Britain's £2 levy may double caravan holidays · VanLife Weekly #25
Britain's £2 nightly levy could raise budget caravan holiday costs by 66–100%; Croatia and Italy also lead the week.
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Locality · Aveiro, Portugal
VanSky index for Costa Nova, Portugal — 97 out of 100 (Ideal). Decide in seconds: temperature, precipitation, wind and solar output. Data refreshed several times a day from real weather observations.
The main score is weekly (7-day average). The “Today” toggle shows the current day, and the region page compares cities “by area”.
Costa Nova, Portugal — VanSky 97 out of 100. Ideal conditions for travel. Ranked #19 of 285 cities in the country (as of 25 June 2026). Temperature 22°C, wind 19 km/h. Solar panels yield 2.8 kWh/day at 400 W — enough for full autonomy.
Period
Temperature
Wind
∅ 7-day average
No optimal window today — wind or rain throughout the day.
Cities with a close score — route alternatives
A weather comfort index for travel: a 0–100 score. Recalculated daily from live weather data — temperature, rainfall, wind and sun.
How it's calculated:
Data: Open-Meteo · Updated several times a day
Costa Nova ranks 10 of 285 cities. Country average VanSky — 90.
Updated: 20.06.2026
Diesel
$2.19 /l
€1.92 · £1.66/l
119 of 132
pricier than 89% of countries
Petrol
$2.25 /l
€1.98 · £1.71/l
124 of 134
pricier than 92% of countries
LPG
$1.11 /l
€0.98 · £0.84/l
36 of 48
pricier than 73% of countries
The Municipal Campground of Ortiga (Mação) celebrates its 24th anniversary on July 1, 2026. To mark the occasion, it launched a new Facebook page and a contest: participants must follow the page and email a description of their best camping moment by June 29. The winner gets two free nights. The site, located next to the Ortiga reservoir, has about 42 pitches for tents and caravans, free Wi-Fi, accessible toilets, and free hot water.
More Portuguese travelers are choosing motorhomes over hotels. A category B driving license (up to 3.5 tons) covers most rental models. Daily rental costs range from €70 to €350 depending on season and vehicle class. Overnight parking outside campsites is only allowed in designated areas, and deploying awnings or outdoor furniture may be considered illegal camping.
Portuguese manufacturer Casagaea has introduced the "Porto" tiny house on wheels, covering 36 square meters. The model accommodates up to six people with two sleeping areas, a kitchen with an oven, and a bathroom. The price has not been announced, but other Casagaea models range from €40,000 to €65,000. The house can be equipped with an off-grid power system.
On the night of June 12, a caravan was completely destroyed by fire in Eiras, Coimbra. The fire started around 01:30 on Coronel Júlio Velho Simão Street. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby vacant lot.
Portugal, from Lisbon to the Algarve, offers routes for camper van trips with stops for surfing. Roadsurfer provides camper vans and, through its app, indicates parking areas. Recommended beaches include Cantinho da Baía in Peniche, Foz do Lizandro in Ericeira, and Amado, Arrifana, and Tonel in the Algarve.
The municipality of Peniche, together with the maritime police, carried out a raid against illegal parking and overnight stays of motorhomes in environmentally sensitive cliff areas. Drivers were informed about permitted sites and fines, and barriers were installed.
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