European road trip - how much to budget?
Discussion
Afternoon everyone,
So I'm just starting to research the European road trip that I'm planning with my wife for next summer. We've never done something like this before so we're a bit wet behind the ears. I've been getting a lot of inspiration from people's trip reports, but one thing I'd find useful is to have a rough idea of how much it's going to cost and what I need to budget for.
I've done a search and there don't seem to be any threads or resources with this info (unless I'm missing them?). I do appreciate this varies greatly between people (and is a bit like asking how long a piece of string is!) but I suppose I'd just like to get an idea of the realistic costs of doing such a trip from people who have done something similar in recent times. The pi$$ poor state of the pound really isn't helping with the costs but I suppose that's just something we've got to put up with!
Details are very sketchy at the mo, but as a rough idea:
- Two people (wife and I)
- 3-4 weeks (will be staying in some places for 2-3 days)
- About 3k miles: South France, Italy (Como, Milan), Switzerland, Alpine passes etc.
- Haven't chosen car yet, but assume it will average 30 mpg (petrol)
- Will mainly be staying in b&bs (airbnb) and budget hotels. Perhaps with a few nicer hotels as a treat along the way.
What I need to budget for (anything else?):
1) Fuel
2) Euro tunnel crossing
3) Tolls
4) Accommodation
5) Food
6) Spending money
7) Breakdown cover
Any thoughts and advice would be most welcome chaps
So I'm just starting to research the European road trip that I'm planning with my wife for next summer. We've never done something like this before so we're a bit wet behind the ears. I've been getting a lot of inspiration from people's trip reports, but one thing I'd find useful is to have a rough idea of how much it's going to cost and what I need to budget for.
I've done a search and there don't seem to be any threads or resources with this info (unless I'm missing them?). I do appreciate this varies greatly between people (and is a bit like asking how long a piece of string is!) but I suppose I'd just like to get an idea of the realistic costs of doing such a trip from people who have done something similar in recent times. The pi$$ poor state of the pound really isn't helping with the costs but I suppose that's just something we've got to put up with!
Details are very sketchy at the mo, but as a rough idea:
- Two people (wife and I)
- 3-4 weeks (will be staying in some places for 2-3 days)
- About 3k miles: South France, Italy (Como, Milan), Switzerland, Alpine passes etc.
- Haven't chosen car yet, but assume it will average 30 mpg (petrol)
- Will mainly be staying in b&bs (airbnb) and budget hotels. Perhaps with a few nicer hotels as a treat along the way.
What I need to budget for (anything else?):
1) Fuel
2) Euro tunnel crossing
3) Tolls
4) Accommodation
5) Food
6) Spending money
7) Breakdown cover
Any thoughts and advice would be most welcome chaps
Looking back over 12 European trips in the last 7 years, I would guess about £150-200 per day for 2 people all in. As you say, it depends on if you do tolls, what type of accomodation you use, what countries you visit, the mpg you expect to get as well as the weakness of the £.
I haven't actually thought about a destination for next year but was sort of thinking Slovenia. Need to talk to my mate about it.
I haven't actually thought about a destination for next year but was sort of thinking Slovenia. Need to talk to my mate about it.
Our last trip we averaged £145 per day for hotel and food. Petrol averaged at £45 per day (25mpg). For our two weeks - Alps etc. - we were around £200 for tolls, parking, vignettes etc. Biggest expense we had was the Ferry crossings as we are in Orkney so a crossing to Scotland before we start!
We rode from South west France to Greece a couple of years ago. Fantastic holiday but I recon it cost close on 1500€ just to get to Greece and back and that was as quick a dash as we could have reasonably done it.
For the return trip we had 4 nights accommodation, nearly 500€ fuel (at one point we were paying almost 2.00€/ltr in Italy), toll roads, tunnel fees, ferry crossings and eating on the way. Looking back probably the best holiday we've ever had but not so at the time. Cold, uncomfortable and riding through southern Italy has to be one of the scariest and most depressing experiences of my life.
For the return trip we had 4 nights accommodation, nearly 500€ fuel (at one point we were paying almost 2.00€/ltr in Italy), toll roads, tunnel fees, ferry crossings and eating on the way. Looking back probably the best holiday we've ever had but not so at the time. Cold, uncomfortable and riding through southern Italy has to be one of the scariest and most depressing experiences of my life.
