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Re: Trip $$



Hi Marc,

thanks for your honest and sympathetic replies to my questions about the
bike-hire trip.
My own view is that if the destination is too far to get to without months
of planning, then it's probably best and easiest, albeit not necessarily
cheapest, to use a good holiday or bike-hire company like Lotus.
I remember enquiring about shipping my own bike to the US when I was going
over for 3 months to tour, and apart from the cost and paperwork hassles
involved, I figured that you also had to factor in the non-availability of
your own bike, given that it had to be at the port, crated and ready to go a
week beforehand and then the passage by boat took, what, 2-4 weeks? Either
way. So you'd be without a bike at home for quite a while and have to pay
transport to and from the port at this end. It makes you wonder.

I looked into bike rental myself while over there and came up with even
greater figures - as a Harley equivalent to the one I ended up buying
(FLHTP) for touring cost more like $150 a day 4 years ago, minus smallish
discounts for weeks or months on end.
But the best deal is invariably to buy and resell.
I guess you have to remember that they set out to make it a memorable
experience, so you're staying and dining in places I normally would not set
foot in at those prices. That isn't to say they're not well worth it,
though, of course.
If you do the auberges instead, you might get left with egg-plant on your
face (sorry, couldn't resist that one).

And at the end of the day, it's a small price to pay for having your gear
lugged around and the expertise and backup of the guides.

I've requested more details about the trip around Spain in the autumn, so
maybe I should start saving?

Tim


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