 Poster: A snowHead
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First time driving from the midlands to La Rosiere (with 3 kids). Best route suggestion? Easiest place to stop? Can we realistically do the return journey in one day? Any tips and ideas welcomed! Thx
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We've driven to Tignes a few times (same route) and we're also going to La Rosiere later this year (end of March).
Personally we rather have the one overnight than do it all in one day on the way there. We aim to cross through Eurotunnel around 9am (ish) and then do the run all the way to eastern ring road round Lyon or thereabouts before staying overnight. And then do the run the next morning into the resort, stopping in Bourg on the way for a supermarket run. We have sometimes been organised enough to pre-order a click-and-collect order to make that process super easy, but not always. This helps as we've now got food and we can do ski kit hire/fitting without any rush.
In terms of route, we typically go via Reims and Troyes (A26 and then A31)... staying far away from Paris!
On the way back we have broken the journey in Reims (buying champagne) or Lille (well worth a stop).
We have also done this in a single run before... but it is a LONG day.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Lavender, welcome to SH's.
Is it just you driving? With two drivers swapping it's much easier. With one a stopover isn't a bad idea.
It's 600+ miles and 10+ hours driving from Calais.
Route as above.
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We've done Leicestershire to Val D'Isere and La Rosiere a few times with our son who has been aged between 10 and 14.
We tend to drive to Reims or Dijon and stop at a Novotel, and then do the rest of the journey the following day.
The return journey we do in one go and share the driving between the two of us.
If you're going over half term, go sunday to sunday.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Lavender, We do midlands to Les Arcs a few times a year. The route is:
M40,M25,M20 tunnel
Rheims, Dijon, Bourg en Bresse, Chambery (on autoroute) Albertville Bourg st Maurice then up the hill.
We cannot be bothered with an overnight stop either way. We set off about 4:00 from home and get to Les Arcs some where between 20:00 and 21:00 depending on tunnel delays. My wife and I swap about every 3 hours. So one will take the hard bit (down to the tunnel) then swap somewhere south of Rheims then again past Bourg en Bresse for the final stint to the resort.
If we shop in Bourg st Maurice - it's only a 20 minute drive from Les Arcs.
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Did this from Dorset a few weeks ago. Overnight in Beaune on the way down (left on the Friday) and had an easy trip up via a Super U on the Saturday.
Back in one go.
This is with 2 drivers though. When it was just me and the kids 3/4 years ago, we overnighted both ways.
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Leave the day before and stay near Rheims.
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I never go anywhere near Lyon.
Reims, Troyes, Dijon, Bourg en Bresse, Amberieu, then cross-country via Belley to Chambery, Albertville, Bourg St M.
However, first time you may prefer to stick to motorways rather than heading into the wilds.
Plenty of options for overnight stops. I generally use Ibis Budget - all I need is a bed for the night and simple breakfast. Have used Amberieu (Chateau Gaillard) - pretty basic but only 3 hours or so remaining journey, Nuits St George - now my preferred stop, Troyes Est, Reims Thillois which I now generally use on the return journey, leaving a relatively short hop to Calais.
Supermarket shop I do at Aime LeClerc rather than Bourg Super U or Intermarche.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Done it a number of times and a number of timings with kids to morzine and aosta. Including back in one go. It’s a long and unless you do the Jura v boring, journey. Don’t underestimate how tired you get and even with a second driver unless they’re good at sleeping may not be much more use at the point you need them.
I’m going in a few weeks to the Maurienne, outbound overnight ferry to Caen then a long day driving. Overnighting on the return 1 hr from Calais on the way back to give us a total of six hours travel on the last day.
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@MHskier, For La Rosiere, the route described by 195062 above gives a similar feel that going through the Jura does for places further north.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Lavender, if you do end up doing a stop overnight, F1Hotel and some IBIS (and maybe other Accor brands) do a family deal on rooms, where you book one room and get a second of the same for 50% off. We’ve just booked Ibis Styls in Bourg En Bresse and it was £110 for the four of us with brekkie.
Last year we stayed in an F1Hotel in Dole, same deal (no brekkie) but it only cost £70 for the four of us.
We always do one overnight on the way, driving from Rugby, getting a 8-9am tunnel crossing, reaching within 3-4hrs from Alps for the evening (after a lunch stop somewhere like St Quinten). Always go via Riems/Troyes/Dijon route, all very simple.
The stretch across Chanpagne is long but it’s better than navigating Paris.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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If autoroute driving in the dark at all and you’re the sole driver, stop for frequent coffee breaks, otherwise in my experience it’s dangerous.
Well ahead of the journey invest in one of the free-flow toll device with an account eg Sanef. Fantastic for driving through the special toll lanes without stopping. You’re billed when back home.
