| This article has been a study on driving through | | | | When planning a holiday we must consider both the |
| Europe, the costs in both financial terms and time. | | | | financial cost and the human cost such as tiredness. |
| The study is a comparison of these costs towartds | | | | Without doubt tiredness can spoil the holiday for the |
| the costs of hiring a car and flying to your intended | | | | driver. Once the driver has waken in the morning he |
| destination. | | | | may feel reasonably fresh but by mid afternoon |
| Travelling to Spain from the UK by land has always | | | | drowsiness and tiredness sets in for the rest of the |
| been a feat of endurance, but more and more | | | | day. This lethargy can stay around for a few more |
| holidaymakers are taking on the drive. | | | | days into the holiday once the destination has been |
| | | | | reached. |
| While you must take your hat off to those that try | | | | |
| such a huge feat of driving, there are other factors | | | | In this study, a comparison of the long drive and the |
| that many holidaymakers forget about. Driving for | | | | costs involved, versus the airfare and the use of a |
| those who drive for a living could expect a more | | | | hire car at your destination airport. Here are the |
| favourable response. | | | | results we found
|
| | | | | |
| Driving is a tiresome event. From Northern France to | | | | July and August are the only months that differ. So |
| Almeria in Spain you can expect a 1500 mile drive. To | | | | for 10 months of the year the financial cost to drive |
| speed the journey up you can use the toll roads | | | | is more expensive than to fly out and use a family |
| through France and Spain. The expenses for these | | | | hire car. In fact the comparison means that you |
| tolls vary from 10 Euros up the 35 Euros; plus you | | | | would save between 50 to 75% of the value of the |
| could expect to top up your fuel tank about 3 times. | | | | long drive. |
| Fuel of course in France is more expensive than | | | | |
| Spain, but both cheaper than the UK. | | | | Meanwhile the extra hike in the airfares for the peak |
| | | | | summer season brings the competition to an almost |
| The total cost for tolls and fuel for such a journey | | | | dead heat; with the only balancing factor being the |
| would be: tolls approximately 150 Euros and fuel | | | | driver tiredness. Fly and use a hire car and you will |
| about 180 Euros. While that is a toil in itself on your | | | | have a driver with you to enjoy the holiday. Drive |
| wallet, if you have three other passengers you will | | | | down and you may find that the driver is more of a |
| have reached Southern Spain in an economic fashion. | | | | ghost for a few days while he or she recovers. |
| The Channel Crossing can vary with a car and four | | | | |
| passengers varying from 120 Euros to 280 Euros. | | | | The overall conclusion from this study is the air flight |
| Suddenly the economy is put into question. But | | | | puts less pressure on the family holiday than would a |
| don’t forget you need to find this expense | | | | long drive. For those who thought the drive would be |
| and effort to do the return journey. | | | | so much more economical need to go back and |
| | | | | check their calculations. |