I think we may have to bring the trip closer to three weeks.... 
We have done two road trips like you are planning.
2015 (around 12 days)
Dover - Calais, stayed over in Calais, Reims for one night, then Baden Baden for one night, Over the schwarzwaldhochstrasse to Lake Constance for three nights. Try and hit the last weekend in July as Langenargen has the most amazing festival. Drove over the San Bernardino to Lake Como for another three night stay, at Bellagio, then over the Stelio heading back to Germany. Stayed at the summit of the Stelvio and experienced being above a thunderstorm. Surreal. Two further nights at Schwangau, and a trip to Neuschwanstein castle, make sure you book for the internal tour. Headed then back North, one nights stay in Epernay, (could have done with more) and then the ferry back from calais to Dover.
Vehicle was an R53 Cooper S mini, ideal car to experience the Stelvio, and certainly upset a swiss biker or two
2016 (around 18 days)
Ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge, and after a day in Bruges stayed at Luxembourg city for one night, then an autobahn sprint to Munich for two nights, Saw Dachau camp and travelled then to Berchtesgaden, and a trip to the Eagles Nest, before heading towards Lake Constance on the Deutsche Alpenstrasse. Well worth following, although the signposting is a little sporadic. Arriving again at Schwangau and a pre booked trip round Neuschwanstein. Two nights in the magnificent Rubezahl hotel, and then more Alpenstrasse before getting to Lake Constance at Langenargen for the festival. After a further three night stopover, headed then on the Brenner Pass to Venice, and a three night stay, then back on the strada dell forra round lake Garda, and a one night stay at Lake Como, before another trip over the San Bernardino to Freudenstadt. Freudenstadt is at the foot of the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse, and its oh so worth a drive over. Although not the day we did it in the fog.! Watch out for the Speed traps, I was talking to someone in a filling station who had been fined the equivalent of around £300 on the spot, cash only! He did however admit to 130 in a TVR Cerebra, and the 'fine' was all the cash he had on him. A quick dash then on the French Peage and arrived at Epernay for a couple of days before catching the ferry back from Calais to Dover.
Vehicle this time an R56 Mini John Cooper Works.
I prebooked a lot of the hotel stays on both trips, using booking sites, but mainly booking.com and got some fantastic prices, as you can see there is quite a bit of overlap on both trips, but we wanted to fill in gaps missed on the first trip.
All I can add is do it, its an amazing experience. Ive just changed car again and now have an F56 JCW mini, so lets see where the adventure takes us next time. Im seriously looking at Scottish highlands and then a ferry from Stranraer to Ireland and a tour round the Northern coast and down the west coast before a ferry back from Southern Ireland.
Total cost of first t trip around £2500, and the second just over £3000 although the ferry from Hull is a lot more expensive and it was shortly after the Brexiteers had kindly devalued the exchange.
2015 (around 12 days)
Dover - Calais, stayed over in Calais, Reims for one night, then Baden Baden for one night, Over the schwarzwaldhochstrasse to Lake Constance for three nights. Try and hit the last weekend in July as Langenargen has the most amazing festival. Drove over the San Bernardino to Lake Como for another three night stay, at Bellagio, then over the Stelio heading back to Germany. Stayed at the summit of the Stelvio and experienced being above a thunderstorm. Surreal. Two further nights at Schwangau, and a trip to Neuschwanstein castle, make sure you book for the internal tour. Headed then back North, one nights stay in Epernay, (could have done with more) and then the ferry back from calais to Dover.
