Decisions, decisions ......

[cyberyacht]

The tunnel is almost always going to be the most expensive way to cross the channel. We've just done a month in France with a mixture of cheap/free aires/ACSI sites. Total door to door costs including a few medical issues for us both( late 70's), breakdown cover etc, LPG, fuel (1500miles), food, treats etc. was £2K and that included a spree at Calais Wine Superstore.

 

[keithchesterfield2]

The tunnel is almost always going to be the most expensive way to cross the channel.

We used the Ferries and Hovercraft before we had the Motorhome and after sitting in the car on the quay side one trip and watching the force 9 gale stopping anything leaving or entering Dover harbour we opted to use the Tunnel, whatever the cost, and have continued to do so for the last decade.
It's the extra cost of AHC and large increase in Travel insurance that makes us think we are coming to end of our trips abroad in the MH - we go next week but it might be our last.

 

[Lenny HB]

Got to be worth the cost, it's hell using a Motorhome in the UK. We have just spent a couple of weeks in the UK I really didn't like it, always a hassle finding somewhere to stop for the night, can't park in towns most of the time & horrendous cost if you use sites.

The extra cost has got to be outweighed by all the free & low cost Aires plenty of wild spots, even sites can be cheap with ACSI and of course being made to feel welcome everywhere.

 

[Grasmere9]

We got a DFDS ferry ticket, Dover to Calais for 2 adults and 1 mini adult plus 7m motorhome for £168 through CAMC in August.

 

[BikerGraham]

The tunnel is almost always going to be the most expensive way to cross the channel. We've just done a month in France with a mixture of cheap/free aires/ACSI sites. Total door to door costs including a few medical issues for us both( late 70's), breakdown cover etc, LPG, fuel (1500miles), food, treats etc. was £2K and that included a spree at Calais Wine Superstore.

wow my wifes wine bill would be more than that

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[Grianan]

I suppose the question is what would you do instead. You can then do a cost comparison and compare the positives and negatives of each type of holiday and decide what is better for you at this stage in your life.

 

[Minxy]

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.

I'm afraid as already mentioned it's only good for one outward and one return journey for the dog so you'd need to get another one for a future crossing or get a Pet passport if you're likely to go abroad again.

 

[Minxy]

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

You won't get that price at the moment, I've was sorting out our trip last week to go on next week and the cheapest crossing was £199 each way and that's for a 6.4m MH with economy tickets.

 

[PaulOH]

I'

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.

I've a friend who has sympathetic parents who will take her dog to play with theirs when she travels to Spain for up to several weeks. She can't take her dog as she flies and when she comes over, she isn't that much in dog friendly accommodation. Would it be an option to look around to see how the dogs could stay behind?

I only ask cos I've a cat that I wouldn't bring in the MH in a month of Sundays because if it does in the MH what it does in the car, then its not pretty, plus I've seen cats on leads - which is the maddest thing - but never anyone successfully walking them. fortunately, the cat doesn't muck around and can use the catflap properly, while a friendly neighbour puts food out it when I'm away.

 

[chaser]

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

Been looking at some of your videos, are you seriously thinking of going to give up on all that to be paying 30 quid a night to stay on British sites?
I think you will soon change your mind when you get over there again.

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[ontheroadagain]

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

I know how you feel.
500 miles before we even arrive in France.
Same again to get home.
Still worth it though.

 

[68c]

How about a ferry direct from Ireland to France?

 

[ontheroadagain]

How about a ferry direct from Ireland to France?

Not a good option if you are travelling with a pets.
Most sailings are 18 hrs with a very limited number of pet friendly cabins available.

 

[MichaelT]

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

Why not drive through Ireland and get ferry over from there rather than coming via UK mainland?

 

[Fizz]

Just for information, we have always taken our own drontal ( and front line when it was necessary) from the UK to be used at the vets in both France and Belgium and never had a problem.

I always let them know that I'm bringing the medication with me when I make the appointment.

The vets in France once noticed the price on the packet and couldn't believe we could buy it so cheap and that we could buy it over the counter in chemists in the UK.

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[Bart]

Why not drive through Ireland and get ferry over from there rather than coming via UK mainland?

As per my post which I already said on page 1

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.

 

[Bart]

Why not drive through Ireland and get ferry over from there rather than coming via UK mainland?

As per my post which I already said on page

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.

How about a ferry direct from Ireland to France?

