Vanomobil On The Road 2023 : The first edition at Portugal!
This year, for the first time, we gave our customers the opportunity to participate in a guided group trip with the motorhome. The beautiful first destination was Portugal. A trip that we create to support you in making full use of that beautiful camper. Friendships, memories, adventures, new locations, history... all those things we want you to experience as a part of the Vanomobil Family! Discover below what was planned in this first “Vanomobil On The Road” edition:
- We would also like to announce that 2 new editions are planned for 2024! –
START OF A 4-WEEK TRIP IN PORTUGAL!
4 weeks full of culture and relaxation ahead, but some participants are looking for even more fun! Vanomobil would not be Vanomobil if we did not provide that little extra, so for this trip we also provided a prologue brochure that participants can follow without obligation to travel from Belgium to Compostella De Santiago (the starting point). And it was appreciated!
On September 1st 2023, the entire group will officially meet during a welcome drink at the agreed campsite. Everyone had already been able to meet each other at the information evening in Vanomobil, which immediately made it a warm and happy reunion.
SPOTTING PILGRIMS IN SANTIAGO TO EATING AT A TRADITIONAL GRAPE PICKER
The first visit on the plan is of course the city of Santiago. An immediate hit because of the strong stories about the city, the admiration for the thousands of pilgrims on the large square, the impressive interior of the cathedral... We end this beautiful day with tasting and enjoying local specialties at the market!
After enjoying the city, it's time to dive into nature... And in no less a location than the Douro Valley! Beautiful views and a memorable lunch at a unique location: a quinta where the entire Vanomobil family can sit at the table with the grape pickers. The friendliness of the group is now increasing as everyone gets to know each other a little better. It makes for nice chats and a pleasant atmosphere!
TO THE BEACH WITH A "PORTO" IN OUR HAND
In this trip we discover Portuguese culture, and we make it as pleasant and fun as possible! With that approach we visit one of the famous “Porto houses” in Porto. Well known and with a rich history, this drink of the same name is a constant in daily life. Not the worst way to “immerse” ourselves in Portuguese culture, right?
After this everyone leaves in a southerly direction to enjoy the beach!
A LIBRARY WITH BATS AS KEEPERS?
After fully exploring the north of Portugal, everyone heads to Lisbon where we immerse ourselves completely in the history of Portugal. Beautiful locations such as palaces, castles, monasteries, a library with a colony of bats as caretakers... are visited. So again no boring history lesson. Also important: all explanations are always given in Dutch!
In Lisbon there is of course also time for relaxation and fun. For many, the highlight is attending an authentic Fado evening. Truly spectacular because this is normally a commercially organized evening, but through contacts we can do this in an authentic environment with a traditional family!
TIME FOR "THE HOLIDAY" ON THE HOLIDAY
A lot of history has already passed, making it time for a "vacation" during the trip! Everyone enjoys the sun on one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal: Cascais. It is simply enjoyable and relaxing: stroll along famous beaches, enjoy a delicious fish restaurant and there is plenty of time for shopping. The ladies get 'carte blanche', while the gentlemen enjoy a “dame blanche”.
FINISH THE TRIP WITH PICTURESQUE VIEWS AND COFFEE IN A PALACE
After being fully rested, the group looks forward to heading back inland towards Evora. The trip itself is worth mentioning, as we pass beautiful wheat fields, cork oak forests, olive groves... while the city itself immerses you in an impressive piece of history. No average chapel to be found here, but a Roman temple and bone chapel! You will also enjoy the boat ride on the reservoir, a joint lunch and a great coffee in the beautiful palace of the Dukes of Bragança.
But then the end of the trip is in sight: we conclude with a last pleasant dinner with everyone. The evening is filled with laughter and conviviality, a wonderful experience!
The next day everyone goes home at their own pace, to family or friends or the next adventure!
CONCLUSION OF THIS TRIP?
A group of enthusiastic and satisfied Vanomobil members with a lot of memories and new friendships, what a success! We really enjoy hearing all your positive feedback, we are happy that we can teach you this. On to the next editions!
*We would also like to especially thank Patrick, tour guide for this wonderful holiday, for the great implementation of the daily planning as well as supporting this report/providing the above photos!
