Dear Editor,
We are currently considering whether to spend next winter in Portugal in our motorhome.
We did read that a debate was held considering opening areas on the Algarve, which sounds sensible considering the lack of suitable campsites.
We are a little apprehensive reading of fines of £150 – £200 for parking. Taking into account the price of fuel and the cost of living, a trip to Portugal has become increasingly expensive.
The last thing we need to read is that we are being penalised for owning a motorhome, especially as we have invested a large part of our savings in this vehicle.
An attractive alternative at the moment is a package holiday to south-east Asia. This will be a different type of holiday and a change from our usual arrangements.
When looking at the Algarve, motorhomers do not appear to be welcome. Although most of us are only there for three or four of the winter months and leave no signs of our visit afterwards, we are blamed for most things including making the Algarve unsightly.
Look around, the Algarve has been a building site for long enough.
All the advertising for the Algarve appears to feature the golfers, never motorhomers, although motorhomers spend much more in three or four months than a golfer on holiday for a week and with more money going to local businesses than to the foreign owners of the golf courses and large hotels.
Surely there should be a campaign to entice more motorhomers with the provision of parking areas with a water tap and waste disposal point.
Who knows, with the continuing downturn in the economy, we may soon be invited to park on the golf courses!
Just another tourist
(Name and address withheld)
