Cheapest place to surf in Europe

[kaoo]

Hello,

I am a beginner surfer, have done surfing maybe for 10 times.

I am looking for a cheapest place to surf in Europe, i.e. as much budget option as possible.
What would be my options? As far as I know, Portugal would be my best bet, but which surf camp would you suggest?
Thank you for your answers!

[surferbee]

Cheapest option?
1) Spend $100 Euro on a cheap sleeping bag and tent.
2) Hitchhike to the nearest surf break w/ surfboard & wetsuit rentals.
3) Offer to work in exchange for using a surfboard/wetsuit (i.e, cleaning, de-waxing boards, running errands, whatever).

I suppose it can be a little cheaper if you borrow or steal the tent and sleeping bag.

[Oldie]

What do you mean by cheap and where do you live? When do you want to go? The Atlantic coast is EXPENSIVE in July and August everywhere. The most money you spend is on travel and accomodation, and if you fly or drive long distances a lot of money is gone already. What compromisss are you willing to take, i.e ready to stay in youth hostels or tents?

[kaoo]

Thank you for your answers, sorry I have not provided enough information.

I am from Eastern Europe, Lithuania to be more accurate.

I am planning to fly there in March/April - its low season these months. I have looked up some surf camps and they are asking around 400€ a week which is not too bad but I am always looking for the best option

I definitely do not want to stay in a tent, I am planning to stay in a youth hostel where I can meet people after surf sessions. Now, I could easily pick a hostel which offers rental too, but the thing is, how do I get to the coast with all the equipment? That's why I thought surf camp would be better, because they provide you transportation.

But I am wondering, maybe there are some hostels just by the beach (<2km from the beach), so I could just walk there with a board?

[Oldie]

Surf camp for 400 Euro sounds good if it includes surf equiment and accomodation. If you are flexible, try to stay outside of easter holidays (mid April). Portugal probly IS the cheapest option.

[kaoo]

I am very flexible indeed.

Any recommendations of any surf camps in portugal?

[surferbee]

Lots of cheap camps/hostels in Ericeira with good reviews. Easy to travel to. Lots of different waves to surf. The only thing I would caution you about is to do a little research and get a sense of which breaks you might want to surf since different schools surf different breaks. I saw some schools out in conditions that were much less than ideal. So, if you're trying to get the most bang for your buck read up on which breaks work best in which conditions (tide especially) so you don't just get stuck in a class time that's convenient for the surf school.

[kaoo]

THank you for your advice.

I think I would like to go with the option when I just book a hostel which is near the beach and I rent the board from a local shop and just go to the beach on foot.

Any ideas on how to find those hostels by the beach on the internet so I could get an idea where they are, where the closest rental shop is etc.?

[jaffa1949]

There are plenty right on the beach often with board rental , just browse through and they quite often have a map, showing how far!

[kaoo]

Thank you Jaffa1949, that's exactly what I am gonna do.

Now, which area should I choose in Portugal? Where is the best swell?

Ericeira? Peniche?

[surferbee]

Let me Google that for ya: https://tinyurl.com/y4z6xbz8

Ericeira has more options for hostels. The best bets will probably be Foz do Lizandro or Ribeira d'Ilhas, although both are a little outside of the city center in terms of getting to the market, restaurants, etc. There may be better places in other Portugal towns that are more on the beach since most of the hostels in Ericeira require a little bit of a walk. Both Foz and Ribeira have surfboard rentals right at the beach. Matadouro does, too. Some of the others may also.

[jaffa1949]

Check out Baleal at Peniche the town is at best 3 streets wide from the beach and two side of a sand peninsula to learn on, lots of camps hostels and air bnb, but you need to book well before. Plenty of schools and board rentals right on the beach

[surferbee]

Nice! That looks like the way to play, Jaffa. Lots of options close by: https://tinyurl.com/yyklzgsp