Sites and Aires - Spain

Spain

- Aires

Burela

N43 39.171’ W7 21.498’

The aire is right in the town, in front of the Hospital, and behind a small holding with chickens, and a horse. No Services that we found, there are other vans here. Quiet and fine for a night. We were simply doing a one night stop, en-route to Santiago de Compestella, but, there are apparently good walking and cycling opportunities.

Visited: 2013

Peniscola, Viz Mar  

N40 23’32” E0 24’25”

10Euro a night including Electric, toilets, showers etc, or 6Euro per night, no electric. This is a sort of Aire, attached to a campsite. It is not clear to me what the difference is between the Aire and the Campsite (which is in the ACSI book). It is an easy  walk/cycle into Peniscola. Our only problem with this location (which may not be a permanent problem), is the donkey in the adjacent field, it is capable of making an almighty racket!

Visited: 2013

Venta del Peral 

N37 33.258' W2 3.512'

This Aire is at an Hotel just off the Motorway. It has a very pleasant Restaurant, a snack bar, and a bar (with excellent free Wifi). It has the usual service point, free water, plus very well kept toilet/washbasin facilities, all for free. If you want a shower, that is 2.50Euro.

Visited: 2013

- Sites

Alcossebre (Castellon), Playa Tropicana

N40.220329, E0.26839

An ACSI Site. This was a good choice, It is quite a large site, the sort of place where people spend the winter. It is just about on the beach, you can hear the waves on the beach from our van, and everything seems to be in good order. As often happens, people seem to have "clustered" by nationality. It so happens that the pitch we choose is in the German quarter, and we have German and Belgian neighbours, but, there is an "English Quarter" if that is your preference.

Visited: 2010

Barcelona, Tres Estrellas

N41.272388, E2.04303

An ACSI Site. The site is surprisingly quiet, given the location. It is close to Barcelona Airport and is located between a very busy dual carriageway (C31 going into Barcelona) and a Beach. But neither road noise, nor aircraft noise appears to be a problem. Note, we find, the Aircraft noise depends on wind direction. The selling point is that you can get a bus (every 30 minutes) from just outside the gate into Barcelona. Facilities are  fine, the site is a typical "city visit" site, ie functional, rather than palatial.

Visited: 2010

Barreires, Gaivota Camping

N43 33’44” W7 12’28”

An ACSI Site. When we arrive here, it has been raining, no, pouring down, for days! We had to be towed off our last site (grass pitch). On arrival here it is still raining. The site looks good, well as good as anything can look in pouring rain. The bad news is, all of the pitches are grass, and are absolutely saturated. We are unable even to drive onto the pitch, without the wheels spinning and sinking in. We decide not to stay, and try to search out a site with hardstanding. Probably worth a return visit, in the sun!

Visited: 2013

El Berro, Alhama de Murcia, Sierra Espuna 

N37 53' 17" W1 29' 35"

An ACSI Site. The site is small, and very pretty, right alongside an equally pretty village. One point to note for the winter months, the site is high up in the Sierra Espuna, and, is, I would assume, rather cool in winter.  

Visited: 2013

Benicassim, Bonterra Park

N40.05726, E0.073248

An ACSI site, but, if you plan to stay for a while (many do, it is a popular "Winter Retreat"), check their options, you may be able to get a better deal. The site is very well organised, with reasonable size pitches by Spanish standards. Everything is clean, tidy and working. As mentioned, it is a site where people often stay for 2-3 months or more, and, some people come back year after year, so, a degree of "cliquishness" is to be expected. Never found it a problem, personally. The site has a very good location, minutes to the beach and promenade, plenty of good walking, good cycling (reasonably flat), public transport (bus and train). A few minutes walk to a good choice of supermarkets, shops and bars/cafes. It is very popular, and, understandably so, but, we seldom book, there are always other options.

Visited: 2015: 2017, 2020 

Benicarlo, Camping  Alegria Del Mar

N40 25'36" E0 26'17"

An ACSI Site. The site appears is fine, you even get a free "welcome drink" at the bar. It appears just a little too "English", when we were there there seemed to be quite a contingent of Bar-room English staying, or possibly living, in "statics" on site, not that they actually posed a problem, just not really our scene. Otherwise fine. Beach nearby, plenty of walking, cycling, bars, cafes etc It is quite possible to cycle to Peniscola, about 6 miles along the coast.

