What Did Our France Holiday 2023 Cost Us

Рет қаралды 1,744

10 ай бұрын

Hello & Welcome back to Caravan Escapades and welcome to this Vlog,
In this vlog we tot up what our France Trip 2023 has cost us. We break it down into thew separate categories. Watch and take a look, would you spend this much. How much do you normally spend. Do you think we have spent to much or is it just about wright. What savings could we make or have you made. We would love to hear your thoughts.
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Пікірлер: 47

@robertlaw3614 4 ай бұрын

We went the South of France about the same as you except we used the tunnel as we have 2 dogs. Booked already for this year. Love the travelling.

@CaravanEscapades101 4 ай бұрын

Hi thanks for watching and commenting, We haven't booked yet for this year, There are a few things that are happening so we cant coniform dates yet. We love it to have a great time this year, All the best and happy camping. James

@user-ic6hh5mk2r 10 ай бұрын

We did a trip similar to yourself but went in low season. Started from Portsmouth sailed to St Malo, stopped at two campsites on the way to Arnaoutchot, then to Mirande, Millefleurs, Serignan Plage, Chatel Guyon via the Milau bridge, Cosne cours sur Loire, Helliomonde, Merville Franceville plage and finally Fremanville for the return ferry from Cherbourg. Our mileage was about 2500 @ about £845 Site fees were £1243.42 Food, drink and sundries £1703.83 Ferry crossing £462 giving a grand total of £4452.25 for the entire holiday, which lasted 77 days, 31st March to 15th June or just shy of £30 per person per day. We did use ACSI for most of the sites.

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info, Amazing that you managed to do it for that sort of cost for the length of time, I guess being low season some of the fees etc were cheaper. ACSI Card is great isn't it, We would not leave home without it . 😅. Hopefully in the not to distant future, we may be abler to get a trip in for that length of time. We have visited some of the places you listed above. Thanks for watching and commenting., Happy Camping James

@adammolloy5 7 ай бұрын

Not sure if youre aware james but if you book the tunnel on the CAMC website its very reasonable, absolutely comparable to your irish ferries rate. Were looking at 2024 summer, tunnel is 650 thru CAMC, p and o looking at 680. Not sure where u got 900 quid from never seen that. Our 2023 crossing was 475 vua tunnel. Like you got young kids so school holiday ouch prices. Twin axle bailey too. Tunnel is just so slick and quick, but our travel style is more get to destination than pottering for 250 miles a day. Example we live near MG Caravans, went from bordeaux to home in 1 day,, left 7am got in front foor 1am. Tunnel suits this far better.

@CaravanEscapades101 7 ай бұрын

Hi Adam thanks for watching and commenting, I a have always booked the crossings through the CMHC, for piece of mind and the discount. I guess the higher prices will be because we are crossing in school holidays. we haven't booked yet for next year so I will keep an eye out and see if I can get a deal for the tunnel this year. Happy Camping. James

@mentonish 10 ай бұрын

You say costs are going up in France, when I review a return holiday in the UK its the same, when you no longer live in a country you get out of contact with living costs Just filled up the car with petrol now over 2 euros the litre

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Costs do seem to be going up everywhere, Maybe because we stopped in the south we found it slightly more than the UK. Thanks for watching James

@andyjohnson4631 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for a great Vlog, we found this really useful. We were considering a trip next year and were looking for an honest cost breakdown and timescale for a decent holiday, this has highlighted the true cost and time required to complete such a trip, we live in the north of England so it will be even more of an expense for us, and as such we will be staying in the UK. Thanks again.

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, I am glad it was of help, You can do the Journey south with one stop easily enough which reduces the costs a little, but its a lot of driving to do about 350 miles a day. Happy Camping James

@CaravanVlogger 10 ай бұрын

Thanks James, very helpful

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thanks Graham

@stevebennett7209 9 ай бұрын

Sorry, I forgot to add that you will need a different tag for the Autostrada in Italy.

@CaravanEscapades101 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for that. I will look into it. 😁

@Welshandproud1970 10 ай бұрын

Hi James, great break down of costs. As you know, we travelled to the South of France in May / June of this year and covered 2500 miles door to door from South West Wales. Our costs almost mirrored yours and towing a Twin Axle with a Kia Sorento got around 24 to the Gallon. We also discussed going to Italy on the next trip heading towards Jesolo capturing Venice while we were there and many other places along the way. Probably 1 night stops on the way there and 3/4 days on the return. This in itself is a 2500 round trip without diversions. Package holidays or direct flights are probably cheaper but you do not get the sense of freedom on where you can stop off and take in the breath-taking views on the journey down. Anyway, look forward to the next Vlog. Jason & Marie (Rowley's on Tour).

