Dnk Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I'm possibly having a drive down to Barcelona in September and thought i'd see what you guys recommend for breakdown cover. I'm not with any comps here in the UK so just looking to cover the one off trip The AA want £138 to cover me for 17 days. Eurobreakdown Gold cover is £77 !!! Also is it worth me not bothering to book the ferry and just get on when I get there. Especially coming back as I could get in all sorts of hold ups in the 800 mile run from the villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Not a personal recommendation, but I found these guys: https://www.eurorescue.co.uk/index.htm I have UK cover with the UK-only part of their business. I've not had to call them out yet, so no idea if they're any good when it really matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 Thanks for the reply Steve. Anyone else got any input ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobUK Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 Try the RAC, that who we all used for Dragonball, was £38 when AA etc quoted silly money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 Dunk, try Smart Rescue. Got a policy with them for £62 annually and this includes European cover. H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Thanks guys, any thoughts on just turning up at either the ferry or Eurotunnel without booking ? can you still do that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Thanks guys, any thoughts on just turning up at either the ferry or Eurotunnel without booking ? can you still do that ? I doubt you'd get away with it. On DB they wanted our details before we travelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 I doubt you'd get away with it. On DB they wanted our details before we travelled. Going out isn't a problem but coming back I'm going to need flexibility with times RAC are £131 for the same trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 If you turn up at Eurotunnel, you have to buy Flexiplus ticket and although a nice class of service with the freebies and priority boarding with no real booking restrictions in terms of times, they are £199 (sometimes a bit more in July/August)each way if your trip is over 5 days. Its something I do quite often for work, much better to try and do it online before you go if you can and you don't want to spend as much. It's interesting what Havard says about API, if you buy in advance they want you to disclose the passport numbers up front but when you buy on the gate they don't seem to bother. Apart from really busy periods, I have found Eurotunnel to be really good about being flexible if you show up a bit late or early on booked crossing, even days. During peak season if you have booked a cheap crossing and then turn up expecting to go at a more expensive time they will sometimes ask for the difference, but not always. As for tunnel vs ferry, imo there is no competition so long as you are travelling via Calias, tunnel wins hands down. Less waiting around, faster crossing, less people but it costs more and there are some really cheap ferry deals if you look around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 £200 each way Thanks for the info Shane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I signed up with the RAC last week but went through cash back website Quidco. I got 12 months UK cover, paid around £75 and will be getting £40 cash back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Just been comparing the tunnel to the ferries as I don't really need a fast crossing £59 for a flexi ticket each way which gives me +/- 4 hours from the booked crossing time with P & O Think i'll be doing that if I drive there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 I signed up with the RAC last week but went through cash back website Quidco. I got 12 months UK cover, paid around £75 and will be getting £40 cash back. I'm not after UK cover Mark, just cover for a one off trip to Spain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Yes I know but there were other options, I only needed UK. If you find the cover you want with whoever, then you can look on a cashback website and buy it through them and get a cash back sum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 After totting it up its just not worth driving there, it would be nice to have the rag top for cruising around in but the cost is silly compared to flying and getting a hire car. Hire car at the airport for .... £300 Return flight to B'ham from ..£102 Ferry return .......................£118 Breakdown cover ............... £131 Fuel there and back ........... £400 averaging 25 mpg 2000 miles approx Tolls (no idea)....................£100 at a guess ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 After totting it up its just not worth driving there, it would be nice to have the rag top for cruising around in but the cost is silly compared to flying and getting a hire car. Hire car at the airport for .... £300 Return flight to B'ham from ..£102 Ferry return .......................£118 Breakdown cover ............... £131 Fuel there and back ........... £400 averaging 25 mpg 2000 miles approx Tolls (no idea)....................£100 at a guess ? Tolls are about right. I can't remember what spent but it was about €80 each way, I think. So about £120. I remember being shocked at the toll charges and the length of time it would take if you didn't cough up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 I was surprised at the flight cost but guess it'll be an extra £50 if I want to take a decent size suitcase. Booked up a great villa just outside Lloret de Mar with great views of the med Roll on September Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 I'm possibly going back to driving there now, the car hire plus the insurance excess cover and me having to have an auto is more like £400 for the 2 weeks and the flight is nearer £220 with baggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 £100 in tolls should be about right if you're driving down the A20. Might be worth pricing up getting a ferry to Bilbao and driving from there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 The sailing dates for Bilbao are no use to me i'm afraid, outbound is 3 days to early and in inbound 2 days to late in relation to the villa rental If the dates were do able its £554 return Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Just found this which is useful Calais - Le Perthus via Rouen, Chartres & Clermont Ferrand: 57.50 € (cheapest fast route) •Calais - Le Perthus via A26, Reims and Lyon: 101.60 € •Calais - Le Perthus via Paris, Orleans & Clermont-Ferrand: 73.70 € •Le Havre - Le Perthus via Chartres, Orleans & A 71. 54.80 € Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 And there's also the French motor rail. Can be worth it depending on route, tolls and fuel etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 I'd rather drive than sit on a train Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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