Is Vanlife in France EXPENSIVE? (Full cost breakdown!)

[@jasonthomas5925]

Great vid 😀🇬🇧.Thanks for sharing 🙏❤️

[@Thenomadpurr]

Glad you liked it Jason, thanks for watching :) ✌️

[@AtHomeInTurkey]

To keep the costs of food down I would suggest wraps. And use the leftovers of every stew or sauce like meal to eat the next day with ramen noodles. Two tablespoons of it make a pack of noodles into a full diner. Plus it's easy to prepare in a van.

[@Thenomadpurr]

We do love a wrap, but that's a great idea to have the left overs in that way! Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@arkayokay]

Well done guys for getting straight into it, kept me watching. I would say you can't compare campsites to aires. You've got your budget right for the type of trip you're doing. If you wish to spend less, stay in an area for several days, find out when the markets are on, speak to locals (bonus you get to practice the language), for great places to eat and places to visit. Make google searches low priority. Btw my monthly is around £400.

[@Thenomadpurr]

We know time is precious, if we can give you all the information quickly then why long it out :) I think we need to start doing that, having some down time and getting to know places! That’s an incredibly low monthly spend, well done!

[@BanksyTravels]

Great insight to your trip! so far my spending has been the total opposite 😂 I've spent money on parks ups but not really on anything else 🤣🤣

[@Thenomadpurr]

We've seen pictures that paint a different story... Waffles like that don't come cheap 😜

[@BanksyTravels]

@@Thenomadpurr😂😂 ahhh damn you got me

[@tonyvernon8908]

Thanks for the insight, have a blessed trip

[@Thenomadpurr]

Hope you found it useful Tony, thanks so much for watching and your well wishes :)

[@TheTouringNomads]

I think that's is a really good budget for full time travel, like you said food aside, it is so cheap to travel in Europe! We spend that staying in one place in the UK and I know I would rather be doing what you are! Well done 👏

[@Thenomadpurr]

Can you imagine if food was cheaper?! We'd never want want to leave!!! I mean we don't anyway... thanks Brexit!!!

[@jessandjoehaveago]

If it makes you feel better guys we just did a similar cost breakdown and our first 4 weeks was more than double your total, but our van only gets 10-12mpg. It got cheaper every month on month through Italy, Greece and now Turkey too :)

[@Thenomadpurr]

It totally makes us feel better, but it seems that a lot of the extra probably went on fuel for your guys! Hope you’re having a blast :))

[@Scud_and_thesTig]

Good info vlog. You’ll get better at eating more cheaply from markets and supermarkets. By the way Reims is pronounced sounding as ‘Lance’.. so ‘Raance’ We always seem to be passing by there, so it’s a good one to remember 😉 Keep up the good work 👌💙❤️

[@Thenomadpurr]

I'm sure we have absolutely butchered the pronunciation of many places during this trip 😂 But thank you, it's a great stop off on the way down isn't it! :)

[@MartynParker]

Nice update. I know it's a way off yet but can recommend La Rochelle on the coast of France. About halfway up. Fabulous place. Look forward to your Spain leg. Good Luck or should I say buena suerte!

[@Thenomadpurr]

Unfortunately it’s coming around sooner than we want! We’re really enjoying our time over here, and would definitely stay longer if we could!! Aww thank you, or should we say Gracias ;)

[@wheelersinthewild]

Hi Guys, that's an interesting round up of your costs, your overall costs are good for a months trip 👍, that's brilliant you had free park ups and services, I thought some aires charged. Foods a bit pricey, did you stock up as best you can considering space on all your dried long life goods before you went, pasta, rice, sauces, tinned foods etc? Doing more veggies dishes would reduce costs a bit, get more out of mince by adding a tin of green lentils to bulk it out and make it go much further. Stir fries with noodles or rice bulking out with lots of veg can be a cheap option, I think they work well in a van, as they cook quickly using less gas. I can remember the last time we went to France they didn't speak English much....rude! 😆How lovely to have smooth roads though, unlike our 3rd world roads we have over here that rattle your van to bits! 🥴Nice filming and sound btw👌Glad you're having a great time out there. xx

[@Thenomadpurr]

