Our Introduction to Portugal
Portugal seemed the natural destination for a first late autumn trip in 2007: it was likely to be warm and more importantly "open" - campsites in the rest of Europe start to shut down in the middle of September.
We usually took the ferry to Calais and saunter slowly down to the Algarve but many people choose to get the ferry to Santander and have a relatively short trip down to the sun. Check out Britanny Ferries if this is for you.
Portugal was a revelation, it was cheap, the wine is good and not expensive. The people are very friendly and there are lots of interesting towns to visit. The campsites vary and some are pretty basic although they do have all facilities but amazingly cheap, cheaper if you opt to stay for more than a month. There are not many sites shown in the ACSI or Camping Cheques books but there are plenty of them and off season it is not usually necessary to book.There are also lots of opportunities for wild camping in Portugal although on the Algarve the "free" camping spots such as those at Manta Rota and Villa Real are being changed, limited facilities being added and as a result a small nightly charge is being made.
We found we enjoyed Portugal so much that we came back back every year since that first trip.. Now, we live in Portugal, we have a home here and have residency so we are well settled.
Eating out is generally inexpensive, Specialities are chicken piri piri and dried cod (bacalau) and sea food dishes.
The roads are generally ok, there are motorways where you collect a ticket and pay at the toll booths but in the Algarve the A22 recently became toll free.
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