Eurotunnel tickets. If returning on a busy weekend, the more expensive Flexi tickets worked well for us in bypassing vast numbers of cars waiting at Coquelles in a jam on the cheaper tickets.
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We have driven to the Tarrantaise valley for about 20years, since the kids were young, from the SW.
With about 4hours drive from Dover, we set off early am and aim for a morning (9am?) ferry. This gives a good break, rest and breakfast opportunity. Did the tunnel once, and yes it was quicker but there was no real break from the car, poor food options and imo not restful at all.
We take the Reims, Dijon, Bourg en Bresse motorway route (big chicken is an eagerly awaited family land mark even though the 'kids' are now late 20's) have stopped at ChateauGaillard ibis budget mentioned above - about 2 miles down the rd to Amberieu is intermarche fuel and Bar B52 (for pizza/pasta). When we travelled in school hols, we always set off early to ensure we got through Moutiers well before 9, to avoid the traffic chaos and delays. On a few occasions we breakfasted in La Ros, which has been quite magical.
Have a great trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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I drove back from the area 10 days ago ..left 8;00 am and was in Reims at 4:30 ( I can recommend the B&B just off the motorway) drove back to Sheffield the next day quite easily , but I used the tunnel ...I reckon with 2 drivers it's ok with the tunnel ....just
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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For a first timer there are a few other things to sort out (apologies if you already know all this):-
Winter tyres or carrying chains or snow socks are compulsory throughout Savoie. 01/11 - 31/03
Crit’ air certificate is mandatory throughout Savoie as well as loads of other places throughout France https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
Warning triangle plus reflective gilets for driver and all passengers easily available within the vehicle. Check AA/RAC for other mandatory items.
Some say you need headlight deflectors too although we’ve never bothered.
Definitely recommend a motorway tag for a less stressful drive
B&B Hotels do large family rooms just off the motorway system
For the most part it is easier to drive in France than here 
Good luck
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Lavender, Yes you can realistically do return in one day - we live near Banbury so a little further south - however we leave resort (Les Arcs) by 4:30am 3 *3-hour driving stints (give or take) will get you to Calais with 2-stops. Crossing around 4pm, back in UK at 4ish ((UK time) and 3 hours back home.
Obviously all of that can go out the window in bad weather/traffic or mechanical issues. Age and tolerance of kids is also a factor
Wouldn't do it with just one driver
Stops need to be brief - refuel, loo, grab a bite to eat
Like others we always take 2-days to travel out, as you arrive more refreshed and in holiday mood. A day in the car on way home is tiring but you have Sunday to recover
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Boris, We leave Les Arcs about 10 or 11 in the morning aiming to get home shortly after midnight. But we always travel mid week so miss the massive traffic jams leaving the Tarentaise on Saturdays and to a lesser extent Sundays.
We did stop once overnight on the way down when the car broke down and felt upset in wasting a whole day of our holiday. We did not feel more refreshed or in any more of a holiday mood, probably more due to the problems with leaving a broken down car in st Quentin than anything else TBH. Provided we arrive in the apartment before the pizzeria closes at 10pm everything is fine and dandy.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@johnE, I'd be upset if I missed a day skiing due to having to stop.
For us it's leave early Friday AM and be in Macon by around 4pm, time for a drink and a relaxed dinner. Another early start and we're in Aime mid-morning to stock up in SUpermarket, in resort early afternoon and then depending on availability/mood/weather we will either ski Saturday afternoon or have a relaxed unpack. Drinks on balcony by 5. The over night adds to holiday, but does mean you need an extra days leave
Have done it a few times in a day and it is possible, as you say as long as you're there for a beer and pizza all's good 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We used to do it overnight before retiring - leave after work on a Friday, be skiing on Saturday morning. Now as a pensioner it is easy just to leave home in the morning and be in Les Arcs in the evening (stretching the definitions of morning and evening a lot  ).
Of course being in Arcs 1600 it is easy to either drive down to Bourg st Maurice or take the funicular after skiing if I feel the urge for some bulots. Otherwise it is just shopping in the Spar or a trip to the better stocked shops of 1800.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@johnE, Overnight is the one thing I could never do - from experience I know I'd be wiped out for days after. Is certainly best use of time though
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Boris wrote: |
| @johnE, Overnight is the one thing I could never do - from experience I know I'd be wiped out for days after. Is certainly best use of time though |
Likewise. We did the overnight drive once when we were in our early 40's with some friends. I shared the driving with one of the friends. We left Leicestershire at around 4pm on friday night and arrived in Bourg at 6.30am the following day having driven through the night in stints of 2 hrs on 2 hrs off with the wives and our son sleeping in the back of the car.
We did a supermarket shop in bourg and then drove the rest of the way up to st foy, arriving around 9am. We were absolutely shattered, and far too tired to ski. Our chalet wasn't supposed to be ready until 4pm so we were at a loose end until the restaurants opened for lunch at around 11.30am. Thankfully, we managed to get into the chalet at around 2pm. It was not a pleasant experience, is not something i'd repeat, and the arrival day was basically a wasted day.
