COST OF GOING ABROARD

Touring Graham
Aug 06 2012 01:38 AM

We left from Cheshire to just south of Barcelona.
It cost us about £500 in diesel fuel.
The return on the DFDS, Dover Dunkirk was about £80.
We did all "non toll" ie A75 through Millau.
We stopped about 3 times in each direction.
We paid for 2 of the camp sites in each direction. about £20 a night.
We free camped once on the way down, and once on the way back

We stayed here. Raco Del Mar, Vilanova
Was about £20 a night for every thing.
So £500 fuel, + £80 ferry + say £100 for traveling overnight stops, + say 16 nights in the campsite £320 and your food, which you would need even if you didn't go on holiday.

So roughly £1000.

We would definitely, definitely, definitely do it again, at least your guaranteed the " 30 deg sunshine"

Gra.

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 08:46 AM

That is a lot of diesel for 1200 miles at average price of £1.35 per litre. Indicates that your vehicle is doing under 15 miles per gallon? Even when towing a twin axle MTPLM 1800kg, I get about 22mpg. Even at £1.40 a litre that is 78 gallons or less than 16mpg? Have I got my figures correct or did you miscalculate the £500 in fuel.
We want to go to the Vendee next year, but not if it is going to cost s fortune in fuel. I think Spain would be just that bit too far and ferry to Bilbao is very expensive..

petera
Aug 06 2012 08:55 AM

Our 6/7/8 weeks to France and Spain in high season for two costs us about £3000. We do travel around and use about 6 sites, start off in the pyrenees to see the Tour de France then into Spain with a mixture of inland and coastal sites. Report of our 2010 trip can be found here http://caravanningam...hp?topic=1383.0 Well worth the money and don't forget there is more to Spain than the costas.

Pete

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 09:13 AM

You people are really putting us off travelling overseas as we though of going to one or two sites in the Vendee for about £1000 including fuel and ferry. Don't really want to wander around too much.

toscal
Aug 06 2012 09:24 AM

Spanish prices
Current price of diesel is €1.402
A reasonable Menu del dia is anywhere from €10/person to €15 this may either include a glass or half bottle of wine.
Beer in a bar €1.5 up to €4 depending on type and quantity.
Coffee with milk €1 up to €2
If you want supermarket prices for food I can have a look next time I am in Mercadonna.

RogerL
Aug 06 2012 09:31 AM

Like holidays in the UK, the total fuel cost depends more on how much travelling around you do while you're there than towing to/from site.

I know from experience that we do about 40 miles/day just touring around solo - so a 6-week holiday for us is typically 1200 miles towing and 1700 miles touring around.

Each of knows, or should know, our own solo touring pattern as well as knowing average mpg towing and average mpg solo - so just work out YOUR likeky fuel spend from that.

Steve&Tracy
Aug 06 2012 10:01 AM

We crossed Dover to Dunkirk on the DDFS exhibition code £54.00 its was £78.00 for Rita G with her twin axle 16 nights Camping Cheques £12.41 each when I bought them direct from the .com site its cheaper then the .co.uk so rounded up to £200.00 for the camping, travelled about 1200 miles there and back to Anduze because it was sunny there just under £500 in fuel + tolls about £120 so excluding spending money around £900.00 so you should be able to get there for around £1000 Ian.

toscal
Aug 06 2012 11:17 AM

Quick update
Diesel is now €1.382 per litre so the price of oil must have gone down a bit.

Maurice
Aug 06 2012 11:52 AM

good thread this as we are off  to Spain/France via Bilbao..on Sunday

When we went in May this year the price of diesel was from €1.33 to €1.38 /litre in France
but less than that when we filled up to come home in Bilbao prior to getting on board the ship.

We were getting €1.249 to the £ during that holiday.

What is the rate £/€ at the moment??

The cost of the Holiday ?? how long is a bit of string ??

Depends on what you include in your costings..

We include EVERYTHING in ours including the cat in the cattery - and anything we have spent which could be termed "for holiday" Most things were spent on our PostOffice Credit card- apart from the cash!!
Under the headings --
Cat to cattery  --£235
Cash -- £470
Entertainment -- £335
Equipment -- £41  [loo rolls -Pink/blue -new pegs -- tent pole -- other bits etc]
Ferry--  £931
Fuel -- £151
Gifts --£156
Groceries -- £389
Motorway Tolls --£59
Site rental -- £323
With ALL those taken in to consideration
It worked out at ~~ £100.55 per day away from home. as near as we can judge

Maurice

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 12:06 PM

Maurice, on 06 August 2012 - 11:52 AM, said:

good thread this as we are off  to Spain/France via Bilbao..on Sunday

When we went in May this year the price of diesel was from €1.33 to €1.38 /litre in France
but less than that when we filled up to come home in Bilbao prior to getting on board the ship.