Visited: 2014: 

Bonansa, Camping Baliera  

N42 26'21.8" E0 41'53.9"

An ACSI Site, which, I am told is open all year. We visited in early April, and, it was almost empty, ourselves, plus 2 or 3 others. Good site, but, a bit stark at this time of year. We used this as an overnight stop, en-route home (slowly) from Benicassim, via the excellent, and free, Vielha Tunnel Bonansa to Montrejeau.

Visited: 2015

Burgos 

N42 20’ 24.5” W3 39’ 20.0”

An ACSI Site, which is open all year. We typically use this site as a stop-over, en-route to Spain, or Portugal, in winter, it has all facilities, including a heated toilet block (important in January in Northern Spain). Facilities could probably do with a make-over, but, warmth and hot water are welcome, in January, in this part of Spain! It is a short walk into Burgos, or, there is a bus stop just outside the gate. Burgos is an interesting town, especially the impressive Cathedral, but, we have seldom lingered long, in January.

Visited: 2014

Caceres 

N39 29'19" W6 24'46"

An ACSI Site, which is open all year. It is unusual in that each pitch has it's own "bathroom" building, on the pitch, with toilet, washbasin and shower. We typically use this site, if we are en-route to southern Portugal, in winter, however it is probably worthy of a longer stay. Caceres town is rather interesting, it is walkable from the site, or, there is a bus.

Visited: 2014

Cap-Blanch, Altea, Alicante 

N38 34'40" W0 3'54"

An ACSI Site. Altea is the next town north along the coast from Benidorm. We did not regard this as a positive. However, Altea is much quieter (or, boring, depending on your point of view) than Benidorm. The site is large, but has good facilities. It was reasonably full, even in March, but, quiet. There is excellent public transport nearby (bus and train/tram). We even visited Benidorm, which was, to our surprise, almost likeable, and Denia (via Tram, a scenic ride).

Visited: 2014  

Capmany, Les Pedres 

N42 22’22” E2 54’47”

An ACSI Site, in a very pretty location. It is a good "Stop-over" (which is how we used it), being about 20 miles south of the French/Spanish border, and, just about 2 miles off the N11. In Pine woods (but, not too dense, just enough to give a little shade, and surrounded by the foothills of the Pyrenees. There is a village, nearby, which is very pretty, but has only one shop that we found.

Visited: 2014

Cadiz / El Puerto de Santa Maria, Playa Las Dunas

N36 35' 15" W6 14' 26"

An ACSI Site. The main attraction is, you can take a ferry (about 4Euro) from here to Cadiz City Centre (which is well worth a visit). The site is good, facilities clean and functioning, and, the town of El Puerto de Santa Maria is attractive enough for a wander. At the time we visited (April) there was a Fiesta on, which was worth a visit.

Visited: 2013

Cambrils Camping Joan

N41.05789, E1.02669 

An ACSI Site. Pleasant site with good facilities and direct access to the beach and promenade. The down side is, they have not thought out the trees, which are excellent for shade, but, have been pruned at a height which makes manoeuvring a MoHo onto a pitch, without roof damage, a fraught exercise. Cambrils was one of the first places we visited in Spain, in a MoHo (in 2006), and is a pleasant place. At that time we stayed at Camping La Llossa.

Visited: 2015

Cambrils Camping La Llossa

N41.065339, E1.044585 

An ACSI site. Good facilities, exceptionally helpful and friendly Reception Staff. Short walk to Cambrils town. As complete novices, travelling to Spain for the first time, in Winter, this was the first site we found open, probably saved us from divorce!

Visited: 2006

Cordoba / Villafranca de Cordoba, La Albolafia 

N37 57' 13" E4 33' 15"

An ACSI Site. Good site, good facilities etc. We stayed here to visit Cordoba. There is a bus service. There is (supposedly) an "Aire" in Cordoba, but, we were unable to find it, even with the aid of a Sat-Nav, so, we stayed at this site. Cordoba is a beautiful place, well worth a visit. Unfortunately, I took ill, and spent most of my time there in the Hospital. A return visit (to the city, not the Hospital) is required.

Visited: 2013

L'Estartit Camping Les Medes

N42 2'33" E3 11'0.6"

An ACSI Site. We used this as a stop-over on one of our winter visits to Spain, when we opted to take the "eastern route" ie via Perpingnan. Site perfectly good. At the time we visited, weather appalling, freezing cold (frost on windows) and a howling gale. Probably beautiful, in warmer weather!