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We drive overnight both out and back on our two trips a year. Me and the wife (both in our 50's share the driving).
It's clearly not for everyone but shouldn't be dismissed as an option.
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@Layne, indeed not - if it works for you then absolutely do it.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Something that i don't think is mentioned so far, is what a difference to travel times (& effort) the weather makes.
This year we had a relatively easy drive, though the last two hours to our friday night stopover near Lyon was through heavy rain - fortunately the Mway was fairly quiet and this did not really slow us down. Just before our stop there was a crashed car in the outside lane - had the road been busy (eg holiday week) this would have been a log jam with delays. Friends who pushed on to stop in Albertville, had a further two and half hours of rain and snow in the dark and were shattered.
Checking the drive time for the homeward leg a couple of days before, there was rain over much of France and google gave a drive time of 13.5 hrs to Calais (from La Plagne) - primarily due to numerous accidents on the autoroute before and after Lyon.
On a couple of occasions, we (or more accurately, my wife) have also driven for several hours at slower speed (especially if you're following the ploughs) in snow over the high bits on the way south.
With clear weather and roads it's a relatively easy 9.5 hours driving for Calais to resorts in Tarantaise or back, with two or more drivers.
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| Layne wrote: |
We drive overnight both out and back on our two trips a year. Me and the wife (both in our 50's share the driving).
It's clearly not for everyone but shouldn't be dismissed as an option. |
Blimey. Through the night journeys at the start and the end of the holiday. You're clearly made of sterner stuff than me
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Lots of good advice in this thread. With a family, I think having a stopover on the way out makes sense for most people and means you're not completely wiped out on arrival. Coming back, it does depend on weather etc but a long day's driving back is certainly feasible. And it doesn't really matter if you're wiped out the next day! I've done non stop in both directions, solo driving, but not on busy days - that's crucially important - and not when I planned to be on the slopes next day. Also important to be disciplined about stopping every two hours. Park a long way from the café and have a decent walk in the cold! If you need a quick nap, drink the coffee first, then nap for 20 - 25 minutes, then walk round the car a couple of times and get back on the road as the caffeine kicks in. And if you get to the "eyelids drooping shut" state - STOP. Though in my experience that can happen during the day, too.
If the weather's horrible all bets are off. Even if the road's just wet the speed limit is under 70 mph!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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This is about the only time i wish i lived closer to the tunnel ! Driving from Highlands is a non starter - we'd have given up by Folkstone !
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@orange,
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This is about the only time i wish i lived closer to the tunnel ! Driving from Highlands is a non starter - we'd have given up by Folkstone !
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there has been reports recently of a new (or renewed?), presumably overnight, ferry from Scotland to Dunkirk, would this be an option?
i assume it would be a bit of a financial outlay, but you would be able to counter this with fuel and tunnel in the uk
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You know it makes sense.
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God no, family get motion sick on a wobbly tile !
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Even when it's not very bad weather, I find I get very little sleep on those crossings. It's noisy, the beds aren't great and they wake you up SO early in the morning, usually about 35 minutes after you've finally dropped off.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Driving overnight can be good with kids because they sleep rather than get bored.
People get flights at stupid a clock. I've done TO flying holidays myself. It's uncomfortable (I'm 195cm tall) and tiring.
Anyhow, not here to convince people, just trying to inform the OP. Who we may never hear from again 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Layne, well safe to say the question was answered - can you get back in a day? Yes you can
I know want to load the car and head off, April is a long way off 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
People get flights at stupid a clock
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There's a post somewhere asking how to get to a transfer bus pick up point, far from accommodation, at 4 o'clock in the morning in Val d'Isere. 
It's worth considering skiing the final Saturday transfer day, then getting some hours up the road north before stopping for the night. Did that with daughter and family two Christmasses ago. But I was neither skiing nor driving, just sitting in the back of the van dozing off. Following morning, after quick stop at the nearest open boulangerie for coffee and food we were back on the road, fed, by 0800. Their subsequent two trips (without grandma) they came back in one hit but left Saturday morning early. They had 7 people (two families) in 9 seater van and paid for Flexiplus on the tunnel in both directions - leaving on the Friday evening after school being able to drive onto the next train is a big help, and between 7 passengers not ruinously expensive. They had 2/3 drivers.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Origen, I'd do that if I had Monday off work, when the kids were younger and an overnight stop was a necessity, I never really enjoyed the mad rush Sunday afternoon to unpack and get everything ready for school/work on Monday. Getting home Sat evening, even if late, gives a day to ease back into routine.
Soon as I'm retired/semi-retired the ski more and have more relaxed travel will kick in 
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FAQ
