Geraldine Herbert

And there is an option on Google Maps, as I said, to avoid tolls if you want to.

Yeah, parking is another thing.

Again, people don't always factor that in.

So when you're staying in accommodation, ensure that you're actually, if you're driving, that there is, if you have an EV, that there's charging.

And if you have a car, obviously that parking is included because you can end up paying 15 to 20 euros a night if you have to pay for parking somewhere else.

And also when you're going to towns or cities, try and find just one spot to park in and then sort of use that and then explore from there, even if it means using public transport or using some sort of transport, because it's usually cheaper than moving the car three and four times a day.

So there are little things and they're the kind of hidden costs that where the money really disappears is the tolls, the service station stops, then the ash around holidays, we'll treat ourselves to a little extra.

the paying for activities every single day instead of maybe going to the beach or exploring the forest or the walking trips or those sort of things.

So it's a matter of just balance more than anything.

I mean, at least if you stay at home, you have some control over your costs and you have some control over your schedule.

Well, I'm joined in studio by Geraldine Herbert, motoring editor with the Sunday Independent.

Morning, Geraldine.

Good morning, Pat.

The inexorable rise of the EV.

Now, we see a huge rise in the number of inquiries about EVs during the fuel crisis.

People saying this diesel, this petrol is too dear.

I'll go EV.

Whether that will ultimately translate, we'll probably see at year's end.

Yeah, exactly.

But I do think it's making people probably the diehards even consider it now, because if you look at the running costs and we know that, you know, if you have charging facilities at home, if you have solar panels, it's an absolute no brainer.