Most people picture a motorhome holiday in July: open windows, long evenings, a beach just outside the door. I’ve built and converted motorhomes for years here in Alicante, and I’ll tell you something the summer crowds never find out. Some of the best weeks to travel this coast by motorhome come when the rest of Europe is scraping ice off its windscreens.
The Weather Is The Obvious Reason, But Not The Only One
Winter days on the Costa Blanca are usually mild and bright. Daytime temperatures often sit in the mid-teens, sometimes higher, and the sun comes out far more often than it does in Manchester or Glasgow. You won’t be swimming every day. You will be walking the seafront in a light jumper, eating lunch outside and driving with the sun in front of you instead of grey drizzle.
The weather isn’t the only advantage, though. In winter the coast belongs to the people who actually live here. Roads that are jammed in August are calm. You can pull into a mountain village at midday and find a parking spot without circling for twenty minutes. Restaurants have time to talk to you.
What A Winter Route Can Look Like
You don’t need to cover huge distances. A week or ten days along this stretch of coast is plenty:
- Altea and Calpe. Whitewashed old towns and the huge rock of the Peñón de Ifach rising out of the sea. In winter you can climb up to Altea’s church square and have the view almost to yourself.
- Guadalest and the inland valleys. A short drive from the coast takes you into mountains, almond terraces and castle villages. In late January and February the almond trees start to blossom, and few people outside Spain know about it.
- Elche. Home to Europe’s largest palm grove, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walking through it on a sunny December afternoon is a strange and lovely experience.
- South towards Murcia and Cartagena. Quieter beaches, Roman ruins and plenty of space.
Many campsites along this coast stay open all year, and quite a few are set up for long winter stays, with Northern European travellers who come back every season. That gives the sites a relaxed, friendly feel. Nobody is in a hurry.
Practical Things Nobody Tells You
Mild days don’t mean warm nights. Once the sun goes down, temperatures can drop sharply, especially inland, so a motorhome with proper heating and good insulation makes a real difference. When we prepare vans for winter guests, we always check the heating, gas and battery capacity first. Those are what make a cold night comfortable or miserable.
A few more tips from experience:
- Book a campsite for the first night. After a flight and a pick-up, you don’t want to be hunting for a place to stop in the dark.
- Learn the difference between parking and camping. In Spain you can usually park a motorhome where any vehicle can park, but putting out chairs, awnings or levelling blocks counts as camping and isn’t allowed everywhere. Rules vary by town.
- Driving on the right takes a day. If you’re coming from the UK, give yourself a gentle first route. Quiet winter roads help a lot.
- Check your licence. A standard car licence usually covers motorhomes up to 3,500 kg, which includes most rental vehicles. Confirm the weight of yours before you book.
Fly In, Drive Out
You don’t have to drive your own vehicle down through France. Alicante has a busy international airport with direct flights from across the UK and Europe, so many travellers simply fly in and pick up a van locally. If you’re looking at motorhome hire in Alicante, it’s worth asking whether the vehicle is set up for winter use, whether bedding and kitchen kit are included, and whether the company can collect you from the airport. Those small details shape the whole trip.
Why Winter Suits Motorhome Travel
A motorhome is all about freedom: stop where you like, stay as long as you want, change the plan over breakfast. In summer that freedom gets squeezed by crowds, heat and full campsites. In winter you get it back. Slow mornings, empty beaches, mountain roads lined with almond blossom and a sunset over the Mediterranean before dinner.
If your idea of winter is short days and central heating, try spending a few of those weeks on the Costa Blanca instead.