We were getting €1.249 to the £ during that holiday.

What is the rate £/€ at the moment??

The cost of the Holiday ?? how long is a bit of string ??

Depends on what you include in your costings..

We include EVERYTHING in ours including the cat in the cattery - and anything we have spent which could be termed "for holiday" Most things were spent on our PostOffice Credit card- apart from the cash!!
Under the headings --
Cat to cattery  --£235
Cash -- £470
Entertainment -- £335
Equipment -- £41  [loo rolls -Pink/blue -new pegs -- tent pole -- other bits etc]
Ferry--  £931
Fuel -- £151
Gifts --£156
Groceries -- £389
Motorway Tolls --£59
Site rental -- £323
With ALL those taken in to consideration
It worked out at ~~ £100.55 per day away from home. as near as we can judge

Maurice

Less cost of groceries as you would have to buy even if staying at home. Posted Image

If you drove to Bibao as a matter of interest would it have been cheaper ignoring the extra time but taking into consideration costs of camp site?

Maurice
Aug 06 2012 12:16 PM

Surfer, on 06 August 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

Less cost of groceries as you would have to buy even if staying at home. Posted Image

If you drove to Bilbao as a matter of interest would it have been cheaper ignoring the extra time but taking into consideration costs of camp site?

We have tried this -- going out vis Bilbao -- and the coming home via Calais.stopping at three sites on the way up -just to see the cash differnces -- if there were any.
Over all it was more expensive travelling via Calais from our site at Navarrenx taking into account the Meals - Overnight stops, fuel and Payage costs Plus the stress of doing the driving
That is why we now do the Bilbao run -- we [YOU] could do that for a LOT less ££'s -- but we do have a deluxe double bed cabin with all the trimmings - food- meals wine etc.
It just starts and finishes the holiday in a smashing way.

We do add the cost of the groceries as they are invariably different to what you would buy at home.
[and you can't take your freezer from home either!!]
It is easy to keep tabs if you only use one credit/debit card for everything "holiday"

And the Cat !! +£235

Maurice

Beejay
Aug 06 2012 12:23 PM

Maurice, on 06 August 2012 - 11:52 AM, said:

We were getting €1.249 to the £ during that holiday.

What is the rate £/€ at the moment??

Maurice

Visa rate 1.2718 today

Beejay
Aug 06 2012 12:30 PM

Surfer, on 06 August 2012 - 08:46 AM, said:

That is a lot of diesel for 1200 miles at average price of £1.35 per litre. Indicates that your vehicle is doing under 15 miles per gallon? Even when towing a twin axle MTPLM 1800kg, I get about 22mpg. Even at £1.40 a litre that is 78 gallons or less than 16mpg? Have I got my figures correct or did you miscalculate the £500 in fuel.

Chester to Barcelona would be over 2000 miles return plus running around.

with diesel at around £1.10 litre (£5 gallon) it would give an absolute minimum of 20 mpg..........

petera
Aug 06 2012 12:31 PM

Surfer, on 06 August 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

Less cost of groceries as you would have to buy even if staying at home. Posted Image

If you drove to Bibao as a matter of interest would it have been cheaper ignoring the extra time but taking into consideration costs of camp site?

Its about 750miles to Bilbao at approx £30 per 100 miles, we would probably take 4 days and stay at municipal sites say £15 a night and avoid toll roads. So for the return journey 1500 miles = £450 diesel and 6 nights @ £15 = 90. total £540 + food + ferry (although we would use tesco vouchers on euro tunnel). So there probably isn't a lot in it.

Pete

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 12:41 PM

Beejay, on 06 August 2012 - 12:30 PM, said:

Chester to Barcelona would be over 2000 miles return plus running around.

with diesel at around £1.10 litre (£5 gallon) it would give an absolute minimum of 20 mpg..........

Post indicated it was one way. If it included a return then mpg is well above average for a 3.0L 4 x 4.

Janet
Aug 06 2012 01:18 PM

Diesel in France was around €1.36 - €1.56 when we travelled back on Saturday.

Grandad Graham
Aug 06 2012 01:40 PM

Maurice, on 06 August 2012 - 12:16 PM, said:

And the Cat !! +£235
Maurice

Well that's one expense we don't have this trip unfortunately our dog had to be put to sleep last November but kennel prices were £26 a night which for a 30 night holidays is Posted Image

We are hoping to spend a little less than you Maurice although intially we will be as we have our 21st wedding anniversary to celebrate as that is hte day BEFORE we sail on the 1st of September.

We are planning on 1100 miles to the furthest point which will take 4-5 tanks of fuel at 65 litres (leaving 10 litres reserve) say 275 litres at 1.40-1.90€ depending on station d'essence so we questimate £1000 for the full trip on fuel alone

Then food on top but we are travelling like we have changed from British to Dutch and are packing as much as possible (dried where we can ) so we are spending as much as we can afford BEFORE we go to save our holiday money.

