O Grove: Ban on Motorhomes and Tourist Apartments, Glamping Instead of Campgrounds

Spain's General Directorate of Traffic has clarified the meaning of the new S-128 road sign. The sign indicates specially equipped points for emptying wastewater from motorhomes and caravans, as regulated by the new PROT 2026/04 instruction.

Due to the housing crisis on Mallorca, more people are forced to live in motorhomes, vans, or cars. Rents have risen sharply, supply is limited, and even employed individuals cannot find affordable housing. According to Cadena SER, families and working people are in this situation, partly due to tourism and foreign real estate buyers.

A couple has been living in a 5 m² motorhome for four years to avoid high rental costs. Their weekly expenses are around 100 euros, including the use of two butane gas bottles per year. The motorhome is equipped with a 200 Ah lithium battery and a 400 W solar panel, eliminating electricity bills.

Traveling in a camper van during Easter week demonstrated that efficient use of limited resources becomes a key challenge. Water, electricity, and gas are constrained in such trips: standard tanks hold 100-150 liters, while electricity depends on solar panels or the alternator. Fuel consumption for these heavy vehicles can exceed 10 liters per 100 km, requiring economical driving style.

Late last Saturday, several motorhomes and cars in O Ézaro were fined by the Civil Guard. The motorhomes were parked in the area near the bridge, where their access is prohibited as indicated by a sign. The City Council has enabled a plot of land for these uses through an agreement with a private individual.

Hairdresser Natalia López has been serving depopulated areas of Spain from a converted caravan for nine years. Her project The Hair Truck, operating in the provinces of Zaragoza and Teruel, now has its first franchisee, who serves municipalities in the Cuencas Mineras mining area.