Who is going skiing and where in 2017

[Cheib]

Marcellus said:

desolate said:

I am pretty sure it's compulsory to have winter tyres and chains.

Verbier is a couple of hours from Geneva - Unless you can share the driving I would say too much to get there in one go.

Only compuslory to have chains, no legal requirementnto have Winter tyres

It's very true that you don't have to have winter tyres in Switzerland BUT (and it's a very big but) if you have an accident the Swiss authorities will throw the book at you if you block the road etc.

https://www.ch.ch/en/winter-tyres/

If you rent a car from Geneva airport Swiss side the car has winter tyres....French side it'll be on summer tyres. There's a reason why the hire companies go to that expense when legally they don't have to.

I got stopped driving to Verbier speeding in my X5...I think I was 18 kmh over the limit. Special level of fines for Johnnie Foreigner CHF 500. Imagine how much the fine would be if you blocked the road....

And Verbier is very doable in one hit from the UK....I've done it many times and normally I do all the driving. It's 8 hours to Calais including a couple of stops. I generally do it in 11 hours and we're two hours from Folkestone.

[Busa mav]

There were lines of cars struggling on the climbs today, and the coach just pulled out and passed them.

Half way up the police were stopping cars , I assume to check for chains or tyres.

[Speed 3]

First time having to use snow chains on the departure from Sauze D'Oulx today, what a fr@gging nightmare. Combo of chains and rental 500L with a hideous auto box meant a pretty unpleasant end to an otherwise excellent long weekend. Thankfully back to driving to the Alps next next year in our own Touareg.

First ski lesson in 25 years was a revelation, really hard trying to unlearn all those bad habits

[popeyewhite]

renmure said:

However, I forgot how much of a pet hate it was to find dimwits who push and hustle their way forward in any lift queue only to then stand stationary in everyone's way while they wait for their mates or besties to catch up before actually taking the chairlift. Grrrr!!!

Try The Dolomites. Very, very few boarders either.

[kennydies]

Got back from Val thorens on saturday... Few things to note:

Snow reports are rubbish. It snowed for 27 hours on Tuesday and the snow report said no snow for a week ;-)

Passes are valid from the following morning although there are a couple of travelators that don't require passes if you want an hour pottering about.

Head over to Orele asap as it is a great area with some really nice runs.

Happy hour in the Frog is between 4pm and 6pm....

There was little or no snow down in les menuires..

[Jarcy]

kennydies said:

Got back from Val thorens on saturday... Few things to note:

Snow reports are rubbish. It snowed for 27 hours on Tuesday and the snow report said no snow for a week ;-)

Must have been a special Tuesday with 27 hours in it!

kennydies said:

Passes are valid from the following morning although there are a couple of travelators that don't require passes if you want an hour pottering about.

Similarly in La Plagne (& I presume Les Arcs) buy a 6 day Paradiski pass and you get the previous afternoon for free.
If you can get into resort by lunchtime of transfer day, you can go skiing for your first afternoon without incurring an extra days lift pass.

[gl20]

Arrived in Chamonix yesterday to snowfall that continued through the night albeit quite sleety. Woke up to the Avalanche canons hard at work. Lots of fresh, if heavyish, snow today but with mixed visibility. Considering what a crap season it's been, we've probably done well to be here this week. Just need better light.

[Welshbeef]

Is it possible to drive to La Plagne from U.K. (Reading) with a young family for skiing?

Is it sensible/significant cost savings or really high tolls ferry fuel and so far it's really not advisable?

[housen]

gl20 said:

Arrived in Chamonix yesterday to snowfall that continued through the night albeit quite sleety. Woke up to the Avalanche canons hard at work. Lots of fresh, if heavyish, snow today but with mixed visibility. Considering what a crap season it's been, we've probably done well to be here this week. Just need better light.

yeah that sounds oki

but man ...worst year in 4 years easily

its too mild !!!

and still no proper season start snow fall

[p1stonhead]

Welshbeef said:

Is it possible to drive to La Plagne from U.K. (Reading) with a young family for skiing?

Is it sensible/significant cost savings or really high tolls ferry fuel and so far it's really not advisable?

Its easy.

Early Eurotunnel means you can make LaPlagne the same evening if you want, but with a young family I would suggest stopping.

We usually blast down to near Lyon, spend the night, then set off early with a view to being on the slopes by say 11am. Lyon to the slopes looks a small distance on the map but can take a fair while - google maps puts it at 2hrs 40 from Lyon to LaPlagne. With a brief stop, its prob 3 hours.

Its such an easy drive though. Only scuppered if there is heavy snowfall in the last section up the hills. But I havent experiecned this personally thankfully!

[LFB531]

p1stonhead said:

Welshbeef said:

Is it possible to drive to La Plagne from U.K. (Reading) with a young family for skiing?

Is it sensible/significant cost savings or really high tolls ferry fuel and so far it's really not advisable?

Its easy.

Early Eurotunnel means you can make LaPlagne the same evening if you want, but with a young family I would suggest stopping.

We usually blast down to near Lyon, spend the night, then set off early with a view to being on the slopes by say 11am. Lyon to the slopes looks a small distance on the map but can take a fair while - google maps puts it at 2hrs 40 from Lyon to LaPlagne. With a brief stop, its prob 3 hours.

Its such an easy drive though. Only scuppered if there is heavy snowfall in the last section up the hills. But I havent experiecned this personally thankfully!

