hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
With the pound rallying against the euro, a motoring holiday on the Continent or in Ireland is a tempting prospect for many this year. The big question is: do you fly and rent, or take your own car on a ferry? Peter Ellegard looks at the merits of both motoring holiday in Europe has long been part of the English psyche, conjuring up visions of classic roadsters hugging the sweeping curves of the Cote d’Azur or touring through verdant Alpine valleys. For those venturing across the Channel, or indeed to Ireland or Scandinavia, there has traditionally only been one way to go: pack your car to the brim and take it on a ferry, driving to your destination and stopping off for an overnight break on long journeys. The advent of low-cost airlines and cheap flights to Europe’s cities and beach resorts means that it can now be just as cheap, if not cheaper, to fly direct to your final
A
destination and rent a car while you are there. Countering that is the hassle factor of flying and security checks as well as the limited amount of luggage allowed on aircraft, particularly those of budget carriers. Each has its advantages and its downsides, and the final choice will depend on a number of factors. Here is how they weigh up against each other:
driving your own car Whether you are heading off to a French campsite or gite, a log cabin in Scandinavia, B&Bs in Ireland, a parador hotel in Spain or a holiday park in Holland,
n Ship ahoy – packed and ready to sail away
taking your own car gives you lots of flexibility. One of the biggest advantages is that you can take as much luggage as you like, as there are no restrictions on ferries. Filled up the boot? No problem; just rent or buy a roofbox to give you more space. You can also put a cycle rack on the back of your car so that the whole family can explore the countryside by bike once at the holiday destination. Then there’s the convenience of setting off from your home with everything packed in the car and no need to unpack it until you reach the other end. You can stop at a supermarket, winery or shopping mall and grab bargains to bring back, without the inconven-
Brittany Ferries
n Driving in France
ience of not being allowed liquids as on aircraft. Once on the ferry, you have the freedom to roam the ship and get fresh air instead of being shoehorned into cramped airline seats. The ferry journey itself is also part of the holiday, especially on longer routes such as to Denmark, Normandy, Brittany and Northern Spain. Ferries today are a far cry from the old days of poor onboard facilities and transport café-style food. Now they are havens of comfort, with ensuite cabins, cinemas, night clubs, spas, gyms, bars and shows on longer routes. Most ferries offer a choice of dining, comfortable seating including reclining seats on some services, shopping and play areas. Some boast club lounges to rival those of airports, yet with check-in times from just 30 minutes and no lengthy security queues. Unlike cheap flights where changes can cost more than the original ticket, check-in and travel policies are flexible. Frequent services on short-sea routes give extra peace of mind, knowing that there is another sailing soon after if you miss your intended one. Those in a hurry can book priority loading to ensure they are first on and first off. High-speed catamaran ferries cut crossing times on some routes. If you can’t bear to be parted from your four-legged friends, many ferry operators welcome Fido or Rover if you have got them pet passports under the Government’s Pet Travel Scheme. Flying is not always the cheapest travel option, either. Booking ferry travel early means you can get good-value fares, with travel from as little as £1 per mile between the UK and France for a family of four with a car. National Ferry Fortnight each year brings special advance-booking promotions and last-minute offers. Several ferry companies, among them Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries, offer ferry-inclusive holidays, with a range of accommodation close to or within easy driving range of ferry ports. And if the thought of crossing the English Channel by sea makes you go green at the gills, you can always opt for the Eurotunnel option, with journeys taking just 35 minutes through the Channel Tunnel on its car-carrying trains.
