Driving to the Dordogne as a cost effective alternative

AN article in today's Independent (UK) asks 'what happens if the low-cost airlines go under?'. How big an impact will airlines who decide to close routes to marginally profitable destinations have on the Dordogne property market?

Certainly, people who have bought property in the Dordogne in recent years considered the proximiity of Bergerac airport when deciding where to buy.

Unlike smaller regional airports, like Rodez for example,Bergerac is serviced by several airlines from multiple airports in the UK and mainland Europe. It is highly unlikely, therefore, that those airlines will stop flying into Bergerac. 

Of course, there's always a Plan B. Bordeaux and Toulouse international airports are within an hour and a half of the Dordogne.

That said, in our experience, most people looking to buy a Dordogne property consider the fact that the Dordogne has a regional airport as a 'nice to have' as opposed to a 'must have' in considering where to buy property.

A large proportion of foreign home owners in the Dordogne choose to drive.

One client recently got wind of a special offer form Ryan Air who were giving away one million free seats to various European destinations. Bergerac was one of them.

Sure, the cost of the seat was free but by the time all the taxes and charges were accounted for the price of the return trip for two people came to £140 pounds.

He chose to drive back to the UK from Bergerac. A full tank of diesel cost 70 euros. From Bergerac he drove to Angouleme via Riberac then hopped on the motorway to Poitiers, Rouen and onto Calais.

He spent a total of 38.40 euros in motorway tolls. They stopped four times to picnic and rest and the journey time was 10 and a half hours.

They ate again on the ferry and drove a further hour and a half from Dover to their destination in Surrey. And on just one tank of fuel. The fuel light came on just as they pulled up at their destination. The ferry cost £91 for two adults and an infant. 

Driving to the Dordogne is the cheaper, more relaxed option that he heartily recommends.

Bergerac is one of the more profitable regional airports in France. We may see a reduced service in the winter months but if low-cost airlines decide to cut routes to France then Bergerac will fare better than most others.

See here for all year round road traffic conditions in France.