driving to france - expert opinion required - cost of driving versus eurostar

[scaramanga]

Hello. please help settle an argument I had with my sister in law last night. Not really an argument -but she always has to be right - and it bugs me.

She is trying to persuade us to have a holiday together - which could be ok - we have done weekend breaks. We all teach so have a lot of time off soon - yay :).

We are trying to keep budget down and go last 2 weeks of august (can go for up to 18 days). She hates driving & her husband gets fed up of always driving everywhere so she was trying to convince us that it would be more cost effective to get Eurostar straight down to Avignon and that it would cost less than driving. Then just bus/taxi around. Plan go campsite (mobile homes).

Is there some sort of website where you can put mileage in for going from here to France and it will give approximate cost of petrol. I am desperate to prove her wrong - I hope she isnt right on this - but surely driving must be lesss? anybody???? (oh - she has 2 children and so do we)

Don't know of any website like that, could you not find out mileage on google maps or such and then work out the cost in petrol? (I couldn't, but I am properly pants at maths).

Alternatively, do you have to travel together? I can't imagine that it would be cheaper for 4 people to go on Eurostar than to drive, but with driving remember to factor in the ferry or train, and then the tolls if you are driving on toll roads. Will be much slower if you go on the non-tolls. Would it be possible to make your own ways and meet at the campsite?

Try either www.theaa.com or www.viamichelin.com

Pretty sure the Michelin one has costs. Train to Avignon costs a fortune doesn't it?

If you are already arguing at this stage about transport, then you shouldn't all go on holiday together!

I think the hassle factor of organising taxis to go everywhere would be too much. The whole point of a camping holiday is to be relaxed, not to be tied to a timetable, or fixed pick-up time. Obviously depends on the campsite you choose, but if you want to do any off-site activities you'll be reliant on some form of transport, and I don't see that many buses in rural parts of France. You need to factor in other costs as well, such as the fact that you may not be within walking distance of a supermarket, so are limited to the (usually pricey) campsite shop.

I love the car trip down through France - great opportunity for a stop-off to explore a different town/village. Just make sure you avoid Lyon on a Saturday. And think of all the wine you can bring home too!! Your SIL needs to look at the journey as part of the holiday, not just a means to an end. Hope you manage to convince her!!

The Via Michelin site has costs (including tolls and petrol) and you can tab through to look at distance and times for taking toll vs non toll routes.

You should just meet there though if you have different ideas about how to go. And that sets the precedent that you don't need to do every little thing together over the course of the holiday. 18 days is a lot longer than a weekend and I certainly would want the independence to get up and go when I couldn't take the in-laws any more needed

Mappy.com

We love to trundle down through France, as mentioned above it is a part of our holiday. Also, on the occasions we have flown, we have always found we are lacking in something vital, such as inflatable rings, footballs, sharp kitchen knives etc. You also have the added hassle (depending on the age of your DC's) of travelling without car seats in taxis etc.
If I were you I would arrange to meet your sister there and make your own way down as you choose :)

We holiday regularly in France with friends and can testify that flying is cheapest, then driving, then train :)

Agree with nigglenaggle.

We drove last year and it cost a fortune even discounting the eurostar courtesy of tesco clubcard. Diesel, tolls, overnight stops, eating out etc, not to mention the 'grumpy DH' factor. Probably £900 altogether. The via michelin site will give you the toll and fuel costs, then add in your overnights. BTW the weather was so good and the beaches so fab, that we didn't use the car except to go and stock up at the supermarket.

This year we are flying with BA to Marseille. Return flights for 4 in mid August came to well under £500. To get from airport to campsite is one train and one bus, and we'll be on the beach by lunchtime

Eurostar to Avignon is easy, but very expensive this year.
You can book the regular TGV trains from Lille or Paris, and it's a quick journey. But flying is still cheaper and quicker.

thanks everyone for all the useful tips. Will look at flights and see how that comes out. Just went on viamichelin and it is pretty impressive as it calculates tolls too .

laughed at the mumsnetter who said"dont go if you are already arguing". I have to qualify that when I said "argument" in first post what I really meant was "healthy discussion over a bottle of wine". We do all get on and I am sure we will have a great hol - we are all ok with going off and doing our own things some days - so don't have to be together 24/7. My sister in law is fab and a great laugh (I have known her for 20 years now and we have never fallen out) - but she is a bit of a smart ass - so was adamant that eurostar was cheaper. I will come back at her with some cheap flights perhaps - thanks will get on one of those flight checkers now - although we may have missed lowest prices with leaving it late. We all have a long drive in the this country which is a bit of a pain. Once we get to France I always feel relieved as is much easier to drive there. will come back with my decision :)

Eurostar to Avignon can sometimes be very cheap - did it for last holiday pre-sprogs, and hired car to drive around, and in March it was a bargain. But doubt August would have any cheap train fares. Was a lovely way to travel, though, so I'd pay a premium for it.

[goes to Eurostar site to see if under 5s have to pay as if not then a hol next Easter would be fab]

Isn't the Eurostar service to Avignon very limited - like only one train every other Saturday or something?

We travelled to Nimes by Eurostar/TGV once and it took forever. It was when Eurostar went from Waterloo which meant crossing London in rush hour with large suitcases. And then crossing Paris. Was hell. And expensive.

If you don't want to drive all the way I recommend flying and hiring a car. We have done that to both Lyon and Nice. Was painless both times and very reasonable pricewise.

However you get there though, Avignon and its environs is bloody beautiful. Hope you have a great time.