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 02:20 PM

If we were to travel to the Vendee and back via Calais we estimate a round trip of about 1350 miles at a cost of about £415 for diesel at £1.38 per litre.  We would probably have at least four over night stops on the trip which again adds to costs.
However if we cross over using the St Malo ferry, round trip is just over 660 miles with probably two stopovers.  Cost of fuel is just over £200!  However ferry crossing is about £540 return and is 11 hours.  More cost but less hassle.
Estimate about £800 return, ferry, fuel and camp sites for trip only.  No idea of average camp site cost per night in Vendee, but maybe some one can enlighten me.

RogerL
Aug 06 2012 02:48 PM

I've done a similar calculation Ian, getting to the Vendee via Calais is cheaper than via St Malo or Caen, even taking an extra overnight stop, the extra fuel and tolls into account. Using Via Michelin, set for trailers, I reckon we can get south of Rouen on the first day, overnight at the municipal site in Brionne and then down to the Vendee next day. We'd be travelling on a Tue/Wed to avoid the Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon peak.

I can quite understand why those who are working, or otherwise time limited, choose to pay more enabling them to get an overnight ferry the same day as finishing work and still arrive on the 1st day of their holiday.

For those of us with more time available, the journey becomes part of the holiday - especially if you've regained the pleasure of driving after the disincentive of working life commuting.

Touring Graham
Aug 06 2012 03:18 PM

Hi Surfer,
The fuel was not just directly to there, but was a lot of messing around, detours etc.
I get 22 mpg towing.

Gra.

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 03:35 PM

Touring Graham, on 06 August 2012 - 03:18 PM, said:

Hi Surfer,
The fuel was not just directly to there, but was a lot of messing around, detours etc.
I get 22 mpg towing.

Gra.

Aah, you didn't mention that part and scared me! Posted Image

Thought you were driving a 4.7 L petrol vehicle.

Surfer
Aug 06 2012 03:37 PM

RogerL, on 06 August 2012 - 02:48 PM, said:

I've done a similar calculation Ian, getting to the Vendee via Calais is cheaper than via St Malo or Caen, even taking an extra overnight stop, the extra fuel and tolls into account. Using Via Michelin, set for trailers, I reckon we can get south of Rouen on the first day, overnight at the municipal site in Brionne and then down to the Vendee next day. We'd be travelling on a Tue/Wed to avoid the Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon peak.

I can quite understand why those who are working, or otherwise time limited, choose to pay more enabling them to get an overnight ferry the same day as finishing work and still arrive on the 1st day of their holiday.

For those of us with more time available, the journey becomes part of the holiday - especially if you've regained the pleasure of driving after the disincentive of working life commuting.

Got to give you that one! Posted Image

Problem is when you have been working all your life it takes couple of years to get into the routine of being retired and where time si no longer important! Posted Image

I will bear than in mind for next year as don't want to sit through another soaking wet summer.

Steve&Tracy
Aug 06 2012 03:52 PM

Next year DFDS take over the running of the Portsmouth to Lehavre and Newhaven to Dieppe crossings so hopefully the show discount code will be applicable on these crossings too.

Janet
Aug 06 2012 04:02 PM

We have just come back from the Vendee. We travelled down from Hull to the Tunnel on the Friday, travelled over and stayed overnight at Baie de Somme (Aire). We then travelled direct to the Vendee on Saturday arriving at site around 3pm. Wasn't a problem at all and did the same journey in return two weeks later. Our total mileage for the two weeks was 1600 (Hull to St Jean de Monts return plus mileage whilst there). Cost of Tunnel was £132 return, some of it paid for with Tesco vouchers. Took two and half tanks of fuel each way. The site we stayed on was approx €38 per night but could be done cheaper or more expensive dependent on what you want on site.

curzon
Aug 07 2012 02:58 PM

Janet, on 06 August 2012 - 04:02 PM, said:

We have just come back from the Vendee. We travelled down from Hull to the Tunnel on the Friday, travelled over and stayed overnight at Baie de Somme (Aire). We then travelled direct to the Vendee on Saturday arriving at site around 3pm. Wasn't a problem at all and did the same journey in return two weeks later. Our total mileage for the two weeks was 1600 (Hull to St Jean de Monts return plus mileage whilst there). Cost of Tunnel was £132 return, some of it paid for with Tesco vouchers. Took two and half tanks of fuel each way. The site we stayed on was approx €38 per night but could be done cheaper or more expensive dependent on what you want on site.

Janet how did you get the tunnel at that price ? or is that £132 cash plus vouchers ?
I have started collecting for next year but thought I would need at least £200 +

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