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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 22/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by ashwellgirl on 21/4/2010

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Personally, I don't think it's the package holiday folk that will turn to caravanning/tents.  I think it is the caravanners who often go to Europe who will be thinking twice because of the cost.

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Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 22/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 22/4/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by ashwellgirl on 21/4/2010

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Personally, I don't think it's the package holiday folk that will turn to caravanning/tents.  I think it is the caravanners who often go to Europe who will be thinking twice because of the cost.

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It isn't anymore expensive on the continent. If you allow £250 or so for the ferry then the cost of a pitch is a lot cheaper than here in the UK. If you use the ACSI card then you can do it very cheaply. The most you pay is 15eu per night which is £13.20. Find me a CC site that cheap! This is out of main season I will confess.

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I see what you mean johnks, but I didn't express myself very clearly.  I don't think it is any more expensive in Europe, but it is more expensive than it used to be i.e. for us (because of the exchange rate) prices appear to have increased by a greater % in Europe than in the UK, which means that you can't do as much over there as was once possible in comparison with inthe UK.  The cost everywhere is obviously more than it used to be, but because of the strength of the £ v euro, it is comparatively more expensive.

In the past, when we have gone to Provence/Italy, we could go over for 4 weeks and it wouldn't be wildy more expensive than having 4 weeks here.  With the increase in fuel costs both in the UK and in Europe, and with less difference in the cost of fuel between UK and Europe, it would cost us considerably more to get to the places in Europe we would want to visit.  The ferry cost with caravan, I reckon I could get down to £130 (return), but the Red Pennant Travel insurance, for 4 weeks would work out at about £388.  If you just count Ferry and Insurance, that's more than £500 more expensive than the UK, before you start thinking about all the extra to pay in fuel bills because of the greater distance to travel.  There is always the temptation to use the toll motorways, to get you to the destination quicker.  I understand that food costs are marginally more expensive but that wine and beer remain cheaper ().

I wasn't aware of the ACSI Card system, I think mainly because it is off season, and we are only able to get there during the main holiday period.  Back up to full price camping, it looks like for us, and generally more expensive than the CC sites over here.

We'll have to wait for the £ to be stronger or until we can summon up more cash before we feel able to return to Provence/Italy.

>>>  I see no-one has mentioned the fact that the last time this volcano erupted in 1821 it lasted for 3 years   <<<

Perhaps but I just bet there were not the amount of planes cancelled or airports shut!!!!!