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you and thanks for the Info on Italy, to be fair at this stage its just although we haven't any plans yet, I will have to start planning soon. Happy Camping James

@dafarmer21 10 ай бұрын

Good video of your costs. I think everyone’s holiday choice is what you want as an individual. We love France the same as you and think the cost is worth it having the freedom of your own car and caravan compared to package hols. We did 2 weeks at Lake Annecy in French Alps end June/July total cost for us was £2450 and we tow big twin axle like you with a LR Discovery all on toll motorways too. We’re not tied to school holidays like yourself so the tunnel was £515 did have £70 Tesco vouchers though as well. But think at £900 I might do ferry the same as you. You touched on EV’s really don’t think there suitable yet for the likes of us going to France but time will tell. Anyway happy Caravanning and I’m already planning my next years holiday in France.

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you. It has made a big difference in cost to us, having to go in school holidays, it was so much cheaper when Darcie-May wasn't at school. I am sure the first time we went when she was about 2, we got the ferry for about £180. Agree, for us it is worth it, it is the type of holiday we like, gives us the freedom we enjoy and although the travel is longer than flying it is a lot less hassle. Agree ref EV's some way off yet, but there are some interesting developments coming down the line . Alko are looking at fitting battery packs to the Caravan / Trailer to either extend the range or make them self powering. I have seen there are already adaptations were you can plug the Caravan into the car, so you can get your mains hook up when pitched up. Have fun planning next years trip we must start soon. Happy Camping James

@stehume 10 ай бұрын

Great vid as always. As i said in a few earlier vids of yours i love the way you just hitch up and go and really only plan your main site and just fins sites on your way using the app. So much have you inspired us what we plan or hope to do next year is to drive to Spain and stay there for a week at my brothers house which is up in the mountains near Mercia. We are wanting to do this over three weeks so a week to Spain with stops on the way for a night or two, then the week there and a week again to get back to the uk again with stops on the way back also. Driving over there i have done a good few times so that should not be a problem, although not with a van behind us lol Learned a few things from this video, the low air pollution ticket you can buy, and the toll booth one. Will you be visiting the NEC next month, might see you there will say hello if you don't mind. take care and thanks for sharing all the costs of your holiday steve

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, I am glad it has helped and inspired you that means an awful lot to us and makes it all worthwhile. Driving as you no over there is very easy and not to different with the caravan on the back, just a little more sedate, Plenty of places to stop for a break. Yes I will be at the NEC for probably 3 days and Darcie-May and Claire will probably join me on the Saturday, So please if you do see me stop and say hello. Hope to to see you there. James

@darrenrussell9720 Ай бұрын

Thanks for this, intersting VLOG, very helpful along with the other ones, we are certainly leaning towards more overnight stops on-route when we next go over as we plan on going a bit further down than our previous trips to the Vondee, as we get older about 250 miles a day is comfortable Just one question, is your car petrol or diesel? I nearly got similar to yours when I changed a couple of years ago but decided on the XC90 in the end. Anyway, thanks again!

@CaravanEscapades101 Ай бұрын

Hi Thanks for watching and glad it helped. I agree if time allows 250 miles a day is more than adequate. The GLS is a Diesel. Have a great trip next time you go over. Happy Camping James

@paulefc1971 5 ай бұрын

We did 15 nights in France last year, the cost was about £1100 for ferry and sites, have already booked for Aug 2024 and have noticed a significant rise in the ferry price (we sail Poole - Cherbourg as it saves us going on the M25 and also cuts out the toll roads south of calais), we also noticed a big jump in supermarket prices whilst there last year, it seemed that every time we went to bu a few things from Hyper U etc, the bill was around 70 euros. We are in the same boat as you, with having a 6 year old and being restricted to going in the summer holidays, i suppose it is quite expensive once you add the fuel costs in but we prefer the freedom of being able to go where we want and also sleeping in our own (caravan) bed, rather than in an apartment etc. This year, we are doing Poole - Cherbourg, 2 nights in Pontorson, then 10 nights in St Jean De Monts then heading home via Pontorson again, which beats spending a week or two in Cornwall, especially as the weather is usually high 20s, early 30s

@CaravanEscapades101 5 ай бұрын

Hi Thanks for watching and commenting, I agree with you that prices have gone up. Like you though we like the flexibility taking the caravan gives us and being in our own bed and own space, We haven't booked up for anything yet this year and the way work is going i think it will be last minute. Happy Camping and have a great Holiday James

@paulmostyn6901 9 ай бұрын

WOW. We have just been on a New York Trip and Cruise and without working it out I would say we wouldn't of spent that much. We went for 16 nights (Honeymoon) Looking forward to getting back out in the van later this month. Excellent vlog which has opened my eyes. Many thanks Mossy.

@CaravanEscapades101 9 ай бұрын

Wow sounds amazing and congratulations on the Marriage. You must have had a great deal on the cruise. I know the caravan Holiday abroad is not the cheapest, for us its having the freedom to do what we want. Have fun when you get back in the Caravan. Thanks for watching and commenting. Happy Camping James

@mikemac4837 10 ай бұрын

Fantastic information which really does help 👍

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you that means a lot

@stevebennett7209 9 ай бұрын

Have you looked at the ASCI membership? It provides significant savings out of season, if you can. Can be ordered through the CAMC or Camping & Carvan sites.

@CaravanEscapades101 9 ай бұрын

Hi, we have had ACSI membership since 2018, uts great when we could go out of the season before Darcie-May started school. We made some great savings. We still use it now especially the app even in high season its great for finding sites as we travel along.

