CALOR GAS

[Wayne_5133334]

We are off to Spain in January. We intend taking 2 full 7KG cylinders with us. Any experaince on how long they might last just using them for cooking for 2. We aim to be away for some 75 nights. Any alternatives please

Wayne S

 

[geoffh]

where in spain are you going to we went to la manga last year and you could get your bottles filled by somebody on site

 

[Angela_5076436]

Use Camping Gas instead - you can get it in virtually every Supermarket

 

[BeemerMal]

Wayne.....it is a bit like how long is a piece of string? It all depends on how much cooking or heating with gas you do.

We spent 72 nights in Spain this year and took 2x6kg full Calor Propane cylinders with us. We actually used about 1 and a half of these.

However, we made full use of the 16amp electricity and we did a lot of cooking on a George Foreman Grill, an Electric Frying pan and a slow cooker. Our Caravan oven also has 3 gas and one electric ring so we made the most use of electricity as possible.

We rarely used the heating and then only on electric, also our Fridge and water heating was electric.

I would be careful about getting your Calor cylinder refilled though, there have been reports that it is not always safe. If you run out I would, as suggested, switch to Camping Gas but you will need to ensure you have the correct regulator.

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Wayne,As Beemamal has said it all depends on your use. We have been suprised by how much we use just keeping warm in the January evenings. The weather in Spain, whilst being a lot warmer than the UK in January can get cold enough for you to need heating.

On our first trip I bought a local bottle at a car boot sale for 10euros. A regulator that fits the main Spanish suppliers - Cepsa and Repsol can be bought for about 7 - 8 euros.

A refill costs about 12euros for 15kg bottle, this makes it far cheaper than Calor.

For the last couple of years I have taken just 1 7kg bottle together with my Cepsa bottle and this has worked out well.

The locals all use bottled gas so its more available than in the UK many garages stock either Cepsa or Repsol.

When we get home I still use the Spanish gas to save money on the cost of Calor.

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Wayne. You say you will only use it for cooking. We only use gas for cooking too as we run everything else including the kettle on electricity. We only ever take Camping gaz abroad and find one 907 cylinder lasts at least six weeks, and they only cost about 7 euros to exchange in Spain and Portugal.

Of course it depends on what sort of cooking you do - if you make cakes and roast dinners in the oven frequently you will use more. We tend to eat simply (we don't believe in creating work on holiday!), there are so many supermarkets around now, with easy to prepare meals, and we eat out at least once per week. Also we have a microwave.

We usually set out with one full and one empty Camping Gaz cylinder and exchange the empty one when we get there. With a bit of careful planning you can avoid ever exchanging the cylinders in the UK - at

 

[Willy_5041515]

We spend 5 - 6 weeks very year in France and have never used more than 1/2 a 7 kg cylinder. We only use gas for cooking and use an electric grill when possible. This year we have a new van with one electric hob and we used exactly 1/3 of a cylinder this time (and we did have the heating running on gas for 15 minutes on quite a few cold mornings).

So, it depends on what you use it for, but there is also the question of back-up. We have been without electricity during storms quite a few times and have been glad of the gas. Also, I have come across two people whose electic elements in their fridges failed and one whose electric element in their water heater failed. Maybe it's worth carrying an extra cylinder just in case.

 

[Wayne_5133334]

Thanks all for the useful info on gas abroad

Wayne