Vehicle was an R53 Cooper S mini, ideal car to experience the Stelvio, and certainly upset a swiss biker or two
2016 (around 18 days)
Ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge, and after a day in Bruges stayed at Luxembourg city for one night, then an autobahn sprint to Munich for two nights, Saw Dachau camp and travelled then to Berchtesgaden, and a trip to the Eagles Nest, before heading towards Lake Constance on the Deutsche Alpenstrasse. Well worth following, although the signposting is a little sporadic. Arriving again at Schwangau and a pre booked trip round Neuschwanstein. Two nights in the magnificent Rubezahl hotel, and then more Alpenstrasse before getting to Lake Constance at Langenargen for the festival. After a further three night stopover, headed then on the Brenner Pass to Venice, and a three night stay, then back on the strada dell forra round lake Garda, and a one night stay at Lake Como, before another trip over the San Bernardino to Freudenstadt. Freudenstadt is at the foot of the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse, and its oh so worth a drive over. Although not the day we did it in the fog.! Watch out for the Speed traps, I was talking to someone in a filling station who had been fined the equivalent of around £300 on the spot, cash only! He did however admit to 130 in a TVR Cerebra, and the 'fine' was all the cash he had on him. A quick dash then on the French Peage and arrived at Epernay for a couple of days before catching the ferry back from Calais to Dover.
Vehicle this time an R56 Mini John Cooper Works.
I prebooked a lot of the hotel stays on both trips, using booking sites, but mainly booking.com and got some fantastic prices, as you can see there is quite a bit of overlap on both trips, but we wanted to fill in gaps missed on the first trip.
All I can add is do it, its an amazing experience. Ive just changed car again and now have an F56 JCW mini, so lets see where the adventure takes us next time. Im seriously looking at Scottish highlands and then a ferry from Stranraer to Ireland and a tour round the Northern coast and down the west coast before a ferry back from Southern Ireland.
Total cost of first t trip around £2500, and the second just over £3000 although the ferry from Hull is a lot more expensive and it was shortly after the Brexiteers had kindly devalued the exchange.
Edited by Tyke on Tuesday 8th November 23:52
We went last year holland to Germany to Austria to Czech Republic back through Germany then holland. went on the harwich to hook ferry, return cost for car and 2 people was £140. used booking.com for hotels, total cost for 11 nights was less than £500 and they were all cancelable in case travel plans changed. car averaged 40mpg on the trip, avoided fuel in Holland (expensive) filled up in Germany (cheap) Austria (cheaper) and Czech Republic (cheapest) took out full European breakdown and recovery for about £130 though never missed a beat in just short of 3k miles. Would I repeat the trip? in an instant definately. OTHER costs can be kept down, we ate at small cafes and coffee shops rather than posh restraints, and the hotels were basic places to simply get our heads down, none were disagreeable and not one was over £60 per night.
We drove to northern Greece, all expenses so fuel, tolls, vignettes, hotels, food, eatingout, spending money, ferry crossing etc came in less than £2000, flights alone where £2100 for three of us. Next year i fancy Denmark then over to Sweden then Finland then back through Russia an those neighbouring countries to Germany. RE Russia i have a dashcam but sadly no lada.
Did a trip this summer, 2 weeks total visiting the following :
Adenau - 1 night @ Blau Ecke (arrived too late for a few laps so no spending at the ring)
Prague - 3 nights @ Radisson Blu Alcron
Budapest - 2 nights @ Marriot
Vienna - 2 nights @ Le Meridien
Salzburg - 1 night @ Wolf Deitrich
Zurich - 2 nights @ Marriot
Epernay - 1 night @ Andre Bregere
Paris - 2 nights @ Hyatt Regency Etoile
Hotels averaged out at $200 per night.
Other spending - fuel, tolls, good food and entertainment was about $3500 for the period.
Most hotels were city centre and quite pleasant. Overnight parking is quite pricey in the busier cities.
I'd prefer not work out how much I spent on particular aspects, we were more focused on just enjoying ourselves.
And I didn't try and eek any fuel economy from the car, if the road was open, then progress was made.
Edit to add : Just the two of us, wife and myself, lager for me and prosecco/champagne for her.
Adenau - 1 night @ Blau Ecke (arrived too late for a few laps so no spending at the ring)
Prague - 3 nights @ Radisson Blu Alcron
Budapest - 2 nights @ Marriot
Vienna - 2 nights @ Le Meridien
Salzburg - 1 night @ Wolf Deitrich
Zurich - 2 nights @ Marriot
Epernay - 1 night @ Andre Bregere
Paris - 2 nights @ Hyatt Regency Etoile
Hotels averaged out at $200 per night.
Other spending - fuel, tolls, good food and entertainment was about $3500 for the period.
Most hotels were city centre and quite pleasant. Overnight parking is quite pricey in the busier cities.
