So it cost me a small fortune to get back to the UK for a quick escape last week...
Around 180 EU for the fuel (one way)
Somewhere in the region of 120 EU for the toll roads (that's a bit of a guestimate)
140 EU for two hotel stays - including dinner at one hotel
140 EU for a one way Le Shuttle ticket....
TOTAL = 580 EU.
And that's about as cheap as I could manage it with the car, the ferry option, at this time of year, would have added on around another 100 EU, and that wasn't an option because there's no flexibility in booking with the ferry and I needed that given my relatively last minute decision.
TBH I'm not phased by the fuel costs - I'm actually quite happy with those given the recent increase in in prices and fuelling in a small station in Spain just before I hit France helped, Spain being the cheapest place en route to buy gas.
The toll costs were a bit painful, and annoying early on - booths every 30-40 KM or so for long enough for it to get tedious. Once I got passed Bordeaux it was fine - much longer stretches and larger payments.
I was a bit slack here - I went with my UK card option as I'm on a temporary replacement Portugues card so I was stung with a shitty exchange rate, but there you go.
The hotels - ESSENTIAL - 10 hours on day one to Poitiers, then a short 7 hour stint on day 2 to Coquelles and a hotel just 5Ks from the Terminal, allowing me a short drive to it then to the UK. Pretty reasonable I think.
The Tunnel ticket seems pricey - 140 EU - when I last travelled to Portugal this was 90 EU one way - that's a MASSIVE increase, and an hours extra waiting to boot for some reason - NOT a fan of Le Shuttle now.
And there's a lot of quite stressful driving to get to the check-in and then boarding, wondering whether you're just driving the right way and way too many temporary bollards directing you - 1/10 for French Terminal organisation.
4 EU for a bag of crisps... err no!
On day one I stopped off at a service station thinking I'd pick up some lunch, actually for dinner, but there was fuck all I wanted so I ended up not buying anything - it would have been 10 EU at least for anything half decent - crisps were 4 EU, more than twice the price you'd usually pay.
I managed to save on water - I took a 10 litre vessel with me so that was good, and managed to make the only purchases some coffee on days 1-3.
I did weaken with dinner on day 1 - but it was so nice, with a Leffe and espresso. First time I've eaten 'out' this year, so I can forgive myself....
In retrospect I should have prepared myself dried meals like cereal and home made pot noodle and remembered my camping cook pot and just made my own dinner/ lunch.
But I might get the ferry back....
Once I add on 1100 miles of driving to the car - that's almost 1% of its life span - that's around another 100 EU - and I could have saved about 70% of that had I got the Ferry and time back I'd gain just sitting on my ass during the journey - time I could have spent working and earning, so add on another say 50 EU (wouldn't be at max efficiency!)
And minus the stress of the Sat Nav taking me right through Rouens city centre and desperately trying to send me to the freight terminal it might be worth paying for a Ferry ticket even if the ticket is 700 EU.
Then add on another roughly 50 EU of fuel to get to Portsmouth and then from Spain back home - it'd be worth paying up to 200 EU extra I think for the reduced hassle.
Whatever way you look at it, travel is just DAMNED EXPENSIVE.
Once I've got Hive Fest out of the way, maybe made a winter trip to SE Asia, got myself back to the UK next Spring, I think I'll just stay put in one location for a year or two!
Often, having got deals on the transport and accommodation, it's the additional (but necessary) expenses that can mount up. I bought a mini fridge last year, works off mains or the car, and with that and a cool bag, I find I can manage without buying convenience food at silly prices or eating out (unless I want to). It took a little while to put together the accompanying kit (had a knife but not a plate to start), but now all the small things fit in the the mesh pocket on the lid of the suitcase. You're probably already better equipped than me with your camping stuff.
I often get first class, if it's available and I have luggage, it can be as little as an extra £10 to not have the hassle of struggling with crowded carriages and full luggage racks (my suitcase always seems to end up at the bottom of the pile).
I probably have a similar fridge, very handy indeed.
I think that first class thing only works on UK trains, good option though, and defo do whatever you can to stop those expenses mounting up for sure!
That's a long drive. I know there's been chaos with some crossings. Hope you avoided that. Have a good trip.
Well I got into the UK last Weds so I was OK - two days before the real carnage!
Yep, the main reson i never used to 'pop home for a visit' haha.. hey, try out dumpsterdiving instead of paying the ridículos proces on foods ;)
Talking about fuel, i thought my petrol was getting syphoned out and stolen because 300 miles to a 65l tank was way to little and then the guy from little europe (thats me,) realised that he has a 3.3l v6 engine in his car and not a 1.4 hahaha
Dam yes travelling is expensive, especially in these american cars hahaha
Oh man that's a beast of a car.
I'm all for dumpster diving, but in 40 degree heat....?!?
Haha yeh, its stupid, I still dont get the need for a 3liter v6 engine in a family car haha! Hmm american cars, i just dont get it lol
Ahhh yes, the trick is to go after closing time at night at the supermarket, you may as well find a waitrose and really push the boat out for the luxury stuff!! Hmm waitrose freed fooood
!PGM
!PIZZA
BUY AND STAKE THE PGM TO SEND A LOT OF TOKENS!
The tokens that the command sends are: 0.1 PGM-0.1 LVL-2.5 BUDS-0.01 MOTA-0.05 DEC-15 SBT-1 STARBITS-[0.00000001 BTC (SWAP.BTC) only if you have 2500 PGM in stake or more ]
5000 PGM IN STAKE = 2x rewards!
Discord
Support the curation account @ pgm-curator with a delegation 10 HP - 50 HP - 100 HP - 500 HP - 1000 HP
Get potential votes from @ pgm-curator by paying in PGM, here is a guide
I'm a bot, if you want a hand ask @ zottone444
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@torran(4/10) tipped @revisesociology (x1)
Please vote for pizza.witness!
By 2030 you will own nothing and be happy about it. Klaus Schwab said it...
Clever quote!
going to the UK on a whim certainly hits you in the pocket!
bad time of year too!
Really dumb question, but aren't flights within Europe fairly cheap (ofc this was pre-COVID).
Unless you just like road-tripping, then you are paying for the journey, not the destination.
I had stuff to bring back so yeah flights would have been better for sure!