Stark said:
Let me have some resting points OP and I'll start looking into hotels and costs.
What is the total mileage point to point, will be good to give everyone an idea of costs, and how many nights...
OK, cost-wise... We will be avoiding all toll-roads, so that's no cost.
As for mileage there are two options:
1. either I organise a route down to the Alps (more or less) and the last day is nothing but highway (and possibly toll roads) to cover the distance back
2. OR we simply do a tour around Belgium, Germany and France (as proposed now) with no highway or toll roads whatsoever
Fuel cost:
In the first case, total mileage will be higher but gasoline cost should be equal as you consume less on the last day doing purely highway. In general, I was thinking about 300 kms per day on average (small roads only, about 5 to 6 hours drive per day), for 6 days, with 1 resting day in the middle (probably around the Rhein river in Germany). So basically about 1.800 kilometers in total or roughly 1.200 miles. With that figure you should be able to calculate the minimal fuel cost to take into account.
For example:
with my driving style I have a consumption of roughly 10,5 to 11 liters per 100 kilometers (or 22 miles to the gallon).
Average fuel cost in Europe is about 1,6 euro per liter.
So with 1.800 or let's say 2.000 kilometers (with some errors or driving around) for the whole trip, the fuel cost would be (2.000/100)*11*1,6 =
350 euro (or 300 pounds)
Hotel cost (per double room):
In Europe (to my experience), a decent hotel room with double bed will cost more or less 100 euro per night. Breakfast is usually around 12 to 15 euro per person, per day. So for easy calculation, let's say
125 euro per night, including breakfast. Take 7 nights and you will have a cost of
875 euro (or 750 pounds). You could do cheaper in some locations, for sure!
Eating an drinking:
As a consultant, I always had a budget of 50 euro per day for food. Breakfast was always included in the hotel cost and usually lunch was covered by the client. But still, with 50 euro per person, per day, you can have a pretty royal restaurant meal every day, including beverages. I'm pretty sure that with 50 euro per day, per person you should have more than enough. Take 7 days and you will have a cost of
350 euro (or 300 pounds). Again, you could do cheaper in some locations.
Total cost: 350 euro for fuel, 875 euro for hotel nights and breakfasts and 350 euro for eating and drinking. Or
1.575 euro in total, being 1.350 pounds. Saving a bit here and there, you can do this for 1.000 pounds in total. Obviously if you are 2 persons in one car, it would be a little more (extra food cost).
Does that sound about right?