Benimar Amphitryon A981: compact integrated motorhome without permanent bed

At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Benimar unveiled the Tessoro 443, a 6.99-metre motorhome with a 140 cm transverse rear bed, L-shaped lounge and kitchen, and a drop-down double bed over the lounge. It is powered by a 165 hp Ford engine and is available with the new Stormline pack, which adds Grey Matter paint, a black grille and front bumper, grey exterior body panels and specific exterior decor. The base price of the Tessoro 443 starts at around €66,000 excluding promotions and registration tax; with the Stormline pack, the price can approach €80,000.

A municipal motorhome area in Burela, Lugo province, offers free overnight parking for up to 48 hours, with drinking water and waste disposal. Tables and chairs are not allowed. A 30-minute drive away in Barreiros, a free camper parking by the sea has no water fill or dump point, toilets open only during the day, and constant surveillance. The paid Coto Camper site provides pitches with individual water, drainage and electricity, toilets with showers, laundry service and 24-hour security; the price is 19 euros per day with full equipment and 15 euros without, with the beach 100 m away.

French retirees Chantal and Didier Gautherey from the Hérault region have spent four winters in Spain in their motorhome. Chantal said they come for the warmth and cost of living; Didier noted they can afford restaurant meals they could not in France. In Spain, motorhome parking with sea views is free and equipped with drinking water, which can be located via an app. Another retired couple, Philippe and Michelle Bardoux, said they spent not a single cent on parking during a three-month trip from Normandy, citing Valencia, Denia and Benidorm.

José Manuel Jurado, president of the Spanish Association of the Caravanning Industry and Commerce (ASEICAR), stated that buying motorhomes for permanent residence is an isolated case. According to him, in a year only one client purchased a motorhome to use as a home. Jurado attributes the sector's growth to the desire to travel, not the housing crisis. He also noted that Spain lacks about 2,000 motorhome areas, especially along the coast.

Northern Spain offers three motorhome routes: a 450 km coastal route from Hondarribia to Cudillero through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias; a 380 km route along the Galician coast from Ribadeo to Fisterra; and a route through the Aragonese Pyrenees via Jaca, Ansó, Sallent de Gállego, Torla-Ordesa, Aínsa, Benasque and Graus. Galicia has over 300 overnight stops, while Asturias and Cantabria have about 250 combined. Overnight parking outside authorised areas is restricted in Cantabria and Asturias.

Luis, creator of the YouTube channel Refugio Arenas, has started living in a caravan on a farm in Asturias. To move toward self-sufficiency, he bought vegetable seedlings and a water pump. He works online as a holistic coach, uses a portable shower and battery, and visits a nearby village gym.