Tank warfare

Families planning to drive to Europe this summer to cut costs could get a shock when they fill up their tank, says a new report.

According to the seventh annual Post Office Motoring on the Continent report, the double whammy of the weak pound and sharp rises in the cost of unleaded petrol in Spain and France, by 9p and 7p a litre respectively, will take lots more cash off long-haul drivers.

The greatest pain could be felt in Spain, where UK motorists face a 7.4 per cent increase (highest in the Eurozone) and will pay £13.32 more for each 1,000 miles of motoring (£197.14).

The same number of motoring miles is also set to also cost £10.66 more in France. At a cost of £236.10 for 1,000 miles, holidaymakers driving through France will pay £38.96 (20 per cent) more than in Spain because of the higher price per litre – £1.56, compared with £1.30.

As a result of this price hike, France has sunk to 15th place in the Post Office league table, with only Italy (£1.60), the Netherlands (£1.65) and Norway (£1.79) costing more for unleaded petrol. Norway is again the most expensive place to drive a petrol car, after a 12p surge in pump prices. At tour operator Inntravel, a specialist in self-drive holidays, general manager Karl Watson says: “In the last two or three years, we have seen a real drift towards going by train through France to get to holidays like cycling in the Loire Valley.

“For holidaymakers in northern France this year, there’s a good case for filling up in the Channel ports before you catch the ferry. Others will cut driving costs by taking the Brittany Ferries route all the way down to Santander, which is good value in May, June and September, but much pricier in July and August.”

After September 15, you’ll get a great deal with nine nights in Northern Spain from £700, including six dinners, with return ferry fare on top. Holiday sectors likely to see price cuts to compensate for the rising cost of fuel include ferry short breaks. Smart drivers might opt for longer crossings: ferry operator DFDS Seaways offers 10 per cent savings on selected departures on Newcastle-Holland or Harwich-Denmark crossings booked before May 31.

Families from the north of England or Scotland could shave miles off their journey by overnight sailings ex-Newcastle to Amsterdam en route to holiday village or cottage stays in Holland, Germany, France or Belgium.Ferry fares start at £33 per person (four sharing an en suite cabin) in a standard-sized car and from £62 per person one way, for two sharing an en suite cabin. Offer applies to selected departure dates until June 30.