The true costs of a tour
THE BEST OF EUROPE
Touring is pricey, we all know that. But what does it really cost you? Ali heads to the Dordogne to find out…
Words and pictures Alison Silcox
‘Don’t think about the money, don’t think about the money’. RiDE’s purse string puller forces a smile
ALONG WITH HERDING cats and taking orders for tartan paint, my day job is to keep our scatterbrained editor Matt and his budget on track. It’s not always the easiest, but it certainly makes you aware how much things cost. So, with prices rising and the cost of getting away ever-higher, I wanted to know the true cost of a six-day tour in France. Sometimes, however, it’s best not to know…
DAY ONE
Ride HQ to Sillé-le-Guillaume, 424 miles
I’m excited, it’s that time of year where I leave hubby at home to head off on an adventure. I’m off to Dordogne, via the Eurotunnel. I plan to overnight with mates to keep costs down but this makes it a long day ride. Motorways and toll roads make progress quick, but fuel, food and tolls mount up. Ten hours on the go and the lack of aches and pains surprise me. Sit bones know I’ve done the journey, but aches are soon forgotten once a glass of rosé is in hand.
Fuel £49.54
Food £17.22
Tolls £22.14
Accommodation £0
Lunch in Domme. There are worse places to eat…
DAY TWO
Sillé-le-Guillaume to Thénac, 293 miles
I’m putting my faith in satnav to head the beaten track. Roads are a mix of long straights that meld into sweepers before turning into hairpins. Infrequent refreshments keep costs low but fuel prices vary dramatically – it peaks at £1.70 a litre in one village. I’m joining a group of bikers who are staying at the stunning Le Chai Villa, near Thénac. Room rate is €120 (£100) per night for B&B and on arrival I chuck some money in the kitty for evening meals.
Accommodation £100
Fuel £31.90
Food £10.49
Evening meal kitty £80
Getting ready for another day of exploring
DAYS THREE & FOUR
Touring the Dordogne, 179 miles
Le Chai Villa owners Paul and Fi become our tour guides for day three. The villa features on the Channel 4 show New Life in the Sun, so cameraman John is in tow – filming adds a different dimension to the day. Paul’s route planning is on point; it shows off the Dordogne at its best. A mix of roads suit all, and Paul factors in plenty of time to enjoy them. It’s a leisurely day and the weather couldn’t be better, with a long lunch stop in the breathtaking hilltop town of Domme. Temperatures hit the high 20s, luckily the ice cream’s tastier and cheaper than a Mr Whippy back home. Next day I stayed at the gîte and chilled, and had a massage and vineyard tour.
Fuel £17.75 Food £0
Massage £30
Vineyard tour and wine £25
Accommodation £200
Dordogne tour took in some incredible scenery
DAY FIVE
The journey home begins, 308 miles
It’s a wrench to leave the hospitality of Le Chai Villa. It’s been the perfect base to explore from, and my heart’s heavy as I pack to head north. My route isn’t the exact reverse of the journey down – roads differ, and I find a truck stop to have lunch. At the thick end of a tenner, it’s not cheap, but the world’s biggest baguette stuffed with Brie fills me up and the strong cafe au lait gets me buzzing for the afternoon. Back at my mates for the night means free bed and board – bargain.
Fuel £31.57
Food £16.87
Tolls £0
Accommodation £0
Ali with Le Chai Villa owners Paul and Fi
DAY SIX
Back home to my cat, 438 miles
I’m not looking forward to today, but once I’m back on the road the miles click by. Tolls, motorways and minimal stops are my plan. It’s a dull but direct route – after the stunning countryside of the Dordogne it feels like a lacklustre ride. A nasty detour through the centre of Rouen adds an unwanted delay, too. The thing I like about the Eurotunnel is how simple and hassle-free it is to use, plus it gets me back to the UK before I’ve left! A final three-hour slog through Kent and round the M25 soon sees me heading north and home.
Fuel £37.74
Food £11.63
Tolls £22.14
Accommodation £0
WHERE I STAYED
I stayed at the stunning Le Chai Villa near Thénac. It’s the perfect base to explore the Dordogne. Motorcycle tours can be arranged or routes provided. Exclusive hire of the villa, which sleeps up to 12, starts at €2150 per week, while B&B at a room rate is €120 per room per night.
Info: www.lechaivilla.com
THE FINAL COSTS
Fuel £168.50
Tolls £44.28
Food £136.21
Accommodation £300
Extras £55
Eurotunnel £274
Total £977.99
It’s been a fantastic trip and I haven’t been too extravagant, but I have indulged a little.
I like flexibility, so I opted for Eurotunnel’s flexi-ticket – had I fixed my crossing time, this would have been around half the price.
Avoiding toll roads instantly reduces costs, and fuel is often cheaper in larger towns rather than being tied to motorway services.
I’ll admit that I’m fortunate to have friends to stop off with to keep accommodation costs to a minimum. That said, there are lots of deals to be had and a multitude of affordable rooms on offer.