ianw Posted 3 July , 2005 Share Posted 3 July , 2005 Just back from the Somme and was struck by increasing prices of food and drink. Petrol prices now approaching UK levels - which must be problematical for such a large country with lower average wages than the UK. I must say that the cost of staying there at the Formule 1 Assevillers was very modest (although basic in the extreme) Getting there by Eurotunnel was also a good deal - but a baguette at their Calais terminal was 4 quid - not very much less than an off peak ticket over there ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 3 July , 2005 Share Posted 3 July , 2005 Ian. I agree with you. For eating out, Belgium still seems relatively cheap compared to UK but France no longer does. The quality of food served also seems to have diminished if a recent trip is anything to go by. I was also surprised that petrol was as expensive as here - the French government must now be taxing it as heavily as in UK. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 3 July , 2005 Share Posted 3 July , 2005 I was also surprised that petrol was as expensive as here - the French government must now be taxing it as heavily as in UK. Neil <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Diesel still dirt cheap, less than a Euro (just) when I was there 3 weeks ago. Only cost about £37 to fill my Honda up................bliss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGWR Posted 3 July , 2005 Share Posted 3 July , 2005 Ian. I agree with you. For eating out, Belgium still seems relatively cheap compared to UK but France no longer does. The quality of food served also seems to have diminished if a recent trip is anything to go by. I was also surprised that petrol was as expensive as here - the French government must now be taxing it as heavily as in UK. Neil <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Neil, I quite agree about the food. I was very disappointed on a recent trip to France, having several meals which were a bit iffy and more expensive than previously. Additionally, at one restaurant in Albert, the owner was unbelievably rude. I certainly would not have stood for it in England... This is something which I have never experienced before in a French cafe or restaurant. I have always found the French to be warm and welcoming in such places. Regards, AGWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 3 July , 2005 Author Share Posted 3 July , 2005 We had a pretty decent meal in Peronne after hunting around a bit. Eventual choice was done by the "there's a lot of locals in" method. May of these "locals" turned out to be from Scotland ! But for what's its worth the Cafe de la Paix in the main parking area closest to the Historial. Must confess to be a bit surprised by the prices at Le Tommy and Avril W's - although this was 1st July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 Hi do they tend to put up prices for 1st July or has Tommies gone up market ( carpet, fresh smelling toilets etc)? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 Personally I don't think prices are put up for 1st July; France, as several people have commented, is now an expensive place to visit and this is just commonplace everywhere. Le Tommy have also invested a lot of money in the place recently, so I suspect they are wanting a return on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKY Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 Have to say that Tommies Bar looked great especially the new extension when we went in March.( My previous comments were tongue in cheek!) The prices we paid for wine in Albert were so low it was wonderful! Good quality stuff for around £2-00 per bottle, nearly running out so will need another trip soon. tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 Comparing a cracking good meal I had recently in Calais with some cracking meals I had in Cornwall last week, I reckon France still offers very good value for money. John (And Cornwall offers very good value over some Greater Manchester establishments I could mention) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Bull Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 I have to say that this is not my experience. On a recent trip to Verdun I was staggered by the cheapness of French supermarkets to the extent that I thought I must have misunderstood how little money I was being asked for at the till. However, I would say that I do find food in restaurants consistently overrated. I do not eat meat, but vegetables in restaurants France are, in my experience, almost always both overcooked and lacking in flavour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 4 July , 2005 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2005 Yes, I agree that French supermarkets are better than anything in UK. I was rather thinking of eating out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 You'll have to let me know what supermarkets you are using... I find very little difference between France and the UK on the stuff you use everyday; in fact, most things are cheaper in the UK and the quality of goods is much higher than in France. The varierty in the UK is also much greater. That is why Sainsburys in Canterbury is always full of French people every day, filling their cars up. In fact we have found price and quality such an issue, we do most of our shopping from the Somme up in Ypres; there is nothing as good as Delhaize around Amiens or Albert; and I speak from more than 10 years of experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 You'll have to let me know what supermarkets you are using... I find very little difference between France and the UK on the stuff you use everyday; in fact, most things are cheaper in the UK and the quality of goods is much higher than in France. The varierty in the UK is also much greater. That is why Sainsburys in Canterbury is always full of French people every day, filling their cars up. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Although I can't comment on French supermarkets as such, I must agree with Paul about the varierty in the UK. The French supermarkets I have been in are very similar to Germany with regards to varierty, hardly any. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Bull Posted 4 July , 2005 Share Posted 4 July , 2005 You'll have to let me know what supermarkets you are using... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry - I cannot remember the name of the supermarket I went into in Verdun. I went in with a few limited purchases in mind, so I did not really take much notice of the variety of goods available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 5 July , 2005 Share Posted 5 July , 2005 I am surprised about people saying about lack of variety. I regularly go to Auchan in Calais and can mention many things where the variety seems far greater than my local Tesco's................and this doesn't just include alcohol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedley Malloch Posted 5 July , 2005 Share Posted 5 July , 2005 I am surprised about people saying about lack of variety. I regularly go to Auchan in Calais and can mention many things where the variety seems far greater than my local Tesco's................and this doesn't just include alcohol! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree. It depends where you shop. Auchan have a huge range and compete on variety; the others like Carrefour less so. And stores like Casino and LeClerc are comparable to the UK. Petrol: I paid €1.15 a litre for diesel at the weekend at an expensive outlet; I don't know what it is in the UK. Also bear in mind that the Euro has dropped on the international money markets in recent weeks and that might make a difference. Food in the UK has greatly improved in recent years and some sectors now compete with the UK in tems of VFM, especially Indian. But in general terms in my view France represents better VFM. Relative cost of living? When I go back to the UK I seem to spend all my time in front of a cash point. I reckon the £ is over-valued by 15-20% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGWR Posted 5 July , 2005 Share Posted 5 July , 2005 I am surprised about people saying about lack of variety. I regularly go to Auchan in Calais and can mention many things where the variety seems far greater than my local Tesco's................and this doesn't just include alcohol! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I quite agree. Some of them seem to sell everything. A couple of years ago I bought a full-size scarecrow for the kids' vegetable garden from a supermarket near Verdun! Kids loved it. Made a change from the usual clockwork bath toy, oversize Toblerone, London bus, policeman bear etc. bought in a panic on the ferry back. Regards, AGWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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