We haven't started packing for winter in Southern Europe yet, but soon it will be time. At the end of November we are leaving for a 1 year long European trip with a motorhome. Even though we haven't started packing, we've started thinking a lot about what clothes to take with us. What do you take with you for a winter in southern Europe?
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ShareWhere is the journey going?
We haven't planned the trip in detail, but the idea is to do the coastal route around Europe. We will start by travelling west in France and then we will follow the coast around France, Spain, Portugal... We have talked about Morocco, but we don't know if we will go there. We have also talked about Italy and Croatia.
How hot or cold?
The question is: how cold or hot is it in these countries during December to March? What is the weather like? Is it usually rainy or windy, or is it mostly fine weather? Our idea is that even in winter it can be reasonably warm during the day, but cold in the evenings, nights and mornings.
What clothes to pack?
How much warm clothing (and how warm?) should we take with us? As experienced motorhome winter travellers, what else do you think we should consider in terms of clothing? We think we need a thick jacket and also a thick sweater and warm socks to wear inside the motorhome. Are we on the right track when planning our packing for winter in the Southern Europe? We welcome tips and suggestions!
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Lennart says:
Shorts and sandals, you'll last a long time!
31 October 2014 - 9:07
Yvonné says:
We always have long johns, hats, mittens, sweatpants and a thick jacket with us when we go in September/October. I hate being cold. And sure enough, we have been up to some cave where it was cold. These clothes are always in the Annex and come in handy when we've been up in the mountains.
Snow chains are mandatory on some roads, even if you do not have them attached, they should be included! We also always have it in the car hihihi
We haven't been away that long but that's what we have with us.
Hugs
31 October 2014 - 9:46
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
You don't need more than a thick jacket and long trousers for the cold. We used the warm jacket the first year we were down inside the other two years in Portugal. Birgitta wore sandals all winter. And if you come where there is snow, you won't be there very long.
We have had a pleasant experience in Portugal.
But Morocco / Greece has not been there but seen / read when they were up in the mountains and there was snow. Snow chains and then three pieces two in the front and one in the back.
31 October 2014 - 10:13
admin says:
Lennart, shorts and sandals go in the pack!
🙂
Yvonne, wow, we haven't thought about snow chains at all! But maybe we should? And we don't like freezing either, so maybe we should also consider some warmer clothes... But it's interesting, because you who comment write differently... haha. Maybe it depends a bit on where in Europe you live...?
Nils-Åke, ok, a thick jacket and long trousers is what we at least thought to bring with us. Interesting that you also write about snow chains, we haven't thought about that....
31 October 2014 - 13:41
Veiken says:
Answer: I check my spam every day now because WP considers me a spammer myself. It's only with other WP blogs. I usually email if I can't get round it! I don't know what WP is doing. 🙁 You are now approved - again!
31 October 2014 - 13:55
BP says:
The weather in these countries is the same whether you are travelling by campervan or flying there.
For Morocco, as well as Spain and Portugal, I recommend rainwear. It can rain quite regularly there for a few hours each day. Rain in Agadir feels like a summer rain here at home. Rain in Portugal and Spain, on the other hand, feels cold. However, rain jackets and some hoods were enough, we thought.
PS. Can't comment on the mountains in Amrockso. We were only in Agadir twice. DS.
31 October 2014 - 18:33
admin says:
Veiken, thanks for the approval! It seems that I often don't get approved... by many blogs...
BP, rainwear is probably a good tip! We'll definitely keep that in mind!
31 October 2014 - 19:25
Yvonné says:
Snow chains are easy to carry and you're sure to get over any mountain. If there are signs for snow chains and there is snow, you will be fined heavily if you have none and also get stuck there!
Hugs
31 October 2014 - 20:13
Alexandra says:
Milano city camping? It was a strange campsite 😛 almost completely empty when we were there and a "zoo" that attracted the mosquitoes from all over the place haha.
31 October 2014 - 20:58
Rkuth in Virginia says:
Got stuck in snow (wet and heavy) when our small bus crossed the Atlas Mountains in April. It was also cold in Spain. Wish I had a warm jacket with me.
The temperature depends very much on the height above sea level.
31 October 2014 - 22:06
admin says:
Yvonne, oh really? Then maybe we need to think about it. It's mainly the Pyrenees we're going over, do you know what it looks like there?
Alexandra, yep Milano citycamping. Is that true? What time of year were you there? When we were there, it was completely full...
😉
Ruth in Virginia, how scary to get stuck in snow in the mountains. Maybe snow chains are something we need to think about!
01 November 2014 - 9:52
Yvonné says:
About the snow chains. We haven't driven over there so I asked my neighbour who has a house near the Pyrenees, and he says this: If the warning signs come on, you have to be able to show that you have chains. And it's very expensive to buy that stuff.
Best to buy it here at home perhaps, we bought ours at Vianor in Haninge.
Hugs Yvonné
01 November 2014 - 11:06
Ama de casa says:
Spain can be really cold in the winter. Here where we live we've never had any snow (that I've seen anyway) but it's not far away...
Slippers are a must as the stone floors are freezing cold. A cardigan is usually enough when you're out during the day, a thin jacket is needed in the evening.
Except if you are English, they seem to wear shorts and linen all year round.
😉
(Now I am talking about here where we live in Torrevieja, further north and at higher altitudes it is significantly colder. And as I said - snow. When we go to Sierra Nevada to ski, we bring snow socks for the car. Much easier and more convenient than snow chains).
01 November 2014 - 11:45
admin says:
Yvonne, thank you again! How nice of you to ask your neighbour!!! We have looked around and it seems to make sense with snow chains. Possibly we go over the Pyrenees on the coast and there it may be lower (?) but on the other hand you don't know exactly where you will go during a year ...
Ama de casa, really interesting about snow socks! We had never heard of it and looked around a bit. It seems pretty easy, but it doesn't seem like they are approved everywhere?
01 November 2014 - 17:53
Ama de casa says:
I don't know if they are approved everywhere, but we have only used them here in Spain. Didn't even think about whether it was approved, bought them at Carrefour here in Torrevieja...
In any case, they are very flexible and easy to put in place. I've certainly seen that
😉
PS: We tried to apply them here at home first when it was about 35 degrees. Felt a little wrong...
🙂
01 November 2014 - 18:28
admin says:
Ama de casa, haha, can't have felt quite right in those temperatures...
😉
01 November 2014 - 20:43