Camping in Portugal

[BensGrandad]

Has anybody taken a caravan or tent to The Algarve and have details of any sites they can recommend and what are the prices like. Do they charge per unit or per person.

 

[SNOOBS]

I can't imagine sleeping there without air con!

 

[seven stands]

Went over for the games and didn't see any camp sites and I couldn't be arsed with the shower blocks for my three cold showers a day if there are any 40•c is too hot for camping

 

[BensGrandad]

When we were in the pubs a number of customers used to go to The Algarve with their caravans or trailer tents etc and I never thought about it as we always went to Cyprus. Now we have retired and went to The Algarve for a holiday I would like to drive there and take the trailer tent and thought there must be many on NSC who have done similar.

 

[desprateseagull]

driving all that way must take ages/ wear you out / cost a fortune??

 

[BensGrandad]

It is about 1200 miles so not that bad. Not too expensive as the ferry from England to Dunkirk is only £120 return and then diesel for the car 20 - 25 gals gals each way so for 4 people £370 return plus 2 nights in Formula 1 hotel in France at EU20 per night per room.

When I had my cancer operation and left the pub in Guildford we drove to Brindisi then ferry to Athens had a week in Athens then ferry to Cyprus and then had 3 months in Cyprus during Euro 96. We then drove home the same route. Now want to drive through Europe to Athens then just get the ferry to Cyprus but I think that there are problems so may have to drive to Turkey and go in via Nth Cyprus.

 

[Napper]

FK that for a game of soldiers

Cheap flights - Find and book cheap flights on easyJet.com is my advice

 

[BensGrandad]

The travel through the various countries is all part of the fun of the holiday, stopping in the country and trying the local food as opposed to a full english or roast beef and yorkshire or worse still McDonalds..

 

[BensGrandad]

Just brought this back up in the hope that some new posters may have been camping in Portugal in the past and can offer some details. Have just received an email from one site and it works out at eu55 per night, which is expensive and wanted to know from anybody is this the usual rate for the Algarve.

Stupid I know but it is something I really want to do, as I did when we drove to Cyprus for an extended holiday in 1995.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Camping in that heat? Really?

 

[BensGrandad]

One of the reasons for hook up is to use a fan if needed.

 

[BensGrandad]

Just bounced again in the hope somebody has some ideas of campsites in The Algarve apparently there are over 200 but very difficult to find any at a reasonable price on the internet.

Can not change the plan now as son has bought the ferry tickets as a Christmas present.

 

[8ace]

We went on a coach trip to Lisbon when were there and we got a minibus from our gaff to a place not far outside of Albufeira where we got on the coach.
There was a campsite there I think. I'll have a look tomorrow see if I can find it on the Internet.

 

[Noldi]

Camping - Is it not against the law?

Sleeping with intent

 

[8ace]

I think this was it:

PARQUE CAMPISMO ALBUFEIRA

 

[scooter1]

We did it a few years ago when I lived in Spain, drove down via Sevilla and then Heulva. The camp sites were pretty basic, and we had to pitch tents on rock hard sand or hard earth. After a couple of nights we continued to tour around but took cheap hotels. Tents in that heat are no fun and with a rock solid ground(even with sleeping mats) it was impossible to get a decent nights sleep.
Each to their own, but i'd not do it again

 

[Arthur]

After we got knocked out of Euro 2004 I was desperate to get out of the country (2 weeks in Lisbon will do that to you!). Getting a flight back was tricky given that everyone else had the same idea. A couple of mates of mine decided they were going to drive down to the Algarve and stay there for a couple of days which suited me as Sleasyjet had several flights a day from Faro. The only trouble was they were doing the whole tournament and to save costs they were camping.

So I bought a tent and a sleeping bag and joined in the "fun".

Now I've never liked camping so I'm probably not the best person to comment, to me it's just a posh mans sleeping rough. We stayed at some grotty campsite in Albufeira that was full of Dutch (wallies!). It was easy enough getting to sleep at night as the temperature drops a little and I'm sure the Super Bock helped massively. The trouble was in the morning the sun would be up by 6am and you'd slowly cook in the tent. It was like walking barefoot on ice trying to get out of it because you had sweat so much. With a hang over that isn't much fun. That combined with the Dutchies blaring out euro pop and Albufeira being an absolute shit pit full of the exact things that you are looking to avoid (all day breakfast, roast dinners, vomiting 18 year olds etc) it was a few days to forget!

That said it was cheap, can't remember how much but maybe a fiver a night per person.

 

[Mammoth]

The Portuguese national parks used to have camping grounds available- not sure what the arrangements for use are now, and they were miles out in the wilderness, with next to no facilities. My Western Europe Lonely Planet cheapo travel bible does not recommend a single camp site on the Algarve- that speaks volumes.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

I went to Albufiera for the pre-season week last summer, BG, I think you said you camped in Cyprus so you should know about the heat!
I certainly did not camp but could not sleep at night without the air conditioning on it is really hot there. I like what you said about the drive down there, it could indeed be fun but i would seriously consider getting an apartment once you are there. There is lots of cheap accommodation in Albufiera but unless you are young and into the whole clubbing scene, i would stick to the old town, which is still liveley but much more laid back (if that makes any sense).

 

[Hunting 784561]

Camping in that heat - mental.

You can book apartments with air conditioning in the Algarve for less than €55 per night.

Try hotels.com or similar.