I have finally had the time to do a breakdown of our expenses for the 13 countries we visited in the last year. It’s from the 2nd of November 2017- 9 September 2018 (312 days). It’s on the road expenses, not including insurance, road tax. Ferry or eurotunnel to and from. the UK. Also Phone and internet data which is £40 a month for both of us. We started out on our maiden voyage not knowing what to expect. But got better at finding the free or cheaper accommodation, so our second trip will be cheaper. It’s all in euros, as that was the main currency we used in Europe. And what we work our weekly budget off.

Dog food is included in our food budget as its bought in our shopping, so I havent split it. Also included are meals out. We mainly ate in, but did have meals out, snacks, coffee, drinks etc. So here we go…….

France:

  • 2-22 Nov/ 28 mar-12 April /8-9 Sept
  • 38 nights, 13 were free. We got better at finding free aires so between march and april 8/16 nights were free. As were all the nights in September.
  • total spent €1585.37
  • Food: €505.25 (32%)
  • Fuel:  €472.50 (30%)   LPG/GPL: €40.39 (2.5%)    Tolls : €27.40 (1.8%)
  • Accom: €273.58 (17%)
  • Parking : €3 (0.2%)
  • Washing: €40 (2.5%)
  • Misc : €29.95 (2%)
  • Fix/ Maintenance of Motorhome: kitchen tap replacement €113.50 (7 %)
  • dogs : €79.80 (5 %) advocate spot on €51.80/ vet for pet passport €28

Average spend per day €38.75 without maintenance/ fixes included (€41.72 all inclusive)

Spain:

  • 23 Nov-6 Dec/ 12 Jan-27 Mar
  • 89 nights, including 38 free
  • total spent €4179.02
  • Food : €1513.88 ( 36.2%)
  • Fuel : €513.29 (12.3%)    LPG/GPL : €55.93    Tolls: €8 (0.2%)
  • Accom: €531.27 (12.7%)
  • Washing : €68.50 (1.6%)
  • Misc: €198.62 (4.8%)
  • Clothing: €89.99 (2%)
  • Books : €28.95 (0.7%) ACSI book and aires book
  • Bikes: €449.98 (11 %) 2 x folding bikes from Decathlon
  • Dogs : €29.98 (0.7%) Scalibor collars for dogs for flea protection
  • Fix/ maintenance :€690.63 (16.5%) New air suspension + fitting/ fridge fixed & new fuse/ new oil filter & oil/ New bathroom tap and installation.

Average spend per day : €34.13 day not including maintenance/ repairs or bikes (€46.90 inc)

A big month for repairs, our rear bumpstops disintegrated and we ordered air suspension online, getting them delivered to Malaga, where we were staying  for 3 weeks. We got it fitted by a local mechanic. The fridge wouldnt work on 12v whilst driving and we had the fuse replaced. Then found out it was a connection that needed replacing. At the same place as the fridge we had a bathroom tap replaced. Spain , was very cheap for food,  especially eating out.  We had a few full course meals for under €10 each and great seafood dishes. We also bought two folding bikes that we thought we would use. We found it to hard to take the dogs with them, so later on sold one. I also got new trainers my 2nd pair since leaving the UK. Dog Scalibor collars were cheap so, we bought the dogs second ones here. We also bought our 2018 ACSI books, so we could have the card for the discounts for the year.

Portugal

  • 7 dec- 11 Jan
  • 36 nights/ 9 were free
  • total spent: €1214.91
  • Food: €534.27 (49%)
  • Fuel: €90 (14%)     LPG/GPL: €14.43 (1.3%)    Toll: €42.20 ( 3.5%)
  • Accom : €223.20 (18.4%)
  • Washing: €49.40 (4%)
  • Ticket/ entrance fees: €6 (0.5%)
  • Misc: €18 (1.5%)
  • Fix/ Maintenance: €184.50 fiberglass and paint

Average per day: €28.62 day without repairs ( €33.74 included)

We had a little mix hap before christmas and hit an awning in Lidl, the result the whole top side of the left hand and back of the motor home. Needed fibreglass patching and repainting. We got a bargain with this and the guys were brilliant. Fixing and painting in a day. Tolls are expensive here and very confusing, you can do a lot of this toll-free.

Italy

  • 13-30 April
  • 18 nights/ inc 6 free
  • total spent: €623.59
  • Food: €302.89 (49%)
  • fuel: €90 (14%)     Tolls: €15.70 (2.5%)
  • Accom: €134 (22%)
  • Tickets/ entrance: €22 (3.5%)
  • washing: €25 (4%)
  • Dogs: €20 (3%) dog toothpaste spray
  • Fix/ maintenance: €14 (2%) replacement batteries for window alarms

Average per day: €34.64

We went to the lakes, Venice, Verona and Sirmione which required parking, public transport or entrance fees.

Slovenia

  • 1-7 May
  • 7 nights/ no free nights
  • total spent: €329.07
  • Food: €125.70 (38%)
  • Fuel: €70.02 (21%)    Vignette: €15.70 (2.5%)
  • Accom: €90.75 (28%)
  • Ticket/ entrance fees: €27.60 (8%)

Average per day: €47.01

We had lots of entrance fees to castles and with no free nights. We only had a 7 day vignette, so decided to see as much as we could travelling through the country on the toll road(vignette)to save time.

