Decisions, decisions ......

[keithchesterfield2]

We are going to France this month on a pre-booked ticket from 2019 but it may be the last time - based purely on cost.

Eurotunnel from mid July to return early August – total cost £426 + Dog £44 - £470

AHC for dog - between £100 and £200

Tapeworm treatment for Dog - usually between £25 to £40

Travel Insurance – over £400 because of age and health issues.

Around, or even over, £1000 just to get there and back.


The plus points are we can use mainly free overnight stops on Aires, the more relaxing driving on often traffic free roads and those warm baguettes and pain au chocolate for breakfast.

The acceptance of dogs in almost all bars and restaurants also helps us.


Staying in the UK often means booking ahead at relatively expensive sites (C&MC Sites well over £30 per night) with cheaper sites possibly up to half that price.

There's almost no chance of stopping free overnight except outside Pubs where you are expected to spend some money inside – meal or drinks or both.

Probably spending much less on fuel as you'd not move around as much as in France – 'distances' are much smaller in the UK between areas.

Am I being too pessimistic or are others struggling to financially justify going abroad ?



Sunset at Port Beni -

 

[Landy Andy]

I’m not struggling to justify going to France because I have a motorhome and they aren’t wanted, or catered for in this country. Also most things in the uk are costly , the service bad, the road/traffic similar.

 

[Grianan]

For us it’s our holiday. I don’t think it’s cheaper than a fly drive holiday but it’s where we want to go. I have a great habit of not adding up the costs - if I can afford it I go, if I can’t then time plan B.

 

[Riverbankannie]

For us it’s our holiday. I don’t think it’s cheaper than a fly drive holiday but it’s where we want to go. I have a great habit of not adding up the costs - if I can afford it I go, if I can’t then time plan B.

Same for us, cheaper to fly and airbnb, but do we want to …. No

 

[Lenny HB]

A bit pessimistic, have you considered going at a different time like September when the tunnel fares will be much lower & if you are a C&CC member book through them and get 10% off. I assume your travel insurance is annual so have two or three trips and cost per trip is a lot lower.

Even though costs have risen in France it is still so much cheaper than using the van in the UK. With a little bit of effort you can stay in France for weeks for nothing, plenty of free Aires & wild spots.
We often don't use much fuel in France as you can just drive a few miles to the next village and find an Aire or place to stop compared to driving about all over the place to try & find somewhere for the night in the UK.

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[dabhand]

So about £262 a week if you stay 8 weeks, not too bad really

 

[acropolis22]

There's almost no chance of stopping free overnight except outside Pubs where you are expected to spend some money inside – meal or drinks or both.

Not impossible, but it takes a bit of planning/research, and not everyone is comfortable with it. We've just come back from a trip in the UK, and we stayed free approx. 3 nights in every four. We don't stay in laybys on trunk roads or motorway services. We much prefer France.

 

[chaser]

We are going to France this month on a pre-booked ticket from 2019 but it may be the last time - based purely on cost.

Eurotunnel from mid July to return early August – total cost £426 + Dog £44 - £470

AHC for dog - between £100 and £200

Tapeworm treatment for Dog - usually between £25 to £40

Travel Insurance – over £400 because of age and health issues.

Around, or even over, £1000 just to get there and back.


The plus points are we can use mainly free overnight stops on Aires, the more relaxing driving on often traffic free roads and those warm baguettes and pain au chocolate for breakfast.

The acceptance of dogs in almost all bars and restaurants also helps us.


Staying in the UK often means booking ahead at relatively expensive sites (C&MC Sites well over £30 per night) with cheaper sites possibly up to half that price.

There's almost no chance of stopping free overnight except outside Pubs where you are expected to spend some money inside – meal or drinks or both.

Probably spending much less on fuel as you'd not move around as much as in France – 'distances' are much smaller in the UK between areas.

Am I being too pessimistic or are others struggling to financially justify going abroad ?



Sunset at Port Beni -
View attachment 637331

Well just been looking at the tunnel for first week in September and back first week October, £278 return, about the same as last year, no dog so can't comment on that, so in the first 10 days of free Aires we are less than staying here, the next 20 days we will be £20 in profit everyday, plus people who really want you there, better roads, better weather, better food, no crowds.
So no, I don't think there is any decisions to make.

