In the Telegraph's Money Section (10 April 07) there is a useful article by Teresa Hunter looking at the economics of taking your car to France compard to taking a budget airline flight.
The cost of driving to your destination will be affected by local petrol prices and tolls. According to the AA, unleaded petrol is slightly cheaper than Britain's 90p per litre in France (85.5p), Italy (87.5p) and Spain (71p) but more expensive in Germany (92p), although these prices will fluctuate. Diesel, at 74p in France, 79p in Germany, 82p in Italy and 65.5p in Spain, is considerably cheaper than the 92.7p you will typically pay in Britain.
The AA estimates the mileage from London to Bordeaux at 620, so using local petrol prices and average petrol consumption the trip would cost £151.71 in petrol or £105.33 in diesel. However, motorway tolls would amount to £45.43 each way, pushing up the cost by a further £90.86. The return journey would therefore set you back £242.57 in a petrol vehicle and £196.19 in a diesel.
As the article points out, the calculations are not straightforward when you take into account costs of the ferry or tunnel, fuel, motorway tolls, breakdown insurance, depreciation and possibly overnight hotel costs en route. But then airline prices are not exactly what they seem - the headline price can be doubled or more with the addition of various "admin charges" and taxes, including the infamous Air Passenger Tax which the puritanical Mr Brown has levied on every journey. Then there is the cost of getting to/from the airport, parking and transport at the other end, be it car hire, taxi or public transport.
Personally I hate the experience of flying, especially for short haul, when the hassle and time to get through the airport is often longer than the flight itself. I detest being treated like sheep or cattle in the terminal, especially in these days of heightened security. And once on board the plane it is invariably uncomfortable and you are literally a captive audience for the cabin crew to pester you with expensive food and drink, duty free goods or lottery tickets.
I usually choose the car, despite the costs and the longer journey times. I can still get a sense of adventure waiting to board the ferry at Dover, knowing that I have some control over my route and who I share the journey with. Besides, some of the best moments in France have been when we have diverted off the main route, followed a "Centre Ville" sign rather than the vague and circuitous "Autres Directions" and "Toutes Directions" signs - coming across a market, or a wedding or some little local festival - or finding some idyllic spot for a picnic of local produce. Besides driving in France (with the exception of Paris) is usually quite enjoyable and the autoroutes are much less congested and fraught than our motorways. But probably the main reason is the ability to bring back several cases of wine bought from the cellar of a small winemaker - and the memories which will go with every glass.
Maybe the train is a decent compromise - as long as you start from London or Ashford - it is fast, cheaper than the car (and much cheaper in France) and you get to city centres without all the hassle of airport terminals and transfers.
LINKS:-
Daily Telegraph article
Cheap4Ferries offer a best price promise on all cross-channel ferry operators
Rail Europe for train tickets and timetables for French destinations
Direct Line for European Breakdown and Travel Insurance
