Money was tight when we decided to take a high-season short break in France with our two daughters. I was triumphant at finding cheap flights to Nantes and a very reasonable duplex apartment. We were therefore in buoyant mood as we set off on the return journey after a relaxing few days.

'Aren't French autoroutes great,' we chirped as we headed the hire car towards the airport, three hours ahead of schedule. So when the traffic ground to a halt, we were glad we had been so cautious. No doubt the accident up ahead would soon be cleared and we would happily continue on our way.

Except that there hadn't been an accident. The 10-mile jam was simply caused by weight of traffic. Sure, we had heard about the French motorway summer bouchons (traffic jams), but had assumed that these would be heading south rather than north.

Either way, the feeling of despair as we realised, when we finally reached the péage (tollbooth), that the blockage simply continued on the other side, was heartbreaking, as we knew that we had definitely missed the plane.

At the Ryanair desk, there were scores of other people in the same predicament. Offered the choice of waiting three days for the next plane back to Bournemouth or getting to Stansted that evening, we chose the latter.

The painful rest of the story I will keep short: £209 to change flights; £44 for the Stansted Express; £12 for a taxi to get from Liverpool Street to Waterloo. And the train to Bournemouth to pick up the car at midnight, £121.

When the credit card statement arrived it was eye-watering and our hopes of a cheap break were shattered.

Oliver Gray, Winchester

Have you had a crap holiday? If so, tell us about it. The writers of stories we publish will receive a £16 Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit from Cotswold Outdoor (0844 557 7755; www.cotswoldoutdoor.com) for taking the sting out of minor holiday mishaps. Email crap.holidays@observer.co.uk