Holiday 2011

ladytramp

Guest
Don't know where we are going, but that's the joy of owning a motorhome, giving the flexibility to just go whenever the fancy takes you.
Graham was going to take me to Portugal but with the new automatic tolls he is having second thoughts. We might even head east, don't know where.
I'm sure it'll be great where ever we go. Hope everyone has a great holiday when ever they go.:)
 
Last weekend in April, we hit the road from Cornwall to Dover. Take the very early morning ferry and crash out at Calais for the rest of the night. Then it is across France, Germany, Switzerland (the Alps) back into South of France and finally arrive at Roses in Spain. Then hit the coastal trail of Spain, Portugal, Spain and France for the next 4 months. Cross the length of France into Germany until we reach Hamburg. Take my kids and grand kids on a long weekend in Denmark. Then head back Cornwall via Holland, Belgium and back to Calais. (!! That's the plan ??) so far.
 
We have the Tunnel booked for 27th May but not sure where we are going.
Also just booked 26th-28th April of work which gives us 11 days off for only 3 days holiday allowance - so thinking of somewhere to go then as well.........
 
***** said:
We were are or maybe going away for a few days again:cool: but having been looking out of the window, maybe not:(
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Save your £'s Graham for the big trip. That is what I am doing. On edge at the moment, can't wait for 15°+ before we make our move.
 
We would normally spend at least a couple of weeks in France mainly on Aires, but I think we might give it a miss this year.
Planning a couple of weeks wandering around the west coast of Wales this summer though and as many weekends away as we can get away with.
 
Can't wait to be off, been too long since our last long trip (almost a year :rolleyes:) there just seemed to be too much happening at home to be able to make plans.

Roll on next week though we'll be off on Eurotunnel 23rd Feb until 22nd May ;):D. In the end booked for 34 days at La Manga (not too bad at 15€ a night) then a slow trip back through France, might head along the south coast as we haven't visited there yet. Have an inflatable canoe so be looking for some nice places near lakes & rivers in France to stay at.

Bit more planned this time as we usually just book the crossing then head off in the general direction of Spain/Portugal wildcamping most of the time.
 
kell said:
We would normally spend at least a couple of weeks in France mainly on Aires, but I think we might give it a miss this year.
Planning a couple of weeks wandering around the west coast of Wales this summer though and as many weekends away as we can get away with.
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I also think so.
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Out of curiousity is there a worry about finances/diesel costs on these european trips. It's what puts me off and the other bills too.

1 question, Is it possible to free camp nr or in sete in the south of France?
Perhaps there's a thread already somwhere.

regards
 
romakayak said:
Out of curiousity is there a worry about finances/diesel costs on these european trips. It's what puts me off and the other bills too.

1 question, Is it possible to free camp nr or in sete in the south of France?
Perhaps there's a thread already somwhere.

regards
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The question of finances really depends on your tastes and how far you travel but as a general rule, it is cheaper to live the other side of the English Channel for the following reasons:
1. Diesel is cheaper (by at least 10% - more if you get to Spain)
2. Food costs are similar but wine is very much cheaper (and we drink a lot of it!)
3. Camping in France is either free (on very good aires) or much cheaper than England (municipal sites)
4. Eating out is cheaper too if you do a lot of that

Also the weather is generally better!

Can't give you advice about free spots near Sete because we haven't stopped there but if there is an aire it will be on CAMPINGCAR-INFOS .

We spend most of each year (the cold bit!) in Europe and save a lot of money. Happy travels.
 
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This is the French Gov. website (I believe) for French Fuel prices. It is giving €1.28 (£1.07) for Diesel = Gazole. So yes, it is a little bit cheaper

Prix des carburants en France, site gouvernemental

I shall now go back to looking at *****'s holiday snaps so that I can make myself feel even more depressed than usual - roll on September!
 
Thanks Graham. I have noted all your Aires and hopefully use those sites as I criss cross France towards the Alps in Switzerland in May.
 
Just checked the price of diesel and on average today it is 15% cheaper in France and 20% cheaper in Spain - even after taking into account the 2% charge on my debit card for foreign transactions. So, four or five tankloads will pay for the return ferry!
 
You have to live wherever you are, we find eating costs about the same (probably don't eat the same things as we do at home but if the weather is warmer then we are happy with eating more salads etc. where at home prefer a cooked meal. Diesel is biggest cost but without it you can't get anywhere, this why we have opted for having about a month on a campsite this time (the daily cost we would spend on fuel is about half the cost of staying on a site) There is a saving on gas & electric at home when we are away (house earns some money for us now as we have 3.9 Kw's of solar panels on the roof ;) )

Like anything you only get what you pay for, you could stay at home & try to save every penny you can or go off on a luxury cruise/holiday & blow the lot :rolleyes: Like most others we try to get a balance of a reasonable life style within our income. We are fortunate to be retired with enough of a pension to do what we want (within reason) But everybody's circumstances are different & you have to make your own decisions.
 
Many thanks for all your comments and for raising my hopes. I paddle a Citroen Romahome and carry a kayak on top. I fancy some time at Sete. I also know that heating oil is about E0.50 litre and it has more than one use.
 
We're off to France in April hopefully for about 10 days which will be our first European trip and the fact that diesel is cheaper makes me feel happier about the costs of it. :)
 
GregM said:
We're off to France in April hopefully for about 10 days which will be our first European trip and the fact that diesel is cheaper makes me feel happier about the costs of it. :)
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Have a good trip and remember that in France you should buy your diesel from supermarkets because they are up to 10 cents cheaper than other garages.
 
***** said:
We were are or maybe going away for a few days again:cool: but having been looking out of the window, maybe not:(
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come on graham whats a bit of bad weather for a hardend wilder like us oldies .the winter we spent in the van was great, the rain beating on the van the wind blowing whilest parked up near a deserted beach ,and not forgetting parked up at the side of the canal in rodly leeds with about a foot of snow .i know the summer is better but i think a walk in winter a pint in some little pub then comming back to a warm van is magic .
 
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