Any help would be appriciated regarding Camp sites, their availability, even a camp site guide if possible and where to get it, Best areas?, I have 'Let's Go' for Spain and Portugal and have traveled extensivly in France before but know very little about Spain

Hi Wildrover,

Don't worry about camp-site's. In Spain they are just as easy to find as in France.
If you want to be sure, check google for: camping-guide spain You'll find plenty. But If I were you, I would just go4it.
Have fun

Maarten

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- www.maartensworld.tmfweb.nl -

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maartensworld.com
beyond-anywhere.com

Wildrover:

I toured Spain and Portugal this summer (June 2002), my first visit to either country. Personally, I found Spain to be boring as heck, not very interesting at all, whereas Portugal was very interesting, much more scenic, and much less expensive.

So, my suggestion would be to focus on Portugal, not Spain.

Note that anywhere in Spain or Portugal that is within 10 kilometers of the Mediterranean coast is not actually Spain or Portugal at all. This entire strip of land has recently been conquered and colonized by the British and Germans as holiday resorts, and they have built enormous "settlements" (just like the Israelis in the West Bank) of condominiums all along the coast, and pretty much kicked the locals out. So, don't go looking for Spanish or Portuguese culture within 10 miles of the Med coast, it has been extirpated.

Absolutely , much better to go to the centre , the North coast or the Pyrenees .

Warning : it rains on the North coast .

The Spanish Tourist Board have a free camping map of spain. It covers every where in Spain and is very useful. We've traveled around Spain for the last 8 years and have had very little trouble getting camping although July and August are very busy months. All the sites we have stayed on in Spain have been excellent.

Ally

Spain boring?! Even if you try to bore yourself some celebration or amazing sight will come around the corner! Of course the big cities draw tourists, but they are most definately not to be missed. And elsewhere there is plenty of adventure riding to be done.

No worries camping; cheap($free-$5 euros), good sites everywhere. Also, hostels/pensions are very cheap off-season($5-$10 euros).

Buenos viajes!

As I type this, I am sitting in Portugal, but I've come on 4-wheels, not 2. I've lived in Spain for nearly 3 years now, and while the Mediterranean coast has been annexed by the Germans and the English (almost literally), it bears little resemblance to the rest of the country. If you found Spain boring, then you didn't hit the northern or northwestern part. Some of the most beautiful country I've seen anywhere is found in the Basque country, for example, with wide, winding roads that take you through the base of the Pyrenees mountains. Lightly traveled, speed enforcement almost nonexistent, and an absolute blast to drive on.

Agreed that other parts are a little bleak, but the northern and/or NW parts are quite beautiful, and some of the most fun roadways I've found yet!

My two Euro-cents!

Hola, soy español y es la primera vez que escribo y no se hablar ningun idioma.
En España hay cientos de campings y no tendras problemas en encontrarlos,y en respuesta a PanEuropean tengo que decir que en España hay muchos lugares de interes mas que en Portugal.
Por cierto,te aconsejo visitar Catalunya.
Nos vemos

>anywhere in Spain or Portugal that is within >10 kilometers of the Mediterranean coast

Pan... just being pedantic, but Portugal isn't anywhere near the Med. It's on the Atlantic.
But I know what you mean ;-)
Tim.

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Tim
www.alpineroads.com

We went from north of Madrid to southwest of Madrid and back. Then we went to the north coast, Picos de Europa. The central region was rich in history with beautiful Cathedrals, while the north was rich in scenery. All had beautiful motorcycle roads. You might check out the pictures on my website that I just completed. http://webpages.charter.net/rodpowell/ There are a couple of helmet camera videos, if you have a fast connection to the internet. Hope you enjoy.

Rod

Hi,
I made a 7 week round trip in Spain and Portugal in 2000 and it wasn´t boring any time. Landscape, people and culture, everything was find (especially food and wine!)
You´ll find campsites everywhere. Most of them have signs at the street.
Maybe we´ll meet in May/June.
Greetings Norma

Camping should be no problem in France either, especially from Easter onwards. Most places have at least one campsite. If you're going down through the Midi, there are very good sites at Cahors and Najac (with white water kayaking).

Ive written a report on a trip down to Barcelona: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~cusef/BarcelonaReport.htm

and pictures at: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~cusef/BarcelonaTrip.htm

and more photos of the Midi: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~cusef

I'm sorry, buy I don't agree PanEuropean.

I am a spanish woman rider, I have visited many European countries by bike and I enjoy a lot travelling by Spain.

Of course, if you travel by Mediterranean coast resorts you will really find as at home and you can travel around Spanish coast from discotheque to discotheque! (sometimes I need to understand English or German in my ouw country!).

If you find a good trip itinerary you will find that spanish geography is full of variety, mountains, wild Nature, lots of bikes and bikers, a worldwide recognized gastronomy, very cool people, night fun if you wish so, and villages full of art, history and ancient architecture. My favourites are old small villages that you can only visit walking or riding a bike!

Portugal is also a nice destination, and very fun to visit riding a bike.

If you wish to come back to Spain, just ask for good advice!

I really love my country, even anyone is perfect.

PS. As a core touristic destination in Europe, Spain has lots of facilities as campings and hotels, even in particular homes if you ask, but better book first especially if you come in summer holidays.

[This message has been edited by Nina BMW (edited 22 January 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Nina BMW (edited 22 January 2003).]

Many thanks peeps, Realy enjoyed the trip done 3000 mls, found it very interesting,except for the 10 mile strip along the Med coast that was wall to wall ex Pats, lovely country and People, will do it again, once again, thanks for all very helpful advice :-))