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French retirees spend winters in Spain in motorhome without paying for parking

11.09.2026 13:16 1 min 1 source РУС
Adnkronos ITA
French retirees spend winters in Spain in motorhome without paying for parking
Original source: Adnkronos

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.

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French retirees spend winters in Spain in motorhome without paying for parking

11.09.2026 Adnkronos ITA Original source

ES Spain — fuel prices

Updated: 05.09.2026

Sin plomo 95

$2.14 /l

€1.84 · £1.59/l

145 of 167

pricier than 86% of countries

Sin plomo 98

$2.36 /l

€2.04 · £1.75/l

84 of 102

pricier than 81% of countries

Gasóleo A

$2.15 /l

€1.85 · £1.59/l

134 of 166

pricier than 80% of countries

Gasóleo Premium

$2.25 /l

€1.94 · £1.67/l

27 of 46

pricier than 57% of countries

GLP

$1.30 /l

€1.12 · £0.96/l

51 of 55

pricier than 91% of countries

GNC

$1.96 /l

€1.69 · £1.45/l

9 of 15

pricier than 53% of countries

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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.

French retirees Chantal and Didier Gautherey from Hérault have spent four winters in Spain in their motorhome, citing warm weather and lower living costs. According to France Info, Spain attracts motorhomers with free parking, drinking water, toll-free motorways and cheaper fuel: Philippe Bardoux saves 30 euros per tank compared with France. Olivier Eglinsdoerfer, co-manager of Vanbreak Campervan in Andalusia, says about 200,000 French motorhomers visit Spain annually, and the country is expanding infrastructure for motorhomes and campervans as Greece, Portugal and France tighten restrictions.

According to official records from the Lanzarote Cabildo Data Centre, just over 400 motorhomes were registered on the island in 2015, while the current figure exceeds 2,000. This represents an increase of more than 400% in a decade. The statistics do not include converted camper vans. In 2026, the island's southern campsite, open until 4 October, has upgraded its facilities and recorded record camper numbers. The Cabildo is considering a specific area in the north of the island to manage the activity; parking or overnight stays in prohibited places can result in fines.

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