Brittany Ferries
Driven by you “The ferry journey is also part of the holiday”
n Watch out for offers during National Ferry Fortnight
Discover Ferries
28 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
Winter 2011/2012
Winter 2011/12
tlm n the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
29
hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
The UK has the seventh-highest petrol prices in Europe and the second-highest diesel prices, according to the AA’s Fuel Price Report for December 2011. In Europe, Spain is the bargain popular holiday destination for drivers, although tiny Luxembourg is Europe’s cheapest for diesel, at the equivalent of 100.47 pence per litre, and Bulgaria is cheapest for unleaded petrol, at 100.04 pence per litre. Norway is the most expensive, at a whopping 152.15 pence per litre for unleaded petrol. Here are fuel prices for selected countries across Europe, with average UK prices:
Fuel prices in Europe Country Austria Belgium Denmark France Germany Netherlands Ireland Luxembourg Spain Sweden
Currency
Local currency per litre Sterling equivalent Unleaded Diesel Unleaded Diesel Euro 1.35 1.37 113.09 114.85 Euro 1.59 1.48 133.15 123.79 Danish Krone 12.16 11.59 136.77 130.36 Euro 1.51 1.44 125.88 120.62 Euro 1.47 1.40 123.12 117.11 Euro 1.68 1.42 140.34 118.78 Euro 1.48 1.47 123.62 122.79 Euro 1.30 1.20 108.50 100.47 Euro 1.29 1.31 107.83 109.50 Swedish Krona 14.03 14.34 130.47 133.35
Source: AA Prices in selected countries as at December 19, 2011
UK fuel prices Unleaded 95 Octane (pence) litres (gallons) UK AVERAGE 132.5 602.4
Diesel (pence) litres (gallons) 141.1 641.45
Source: AA Prices are an average across the UK as at mid-December 2011
Europcar
n Pre-book a satnav with your hire car
fuel’s gold
fly and rent Even with the extra time it now takes at airports, with earlier check-ins and longer security procedures, flying to your destination is generally quicker – much more so if you are going further afield and not just puddle-jumping. If you are heading somewhere that would be a long drive from a coastal port, you will arrive far more refreshed than if you had to sit behind the wheel for several hours, and you won’t have the constant cries of “Are we there yet?” from fractious children. Car rental facilities are generally either on-airport or very close by, so you need only stroll over to the desk and your car is usually just a short walk away and ready to be driven off. Hotels sometimes have rental locations and there are always rental facilities in cities, so you don’t have to jump straight in a car when you arrive at the airport if you don’t want to. You can also rent for just a few days instead of the whole stay, ensuring you are not wasting money with the car sitting idly in a parking lot while you are lazing on a beach. Pre-booking cuts down on the time to process your booking, guarantees you the vehicle of your choice and generally gets you better rates than prices charged inresort. You can also pre-book satnavs and child or baby seats with your car. Holiday Autos sales support manager Stephanie Hills notes: “By pre-booking your car rental you know exactly what the fully inclusive price is and can be sure you
fare’s fair? Price comparison – ferry travel vs flights to Spain Ryanair
Brittany Ferries
Route Flight price Car hire price London-Santander £623.92 £142.31
Route Ferry price Portsmouth-Santander £958.00
Airport parking Total price £80.00 £846.23
Difference in price £111.77
easyjet London-Bilbao
£539.92
£161.11
£80.00
£781.03
Portsmouth-Bilbao
£958.00
£176.97
Source: Brittany Ferries Travel based on family of four, travelling July 2012 (ferry includes standard car) This table comparing the cost of ferry travel to northern Spain with that of flying and renting may look like the flights option is a clear winner. But according to Brittany Ferries, which carried out the study, it does not tell the whole story. The comparison is for a family of two adults and two children travelling for a week’s holiday in late July and includes one night’s accommodation onboard in each direction on the ferry company’s
30 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
Santander and Bilbao routes. A Brittany Ferries spokesman said: “Although this price comparison shows us as being slightly more expensive, it is based on only one bag of less than 20kg per person [on the flights], which is not much for a family. Yet you can pack as much as you want in your own car and save money by taking cool bags of food, etc. Travelling by ferry is, of course, much more relaxing as well!”
