No, unfortunately we went really early (when it opened) and the vulture feeding wasn't until 3pm so we missed it. Loved the parrots too though, the keeper was throwing peanuts all over the place and one actually hopped onto my sons arm, he was thrilled (though half scared to death too! lol). Val did you listen to the Siamang Gibbons? I video'd them and I can't stop watching it back - the pair had a baby and he was happily swinging around while mom sang opera LOL
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by CaddyClan on 16/8/2007
LOL sorry to laugh but my OH was exactly the same he cursed aloud when he saw the invoice from the campsite (that they gave us on arrival) that said 511.00. He calmed down a bit when I explained it was Euro's.
Much rather have had it that way round!! Never mind its made him see that perhaps he should take more interest when I'm planning the trips. Or maybe thats a bad thing! Claire
We were on a really tight budget for our two weeks, we had 50 euro's a day for two adults and 9 yr old for food, drink, days out etc. And .. wayhey.. we did it! The weather was mainly fine so we didn't have to spend a lot on wet weather attractions. We managed to eat out four times, had all the wine we could drink, had the odd icecream, a couple of nights in budget hotels on the way home, brought home plenty of wine and had a fantastic holiday. AND because I had over budgeted for petrol when I checked the Nationwide account when I go home there was £180 left!!
I did the same thing as Claire and was constantly getting my little black book out and totting up what we had spent but it didn't spoil the hols.
So the total cost including absolutely everything for our two fantastic weeks in France was £1100 - not bad but I will try and save up a bit more for next year so as not to have to make a packed lunch every day!
We returned on Sunday night after 10 nights in France and 5 in England.
Spending in France came to around 80 Euros a day excluding Disney tickets, ferry crossing, site fees and most of the fuel..
I took 400 Euros with me and with a couple of days to go took another 200 from the Autobank. This was probably a bit of overkill and we landed up paying for some of the fuel in cash to try and use them up. We had two shopping trips to a Supermarket where we spent 75 and 92 Euros. (Both of those paid by debit card so not included in the 600) We only brought back 7 bottles of wine, mainly because of space considerations.
Family of four. It certainly helped that I finally sold my car a few days before we went so was fairly relaxed about spending money. We rarely ate out, though had food in Disney a couple of days.
Quote: Originally posted by CaddyClan on 16/8/2007
Val did you listen to the Siamang Gibbons? I video'd them and I can't stop watching it back - the pair had a baby and he was happily swinging around while mom sang opera LOL
We were up on the tiger viewing platform behind the gibbons when they started singing so we all did the logical thing...started "singing" back. It was funny, but I don`t think the gibbons were too impressed by our efforts!
Just looked at my bank and creidt card statements and we spent about £560 for a 16 night holiday in France, not including Ferry, campsite or diesel. That was for 2 adults and 3 children aged 10, 8 and 7 months and works out at about £35 per day. We save on overnight stops by doing the journey from home to campsite at La tranche sur mer in the day. Luckily we are only an hour from Dover and my trailer tows beautifully at 80mph!!
Admittedly, having a baby did restrict us and we spent most mornings at the campsite pool and afternoons at the beack or visits, the most expensive being the zoo at les sables and the chateau at talmont, both around £25 for the family.
Incidentally we got around 1.47 euros to the pound on our nationwide card but only 1.42 -1.44 euros on our egg credit card
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
For us it's really important that we budget. Both hubby and I work (me part time but for the equivalent of full-time wages for a lot of people) but even still, with 3 kids, 2 cars and a mortgage (and a penchant for several holidays a year - albeit camping holidays and weekends for the most part) we still have to be careful. Admittedly we do take picnics with us a lot of the times, especially to theme parks or zoos where it is notoriously expensive to eat.
All that said, we will prob only be able to afford the one main holiday next year - as hubby is hoping to change jobs (therefore losing the company car and we will need to buy another car) which is fine as it's still more than a lot of people manage and at least I know we are doing it without incurring any additional debt.
I'm still working hard at collecting Tesco Clubcard vouchers to redeem against next summers holiday!
Claire.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Quote: Originally posted by CaddyClan on 16/8/2007
I'm still working hard at collecting Tesco Clubcard vouchers to redeem against next summers holiday!
Me too...and I`ve found all sorts of interesting ways. For instance, if you recycle your old phone via the envelopes you can get at Tesco customer services, you get 500 points. Inkjet cartridges too, for 100(?) points. Join some of their mailing list clubs and you get points. Etc...
Family of four in France - Just worked ours out at 100 euro a day for fifteen nights away which included four tanks of petrol, quite a lot of ice cream and drinks, blew 200 euros on paragliding for self and 2 kids ( and well worth it! ), 40 euro on canoe hire - we tended to eat out more at lunchtime, BBQ or pasta in the evenings. Did loads of stuff though and had one of the best holidays we've ever had.
Not included in the above- two nights BB Hotel 150 Euro, Camp Site about 600 Euro, Insurance 30 pounds, Ferry crossings 160 pounds.
Could have spent a lot less just by cutting down on buying drinks / icecreams etc. but that's what holidays are for.
Finding it quite hard to differentiate French supermarkets from English these days - 20 years ago they were miles apart and we used to think it a real treat to visit the Intermarche!
Val A - We loved the whole Tarn area, so much to do - we didn't even venture more than about a quarter of a single Michelin atlas page, it's such a huge area. Would definitely go back and explore more especially the Dourbie and upper Jonte.
Top marks for the very obliging vultures and campsite beavers .
I think any holiday is as expensive as you make it!! We have just returned from 16 days in the Vendee 2 adults and 2 children and we only spent a total of £700.00 which included toll roads etc. We didnt budget any daily amount and we had a brilliant holiday we just didnt go mad!!!
Trouble is I like to go a bit mad on holiday! I spend the rest of the year worrying about what we can and cant afford (mainly cant!) Its quite nice to be a bit irresponsible, Claire
Well, we've booked the same place for next summer - so for me, it's nice to know that the amount I have set aside each month will give us a great holiday and I'll not have to worry about credit card bills when I get home. I have upped our budget a little for next summer though.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 16/8/2007
Lindsay - how did you go on as you were so worried about the r..s at Le Brevedent - did you see anything worrying? Glad to hear that you didn't overspend too - nothing worse than coming back feeling that you've blown the budget.
Didn't see a single rat!
Saw two mice, not by our tent though, and saw three water voles in the river, not even in the lake, and they were surprisingly cute. Still wouldn't have fancied having one in the tent though.
We had a shrew in the tent on the first site we stayed at and from the screaming and shouting from me and my three boys you would have thought that Freddie Kreuger was in the tent! My husband thought we were being attacked!
I worried about nothing really. But guess what? We have come home and have got a bloody rat in the garden and mice in the garage, I think thats sods law for you!
------------- Abbey Farm
Wellington Country Park
Gibraltar Farm
Abbey Farm
Arromanches
Le Brevedent
Abbey Farm ....again!
Manoir Du Kerlut, Quimper
Charity Farm, Wigan, Lancs
Camping Val de Loire, Mesland, France
Abbey Farm
Lower Lacon
Beechwood, Yorks
Black Horse Farm, Folkestone
I'le D'Offard, Saumur
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Update on Budget for 2 wks in France
I spend the rest of the year worrying about what we can and cant afford (mainly cant!) Its quite nice to be a bit irresponsible, Claire
