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I wouldn't listen to hype about prices. Frencgh supermarket prices are no more expensive then in the UK. Your location is shown as London, so if you are all used to London prices...

For donkey's years, there has been a tendency for Brits to 'assume' everything 'abroad' is more expensive than 'at home' just because of the unfamiliarity. It is just the same as feeling as feeling more vulnerable walking in a foreign city than in your own home town.

I agree with another poster about budgeting. If its so tight then should you be going to the Vendée at all, especially on such a tight journey time and at 4am with kids... 

Quote: Originally posted by bitto on 05/7/2009

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For donkey's years, there has been a tendency for Brits to 'assume' everything 'abroad' is more expensive than 'at home' just because of the unfamiliarity.

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Don't fret for your friends, if they set out to have a good time regardless of the budget... they willI.. and if you and your family want to go off an do something that would blow their budget I'm sure they'll happily wave you off and get on with their own thing for that day.

It really doesn't have to be expensive - we had a bad year a couple or so years ago and we were thinking of cancelling the holiday but we'd paid Eurotunnel and a deposit on a campsite so we decided to go regardless of the fact that we'd have approx £100 a week after fuel, and the rest of the campsite. Four of us, kids approx 15 and 9 at that time.

We stayed off the toll, did a night in the car (not for everyone I know but if you've got a camper van I would imagine its easier), we even ate out once at the site (ok so it was a chop and chips with a carafe of wine.. but it was out), and we did one half a day in canoes which was the big blow the budget event.

We take very little food other than the sarnies etc for the journey down and buy most stuff there. Markets and the little shops are great for fresh produce and yes the pound isn't going so far these days but its still do-able on a budget. Bread did feature quite a bit in the diet but it's hardly a sacrifice when there is so much delicious stuff on offer, and we did vege days too using fresh stuff some of our concoctions from that trip are now family favourites!

There were so many "free" things to do that by spacing these out as the treats the kids didn't feel deprived. Look out for the posters on lamposts etc for festivals and fetes etc that you can join in rather than going on paid excursions. The year we were on a shoestring we found a Stage of the Tour De France, a hot air balloon festival, and some sort of international music event which took over a tiny village for a weekend and although we couldn't afford to go to any of the actual shows, the atmosphere was super and there were impromtu performances in the park, street theatre, jugglers etc, (we had to drive between five and ten miles to each of these but they took up an entire day so we felt it was worth it even as we limped home on the last teaspoons of petrol).

We made a pact not to talk about how little money we had but to stress the excitement of trying something new or focussing on the great aspects of the day, and we made it clear to the kids that the day after an event like the balloon festival was a tent day where we relaxed, played badminton, read books, strolled in lcoal lanes etc but didn't go far off the site...

Now I look back, it was quite liberating actually, and because we found the free stuff it was a delight. We did things, found places and met people we'd ordinarily perhaps passed by on our way to another "attraction".

Hope you all have fun.

Do you all have to worry about saving a few hundred pounds or are you on holidays?.If I had to budget a worry about the cost of everything I would sooner not go Im afraid.

:Hope you all have a lovely time and keep the blood pressure down, which I am sure you wont if worrying all the time about saving a  euro here and there

Quote: Originally posted by Kabbes on 03/7/2009

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If they want to save real money they will take 2 days to reach the Vendee & 2 days to get back & use 'N' rds, its perfectly feasable, loads of camping municipals on the way. I've driven from Calais to the Spanish border in me camper without spending anything on tolls.

They want to drive 500miles from London to the Vendee in 13hrs in an old camper including a ferry crossing? I think they need a rethink, that would be pushing it in a modern car, I thought this was supposed to be a holiday?

Toll, classe2 rate will be well over 80€ return, that will buy a fair bit of food.

I assume they are leaving from Calais or Dunkerque, tell me their destination & I will give 'em a toll free 2 day route.

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Thanks again for all the responses but I'd just make to something clear:

I am a seasoned traveller to France and have never heard any hype about French supermarkets being more expensive. I have always found groceries and eating out much cheaper in France. My original question about food was merely in response to the current exchange rate and not about the cost of food in general. Apologies if I did not make that clear. I am not on a strict budget and I am not worried about costs. Friends of ours wanted to come along with us and I merely posted on their behalf.

As for leaving at 4am with kids, it's not so bad. We tried two years ago to take a longer route with a stopover and it was a lot more tiring and stressful for all then just doing it in one hit (we use the Eurotunnel). Yes, it's a long day, but once we sit down at about 8pm with a glass of wine it's all worth it. And we all sleep well that first night!

Some people have to live their lives on tight budgets, holidays included and I see no reason why they shouldn't go - but forewarned is forearmed. Following the responses on here I have told my friends not to bother take too much with them. I have also sent them a copy of Kabbes first response suggesting that they break the journey up a bit and avoid toll roads - especially given that they are in an old campervan - they may well decide to do this.

Thanks again for all your wonderful responses - we will all have a great time I'm sure - regardless of budget. And the five small boys we will take between us probably won't care how many times they eat out or places of interest they visit as long as there are friends to be made on the site and a pool to splash in!

Helen