Fun and friendship

Siobhan Daniels enjoys adventure and companionship on a tour of France and Spain, taking in the Club’s Long Stay Winter Sun campsites

The Long Stay Winter Sun holidays are a great way to make new friends

This year, I set off in my trusty motorhome in search of winter sunshine on the Continent. The aim was to mix up my journey and include a long ferry crossing from England to Spain as well as a slower, road-based meander home via France. But the main reason was to sample the Club’s Long Stay Winter Sun (LSWS) hosted holidays at a quartet of sites – La Manga, Alannia Costa Blanca, La Media Legua and Vilanova Park. [Please note that Alannia Els Prats has subsequently replaced Vilanova Park and Taiga Puerto Santa Maria is an alternative to La Manga as a LSWS destination for 2026 – see below for the confirmed sites at the time of going to press.]

The Club’s LSWS offerings operate for 15 weeks from December 2025 until March 2026, providing fun, companionship and excellent value (the longer you stay, the more you can potentially save). While the sun didn’t always shine, what I found was even warmer – a sense of community, unforgettable experiences and the reassurance that, as a solo traveller, I was never truly alone.

My adventure began with a ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Santander on Spain’s north coast, booked through the Club (I had also taken out Red Pennant European breakdown cover and travel insurance for peace of mind). After disembarking I set off southwards towards my first stop, the Arco Iris campsite, just outside Madrid.

Siobhan's pitch at Alannia with great views

I was soon settled into this lovely site, which offers excellent facilities and easy transport links into the centre. The persistent rain could do nothing to dampen my spirits – from vibrant food markets to soulful street musicians and eclectic flea markets, Spain’s capital city was alive with energy and character.

Simply mar-vellous

It was then on to La Manga – the first of my LSWS campsites. Boasting gravel pitches bordered by hedges and a view out over the Mar Menor Lagoon, it’s a great location and hosts Judith and Sam ensured a warm and inclusive experience. Able to enjoy everything from coffee mornings to dinner and quiz nights, I felt part of a community from the start.

Costa living

Wine tasting at Bodegas Cerdá

Next on the itinerary, and about an hour’s drive to the north, was my second LSWS site – Alannia Costa Blanca (Club ref: W05W). Hosts Denise, Gary, Deb and Steve welcomed me with infectious enthusiasm to this campsite, which is inland near the city of Elche. I was excited to be able to join a wine-tasting tour at Bodegas Cerdá, where local delicacies and tapas brought everyone together.

Add in bike rides to nature reserves and lively nights where everyone was up dancing, this break had it all. On International Women's Day I even took the opportunity to share my motorhoming story with fellow guests, explaining how it had helped me find happiness in retirement.

Social media

Siobhan cycling in Altea

Continuing northwards I arrived at the La Media Legua campsite (Club ref: E62W), where, before long, hosts Rosina and Jack had signed me up for a group trip to Benidorms’s famous ‘Tapas Alley’. I cycled with fellow campers, enjoying the contrast between the bustling beachfront and the quieter, more charming old town. Sharing laughs and plates of delicious tapas reminded me once again how well these hosted holidays work for solo travellers.

I also rode to nearby Albir, and then along the seafront to Altea, famed for the blue ceramic domes of the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo. I headed up through the delightful labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses to see them for myself and enjoyed stunning views over the ocean.

After a stopover at the peaceful Los Olivos de Xivert campsite on Spain’s Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), I headed onwards to my final LSWS location, Vilanova Park, which sits about 30 miles south-west of Barcelona in the beach-fronted town of Vilanova i la Geltrú.

Super ’nova

Tarragona’s Roman amphitheatre

Hosts Tracy and Colin invited me to a welcome meeting where everyone shared their tips about places to visit and I signed up for the midweek dinner-dance.

In the morning I jumped on the bus from outside the campsite to Vilanova train station and boarded a train to nearby Tarragona, where I explored the narrow streets of the historic old town. I discovered beautiful churches and the remarkable Roman amphitheatre – built at the turn of the 2nd century, it once played host to fights between wild animals, races, public executions and gladatorial displays. (If you are planning a visit to Tarragona, many of the attractions are closed on Mondays.)

I also caught an early bus from the campsite to Barcelona, a journey of about an hour, disembarking at the Plaça de la Universitat. There’s a hop-on-hop-off bus service to see the top tourist spots, but I opted to walk, making my way towards Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece, the church of the Sagrada Família. I passed the Plaça de Tetuan and its stunning memorial to doctor and former Mayor of Barcelona Bartomeu Robert (‘Doctor Robert’) and under the Arc de Triomf opposite the Parc de la Ciutadella.

Ultimately I would spend hours wandering around the old city, taking in its narrow streets and eclectic mix of shops and cafes, but I barely scratched the surface of what there is to see!

After all that exercise I was happy to spend the following morning lazing at the site’s swimming pool with its sauna, steamroom and whirlpool before the evening dinner-dance. Once again I was made to feel so welcome by the people at my table, and the food was delicious, in particular the traditional Catalan dish, esqueixada – which consists of salted cod, tomatoes, onions, olive oil and vinegar.

I also managed to squeeze in a trip to pretty Sitges, where I wandered the lanes, admired grand seaside mansions and enjoyed calamari by the sea.

On my final morning I joined in with the daily water aerobics class before the next leg of my journey.

[Note – Vilanova Park is available to book via the Club for independent holidays – not as a hosted holiday.]

Homeward bound

Illustration by Louise Turpin

My tour of the 2025 LSWS campsites complete, I was homeward bound – but fortunately I still had plenty to look forward to. As I headed northwards towards the Pyrenees, I stopped first at the Lago Barasona campsite. Well maintained, it offers large, terraced pitches and facilities including a bar/restaurant, two swimming pools and access to a private lakeside beach.

Crossing into France, I stopped at several smaller sites before reaching Camping de Paris, a spacious venue with a nice bar and seating area and excellent facilities. Getting into Paris itself was incredibly easy as a shuttle bus runs regularly from the front gate to the nearest Metro station.

I found it easy to navigate the metro into the centre of the capital and I spent a couple of wonderful days sightseeing. I strolled along the Seine, admired Notre-Dame and climbed the Eiffel Tower, even stretching to a glass of bubbly at the top to raise a toast to my extraordinary trip.

From Paris it was a smooth two-hour drive to Calais followed by a ferry back to Dover. My winter sun adventure may not have delivered constant sunshine, but it offered something far richer: adventure and companionship. Santé!

Long stay winter sun hosted holidays

Why not escape the cold, British winter for sunny Spain in 2026? Each year the Club arranges hosted holidays at four Long Stay Winter Sun campsites. They offer great value nightly rates (from £15 per night based on a standard pitch and two adults – the longer you stay, the lower the rate) and this year operate for 15 weeks from December 2025 to March 2026 (dates vary) with a minimum stay of 14 nights on each campsite.

You could spend time at just one campsite or take a leisurely tour of all four! Perfect for solo travellers or couples looking for like-minded companionship, Caravan and Motorhome Club volunteer hosts are always on hand to provide support and advice as well as arrange a variety of activities – from cycle rides to cultural visits and group meals.

The LSWS sites confirmed for 2026 are:

• Alannia Costa Blanca (W05W), near Elche, Spain (pictured above)
• Alannia Els Prats (E58W), near Tarragona, Spain
• La Media Legua (E62W), near Benidorm, Spain
• Taiga Puerto Santa Maria (E67W), near Cadiz, Spain

Visit camc.com/lsws for terms and conditions and to find out more