We loved touring around Spain and Portugal and highly recommend it. If you’re planning your own trip to these or many other European countries these costs might be a useful guide, although WARNING – everyone’s trip is their own and everyone’s spending is different. We are not uber-frugal campers and anyone could do this trip cheaper [even we could if we tried] but this is our trip, it isn’t all about money and we set out to enjoy it in our own way. So below are a few notes on our spending.
- Of the 66 nights we were away only seven of these were spent free-camping, the rest of the time we were on campsites [although we stayed on low-cost camperstops and ACSI sites].
- In Portugal we had coffee and cake in a cafe almost everyday because it is cheap enough and the cakes are fantastic [hence the €434 spent in cafes] but we are vegetarian and so had very few evening meals out in restaurants as Portugal isn’t always ready for vegetarians.
- We did drink wine or beer every night but we did try some very cheap [and very good] red wine [the lowest we tried was 1.89].
- As you can see, we paid to get in to some attractions as we travelled, budget travellers could skip these.
- Other spending includes an occasional washing machine, presents for loved ones at home, bike spares, some clothes and a few household replacement items.
- Diesel – €523
- Food [supermarkets etc] – €864
- Cafes & restaurants – €434
- Campsites – €931
- Bus fares, taxis etc – €48
- Entrance fees to attractions – €174
- Other spending – €146
- TOTAL SPENDING – €3,120
Interestingly, this amount is more or less the same as we would have spent had we stayed at home [and while away we’ve not been using gas, electric or water in the flat] so the only additional cost to our normal spending has been the ferry. Portsmouth to Bilbao is an expensive route at £730 but it does take you straight to Spain and I feel that this amount represents better value when spread out over a two month trip.
We have been generous with our budget and expected higher spending than this on our trips away so our annual spending for our first year of retirement is still looking good at the moment despite additional spending following the incident.
Back on the road again 
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