Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

donny-gal

Bonjour Tous

Yes I am in Normandy, thoroughly enjoying the unexpectedly hot weather. Managed to miss most of the thunderstorms just had a sprinkling of light rain for five minutes now and again and the odd rumble of thunder.

Food is very expensive, even on the markets, much more expensive than Spain.

Glad you are settling M, I know you miss your family, I hope they are coming over this summer. I too got a bonus from the Co-op for £56 into my bank, DH also gets his and will be in tokens when we get back.

Spent the day at Bayeux yesterday and went to see the tapestry (which is really an embroidery). very nice, and then a quiz night last night. Didn't manage to see Murray yesterday, but saw the epic the other night, and will keep Friday and Sunday clear.

Fingers crossed please for DS who has a second face to face interview today for a job in London.

Museum visiting today locally, so better get back.
DG

gfplux

Just some information on channel crossing.

I have just booked for a trip to the UK in November.
I will travel on a Monday and return on a Thursday the next week. I want to board around noon on both legs. I am not travelling during any school or national holidays.

Eurotunnel €222 WOW!!!!!. The tunnel is my preferred choice for speed and privacy but not at that price. If I convert €222 by 1.15 = £193 plus I imagine a Visa booking charge.

OK so now I check P&O £52 pounds including £2 for paying with Visa. No Contest. I book it.

Last year at almost the same time I paid £86 to use P&O and in 2006 and 2007 I paid €168 to use the tunnel. ( The exchange rate was of course much higher)

Good luck to Eurotunnel.

droopsnout

Did you try Norfolk Line?

gfplux

Norfolk Line = €70.92 @ 1.15 = £61.67.
So P&O are the winners............ this time.

droopsnout

Excellent. Well done. I was looking at a crossing around Christmas/New Year. The fares were not all available, but for 17 Dec, Norfolk Lines were charging £20 one way via FerrySavers. (Add a trailer, and it was over £83!)

P&O have been offering some good fares, I know, and I always check SeaFrance, too.

I travelled once with LD Lines - but never again!

Wonder if EuroFerries will have got their act together by the New Year.

donny-gal

Some friends of ours got a return Norfolk Line for this holiday we are on now via the NEC Caravan show for £58 return for car+caravan. We used the tunnel via our Tesco vouchers, but not sure I will have enough for next year. £198 return car+caravan, booked in January for June-July - earlier you book cheaper it is.
DG

sloan

Just over a week to retirement - big retirement party on Saturday! Off to Cyprus for 5 weeks on July 29th. I had already booked flights before I decided to retire, so coming back in early September and going back out October half term. Returning for Christmas via four days in Istanbul! Can't wait! I am so excited!

droopsnout

Whitby is also a lovely place! You're very lucky!

Enjoy your retirement, and I hope everything goes well for you!

seven-day-weekend

£79 beginning of August, Newhaven-Dieppe on LD Lines; £90 on I think Britanny Ferries (a French one anyway); £90 on eurotunnel.

Our preferred route is Portsmouth-Bilbao, but too expensive at this time of the year.

Newhaven is better for us if we are going to France; much easier to get to from the Midlands and we also have friends in Seaford which is next to Newhaven. Less driving in both countries also than from Dover/Folkstone.

gfplux

Amazing the price differences. Well worth checking them all before booking