I'd prefer not work out how much I spent on particular aspects, we were more focused on just enjoying ourselves.
And I didn't try and eek any fuel economy from the car, if the road was open, then progress was made.
Edit to add : Just the two of us, wife and myself, lager for me and prosecco/champagne for her.
I tend to camp when I do a eurotour on the bike, and petrol is my biggest expense by a long way. If you want to go for a month but spend less then cutting down the food and accommodation costs is quite easy to do. Air BnB's pretty good, but you may find Gites and Hostels cheaper, and cheap hotels like Premier Class and Formula 1. If camping's an option for you then download Archie's POIs to your satnav, camping is dirt cheap in France (as in a fiver a night) and a lot of sites also have bunkhouses or chalets.
As for tolls, depends on the purpose if your trip. I did 2 weeks to the alps through France, Austria and Switzerland, and the only toll road we went on was the Kaunertal glacier road in Austria becasue we were there for interesting roads and most toll roads are boring motorways. On the other hand we went to Bordeaux the other week and spent a fortune on tolls as it was about the destination not the drive.
As for tolls, depends on the purpose if your trip. I did 2 weeks to the alps through France, Austria and Switzerland, and the only toll road we went on was the Kaunertal glacier road in Austria becasue we were there for interesting roads and most toll roads are boring motorways. On the other hand we went to Bordeaux the other week and spent a fortune on tolls as it was about the destination not the drive.
crossy67 said:
gtidriver. Did you take a ferry or all by road. If by road what was your route?
France Belgium Luxembourg Germany Austria Hungary Serbia Bulgaria Greece Macedonia Serbia Croatia Slovenia Italy Switzerland Germany Luxembourg Belgium France England. 4515 miles in total, we left the uk via p&o ferries from Dover this was done in a BMW E91 320d We didnt book any hotels enroute to where we stayed in Greece, my budget was around €100 per night to include breakfast, if the place we stopped at was more id haggle the price down, only our last night in Switzerland did i pay more as a massive storm was on its way and i needed to stop.Zed 44 said:
steve51800.
What were the roads like in the Czech republic? Somehow I had the impression they weren't overly interesting. A trip there does appeal though partly for genealogical reasons.
The Czech roads varied from rough (ploughed field rough, that was a motorway) to billiard smooth.What were the roads like in the Czech republic? Somehow I had the impression they weren't overly interesting. A trip there does appeal though partly for genealogical reasons.
The new motorway was superb, the older roads not so. Cobbled streets in old prague were rough and the drivers treat lights and signs as more of a guide than instructions. The scenery itself was beautiful, Prague was gorgeous, food cheap, cheaper to drink beer than water. All in all a great experience, though Austria and vienna was better roads and scenery wise.
What would be really interesting, as well as people's costs/budgets for each trip, what you found you could save money on (realistically, without making it a rubbish trip). I'm particularly thinking along the lines of avoiding toll roads, for example.
I am going to do a European road trip in 2017, but am actually (currently, I am in the initial stages) planning to cover a lot of Germany, and therefore barely any of France, Switzerland, etc.
I am going to do a European road trip in 2017, but am actually (currently, I am in the initial stages) planning to cover a lot of Germany, and therefore barely any of France, Switzerland, etc.
Switzerland can be a little more difficult to avoid the toll roads than other countries as they have a lot of them and in some areas very few alternatives due to mountains the way. Anywhere else setting your satnav or google maps to avoid toll roads does the job nicely.
I tend to plan routes in ITNconverter on my laptop and then upload them to my tomtom as an itinary file. Muche easier than planning on a satnav or trying to map read on route.
I tend to plan routes in ITNconverter on my laptop and then upload them to my tomtom as an itinary file. Muche easier than planning on a satnav or trying to map read on route.
RizzoTheRat said:
I tend to plan routes in ITNconverter on my laptop and then upload them to my tomtom as an itinary file. Muche easier than planning on a satnav or trying to map read on route.
I am pretty sure my Audi navigation has 'avoid toll roads' built in. Not sure how much trust I'd put in it, though. It also has a 'Tour' function (allowing multiple stops). Not sure if that works either, as I've not tried it yet! Also not even sure it has European maps...This could be interesting.
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