 

[keithchesterfield2]

Lenny HB - I assume your travel insurance is annual.
The Travel insurance quoted is for a single trip – not multi.

We did often, pre Covid, go out of season and it is cheaper but the added extra cost now we are older of Travel Insurance and the AHC make it expensive.
The AHC lasts, I believe, for four months so that could be used again in September.

There are a few of the Aires we've used on this Youtube channel …..


www.youtube.com/user/keithchesterfield

 

[63720]

Imo when you own a Mh you buy into a lifestyle. There are continual annual fixed costs but after this the more you use it the cheaper it is especially over the channel, and as already mentioned, the longer you stay the less it costs compared to the same time spent in the UK. We've never used the tunnel as ferries have always been cheaper.

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[PrettyandFluffy]

I'm sure many others are feeling the pinch of rising costs, especially fuel. We've made the decision that whether in the U.K. or France we will try to stay free for up to half of the time and self-cater more. To assist in planning for U.K. trips we're using the Brit Stops guide book plus Park4Night and Searchforsites apps. For France, we're using Park4night plus the official aires guide book and France Passion. We're not going to stop motorhoming but we will be planning more carefully.

I have to say that I think the cost of staying on some U.K. sites is ludicrous, £35 a night for 2 people and 2 dogs? Er, no, you're not getting my money!

 

[Lenny HB]

The AHC lasts, I believe, for four months so that could be used again in September.

While over there get a European pet passporfor the dawg. t

 

[Fragle]

We are going to France this month on a pre-booked ticket from 2019 but it may be the last time - based purely on cost.

Eurotunnel from mid July to return early August – total cost £426 + Dog £44 - £470

AHC for dog - between £100 and £200

Tapeworm treatment for Dog - usually between £25 to £40

Travel Insurance – over £400 because of age and health issues.

Around, or even over, £1000 just to get there and back.


The plus points are we can use mainly free overnight stops on Aires, the more relaxing driving on often traffic free roads and those warm baguettes and pain au chocolate for breakfast.

The acceptance of dogs in almost all bars and restaurants also helps us.


Staying in the UK often means booking ahead at relatively expensive sites (C&MC Sites well over £30 per night) with cheaper sites possibly up to half that price.

There's almost no chance of stopping free overnight except outside Pubs where you are expected to spend some money inside – meal or drinks or both.

Probably spending much less on fuel as you'd not move around as much as in France – 'distances' are much smaller in the UK between areas.

Am I being too pessimistic or are others struggling to financially justify going abroad ?



Sunset at Port Beni -
View attachment 637331

But you are quoting worse case scenario here.

Why the most expensive time of year for crossing?

We are just over 1 week into our 90 days and our return crossing with Brittany ferries was less than euro tunnel
Got the dog a French pp last year and 90 days insurance with aviva both have declared health issues £160.
We have a limited budget but the longer you stay the most value for money the crossing is.
We have a weekly food and fuel budget at home and will live on that here.
Only additional cost will be campsites etc and we are mostly free Aires and camping car paid Aires.

I really don’t think you’ll get a better value for money holiday than a motorhome in France

 

[Simon Meadwell]

A tip for dog owners. Euro tunnel charge £22 each way. Book return with ccc and they charge £66. Found out the hard way. Ccc didnt put dog on the booking. Checked in at Calais and the lady said they are charging £66 nothing she could do to reduce it on the system. So dont book dogs with ccc pay at dog check in.

 

[Stealaway]

There's almost no chance of stopping free overnight except outside Pubs where you are expected to spend some money inside – meal or drinks or both.

Have you thought about Scotland?

There are many free stopovers and service points in Scotland now, download Park4night or Camper Contact.

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[keithchesterfield2]

But you are quoting worse case scenario here.
Why the most expensive time of year for crossing?

We originally bought the ticket in November 2019 expecting to go over during New Year but because of illness and then Covid we haven't had the opportunity to use it since then.
If we don't go soon I get the feeling Eurotunnel will cancel it and we'll lose the full amount.
The price we are paying now for AHC and Travel Insurance is because I've unfortunately got older and Brexit has added the AHC.
So the figures are what we must pay, unless we never get a holiday in France in the Motorhome, and I wasn't asking why I was going over but whether others were now finding it financially challenging to go abroad in a Motorhome.