@venusadventures66 10 ай бұрын

Once again, a fantastic vlog is very informative and helps us massively as we are trying to get to France June 24 looking forward to your next one thank you

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, I am really glad it helped, Have fun planning for France 2024 and I do hope you get there, You will love it. Happy Camping James

@user-gz9xw8yb8b 10 ай бұрын

£500. For ferry , that’s for nothing. We paid £1200+ for the ferry from Ireland to France in June. Overnight including cabin.

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Ahh that's the difference, we only crossed Dover Calais, just over an hour no need for a cabin, 😁. However I bet if we broke it down to cost per hour, I am sure we were paying far more than that lol. Happy Camping James

@user-gz9xw8yb8b 10 ай бұрын

It’s a 17 hour journey so you need a cabin. We when for 30 nights @ £900. Even with the cost we loved it and have already booked for next year😅

@davidmatthews3093 3 ай бұрын

I do think it’s expensive but a lot of the costs are down to you using the autoroutes, buying fuel on the autoroutes and staying by the Mediterranean at high season. Others could have enjoyed a similar length holiday in France for half the price. Go in June not late July and the price will drop again. I haven’t towed a caravan for almost 20 years but for the 20 years that we did use our caravan to tour Europe extensively I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I’m surprised that you found the shopping noticeably more expensive but prices in Europe have increased for U.K. visitors since Brexit as the exchange rate that dropped sharply from £1:€1.40 and has rarely recovered beyond the 1:1.16 it is today. Interestingly I find food shopping prices in England expensive on my infrequent visits there. A lot of it depends on what you’re putting in your shopping basket.

@CaravanEscapades101 3 ай бұрын

Hi, The vlog was a detail of how much our France Holliday had cost us, based on the choices we made and the time we are able to go. We can only go in High Season because of our daughter being in school,. Before she was school age we did enjoy cheaper travel. We choose to mix up using the Autoroutes and Normal roads, because that's they way we want to do it and are prepared to pay the Tolls, We like to go to the Mediterranean Coast and be near the beach. Of course it can be done cheaper with different choices. These where ours. Thanks for watching and Happy Camping James

@Raygirling 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the break down in costs we were just starting to look at the possibility of going next year but never thought it would be that expensive, having just retired will have to stick to the UK to try and keep the costs down

@CaravanEscapades101 6 ай бұрын

Hi Thank you for watching and commenting. I am glad it was of use to you. Have you looked at going out of season. (School Holidays) when we were able to go end of June early July it was a lot cheaper and using the ACSI membership gave us some really good savings on sites, all the best and happy camping. James

@davidmatthews3093 3 ай бұрын

Don’t give up on France! It need not be that expensive. Keep off the autoroutes and enjoy the journey. Don’t head to a Mediterranean campsite in high season, go out of the school holidays and you will find the camp sites much cheaper than the U.K. I’m really surprised that the shopping bills were considered more than in the U.K., I live in France and was shocked by the prices in Canterbury when I visited 10 days ago. Supermarket wine and eating out in France can still be much cheaper in France. Any price increases in France can of course be seen as another Brexit bonus, the £:€ exchange rate dropped drastically from about 1:1.40 and has only recovered slightly to the 1:1.16 it is now. That was an expensive trip. By avoiding the autoroutes except when absolutely necessary, using inland campsites away from coast and travelling out of peak season you could enjoy a similar length stay for much less than half that. I’m amazed by the quoted mpg figure, when I had caravans I did most of my travelling towing with a Discovery and even with Windsurfers on the roof rack my mpg figures were nearer 30 mpg. Travelling on the autoroutes and buying fuel at their prices is simply pouring money down the drain. For ten years I towed our caravan from NW Germany down to Bormes Les Mimosas every Easter. I only used the peage for the short section to bypass Lyon yet our journey times were very little different to friends who used the motorways for the whole trip. Make the most of your retirement; go to France in June, enjoy the open roads that you will never find in the U.K. and by making the right decisions have a bargain holiday in beautiful places.

@juliemichaud8702 10 ай бұрын

Will let you know what 6 weeks in lower season is like, mostly when not driving on toll roads, when we get back home. Will be having a diversion up through Germany, mind.

@CaravanEscapades101 10 ай бұрын

Hi That would be a really interesting comparison. Safe Travels and Happy Camping. James

@davidmatthews3093 3 ай бұрын

You could easily halve the costs by going in June and keeping off the autoroutes. I love travelling in Germany, I lived and worked there for 26 years.

@davidmatthews3093 3 ай бұрын

If you want to keep the costs down go to Spain not Italy. It’s a beautiful country with great roads and both fuel and supermarket shopping is cheaper than France. It’s swings and roundabouts for the locals though as their income tax rates are much worse.

@CaravanEscapades101 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, we will consider it as an option.

@davidmatthews3093 3 ай бұрын

19 mpg. Is that with a diesel?

@CaravanEscapades101 3 ай бұрын

Yep it is, a Mercedes GLS 350d