Las Alpujarras Travel Forum

Hi there

I (male) was thinking about hiring a small camper or motorhome and spending a fortnight or so looking at different regions in Spain. But I have some concerns:-

It sounds like a great idea, but on the other hand, I have never been to Spain before, don't speak Spanish ("solo un poco!"), never dirven a left had vehicle before etc. Do you think this is a wise idea, or am I biting off more than I can chew?

Would I be allowed to park such a vehicle in small villages or rural locations just at the side of the road? (wouldn't particularly want to tour campsites) Most important, would it e safe to do that? And would the police be ok with it?

I would also be grateful if anyone knows any surprise trip-ups (such as petrol pumps that only accept credit cards, that kind of thing).

I should say that my reason for travelling is to sound out regions with a view to a possible place to live. The alternative is to go on an organised coach tour, which obviously eliminates some of the above concerns, but on the other hand tends to concentrate on Big Cities, Museums etc.

What do you recommend? What do you think? Is a foreigner likely to be safe enough driving around Spain like this? (mainly small town / rural, but not exclusively). Please do reply and in advance many thanks (muchas gracias) :)

Mark

this web site i think it is ( www.gorf.com ) many have some information or links to other sites that do.

Dear Mark,
Having lived in Spain for 8 years and spent quite a bit of time camping in the back of our old Nissan Vanette, I can tell you that you will be very safe in the countryside. You can park on the side of the road for the night if you make sure you are away from villages/towns. You may will experience a visit from the Guardia Civil (civil guard, national rather than local police) who are generally very "civil" (ha!) but will want to see your passport and your car documentation. Any phrases in Spanish that you can muster here will be very helpful, especially ones about how beautiful Spain is and especially the part you are in. You are generally not considered to be camping if you are only staying one night, have not put up a tent etc. so you are not doing anything illegal. Avoid seaside resorts however as its not legal to sleep in your camper near the beach. However you can sometimes get away with it in the winter but definitely not in peak season. Petrol stations are very straightforward and saying "lleno" is enough to get it filled up. Cash is probably more acceptable than cards. It can sometimes be a long way between filling stations however, especially in rural areas so keep topped up! Rural areas are generally very safe and friendly so I really wouldn't worry about your safety at all!

hi, i wouldnt worry too much about a left hand drive vehicle.
I went to italy last year and hired a car from the airport, i was very nervous as i hadnt driven a car in britain for about 3 years apart from one i hired a few weeks before for a weekend. it was fine though after a slow start! all the best and have fun!
karen