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Just an idea really. I hate the airport parking, flight, bikebox weight worry, transfers etc.
I also hate the "coaches of the sky" and love driving roadtrips 8)
About a 15hr drive and fuel will be around £170 depending what you are driving. Some tolls on top of that and the train. Just over £200 all in I would say
Tolls won't be much less than fuel, if going through France.
The cars a C1 so circa 50mpg if I pace myself. On the tolls, any reductions/disco unts or just 'pay as you go only?
Edit: will look at links ta 🙂
Hmm...
As a veteran of many racing trips to that foreign, I'd much rather fly. 6 Hours to Dover, then 6-7 hours on the other side doesn't sound much, but you'll be knackered for the next day too. You could break it up, but then you'll spend 2 days travelling. It's the way back that'll really tell.
You could do it for about £200. Thats about £150 fuel based on approx 40 to the gallon and a cheap channel tunnel return. The fuel is one way so add £150 for the return fuel.
If your cars a gas guzzler considerably more. Not sure what tolls there are over there these days. But return from £350 including fuel. You need to check the channel tunnel prices though. Could be another £200-300 for the tunnel if you cant get a cheap deal.
We're reckoning on about around £500 to take something along the lines on an Espace/Galaxy (classed as a car on the ferry and the autoroute) but then we did book a ferry slot early. Haven't accurately priced up breakdown cover yet. That's also based on going to Alpe du Huez which is a bit further.
Via michelin should give you a fuel and tolls estimate for the continental side of things.
now you're looking at £200+ per person on most of the flights, it doesn't take long to become economical. Though If I lived nearer an airport with Geneva flights it'd be a close call.
Don't forget as your going much longer on the road to factor in food stops.
Also, that the costs fo fuel alone don't include a potion of tyres/consumables and servicing costs. And by christ I'd not do that distance, with mates aboard in a C1.
Oh, and don't forget the costs of european breakdown cover, green card cover, and all those daft bits and pieces the frogs insist you need + the hassle of painting your lights yellow and not having the ability to have full beam on those long dark motorways.
Oh, and your chances of an accident are much higher, and the French Police will be more than unhelpful, whatever happens, it will almost certainly be "your fault" - taking a statement soley from the other driver and not from you to reflect your views in any subsequent police report are fairly common. French insurers are total bastards to deal with, 10x worse than your worst ever experience with a UK insurer.
Me, I'd train to Dieppe/Calais and then hire a car rather than take my own vehicle.
I only say that as I have dealt with foreign motor insurance claimsfor my present employers for years, and they are a total pain in the harris.
Actually, unless I had a phobia, I'd fly. Better a couple of hours in the air, and several in the pub, than hours after hours on a foreign motorway in a crappy little french econo-town car.
+ the hassle of painting your lights yellow
Christ when was the last time you went to France, it must be 15-20 years since that was necessary. And if your lucky a lot of cars can now also adjust the beam for driving on the other side of the road.
C1 to the Alps? For real? Can you even fit a bike in one???
You can now get a telepeage thing from here:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
Only me/no passengers.
C1? I drove my old Aygo to Southern Germany and back one NY eve 8)
If you fly it takes out circa 1/2-1 days 'usefullness' anyway. Say you fly at 7am. I'd be there for circa 5.30am (up at say 4am). Land and at Morzine for 1pm. 9hours?
Hora, couldn't you ask Stu M? His house isn't a million miles away in Samoens, and doesnt he drive out there quite a bit, or is he now too posh for that and flies 1st class 🙂
ONe to watch when driving in France - SatNav, of any kind (phone etc), that has a speed camera warning feature, even if disabled/Satnav switched off, can land you a 1300 euro fine.
Thought of these guys - http://www.bike-express.co.uk/. Maybe not the right thing, and more suited to tourists.
Funky' he doesn't drive cattle-class either like me 🙂
Dont forget your fluro vests, spare bulb kit and from the 1st July you need a breathalyser kit to drive in France.. Otherwise expect to pay fines
Do you shop at Tesco ? if so you can cash in your club points for chunnel vouchers and it cuts cost right down.
Only me/no passengers.
That'll be funny when you get to the toll booths and have to lean right over to the other side or get out to pay. Guaranteed the piss off everyone in the queue behind you. 😉
There's a moratorium on applying the breathalyser law until 1 November
The breathalyser also needs to be an approved NF one
i've done this a few times (once a year for about 10 years)
from sheffield, the alps, and back.
don't expect much change from £500.
(fuel + ferry + tolls)
fuel = roughly 4 tanks = £280
ferry = £100
tolls = £70ish each way = £140
Versus circa
£20 parking and/or getting to and from Airport
£220 flight
£40(?) transfers
I drove this to Morzine once ...
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
It was awesome fun.
Transfers can be expensive..
Are flights really that much??
Hire car at the other side is about £120 for a week.
I ran a Easyjet quote, it came out at circa 170+50 (bike @ 25 each way)+10 admin plus other taxes etc ontop 😯
I have just bought a return train ticket £124.00 (Ebbsfleet to Lyon) for the Etape, hiring a car from Lyon for 5 days about £100.00. It works our cheaper for me than driving solo.
No way I would do that on my own. Sharing the driving/cost it makes sense but not on your own IMO.
Hmmmm I'm thinking of just having a Britain-only/camping holiday this year. Circa 500+beers+food etc is just too much for a <1 week riding break. I can't face the hassle of flying.
Yeah, don't forget that joyous Morzine experience once you arrive.
2 beers? That'll be 20 Euros please? A burger? That'll be another 30 Euros, English pig dog!
By the time you've totted up fuel, tolls, ferry, plus being bent over by every Frenchman behind a bar (which you'll obviously enjoy) you could have sodded off to Moab for a fortnight
The under-radar Gem is Robinsons Bar......yes the Mutsig is expensive but the glasses of red are only 1euro50!
Hora - it's well expensive to keep yourself fed while on the road in France. I don't like flying but I'd rather have a few sherberts to calm myself than go through that journey by road (n a C1 too). And when you've had a greating MTBing holiday you'll have to hack all the way back north. It'll take the edge off your holiday for sure. All you'll reacall is the shite journey back.