Cost of travel

[oldsomeman]

As i know have the bike, Burgman 400 cc scooter im trying to get the readies for next spring.
i was wondering what sort of amounts you guys budget for for say a week in France?
the scooter does about 40 mpg if pushed at 70 , but will travel better if say 50-60.

[Nomadic1]

Last summer, we found that there was pretty much a direct comparison between euros and pounds for fuel. However, the thing which got my goat was the toll costs on the motorways. Not fun.

Going rural was equally problematic - my pigeon french wasn't good enough to find petrol stations with ease.

happy memories now, but was troubling at the time!!

[Alexlebrit]

Petrol in France is now pretty much the same price as in the Uk I believe, possibly a bit cheaper at the supermarkets, but that should give you some idea. Prices for food etc have all gone up too, but I think that it's still cheaper over this side than in the UK.

To be honest, I'd say budget pretty much what you would for the equivalent in the UK, and that way you get to have some cash left over at the end for cheap wine.

[DougieB]

you're in london. so, go on a long weekend to france. do the things you expect to do while travelling, and you have your budget worked out.

if you drink gallons of gin it will be high. if you sleep in ditches it will be low. if you do both it will be medium.

[jkrijt]

I just returned home from a week in France. Fuel in France is much cheaper then in the Netherlands and if you avoid the motorways it is even cheaper.
While traveling in France, I always program my GPS to avoid toll-roads (peage) because it is expensive and the route National and Departemental (N and D roads) are much nicer to ride on a bike.

Some cost saving tips:
In a restaurant, when you order a meal, you can ask for a "Caraf de 'eau". That is a can of fresh water. In most restaurants that is for free.

Look for a "gîtes" or "chambres d'hotes" (= Bed & breakfast) in small villages. I stayed two nights in a Gites in Montcombroux, in a room with shower and toilet for € 24 /night and I got the key from the managers private garage to park my bike. Most of the time I payed about € 45 /night for a hotel room.

Don't buy your lunch or coffee in a tourist area but look for a local's café. Prices will sometimes be half of what you pay in the tourists places. (but that is not only in France)

For breakfast, go to a small bakers shop and get some croissants or chocolate breads. Then go to a café, sit on the terrace and get a coffee to drink with your breakfast. Friends who live in France told me that is very normal and accepted.

Have a good trip

[Tourider]

I usually budget £75 per day if camping and £100 per day if hotelling to live reasonably. As the previous posts say it depends on your life style.

[danward79]

Hi,

We just spent last 2 weeks of August in France, camping.

Fuel varied between 1.35 and 1.6 euro (unleaded 95). Camping was between 10 and 25 euro a night. I was traveling with my Wife and Daughter.

Food wise prices were reasonable, and comparable with here. Drink wise, stick with wine. Look for the bottles with award medals on them, they are still cheap and taste ok!

Dan

[oldbmw]

as mentioned above, stay off the peages. If you do go on them be sure to go to a manned kiosk and pay by cash. credit cards get charged the rate for cars.
I just filled my car today, paid 1.34.9 a litre, cheapest it has been for some months.
Food, many supermarkets have counters with ready to eat food. you can buy as much or little as you want and they put them in sealed el cheapo versions of tupperware. Easy to have camp side meal. you can also buy a small selection of small bottles of reasonable wine. For a big meal at about 12-12.05 enter a 'routiere' french transport cafe. generally denoted by a heap of trucks parked beside some non descript building. 4 course meal with wine etc, for 9-12 euros.

Campsites, aires free. municipal campsites usually about 10 euros. chambres D'hotes expect about 40 euros. Note in france chambres d'hote are usually geared up for you to eat and often prepare you own evening meal. We have BBq area. Chairs and tables inside and out. They do vary though. ALWAYS ask to see the room before accepting a nights stay

[oldsomeman]

thank you very much for al your replies.i shal take the knowledge in and note..........mind you im note sure i want to sleep in a ditch, with or without the aid of gin lol