Travelling to Spain from the UK by land has always been a feat of endurance, but more and more holidaymakers are taking on the drive.

While you must take your hat off to those that try such a huge feat of driving, there are other factors that many holidaymakers forget about. Driving for those who drive for a living could expect a more favourable response.

Driving is a tiresome event. From Northern France to Almeria in Spain you can expect a 1500 mile drive. To speed the journey up you can use the toll roads through France and Spain. The expenses for these tolls vary from 10 Euros up the 35 Euros; plus you could expect to top up your fuel tank about 3 times. Fuel of course in France is more expensive than Spain, but both cheaper than the UK.

The total cost for tolls and fuel for such a journey would be: tolls approximately 150 Euros and fuel about 180 Euros. While that is a toil in itself on your wallet, if you have three other passengers you will have reached Southern Spain in an economic fashion. The Channel Crossing can vary with a car and four passengers varying from 120 Euros to 280 Euros. Suddenly the economy is put into question. But don't forget you need to find this expense and effort to do the return journey.

When planning a holiday we must consider both the financial cost and the human cost such as tiredness. Without doubt tiredness can spoil the holiday for the driver. Once the driver has waken in the morning he may feel reasonably fresh but by mid afternoon drowsiness and tiredness sets in for the rest of the day. This lethargy can stay around for a few more days into the holiday once the destination has been reached.

In this study, a comparison of the long drive and the costs involved, versus the airfare and the use of a hire car at your destination airport. Here are the results we found...

July and August are the only months that differ. So for 10 months of the year the financial cost to drive is more expensive than to fly out and use a family hire car. In fact the comparison means that you would save between 50 to 75% of the value of the long drive.

Meanwhile the extra hike in the airfares for the peak summer season brings the competition to an almost dead heat; with the only balancing factor being the driver tiredness. Fly and use a hire car and you will have a driver with you to enjoy the holiday. Drive down and you may find that the driver is more of a ghost for a few days while he or she recovers.

The overall conclusion from this study is the air flight puts less pressure on the family holiday than would a long drive. For those who thought the drive would be so much more economical need to go back and check their calculations.

Mr. P. Booker Car Hire | Car Rental Specialist