http://www.campingseuskadi.com/en/zarautz/
Mutriku: http://www.campingseuskadi.com/en/aitzeta/
Orio: http://www.campingseuskadi.com/en/zingira/
Deba: http://www.campingseuskadi.com/en/itxaspe/

Surfing the Basque Country: http://oldyoungsea.com/project/surfi...asque-country/
kimhe is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MattRussell
Europe
12
Feb 19th, 2015 11:12 AM
Cassabooboo
Europe
4
Jul 15th, 2011 06:45 AM
yestravel
Europe
7
Feb 12th, 2010 08:27 AM
sandyeh
Europe
6
Jul 13th, 2009 07:52 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -