Sunday Times travel editor swaps motorhome for car and tent after 26 years

Tinkervan has introduced a camper based on the latest-generation Opel Zafira. The model comes with a 2.2-litre diesel producing 180 hp and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base version costs around €45,000, roughly €30,000 less than a Volkswagen California. The camper features a pop-up roof with a 1.30 by 2.0 m double bed; options include a diesel parking heater, a shower with an 11-litre tank, a 100 Ah auxiliary battery and a kitchen module. The environmental class is 'C'.

Muxía offers more than a seaside stop for those travelling Galicia by motorhome or camper van. The town has parking options, including free ones, campsites and service areas; Park4night lists spots on Rúa Virxe da Barca near the sanctuary and lighthouse, and near the port. Attractions include the Santuario da Virxe da Barca, Cape Touriñán, traditional conger eel drying racks and the beaches of Nemiña, Lourido, Lago, Area Maior, Moreiras and Arnela.

ACAT Tenerife and Ingenio town hall will hold a motorhome rally in El Carrizal from 2 to 5 October for 400–500 vehicles and over 1000 participants. A slow demonstration of about 163 km across Gran Canaria is set for 3 October.

The first AdictosAC rally will take place from 9 to 11 October in El Bonillo (Albacete), organised by Autocaravanas y Campers (A&C) in collaboration with the Facebook group “Adictos a la autocaravana”. The programme includes yoga, a sponsored bike route, guided tours of El Bonillo, a round table with A&C CEO David Fernández Lorca, talks by travellers such as Lidia Geniz on her Ushuaia-to-Alaska trip and Mariola of SmartVan AI on AI route planning, plus workshops and contests from sponsors. The event is supported by Zalba-Caldú by Aon as main sponsor, with Grupo Island Tours, AutoC, Vigia / Viesa / Eurocolven, MAUS Spain and DSPCamper as official sponsors; the community has over 113,000 members.

A reform of the General Traffic Regulations approved by the Spanish government will take effect on 1 October. Under the new rules, motorhomes and camper vans are considered parked, not camped, if they do not extend beyond their perimeter with awnings or pop-out windows, rest only on their tyres and do not discharge fluids. The DGT cites a Supreme Court ruling of 13 March 2018 confirming that municipalities may limit parking times and prohibit camping. Inspection intervals are also clarified: motorhomes over 4 years old — biennial, over 10 years — annual; converted vans up to 10 years — annual, over 10 years — every six months. Over the past 10 years, the number of motorhomes in Spain has nearly tripled, from just over 48,000 in 2015 to almost 137,000.

Spanish TV presenter David Cantero, who has travelled by motorhome for over 20 years, published an Instagram post on 13 August criticising municipal authorities. He alleged "racism" against motorhomes and a lack of infrastructure. According to ASEICAR, Spain lacks around 2,000 motorhome areas, while the motorhome and camper fleet grew by 185% over the past decade, from 48,000 to almost 137,000. In summer, about 250,000 motorhomes and campers travel the peninsula. In 2026, Instruction PROT 2026/04 was introduced, allowing municipalities to restrict parking time.