2024-01-04 14:50:34
Spending the winter in the sun, far from the Belgian gray: this is the choice made by Herman and Maria, a retired couple from Merksem, who settled in a campsite near Alicante, in Spain, with their partner on all fours. In addition to the heat, life is significantly cheaper there than in Belgium. The couple explains how to manage their temporary settlement in Spain and the costs to take into account. Encounter.
Herman Lagniau and Maria De Tollenaere bought a campervan five years ago. One of the best decisions of their lives, they say in the columns of HLN. “At the beginning we limited ourselves to short trips, mainly to the Ardennes and Luxembourg,” explains Maria. “We were impatiently awaiting our retirement to travel further and, above all, for longer,” she confides.
Freedom
After several decades of hard work, deliverance finally came last year. “Two weeks later we left our apartment in Merksem to go to Spain,” continues Maria. “We traveled at our own pace, making several stopovers. We really feel free. We don’t have to take anything or anyone into account, we always have everything within reach and there is always a campsite or an official location nearby,” adds the young retiree.
Their journey ultimately took the couple some 2,000 kilometers from home to Santa Pola, a coastal town regarding half an hour south of Alicante.
Far from being alone
“We found ourselves at the Bahia campsite. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to pitch our (motorized) tent there once more this year,” rejoices Maria. They are far from being the only ones to escape the cold of winter to recharge their batteries in Spain. “The 500 places at the campsite are almost all occupied,” she smiles.
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© DR
As they stay more than three months at the campsite, the couple benefits from a reduction. “We pay 350 euros per month for our location. For this amount we can also use the heated swimming pool, showers and toilets. The electricity bill amounts to around 25 euros and a bottle of gas that we use to cook and heat ourselves for a long time costs barely 14.5 euros,” explains the Antwerp resident.
400 euros per month
Do the math: the couple therefore spends around 400 euros per month for accommodation, utilities included. “Where can we live better with this amount of money?”, asks Maria. “Plus, life is cheaper here. We do our shopping in one of the many supermarkets nearby, where prices are easily 25% lower than in Belgium. Once a week we buy a pizza for 10 euros at the mobile pizzeria that comes to the campsite and we also go out to a restaurant once a week. There, we pay a maximum of 20 euros per person for an all-you-can-eat buffet,” she explains.
Additionally, the couple has a busy social life on the Costa Blanca. “We made many friends. It’s almost natural, because there are a lot of organized activities, like a bingo or karaoke night, and there is also the cafeteria where you meet people. Scandinavians are the majority, but there are also Belgians and Dutch,” explains Maria.
Mutual aid
“Whatever your nationality, everyone helps each other,” she assures. “For example, someone gave us an address where we might find the special food that our dog Riko, an Akita Inu who is already 10 years old, needs, and we also got a health card that allows us to be treated in any medical center”.
Maria and Herman will only return to Belgium in the spring. “The campsite and our campervan have become our second home,” laughs Maria. The couple does not feel at all cramped there. “We find it very comfortable and exactly our size,” she confides.
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Maria and Herman in front of their camper van. ©DR
Maria sees another advantage to winter camping. “I have to do a lot less cleaning than at home. The sanitary facilities are cleaned by the manager and our motorhome is clean in the blink of an eye. In our apartment in Merksem, I spend a lot more time on housework.”
While they are away, their son keeps an eye on their apartment. “From time to time he plugs in the battery of our car which is in the garage, checks if there is mail and who knows, he does some dusting from time to time (laughs). Of course, we miss our loved ones, but we regularly video call them,” concludes Maria.
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