How much are you paying for your Le Man trip?
How much are you paying for your Le Man trip?
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M3CHA-MONK3Y

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

224 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
Hi,

Just finalised the booking for Le Mans with some mates, somehow we've managed to get it cheaper than last year.

We've worked it out at £125 each, with 2 people per car. That includes, Tickets, ferry and petrol (roughly 20 mpg). Obviously doesn't include spending money but I think we've done alright there. Anybody else got a good deal this year?

The Leaper

5,667 posts

235 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
Presumably that cost includes general entrance tickets but not grandstand tickets?

R.

RVVUNM

1,913 posts

238 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
And Camping?

Nick M

3,632 posts

252 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
M3CHA-MONK3Y said:
Hi,

Just finalised the booking for Le Mans with some mates, somehow we've managed to get it cheaper than last year.

We've worked it out at £125 each, with 2 people per car. That includes, Tickets, ferry and petrol (roughly 20 mpg). Obviously doesn't include spending money but I think we've done alright there. Anybody else got a good deal this year?
That seems awfully reasonable !! What ferry route are you using ?

My car does about 23mpg on average, and a recent trip to the French alps was a little painful on fuel costs ! Fuel prices there seem very volatile with quite an increase while we were there due to, apparently, the change in FX rate between the dollar and Euro. It jumped up at least 5 cents / litre in a week.

By my reckoning, it's a 550 mile round trip from Calais to Houx and back, add in some general running about and call it 600, and at 20mpg that's 30 gallons (132 litres) of petrol. At the cheapest prices I saw in France last week €107.9/litre, that would be something in the region of €140 just on fuel if you bought it all there !! Using prices around our way for petrol it would be about €125 (12% cheaper).

The following website is worth keeping an eye on as we move towards June - was really handy in helping to track down cheap fuel. We took two cars and estimate we saved about €40 by stopping at supermarkets close to the autoroute (not major detours by any means) compared to the services themselves.

http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/




SEE YA

3,522 posts

274 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
Well for my boy and I we are looking at around £600 all in camping with PCGB.
It is a bit expensive,but with a child it is a nice safe camp site and clean no chav's etc.Going to Port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer via Ramsgate, if possible it's a new service starts 1st March



Edited by SEE YA on Friday 16th January 16:16


Edited by SEE YA on Friday 16th January 16:17

G T 3

2,142 posts

283 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
Dont worry just have fun......

Edited by G T 3 on Friday 16th January 16:48

froglet

88 posts

293 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
SEE YA said:
Going to Port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer via Ramsgate, if possible it's a new service starts 1st March
Wouldn't hold my breath on that one (unless you've got insider info!), they've been saying they'll be starting a new service for the last two years as far as I can tell (admittedly previously from Dover sharing the same docks as Speedferries...whatever happened to them?)but I'm sure you'll get the idea, why I have my doubts...and thats without looking at their oh-so professional website just itching to take everyones money...will believe it when I see it syndrome.

http://www.kent-online.co.uk/kol08/article/default...
http://www.kent-online.co.uk/kol08/article/default...
http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/item265_rochester_f...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southeast/series10/...


E36GUY

5,907 posts

247 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
G T 3 said:
Dont worry just have fun......
My thoughts entirely!

The Leaper

5,667 posts

235 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
SEEYA,

Just take comfort here: if you use one of the majors to buy a package for a crossing, hotel accomodation, parking, tickets including grandstands etc, then for two you'll be faced with a cost of around £1100. Then there's petrol, food, beer.....

I know, I've done it this way for the past 13 years but this year I've joined the ACO and on a DIY basis I'm expecting to halve the expense.

R.

G T 3

2,142 posts

283 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
Leaper, break down of costs please, that seems a lot, dont you have a mate to share ferry camping petrol etc......
Why go in a hotel, you have to drive, not as much fun, and no atmosphere.....do it properly.

Edited on your behalf, I just read your profile, you have a valid excuse(almost) for a hotel

BUT....NO ONE ELSE DOES.



Edited by G T 3 on Friday 16th January 21:13

hugh_

3,742 posts

270 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
froglet said:
Speedferries...whatever happened to them?
They went bust a couple of months back, shame because it was a good service and usually cheaper than the ferry. Very convenient for Le Mans, less so for the ring!

Incidentally, I see Norfolk Line (Dover to Dunkirk) can be had for £35 return for the LeMans weekend.




Edited by hugh_ on Friday 16th January 22:21

The Leaper

5,667 posts

235 months

Friday 16th January 2009
quotequote all
GT3,

I'm an old geezer and need my comforts. Camping is not for me (nor is the Houx fun and games on the Friday afternoon/evening).

