The Price is Right

We're heading over to France in June for our Summer holiday. Other that a weekend in Paris about 10 years ago, I've never been to France so I'm rather excited at the thought of driving through beautiful countryside, eating lots of cheese and drinking fabulous wines. Of course I'm a little worried about the language difference but I'm fairly sure that shrugging indifferently and exclaiming haw-hee-haw-hee-hawww covers most things.. If that doesn't work, I expect there'll be lots of pointing and repeating myself at increased volume. Just like a typical day in the office, so..

So last night we booked our place on the ferry. Here's how it works: You go onto the Irish Ferries website and tell them where and when you want to sail. It tells you how much that sailing costs. Then you select a cabin. There's lots to choose from and they all have the price beside them. When you've got that done, you select a sailing to come home on. And a cabin. And then it gives you a total. Here's where it gets really exciting: Once it gives you the price for the sailing and the cabin, that's it. There's no fuel surcharge, there's no taxes and fees. There isn't even a charge for being really inconvenient and wanting to have luggage with you.. Now, in fairness there was a 4euro charge for paying with a credit card but get this, there was an option to pay 25% now and the balance in April. Sweet.

This is in contrast to booking a flight with, for instance aer lingus. The other day I was looking at flights to New York and the final price was 315euro more than the price listed beside the flights when I was selecting them. It's the fuel surcharge that kills me.. When did they start doing that? Is it legal to advertise a flight at one price and then charge on an extra 50 quid on top? Surely there's advertising laws about listing prices?

Anyway, for now that's not a problem. I've more important things to worry about now - like what's French for sausage egg and chips..