Again same as above , read post on page 1 , gl trying to get a crossing within 2 months with 2 dogs and 2 kennels with a cabin as well

 

[Barryh]

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

The UK is a great country but we would sell the motorhome if we were restricted to touring here. Instead of justifying the cost I would be looking hard to minimise it. You maybe can’t do much about dog tests or health insurance, but you can get across the channel at those times for much less £470. I did a quick search of P&O departing 13/7 returning 10/8 in 7.5m van with 2 adults and one dog. Booking the Dover/Calais route direct with P&O was £246 return. If you’re in the Caravan Club then £178.50 return (it didn’t ask about dogs so maybe a little more). Irish Ferries was £180. So you’ve already reduced your outlay by 25% or more.

 

[Lenny HB]

The UK is a great country but we would sell the motorhome if we were restricted to touring here.

My thoughts too, it's just too painful using the van in the UK & also the weather doesn't help.

 

[Toady]

Love motorhoming in Europe as dirt cheap compared to UK.

We have some cracking scenery here in Wales but at a cost.

Stopped at the Gower last week in a pub stop for free. Used the pub as expected. A half pint of beer was £4.00. Shocking!

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[MichaelT]

Stopped at the Gower last week in a pub stop for free. Used the pub as expected. A half pint of beer was £4.00. Shocking!

About the same as France then

 

[PrettyandFluffy]

There was a post on here about this vet practice near Folkestone, they do AHCs for £95. You send them all the documentation through beforehand and they have the AHC ready to print off, they just scan the pet's microchip and check the documents before printing the AHC. A very slick operation. It adds a little time to the outward journey but saves money.

 

[Landy Andy]

You can get cheaper crossings. We get insurance with wife’s bank account £0, our first and only animal health cert was £60, new EU PP was €12 (so no AHC required now), worming last trip was €8, £18 extra each way for dog, went for 11 nights only had to pay for 3 which totalled €23. Cheap holiday to me.

 

[DDJC]

I do agree that the cost of crossing is massive. But, if you take the price out of the equation and focus on the experience, I don't think that touring in Yerp is comparable with touring in UK. Yerp is motorhome friendly, nearly everywhere you go. The weather is usually better, and seeing the world opens the mind. And the food and wine? Its better over there.

Put the price back into the equation, and you are left with the conclusion that you get what you pay for. Sure, you save a fortune by not crossing the water, but the fact is that UK hates motorhomes. There is nowhere to stop, nowhere to park, supermarket car parks have 2m barriers, or width restrictions, and if you want a space for the night, you have to use a site.

Some people pay to eat out., We rarely do. Some people like theatre or cinema. Can't remember the last time we went. Some people like to drive an Aston or Ferrari. We have a Mitsubishi. When it comes to our expenditure, motorhoming is our primary leisure activity. The bus gets more TLC than the house! Taking the family on a trip away means more to me than any other leisure activity. And the best place to do that is Yerp. So that is what we spend our money on. The cost isn't, of course, irrelevant, but it is a lower priority than a whole load of other things.

So I'm with Lenny and the others. I love my country to live in, but when it comes to holidaying, we head south across the water. We have no dog, but two kids evens it out.

 

[VXman]

That looks good value.

Anything extra to pay or is that it

No, that is basic price for a motorhome and 2 people. ( Varies slightly depending on time of day and time of year obviously but that is what we paid in September last year. In

You won't get that price at the moment, I've was sorting out our trip last week to go on next week and the cheapest crossing was £199 each way and that's for a 6.4m MH with economy tickets.

Not sure what you are looking at - I have just been on. Dover -Calais with Irish ferries around the £100 mark for going this Thursday.

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[Minxy]

Not sure what you are looking at - I have just been on. Dover -Calais with Irish ferries around the £100 mark for going this Thursday.

View attachment 637950

I think we're talking at cross purposes ... I was talking about to/from Ireland and you're talking about Dover/Calais! To be sure, to be sure!

 

[VXman]

I think we're talking at cross purposes ... I was talking about to/from Ireland and you're talking about Dover/Calais! To be sure, to be sure!

Yes -well the original poster was talking about a tunnel crossing - not sure there is one to Ireland?

 

[Minxy]

Yes -well the original poster was talking about a tunnel crossing - not sure there is one to Ireland?

Oh how I wish there was! It was due to thread 'divergence' when the cost of crossings to/from Ireland were being discussed and you mentioned Irish ferries which naturally made me thing of Ireland rather than their 'new' crossings to France.

 

[Spanner]

Booked a single trip with DFDS last Thursday, Dover to Calais, sailed on Monday morning, two adults and 7 metre motorhome just £95, I thought it was a very good price and the fuel here is around 10% cheaper than the UK.

 

[steve69]

I think most people overwinter in Spain for up to 3 months - regardless of cost - because you just can't put a price on getting away from the UK From December to March.

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