Thanks! There was definitely a few unnecessary extras within those costs… but it made it a nicer trip by doing them 🙊 We will tighten our belts going forwards though so we can make this last! Honestly, we hadn’t even thought about stocking up, but next time we definitely will! We brought a lot of fishing equipment with us this time, which took up most of our storage and hasn’t been used! I think food would have been a better use of that space!! Some great options there for cheaper meals too thank you! So rude of them 😂 honestly, the roads have been next level! We are not ready for the UK at all!! Glad you’re enjoying watching :) take careeee xx

[@sloopyjoe1777]

Yes, your costing is about right. Food has shot up over the last few years, but I think prices are starting to fall back a bit now. You have to shop around and go to Lidl or Aldi, look at prices before you buy because most of the chain price things differently in different areas. I think only Lidl is consistent in their pricing everywhere in France. Also, keep an eye out for special offers. France only has sales periods twice a year, usually January and June, but they do reduce things regularly. Pick up one of their leaflets when you visit to keep track of what's on offer. Not all aires are free, there are many you have to pay at, basically depends on their popularity. The basic idea is to get you to stop and visit the local businesses. But wild camping is largely tolerated, which save campsite fees. Most / many french speak English especially in the larger towns, but I think they get fed up with the Brits that don't even try to speak french. That's understandable given the number that live here permanently or have holiday homes here. The french don't have to speak to you, so why should they make an effort, it's your problem not their's. And finally, a point for your return. Everyone seems to travel either east or west of France, so do yourself a favour a try a more central route. The Lot, Corrèze, Haute Vienne, Indre, have so much to offer but are seldom visited properly. I would encourage you to check them out. Safe journey.

[@Thenomadpurr]

Thank you for the in depth response! I think we have learnt that we need to maximise Lidl and Aldi next time we head back, that'll free up some money to enjoy the boulangeries! Yep, very true with the aires. Most of the time we don't need anything fancy, and generally you can find an aire which has waste facilities and not have to pay. If we want a nice shower in a brick building etc, then that's when the paid campsites come in handy. Completely agree with the French speaking, it's on us not them. Just like if they came over here, not many brits speak that much French! Very interesting with the central route, will bear that in mind for future trips, thanks!

[@denisescally7090]

That is good. Averaging £1200 pcm is a good budget. I think shopping in unfamiliar supermarkets can be costly, and doing that every 3 days ouch! Spain should be cheaper 🤞

[@Thenomadpurr]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there! We have no dinner plans or anything as we don't know what each supermarket will have when we go in! Spain has definitely seemed a little cheaper so far :)

[@Elfie-s8k]

I think in the western part of France you will find more people who speak English. Especially in Bretagne. But also in the Dordogne. Lots of expats there from the UK or the USA.

[@Thenomadpurr]

Ah that’s interesting to know! It’s our own fault really for going to France and not speaking much French 😂

[@mishajackson8912]

France is an amazing country and so campervan friendly but it is abit more expensive, we did 3 winters in the French Alps in our motorhome but now we are spending winters in Portugal and Spain 😊 we average about €1000/month travelling fulltime X

[@Thenomadpurr]

We've LOVED our time in France, and I guess when you consider how cheap the actual travelling side is, you can pay a little more on food? £1000 a month is very good going, that's what we'd like to budget ideally! Hope you're enjoying this winters travels! :)

[@piepkwiep4312]

Just catch some catfish fillets instead of meat.

[@Thenomadpurr]

Ebro here we come ;)

[@clegsta42]

Hiya, love your vlogs keep them up. Cant add anything to this except your food costs. If you like fish, buy LIDL mackeral/sardines in oil. Try Quioa (not only a vegan choice), its great for not spiking the blood sugar but filling as well. Bring all the spices you need from home at ASDA, Morrisons etc for 80p/pack. Get a 5kg or maybe 2 jasmine rice from LIDL. Buy a rice cooker, an air fryer. Get cheap pasta and quality tinned toms and dried herbs .Go to local markets for frsh, meat and veg. Make more and eat for the days after. Bring whole nuts from home and snack. No Shitty crisps etc. I'm saying all this because I've had a massive Eureka health moment and sorted myself out (I hope). Lost weight, got my enzymes levelled and generally feel so much better and appreciate comments from from friends and acquaintances I have not seen for ages on my appearance. Not preaching to convert just trying to add perspective. I still have a few steaks and a bottles or two of red, but no where near the amount I did consume prior. Spend less, stay healthier and live longer together. xx

[@Thenomadpurr]

Hey, glad you like our videos :) There’s so much useful information here, we will definitely be implementing some of it so thank you! :)