The package I have bought in the past, starting in 1996, includes Eurotunnel, hotel in Le Mans or nearby for three nights, parking in Parking Blanc alongside the circuit, general entrance, seat in Maison Blanche grandstand, and access to a marquee, decent loos etc. The price is for two peeps. I know it's pricey doing it through agents etc but it's a once a year must do event (as I'm sure you know). It's a matter of spending priorities and peace of mind (the agency has never failed me on my order placed in December the previous year).

I have been a few times by myself. On such occasions I've fixed things on a DIY basis. Eurotunnel, Friday and Sunday in a hotel, sleep in the car on Saturday in Parking Blanc, general entrance and Maison Blanche seat too, works out at about £350.

Been to Le Classic three times too and the costs, either way, work out maybe 15% less, a reflection on lower demand I think.

I fully undestand why other PHers would want to do things cheaper, probably go for the whole week, and party. I just wish I was younger, not an old f**t in a Jaguar!

R.

SEE YA

3,522 posts

274 months

Saturday 17th January 2009
quotequote all
The Leaper said:
SEEYA,

Just take comfort here: if you use one of the majors to buy a package for a crossing, hotel accomodation, parking, tickets including grandstands etc, then for two you'll be faced with a cost of around £1100. Then there's petrol, food, beer.....

I know, I've done it this way for the past 13 years but this year I've joined the ACO and on a DIY basis I'm expecting to halve the expense.

R.
Yes still a lot with myself and a 7 year old going only.It is a excellent campsite, and very clean and tidy and the main thing safe.

Edited by SEE YA on Saturday 17th January 07:12

here

658 posts

221 months

Saturday 17th January 2009
quotequote all
£90 for the Ashford hotel on the Wednesday night.
£100 for return Chunnel ticckets.
£380 for the Tetra rouge camp site, 2 entrance tickets,2 Dunlop grand stand tickets.
£70 AA European insurance.
Thats so far.
I estimate it will cost me approximately £3-400 in fuel. It did last year.
£500 for any speeding fines/bribes i may incurebiggrinbiggrin

slartibartfast

4,031 posts

230 months

Sunday 18th January 2009
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as little a possible

-JUT-

2,007 posts

242 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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The Leaper said:
...I just wish I was younger, not an old f**t in a Jaguar!

R.
Hey, I drove an XJR down there last year and I was only 28, they're not just for old farts! biggrin

here

658 posts

221 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
28!!....no you are now 29!! You do know that next year life will be over dont youbiggrin Children, teens and 20 somethings will class you as over the hill and middle agebiggrin
Funny really how people bellow 29 look at people between the ages of 30 and 60 as middle age.....go figurebiggrin

Edited by here on Monday 19th January 18:28

5upra

2,210 posts

227 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
M3CHA-MONK3Y said:
Hi,

Just finalised the booking for Le Mans with some mates, somehow we've managed to get it cheaper than last year.

We've worked it out at £125 each, with 2 people per car. That includes, Tickets, ferry and petrol (roughly 20 mpg). Obviously doesn't include spending money but I think we've done alright there. Anybody else got a good deal this year?
Not sure how you can do it at that cost! Per person its about £60 petrol, £60 entry ticket (£120 already) £15 towards the motorway tolls, half ferry ticket is at least £23, plus your cut of the campsite, all adds up to £178 plus spends ? unless you know something everyone else doesn't ? Whatever the cost, have a great time !!!!

The Leaper

5,667 posts

235 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
JUT,

You are right to come back on me of course! All Jaguars are great cars IMHO, some models even greater than others. The XJR is a mighty fine motor and its performance will leave a number of PHers way behind on performance.

From the Jaguar thread on Pistonheads I know there are a significant number of younger owners/drivers of Jaguars including XJRs, and that's just great.

Maybe my reference to old f**t is emphasising my own age not those other Jaguar owners out there!

PS: Maybe I'm not so old...today I have driven from Falmouth in Cornwall to home in Surrey. 270 miles, a lot of the route on the A303 ie not on motorways, 4 1/4 hours on a Monday afternoon; pretty good. In fact, out of season it's a regular trip for me usually in under 4 1/2 hours. Now, if I had your XJR...

R.

Pacey

66 posts

248 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Getting to Le Mans and back is costing us around £340, although we are travelling from Cornwall via Dover. That accounts for ferry, fuel, tolls, and breakdown cover.

A camping pitch and general admission ticket is another £100 per person on top of that although we are staying in Houx which is one of the more expensive campsites.