Turn round - you're not going to get a 3 metre high Motorhome under there ....

 

[Oscar]

The AHC lasts, I believe, for four months so that could be used again in September.

You need an AHC each trip unless you have a. EU pet passport

 

[PrettyandFluffy]

I have just found out that Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used for Eurotunnel and each £5 voucher is worth £15 against a Eurotunnel crossing. Personally I do not like Tesco but I'm willing to shop there every so often to collect Clubcard points.

 

[Stealaway]

I have just found out that Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used for Eurotunnel and each £5 voucher is worth £15 against a Eurotunnel crossing. Personally I do not like Tesco but I'm willing to shop there every so often to collect Clubcard points.

A every penny you spend on your Tesco credit card

 

[VXman]

Is ferry not possible with dogs? Irish Ferries are good value at around £90 each way for a 7.5m motorhome for economy tickets, a little more if you need Flexi ones

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[Silver-Fox]

Is ferry not possible with dogs? Irish Ferries are good value at around £90 each way for a 7.5m motorhome for economy tickets, a little more if you need Flexi ones

That looks good value.

Anything extra to pay or is that it

 

[Kybod]

Lenny HB - I assume your travel insurance is annual.
The Travel insurance quoted is for a single trip – not multi.

We did often, pre Covid, go out of season and it is cheaper but the added extra cost now we are older of Travel Insurance and the AHC make it expensive.
The AHC lasts, I believe, for four months so that could be used again in September.

There are a few of the Aires we've used on this Youtube channel …..


www.youtube.com/user/keithchesterfield

Think I've watched most of your videos over the years, I appreciate your efforts. Long may it continue, hope you find the way.
Mike

 

[63720]

Turn round - you're not going to get a 3 metre high Motorhome under there ....

View attachment 637358

That depends on your speed of approach...

 

[stevewagner]

I've just booked Aldridge Hill (New Forest) campsite for 7 nights following on from Highlands End for £82 so there are reasonable prices still out there.

 

[Shrimp]

Eurotunnel from mid July to return early August – total cost £426 + Dog £44 - £470

AHC for dog - between £100 and £200

Tapeworm treatment for Dog - usually between £25 to £40

Eurotunnel from mid July to return early August – total cost £426 + Dog £44 - £470
Hopefully Frequent Traveller will be reinstated, or use Tesco vouchers to pay or help pay.

AHC for dog - between £100 and £200
First AHC from Abbeywell, is £99. second time £75, get to France/Belgium or ? and get an EU passport for dog.

Tapeworm treatment for Dog - usually between £25 to £40
Find a cheaper Vet!

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[Sasbo]

As suggested by Shrimp use Abbey well. We are heading across to Europe early August and are using their SHC service after our vet decided they wanted £240 for the AHC. It's dead easy and they are super helpful and the benefit to us is we have to drive to the tunnel anyway.

By the way, good to see you posting again and like others, I have used your videos in the past as a good resource when planning trips, so thanks for all the effort you put into them for all of us to use.

 

[HKF]

Whereabouts in France are you heading? I'm just south of Ruffec, Charente and would be happy for you to stay at our property free of charge for a night or two (or longer, if you behave yourself!! LOL), if it would help you. We have no near neighbours or passing traffic and have lovely views over open countryside. You can have water and hook up, too, if you need them We have some nice walks, too, right from the doorstep. I'd be happy to help you keep costs down and get a nice holiday Message me, if you're interested xx

 

[Bart]

You's travellers that live in the UK mainland get it cheap to travel to France compared to me , I live in N.Ireland and we are currently in France it cost us an arm and a leg as we also have to add on £300+ for the return ferry from UK mainland to N.Irelaind

 

[AlunandFelicie]

You's travellers that live in the UK mainland get it cheap to travel to France compared to me , I live in N.Ireland and we are currently in France it cost us an arm and a leg as we also have to add on £300+ for the return ferry from UK mainland to N.Irelaind

How much more would it cost to drive to Cork and cross to France directly?

 

[Bart]

How much more would it cost to drive to Cork and cross to France directly?

Problem is we have 2 dogs and the ferries to France / Spain sail twice a week I think , but for like 2 months ahead every sailing is usually sold out of dog kennel space , where the dogs must go.

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