Croatia

  • 8-17 may
  • 10 nights/ 1 free night
  • Food: €186.46 (34%)
  • Fuel: €77.39 (14%)      LPG/GPL: €15 (3%)   Tolls: €10 (2%)
  • Accom:€168.87 (32%)
  • Entrance/ tickets: €79.95 (15%)

Average per day : €53.76 day

It’s really hard to wild camp in Croatia, it is illegal and accommodation is expensive. ACSI is your best bet here for cheaper accommodation. We went to the Plitvice lakes and this was so worth the entrance free and parking.

Hungary

  • 18 May- 10 June
  • 24 nights/ 0 free
  • total spent : €921.16
  • Food: €303.49 (33%)
  • Fuel: €58.41 (6%)      Vignette: €34.88 (4%)
  • Accom: €318.68 (35%)
  • Washing: €21.29 (2%)
  • Yoga: €8 (1%)       Clothing: €34 (3%)
  • entrance/ tickets: €63 (7%)
  • Dogs: €79.41     Vet: €70 (8%) dog nail clippers €9.41 (1%)

Average daily spent: €38.38 day

This was the time we had to take poor George to the Vet. He had surgery with all the bandages and antibiotics for after for €70. We visited Budapest spending 7 days, so we did a hop on/ off tour and entrance fees. I also joined a yoga class at a retreat and was onto my 3rd pair of trainers.

Slovakia

  • 11-18 June
  • 8 nights/ 3 were free
  • total spent €294.90
  • Food: €143 (49%)
  • fuel : €70 (23%)   toll: €10 (3%)
  • Accom: €59.40 (20%)
  • Ticket/ entrance: €5 (2%)
  • Misc: €7.50 (3%)

Average daily spent: €36.86

This included a birthday meal with drinks, alcohol very cheap as well as food.

Poland

  • 19 june- 22 July
  • 34 nights/ 4 were free
  • Total spent: €1070.48
  • Food: €411.73 (38%)
  • Fuel : €221.50 (21%)   LPG/ GPL: €19.46 (2%)
  • Accom: €300.74 (28%)
  • ticket/ entrance fees: €29.68 (3%)
  • washing: €25.65 (2%)
  • Misc: €48.72 (5%) includes door flyscreen
  • Fix/ maintenance: €13 (1%) toilet chemicals

Average daily spent: €31.48 day

Food, fuel and entrance fees to sites very cheap. We ate out a bit. Went to lots of sites and museums. Fuel was very cheap as was LPG. We think food and fuel could be as cheap or even cheaper than Spain.

Czech Republic

  • 23 July- 5 Aug
  • 14 nights/ 3 were free
  • Food: €212.22 (44%)
  • Fuel: €130.97 (27%)
  • Accom €102.97 (21%)
  • Washing: €3.51 (0.5%)
  • tickets/ entrance: €10.74 (2%)
  • Misc: €22.53 (5%)
  • Dogs : €2.50 (0.5%) sickness tablets

Average daily spent: €34.67

Beer is cheaper than water, is so true here.

Germany

  • 6-24 August
  • 19 nights/ 2 were free
  • total spent: €779.31
  • Food: €372.23 (48%)
  • Fuel €197.15 (25%)       LPG/GPL: €18.01
  • Accom: €134.70 (17%)
  • Washing: €18 (2%)
  • Misc : €42.23 (5 %)
  • Clothing: €6,99 (1%)

Average total daily spent: €41.01

The accommodation in Germany is actually really cheap. A lot more nights were essentially free only paying for services or power. But I included them in the accommodation total. Lots of free stellplatz if you don’t need power.

The Netherlands

  • 25 August- 2nd Sept
  • 9 nights/ 3 were free
  • Total spent : €275.43
  • Food: €123.72 (45%)
  • Fuel: €41.03 (15%)
  • Accom: €62 (22%)
  • Entrance/ tickets €15 (6 %)
  • washing: €33.68 (12 %)

Average daily spent: €30.60

Lots of lovely, free or cheap accommodations. Public transport is expensive, but nearly everyone has a bicycle.

Belgium

  • 3-7 Sept
  • 5 nights/ 3 were free
  • Total spent: €154.39
  • Food: €85.29 (55%)
  • Fuel: €35 (23%)
  • Accom: €7.50 (5%)
  • Tickets/ entrance: €16 (10%)
  • washing: €10.60 (7%)

Average daily spent: €30.87

Again somewhere where, accommodation is very cheap most stops we were only paying €1-2 euro for electric, others were free parks. We even got a free night due the payment machine not working in Ypres.

In summary: Food is the biggest cost for us, then accommodation. We are better now at finding free or cheap aires so hope to cut that in half. Fuel rose a lot, especially in France from when we first left until now. Maintenance of the vehicle will always be a worry, and I feel we did well considering its our home 24/7 for the whole time we are away. Other things always pop up, like vet fees. We try to stay within a budget each week and if we know we want to catch a ferry, factor that in by saving, hopefully in accommodation somewhere. Poland, Spain, Portugal and Hungary are definitely the cheapest places to visit. And probably our favourites for what they have to offer. Everyones budget and needs will be different , but this worked for us. Hopefully this gives everyone an idea of what sort of costs there are on the road.