This time 2014

[flatfour]

Bryn, it's probably not a lot more than you would spend on a cruise for three weeks with a decent cabin. I've just returned from Italy, where we took my mother for her 80th birthday (albeit a little early) and it cost a similar amount for three of us in a top - class hotel for the week.

The memories are priceless, it was the last place that she went to with my father before he died suddenly (at 54) and she wanted to go back whilst she could. She says it was so good to visit the same places that they went to, that she will never go overseas again, as it would spoil things.

Really saying that the financial pain goes away quickly, but the memories and pictures will be there when you can't do it anymore!

[Bryn]

The £2200 does indeed cover the round trip. I do appreciate the 'why not' train of thought, but the trouble is we'd already committed to a 2 week Florida holiday this coming May with our Grandson Ethan, so the extra is just too much...

Another possibility for the future would be to hire a bike for a week or so in conjunction with a sightseeing trip to SF.. I think we'd spend an awful lot less than £8k 

Now we've made the decision we're not fretting about the loss of the trip... Maybe in a couple of years time 

Flatfour: I do appreciate your thoughts. Must have been typing at the same time ...  Not to say we won't be going somewhere nice on the bike during the summer.. Just somewhere nearer .... May do the autozug from dusseldorf to Austria... Another way to get down there missing out the boring bits 

[shaggs147]

Hi Bryn, sorry to hear about the trip, but its a lot of money for a holiday as you say.
I know exactly where you're coming from - when I priced up taking my bike to the US for the route 66 trip, then priced up hiring one etc..... crazy money that would take a lot of hours in work and a lot of saving too. I gave up on the bike idea in the end, just wasn't worth the hassle and cost.

[wainyone]

I want to take my bike to the US and do route 66 what information have you got on shipping...

[Bryn]

I want to take my bike to the US and do route 66 what information have you got on shipping...

The cost at £2200 was from the organiser over on UKGSer , who has done it a few times now... Hired a container for approx 10 bikes, split the cost.. It also included extra insurance for the journey....

It may be worth you having a look over on UKGSer for more info... They're a friendly bunch..and a lot of them don't ride GS's .. Such as me  there's an excellent travel section with no end of useful stuff

[Ant]

Bryn,

You may find it cheaper to buy a bike over there for the ride, and then sell it again once finished......worth considering as they are a lot cheaper than here.........

BTW Bryn, My Mrs used to run imports for a company on 20ft containers, and the whole container was only £2k, so I think the £2200 is a little steep, but that may include door to door and not port to port........either way I think it could be a headache !!

Ive just run a quick quote through, although not set in stone, it came in at £550 from Southampton to Las Vegas for a part container with £8k worth of insurance.........you could save some money I guess by shopping round, but is it really worth the hassle ??

[Bryn]

Bryn,

You may find it cheaper to buy a bike over there for the ride, and then sell it again once finished......worth considering as they are a lot cheaper than here.........

BTW Bryn, My Mrs used to run imports for a company on 20ft containers, and the whole container was only £2k, so I think the £2200 is a little steep, but that may include door to door and not port to port........either way I think it could be a headache !!

Ive just run a quick quote through, although not set in stone, it came in at £550 from Southampton to Las Vegas for a part container with £8k worth of insurance.........you could save some money I guess by shopping round, but is it really worth the hassle ??

I think on reflection not worth the hassle .....a fortnight in SF with a week on a hire bike would scratch the itch and come in a lot cheaper....