Gas for Europe

[Networks]

We have taken the plunge and are preparing for our trip down to the med. We are going via the west coast of France, Portugal and round to Spain.
At the moment we have 2 x 7Kg Butane Calor cylinders for our gas supply. I guess we wont be able to refill these on our travels. We have a Campingaz cyllinder in the garage, but these are small and expensive for refill, so what gas would the forum recommend?

 

[charles_reed]

Camping Gaz is the most widespread and most expensive throughout Europe.
In France I used Butagaz Cube, ideal for a boat as it was a GRpolypropylene cube containg precisely twice as much butane or propane for the same price as Camping Gaz and taking up about the same space and weighing the same as a filled Camping Gaz 902. That was also available in Portugal. Since the series of LPG disasters in Spain about 20 years ago, regulations are strict and one cannot, as in the rest of Europe, have your existing bottles refilled.
I use Camping Gaz 902s, usually have them refilled and in Greece use the Petrogaz bottles which are identical to 902 Gaz cyliners.
Ditch your Calor bottles - buy the local LPG and regulator or use Gaz.

 

[jordanbasset]

Camping Gaz is the most widespread and most expensive throughout Europe.
In France I used Butagaz Cube, ideal for a boat as it was a GRpolypropylene cube containg precisely twice as much butane or propane for the same price as Camping Gaz and taking up about the same space and weighing the same as a filled Camping Gaz 902. That was also available in Portugal. Since the series of LPG disasters in Spain about 20 years ago, regulations are strict and one cannot, as in the rest of Europe, have your existing bottles refilled.
I use Camping Gaz 902s, usually have them refilled and in Greece use the Petrogaz bottles which are identical to 902 Gaz cyliners.
Ditch your Calor bottles - buy the local LPG and regulator or use Gaz.

Agree, also some places are cheaper than other for Camping gaz. Our most expensive place to fill up was a place in France, 27 euros to fill up a 907. Cheapest place was Portugal, 9 euros. Paid on average 10-12 euros across the rest of europe.

 

[RobbieW]

Agree, also some places are cheaper than other for Camping gaz. Our most expensive place to fill up was a place in France, 27 euros to fill up a 907. Cheapest place was Portugal, 9 euros. Paid on average 10-12 euros across the rest of europe.

Prices on the Algarve and in Andalucia for 907s have been around €15 for the last 3-4 months, thats usually been from the CEPSA store.

 

[NOHOH]

Don`t be sucked into the Camping gaz route

I have managed to get my Calorgas 4.5kg butane cylinders refilled in Portugal, Sardinia, Tunisia, and Sicily in the last 3 years.... Where there is a will.....there`s usually a way..and you just have to keep asking around......and only in Sicily have I had to source my own adaptor....and Oh...They have always been filled by professionals....not by doing it myself....though I`d be prepared to have a go if I really had no other choice....

Our gas consumption has stayed pretty stable at 1 bottle lasting approx 6 weeks when cruising. In winter, when attached to shorepower, we use a two ring electric `stove`which fits snugly on top of the gas cooker...and only use the gas for the oven.

Cost for a gas refill.. has usually been €8 to €10 per bottle

 

[jordanbasset]

Prices on the Algarve and in Andalucia for 907s have been around €15 for the last 3-4 months, thats usually been from the CEPSA store.

Quite a big increase, we were paying 10-12 euros in Almerimar winter 2010-2011 - I suppose gas and fuel prices have been going up in most places though.

 

[GrahamM376]

Quite a big increase, we were paying 10-12 euros in Almerimar winter 2010-2011 - I suppose gas and fuel prices have been going up in most places though.

Camping Gaz supplies in Faro have been intermittent for a while and one source has shifted to Galp gas, identical bottle to CG except it's orange and under 10 euro as opposed to around 15. Not sure whether we'll be able to exchange it in Spain or Gib so still keeping a spare CG just in case.

 

[Ariadne]

Ditch your UK bottles and buy/get/find some Portuguese/Spanish/Irish bottles instead (all the same fitting). I'd go for the 13KG ones if you can store them. Easy to get filled/exchanged anywhere (even Italy) and far far cheaper than Gaz which is bloody expensive everywhere!