Visited: 2015

Grua de Gandia, l'Alqueria 

N38 59'10" W0 9'49"

This is a large ACSI site, on the edge of town, and about 1 km from the sea. When we were there,it appeared to be a very  "Spanish" site, quite a few Spanish, one other Brit, a couple of German Vans and a couple of French Vans. All clean and tidy, handy for supermarkets etc, good cycling (tracks).

Visited: 2013

Huesca, Liguerre de Cinca

N42.28111, E0.19638 

An ACSI Site. Set beside a manmade lake, which is a reservoir, this site is in stunningly beautiful scenery. Facilities are basic but clean. It is remote, so shop before you arrive! We were here in April, and surrounding mountains were still  snow capped and the area was very quiet (although it was pleasantly warm). More recent reviews I have read suggest it has gone downhill, who knows?

Visited: 2010

Marbella, La Buganvilla 

N36 30’ 11” W4 48’ 12”

An ACSI site. Facilities in good order, site clean and tidy, although it does appear to be moving towards statics, rather than tourers. The site is alongside (the very busy) N340. Road noise is not an issue however, and, there is a footbridge to allow pedestrians to  cross easily. First impressions of the site were that it would be limited because of the busy road, but, once you find your way about, there are good walking possibilities, and a regular bus service into Marbella.  


Visited: 2014

Oliva, Kiko Park  

N38 55'58", W0 5' 51"

A very well appointed ACSI site. Very good facilities, near beach and Marina. Short walk/cycle ride into town (Oliva). Plenty of walking/cycling possibilities along the coast. Popular with "winter stayers". We have not stayed here, but, ate in the restaurant, while out cycling from Grua de Gandia, l'Alqueria. Looks very well kept, certainly facilities are very good quality.

Visited: 2013

Pamplona, Camping Ezcaba

N 42°51'26", W 1°37'25"

A good ACSI site. There is an excellent footpath/cycle track into Pamplona (about 6 miles away), or, for the less energetic, a bus service. We used this as a "rest stop" en-route to Mediterranean Coast, but, it would make a good stop for a longer stay.

Visited: 2010


Ribadedeva, Camping Colombres 

N43 22' 31" W33 33' 51"

A good ACSI site, including free WiFi. We used this as an overnight stop, en-route to Santiago de Compostella, so, did not explore the area. It is supposedly very scenic with views of snow capped peaks etc, but, at the time we visited, the whole area was shrouded in low cloud, so, no views.

Visited: 2013

Roquetas de Mar 

N36 47'51" W2 35'28"

An ACSI site. Not far off the A7 or N340. A bit bigger than we would normally choose, but, it seems to be well cared forFacilities are all good, and pitches are spacious, by Spanish standards. There is a "no dogs" area, which is a bonus. Plenty of good cycling. Just along the coast there is a good restaurant, "Cabana Belge" in Aguadulce Marina. The city of Almeria is worth a visit.

Visited: 2014

Sant Pere Pescador, Aquarius

N42.17710 W3.10833

An ACSI Site. Popular site with Rallies and Groups, so, sometimes busy. Good facilities. Excellent beach, so, popular with wind-surfers, kite surfers etc. Good cycling.

Visited: 2007: 2010: 2013

Santiago de Compestella Camping Cancelas

N 42º 53´ 22"  W 08º 31´ 29´´

The site, it is a big disappointment. The Caravan Club book describes it in glowing terms, but, I do not know when they visited, it was not like that in 2013. Grumpy staff, substandard facilities, and 26Euro per night. But, looking on the bright side, we are here, it is only 15 minutes walk to town (or 1Euro on the bus), there is a shopping mall right next to the site, with Carrefour, Primark, C&A etc etc

Visited: 2013

Sitges, El Garrofer 

N41 14'1" E1 46'52"

An ACSI Site. Near enough to walk in to Sitges. Facilities OK, without being magnificent. Staff a little "officious" we were admonished for hanging clothes on a washing line. Sitges is a very attractive town, more like the South of France than Spain, in terms of being clean and tidy. There is a rail link, to Barcelona, so, this would be a possible for visiting Barcelona.

Visited: 2013

Valencia, Pinedo, Coll Vert 

N39 23'47" W0 19' 58"

An ACSI Site. It is extremely well placed for visiting Valencia, you can cycle there, on a dedicated cycle track (about 4 miles), or, get the bus from just outside the campsite. Not the best site we have stayed on, a little shabby, but, facilities clean, fairly typical of "city" sites. Valencia is well worth a visit, a beautiful place with  excellent parks and city centre attractions. Excellent cycle tracks.

Visited: 2013

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