Article Feeder UK

Unless your head has been buried in the sand for the past 12 months, you’ve probably noticed we’ve been struggling through a fairly horrid recession. Everywhere you looked there were high street stores closing down. You only had to fumble around in your purse or wallet to notice the impact. Times were, and still are a little bit hard.

When times are hard and we need to be more frugal with our money, luxuries are usually the first to go. This typically means sacrificing that dream holiday to the Maldives for a ’staycation’ - going somewhere slightly less glamorous but much more affordable.

But I guess the good news is that taking a trip abroad or going on a day-trip, doesn’t need to cost the earth. Travel, via plane, road or sea is becoming increasingly more competitive. As this occurs, travel is becoming more accessible and more affordable.

Now I’m not suggesting for a second that you can travel the globe on a shoestring budget, but what I am implying is that you look at what’s available just across the pond. There are a number of great sights and things to do, literally on our doorstep - in France.

Beyond the popular attractions, such as Disneyland Paris, The Louvre, Mont St-Michel and Avignon - there are a wide range of lesser known gems perfect for the whole family, including:
? Bagatelle Amusement Park
Only a 45 minute drive from Calais, Bagatelle is an amusement park where all the family can enjoy the thrills and spills of the 18 rides and attractions on-site
? Wallonia
Rolling farmland, wooded peaks, fast-flowing rivers, but also scenic drives, good food and quality lodging from friendly guest houses to five star hotels.
? Calaid Cote d’Opale
Calais Cote d’Opale is also a region offering a great amount of warm and festive events all year round! Sound and light shows, historic pageants, fairytales, legendary celebrities, twilight walks, a fascinating heritage, artists and aficionados there’s always a fantastic festive air in the Calais Cote d’Opale!
? Shopping in Calais at Cite Europe
With more than 200 shops including well known high street names and a supermarket, Cite Europe is perfect if you want everything in one place. Cite Europe is approximately 5 minutes from the Eurotunnel exit, and only 4km from Calais. It has over 200 stores including well known English shops like Tesco Wines, Tie Rack, Toys R Us, as well as many French high street names. Carrefour, the large hypermarket within the shopping centre has a superb range of foods, groceries, cookware and electrical goods, plus many many more.
? La Coupole
Situated 5km from the town of Saint-Omer, La Coupole is a larger-than-life underground bunker designed by the Nazis, during the second world war. It is one of the great relics of the Second World War in Europe, a History and Remembrance Centre, now a major tourist attraction. The bunker was used to store, prepare and launch V2 rockets, the secret weapon that Hitler had developed to destroy London.

So there you are. A few recommendations for enjoying an affordable trip abroad, and doing something a little bit out of the ordinary. You may have to sacrifice your holiday this year, but you can still enjoy a nice short break or day trip with the family to soften the blow.

For further information on Channel Tunnel prices, or Disneyland Paris deals, visit Eurotunnel.com.