Soon after Iran declared that it was going to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices dropped by about 10% , but experts warn it could be a week or so before the effect of this fall is seen with even lower prices at the bowser.
While grey nomads will have been relieved to have seen fuel prices trend downwards from their recent peak – and to see apparent progress in negotiations to end the conflict in the Middle East – uncertainty remains about how things will develop from here … and what impact it might have on life in the open road.
Things, of course, in the Middle East can change very quickly and any optimism could easily prove unfounded.
Nonethless, there are signs that travellers are looking on the bright side, and are keen to keep living the dream.
Uncertainty remains, but fuel prices are down from their peak. PIC: Dozza
“Stuff happens all the time when you’re travelling so there’s no point stressing,” said one commenter in the Grey Nomad social media pages. “Our mantra is that memories aren’t made on the couch … so we’re sticking to our plans to carry on!”
Another echoed the feelings of many grey nomads.
“Cost not so much the issue as availability,” they said. “Sure, I don’t really want to spend the extra dollars but you’re a long time looking at the lid and who knows what’s in the future … if there’s fuel, we’ll absolutely be going.”
And most correspondents said they would adjust their travels rather than end them.
“We have been on the road one-and-a-half years now and are continuing,” said one. “We are now slowing it down, so instead of staying four days to a week, we are staying two weeks and then travelling short distances to another stop.”
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Solution is simple – use only free camps (of which there are thousands), drive half as far between camps, or stay twice as long.
Hi it is good to see that there are still Grey Nomaders out there traveling, I would like to travel more but at present I am undergoing a period of Medical Treatment which requires me to be home bases for a while.
In reference to the FUEL situation can I say that just staying longer in ONE PLACE, I do not think will save more FUEL but SLOWING DONW YOU SPEED when out there Traveling & Towing your Caravan will SAVE FUEL & allow you to get a better distance out of the Fuel that you have on board.
E.G. traveling at say 80 / 85 kph you will get better Liters / 100 Kilometres than traveling at say 100 KPH. ( all Depending on ROAD WEATHER CONDITIONS / LIKE rain & WIND ETC.
No, nothing will save fuel if you must go from A to B eventually but you can vastly reduce your money burn per week and or fuel used for week which largely solves both individual economic problems and fuel scarcity problems
Current trip 14 days, less than 300km, zero camping fees
We have been on the road for 12+ years still loving it, fuel wise we have Toyota Landcruiser diesel and 23 foot caravan we find the best way to fill the tank when we have used a quarter of a tank at the cheapest price we can find, we have long range tanks which helps.
We Tavel short distances and now use more free camps and less caravan parks and stay longer.
Have not found any service stations that have run out of diesel, we follow a fuel app which gives the current price where ever we are.