 

[rivonia]

Gas Tanks - SPAIN

Hi, we also managed to get our tanks filled on route and they are the big 12kg tanks. If you go to ESTEPONA Spain on the Sth Coast (nice place) there is a chap that fills ANY type or size of tank-his details are in the Marina office.

We use either Propane or LPG which ever there was available. It all works/burns the same.

Good luck

Peter

 

[maxi77]

Camping Gaz supplies in Faro have been intermittent for a while and one source has shifted to Galp gas, identical bottle to CG except it's orange and under 10 euro as opposed to around 15. Not sure whether we'll be able to exchange it in Spain or Gib so still keeping a spare CG just in case.

The cheapest is Modelo/Continente though Maxmat is a reliable stockist if a bit pricier. Most bricolages sell the standard CG cylinders though the one that fits magma BBQs is a bit more difficult.

 

[oldvarnish]

I carry a set of 'World Wide' adapters from Gaslow in Southampton. Haven't come across a bottle yet in western Europe of S America for which I haven't had a fitting. V Useful if you can't get a refill and have to buy a local bottle.

 

[ukmctc]

We have taken the plunge and are preparing for our trip down to the med. We are going via the west coast of France, Portugal and round to Spain.
At the moment we have 2 x 7Kg Butane Calor cylinders for our gas supply. I guess we wont be able to refill these on our travels. We have a Campingaz cyllinder in the garage, but these are small and expensive for refill, so what gas would the forum recommend?

I have both and buy whatever is cheapest and available at the time, I have a gas manifold change over fitted. So I have 1 x propane and 1 x camping gaz fitted. I use either and change when required or when either is cheapest.

 

[LadyInBed]

In France I used Butagaz Cube,

Which regulator is best?

or

as at the moment my two 4.5 kg Butane Calors connect via flexible hoses to a T non return then to the regulator.

 

[Mistroma]

I have both and buy whatever is cheapest and available at the time, I have a gas manifold change over fitted. So I have 1 x propane and 1 x camping gaz fitted. I use either and change when required or when either is cheapest.

I'm in a similar situation and picked up a couple of Campin Gaz and an adapter. I wondered about taking a Propane cyl. but was told they weren't available.

I see that you have one. Are they readily available in France & Spain?

 

[charles_reed]

Propane is definitely available in France. Not certain about Spain.
As a footnote, my Camping Gaz regulator, bought in Spain 18 years ago, finally stopped passing any LPG at all. After a furious hunt here in Mesologi, I finally found a replacement and discovered the original unit had been gradually deteriorating and passing less and less gas. The new regulator gives a much more intense flame with no partial combustion.

 

[Conachair]

I carry a set of 'World Wide' adapters from Gaslow in Southampton. Haven't come across a bottle yet in western Europe of S America for which I haven't had a fitting. V Useful if you can't get a refill and have to buy a local bottle.

+1

The set I bought has probably paid for itself by decanting hss bottles in UK. Though takes away the excuse for a hire car in some places...

 

[ukmctc]

I'm in a similar situation and picked up a couple of Campin Gaz and an adapter. I wondered about taking a Propane cyl. but was told they weren't available.

I see that you have one. Are they readily available in France & Spain?

France wasn't a problem, not sure about Spain.
My manifold has seperate regulators for each bottle, so no problems with pressure.If I could get a picture up I would.

 

[charles_reed]

Which regulator is best?

or

as at the moment my two 4.5 kg Butane Calors connect via flexible hoses to a T non return then to the regulator.

The RH one, though your photo doesn't show the safety button on the side opposite to the valve.
The one with the upright tail, takes up too much height to fit my LPG locker.
The regulator is a special snap-on that goes straight onto the Cube. So there's no way you could reproduce your present set-up.

 

[SeamanStaines]

We also carry an adapter (eBay) to fill our calor propane cylinders from an auto gas pump. Always been able to do this in Portugal and Spain

 

[rivonia]

I'm in a similar situation and picked up a couple of Campin Gaz and an adapter. I wondered about taking a Propane cyl. but was told they weren't available.

I see that you have one. Are they readily available in France & Spain?

Yes it is available in Spain. See my previous post on this thread.

Peter