Winter 2011/12
hit the road n taking your car away vs renting
Breath test kit law Dover ferry operator DFDS Seaways is highlighting the need for drivers to begin carrying disposable breathalysers when they drive in France from this spring. The measures, allowing drivers to test whether they are over the legal limit, are part of a programme to cut the number of road deaths in France, and those caught without a breathalyser in their car will face a 17 euro fine. The ferry company – which formerly operated in the route as Norfolkline – will be offering breathalysers in its onboard shops. Prices are yet to confirmed. DFDS operates up to 12 return sailings a day to Dunkirk. www.dfdsseaways.co.uk
l Former cross-Channel ferry operator SeaFrance has gone into liquidation on the orders of the Commercial Court in Paris. An automatic refund process has been set up for all current bookings. Customers with any queries should call 0845 458 0666.
32 tlm n the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
Alamo+National
driving in europe facts useful websites
n Airport pick-up The AA has a Driving Abroad section on its website (www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas) with information including general tips, driving requirements and compulsory equipment by country. Driving Abroad (www.drivingabroad.co.uk) also lists handy information for driving in different countries. The Passenger Shipping Association’s Discover Ferries website (www.discoverferries.com) details ferry routes, member companies and has lots of other information, including details of National Ferry Fortnight, from March 17-30. Car rental company National has information on driving in 50 countries on its Drive Safe website (www.nationaldrivesafe.com).
car ferry companies Brittany Ferries: www.brittanyferries.com Condor Ferries: www.condorferries.com DFDS Seaways: www.dfds.co.uk Irish Ferries: www.irishferries.com LD Lines: www.ldlines.com P&O Ferries: www.poferries.com Stena Line: www.stenaline.co.uk
car rental companies Alamo: www.alamo.co.uk Avis: www.avis.co.uk Budget: www.budget.co.uk Europcar: www.europcar.co.uk Hertz: www.hertz.co.uk Holiday Autos: www.holidayautos.co.uk National: www.nationalcar.co.uk Sixt: www.sixt.co.uk
Avis
For any long distance driving holiday, be it to the slopes of the Swiss Alps or to the beaches of Southern France, fuel costs and finding space for the whole family’s luggage will be among your concerns. Thule offers the very best solution with its latest range, the Thule Dynamic. Its sleek aerodynamic design actually complements the vehicle it is mounted upon, which in turn minimises unwanted drag and wind noise, leading to greater fuel efficiency. Fitting is simple, thanks to Thule’s new Power Click System, which offers a helpful indicator to ensure the correct fitting tightness. For ease of use, the box will open on either side, and it features a non-slip base mat to help prevent your luggage from moving within the box. The Thule Dynamic is available in two sizes; the 800 offers 420 litres capacity whereas the larger 900 offers 520 litres. Prices start from £649.99 from www.halfords.com For more information on the Thule range, go to www.thule.com.
Condor Ferries
Box clever
n Peace of mind when you rent
n Ferry fast
n Renting in France
Peter Ellegard
MOTORING CLIPS
won’t have to pay any extras for compulsory insurance, taxes etc. You are assured of the car you want, plus you have the full back-up service of a 24-hour helpline.” For families with small cars, opting for a hire car means they can rent a larger vehicle just for the time they need it, knowing the vehicle is fully-maintained and covered by 24-hour road assistance. It also allows them to enjoy their holiday in more comfort than if they had taken their own, smaller car and without the wear and tear such a long journey would have put on it. Conversely, if you are only using the hire car to drive locally and don’t need the extra comfort, you can cut down on cost by renting a much smaller vehicle than your own car. Renting allows you to be an eco-champion on holiday, too, with hybrid and electric cars now featured by several companies. Rental company National has a fleet of 250 compact, all-electric Citroen C-Zero cars in Paris and all main French cities, with rates from 35 euros per day. Many people also use a holiday to treat themselves, renting a convertible or luxury model that they would never drive at home. While in winter, you can rent a 4x4 to cope with the snow and ice in ski resorts.
Winter 2011/12