Wintering in Spain and Portugal in Your Campervan: Mosquitoes, Heat and Privacy

When the UK turns cold and grey, thousands of vanlifers point their campervans south. Spain and Portugal are the classic winter-sun escape: mild days, long coastal evenings and campsites that stay open all year.

There's one thing many people don't pack for, though. Mosquitoes don't stop in southern Europe just because it's October. Here's what to expect, and how to keep your van comfortable with the doors wide open.

Blog reader offer: use code WINTERSUN5 for 5% off VANdoûr until 31 December.

Why mosquitoes are still about in autumn and winter

In the UK, mozzie season is over by now. Further south, mild evenings mean mosquitoes can stay active well into autumn, especially near the coast, rivers, lagoons and golf-course irrigation – exactly the places many of us like to park up.

The tiger mosquito is now common along much of Spain's Mediterranean coast. Unlike most mosquitoes, it bites during the day as well as at dusk, so even a lunchtime stop with the side door open can leave you itching.

The open-door problem

Half the joy of winter sun is living with the doors open: the sliding door slid back for the view, or the rear doors open for a through-breeze while you cook. That's also the easiest way for mosquitoes, flies and wasps to get in – and once they're inside a small van, they're very hard to get out again.

Shutting the door isn't the answer either. Vans heat up quickly in southern sunshine, and you lose the fresh air that makes van life enjoyable.

What to look for in a campervan door screen

• Fine mesh – small enough to stop mosquitoes and midges, but open enough to let the breeze through.
• Easy in and out – you'll be stepping through it dozens of times a day, so it needs to close itself behind you.
• The right fit for your door – side door, rear doors, small van or large van.
• Privacy after dark – on busy aires and campsites, a screen that also blocks views is a real bonus.

VANdoûr: a 4-in-1 door screen for winter-sun trips

We designed VANdoûr for exactly this kind of travel. It's a mosquito net and a privacy screen in one:

• Fine 0.5mm mesh keeps out mosquitoes, flies and even Scottish midges, while letting air flow through.
• A waterproof privacy layer with silver backing blocks outside views, helps reflect heat during the day and keeps warmth in at night.
• A magnetic centre opening closes behind you as you walk through.
• Double-sided zips and roll-up clips let you switch quickly between airflow and privacy.

Two sizes, side or rear door

VANdoûr comes in two sizes for different campers, and fits either the sliding side door or the rear doors:

• SWB – small campervans, £74.99
• MWB / LWB – medium to large vans, £89.99

Measure your door opening before you order and use the fit checker on the product page – it only takes a minute.

Quick checklist before you head south

• Fit your door screen before you leave, so you're not hunting for one abroad.
• Keep the screen closed at dusk, even if the evening feels cool.
• Use the privacy layer at night on busy aires and campsites.
• Use the silver-backed side to help keep the van cooler in strong midday sun.
• Pack insect repellent for evenings outside – a screen protects the van, not your ankles at the table.

Enjoy the sun, not the bites

Winter in Spain or Portugal is one of the best things about van life. A good door screen means you can leave the doors open, enjoy the breeze and sleep without the whine of a mosquito in your ear.

Shop VANdoûr at thedour.com and use code WINTERSUN5 for 5% off until 31 December – we ship to the UK and across Europe. Got a question about fit? Send us your door measurements and we'll help you choose.

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