Cycle break on a budget, can it be done?

garrethbayliss

One of my favourite things about cycling is exploring and seeing new places. And me and a few friends are keen on the idea of somewhere with lots of climbs like the south of France, Mallorca, or Italy for around 4-5 days. However myself currently being an intern and my friends without a huge amount of disposable income, we're looking to do something on a budget. Is it possible to get a cheap Easyjet flight, find a hostel, rent out some half decent road bikes and experience climbing some mountains? and what would be the lowest amount you could do it on? . Hopefully some of you have some stories or tips that might be useful!

Dorset_Boy

Could you not hire a minibus, cross at Dover / Eurotunnel and drive down through the night, then stay somewhere cheap, or even camp? Somewhere like Morzine should be no more than about 14 hours total journey time from London in a minibus, including stops.

MichaelW

Travel off-season for cheaper fares and find stupid-cheap special offers.
Camping is cheap, you don't need to cook. I took a £21 solo tent, I have used it for 2 trips and it is still in one piece.

DavidJB

Yeah ride there...

lakesluddite

Jet 2 fly to Nice Airport in the South of France, and then there is camping available nearby, such as the following which is about 6km from the airport:

http://www.vieilleferme.com/

Just an example, but it looks to be about £12-15 for a single pitch per night. We staed there a few years ago, and it's quite nice (the pool is good!).

Only thing is I think the bike hire might be the most expensive part if you can't take your own. I know there is at least one road bike hire place in Nice.
http://azurcycletours.com/
There used to be one called Cycle Cote D'Azur, but I can't seem to find them online any more. They were linked to the apparell company Cafe Du Cycliste, which is also in Nice.

bianchimoon

just for reference, costing us for 5 days cycling malorca approx
£180 flights
£85pp 5 nights sharing room
transfer from airport approx €60
Bike hire £100ish
Food/ drink

thomasmorris

http://bikingandalucia.com/

Rent the Cortijo (£22 pp per night bed and breakfast), fly easyjet to malaga (£160 retunr including bike bag). Two transfers £40 (or hire a car?). = £310 for five nights

The food and drink there is ridiculously cheap, you can spend £10 per night on a decent dinner and beer and have change. Or if you want to go really cheap you can buy and cook for yourselves.

= £360 all in.

MountainMonster

I've just recently bought a minibus, and the amount of stuff you can cram into there is amazing. My wife and I are driving to Austria this summer, and we will be throwing a double air mattress in the back for a few hours break in random places during the journey since we are doing it in one go.

I'd highly recommend a rental of a minibus. They are dirt cheap to run thanks to great fuel consumption, and you can park up wherever you want.

Also, i'd agree with the Chap talking about Morzine a few posts up. Great trip!

charliew87

Lots of hills in the Lake District/Devon/Scotland/Wales to keep you busy instead?

Was hoping to do something in Europe this year with some mates, something like Ronde van Vlaanderen sportive but got too expensive.

t4tomo

MountainMonster wrote:

I've just recently bought a minibus, and the amount of stuff you can cram into there is amazing. My wife and I are driving to Austria this summer, and we will be throwing a double air mattress in the back for a few hours break in random places during the journey since we are doing it in one go.

I'd highly recommend a rental of a minibus. They are dirt cheap to run thanks to great fuel consumption, and you can park up wherever you want.

Also, i'd agree with the Chap talking about Morzine a few posts up. Great trip!

You need some curtains for the windows though if your going to be shagging in the back

MountainMonster

t4tomo wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I've just recently bought a minibus, and the amount of stuff you can cram into there is amazing. My wife and I are driving to Austria this summer, and we will be throwing a double air mattress in the back for a few hours break in random places during the journey since we are doing it in one go.

I'd highly recommend a rental of a minibus. They are dirt cheap to run thanks to great fuel consumption, and you can park up wherever you want.

Also, i'd agree with the Chap talking about Morzine a few posts up. Great trip!

You need some curtains for the windows though if your going to be shagging in the back

Already sorted, plus tinted windows

garrethbayliss

Thanks for all the recommendations so far! certainly sounds like it's do-able. The idea hiring bikes rather than taking our own was that it would be cheaper than hiring a bike box, extra luggage cost and added insurance put together? perhaps I'm wrong on that though.

apreading

Worth noting that if you fly anywhere with British Airways, the bike bag/box goes in the hold FOR FREE provided that it is your only hold baggage - and you can usually fit a couple of holdalls in the bag/box and you are allowed two pieces of cabin baggage, one of which can be quite large.

prhymeate

garrethbayliss wrote:

Thanks for all the recommendations so far! certainly sounds like it's do-able. The idea hiring bikes rather than taking our own was that it would be cheaper than hiring a bike box, extra luggage cost and added insurance put together? perhaps I'm wrong on that though.

I can't speak for other places, but in Morzine a road bike is about £35 a day to rent and a downhill mtb about £65. I think it's definitely worth taking your own bike, it's more enjoyable than a rented one that doesn't quite feel right and it's usually cheaper in the end.

Tjgoodhew

Im going to Majorca tomorrow and it has cost me the following :

Flights return from Stansted - £54
Hotel for 3 nights in Santa Ponsa - £65 for the room. Im going on my own but a double room was about £80
Transfer - 40 euros each way in a cab - i usually use resort hopper for coach transfer however being off season they dont seem to be running. This usually cost about 10 euros return pp
Bike hire - 56 euros for 2 days - I went for a top spec Canyon but a lesser spec bike can be had for closer to 15 euros a day.

Its obviously low season so very cheap however I paid similar prices going out the end of September last year

Iv found the trick is to book flights and hotels way in advance as soon as they release the dates you want to travel. Obviously avoid peak summer and school holidays.

If Majorca is an option you could stay in Can Pastilla which is right by the airport so will reduce cost of transfers and gives you access to both the mountains to the west and flat areas to the east

mpatts

I just check out the train to marseiile - £49 each way. bargain.