Totally agree, all depending on how the little ones travel. Lyon is a fair old run from Eurotunnel especially if you factor in just getting to Folkestone in the first place. 3 hours from Lyon is about right, stopping at somewhere like Aime before you start to climb.

If you can get a Sunday/Sunday deal traffic will be much easier or if you're faced with a Saturday, maybe consider driving down overnight on the Friday, that will get you up the mountain nice and early.

The drive home is the worst bit, it seems to go on forever especially after a nice week outdoors but I guess DVD's and iPads make things better these days.

I've never done it but always thought that if time allowed, an overnight boat back to Portsmouth would work well. That last leg for me to Bath from Folkestone is a real drag!

I'm not convinced there's a real cost saving compared to a package deal with flight but having a car makes life so easy especially in terms of what you can take together with avoiding the airport nonsense that's all part of the deal on ski holidays.

[Welshbeef]

I guess part of the time saving by driving is no need to get to airport unpack car get to check in get luggage find transfer actually have transfer to resort unpack to room.

Could make a fair amount of time saving plus leave return when you want.


I guess risk is if you have an injury then you are in a right hole.

[p1stonhead]

LFB531 said:

p1stonhead said:

Welshbeef said:

Is it possible to drive to La Plagne from U.K. (Reading) with a young family for skiing?

Is it sensible/significant cost savings or really high tolls ferry fuel and so far it's really not advisable?

Its easy.

Early Eurotunnel means you can make LaPlagne the same evening if you want, but with a young family I would suggest stopping.

We usually blast down to near Lyon, spend the night, then set off early with a view to being on the slopes by say 11am. Lyon to the slopes looks a small distance on the map but can take a fair while - google maps puts it at 2hrs 40 from Lyon to LaPlagne. With a brief stop, its prob 3 hours.

Its such an easy drive though. Only scuppered if there is heavy snowfall in the last section up the hills. But I havent experiecned this personally thankfully!

Totally agree, all depending on how the little ones travel. Lyon is a fair old run from Eurotunnel especially if you factor in just getting to Folkestone in the first place. 3 hours from Lyon is about right, stopping at somewhere like Aime before you start to climb.

If you can get a Sunday/Sunday deal traffic will be much easier or if you're faced with a Saturday, maybe consider driving down overnight on the Friday, that will get you up the mountain nice and early.

The drive home is the worst bit, it seems to go on forever especially after a nice week outdoors but I guess DVD's and iPads make things better these days.

I've never done it but always thought that if time allowed, an overnight boat back to Portsmouth would work well. That last leg for me to Bath from Folkestone is a real drag!

I'm not convinced there's a real cost saving compared to a package deal with flight but having a car makes life so easy especially in terms of what you can take together with avoiding the airport nonsense that's all part of the deal on ski holidays.

I am only 45mins from the tunnel which makes things more paletable. Driving across England too would take a bit of the shine off.

Flying is a pain in my book. Being able to fill the estate with loads of crap is a huge plus.

[Mothersruin]

housen said:

gl20 said:

Arrived in Chamonix yesterday to snowfall that continued through the night albeit quite sleety. Woke up to the Avalanche canons hard at work. Lots of fresh, if heavyish, snow today but with mixed visibility. Considering what a crap season it's been, we've probably done well to be here this week. Just need better light.

yeah that sounds oki

but man ...worst year in 4 years easily

its too mild !!!

and still no proper season start snow fall

Not sure about mlld, it was dropping to -15 each night while we were in Livigno a few weeks back. Lovely blue skies each day, just no precipitation.

[LFB531]

Welshbeef said:

I guess part of the time saving by driving is no need to get to airport unpack car get to check in get luggage find transfer actually have transfer to resort unpack to room.

Could make a fair amount of time saving plus leave return when you want.


I guess risk is if you have an injury then you are in a right hole.

Suspect your holiday insurance covers repatriation of you/the car if the worst happened and no second driver.

Watching chums of mine faced with an umpteen hour delay from Chambery back to London as I boarded my flight to Bristol was the last time I flew to a French ski trip. Trying to keep their kids occupied in an airport with no facilities was a nightmare for them.

[jonny996]

Welshbeef said:

I guess part of the time saving by driving is no need to get to airport unpack car get to check in get luggage find transfer actually have transfer to resort unpack to room.

Could make a fair amount of time saving plus leave return when you want.


I guess risk is if you have an injury then you are in a right hole.

We drive from Edinburgh & we all prefer driving to flying. we break the journey up into 2 7 hour days with a nice dinner on the overnight stay. 7 hours in a car is nothing to a kid, it is 3 films.

[gl20]

Mothersruin said:

housen said:

gl20 said:

Arrived in Chamonix yesterday to snowfall that continued through the night albeit quite sleety. Woke up to the Avalanche canons hard at work. Lots of fresh, if heavyish, snow today but with mixed visibility. Considering what a crap season it's been, we've probably done well to be here this week. Just need better light.

yeah that sounds oki

but man ...worst year in 4 years easily

its too mild !!!

and still no proper season start snow fall

Not sure about mlld, it was dropping to -15 each night while we were in Livigno a few weeks back. Lovely blue skies each day, just no precipitation.

Agree that it's not too mild right now ( in Cham at least). More Snow falling this afternoon and snow excellent off top of Grand Montet. Same can't be said for visibility although there is at least some definition. Proper sun at some point would be great though.

[peterattheboro]

The weather in Val Thorens has been appalling this week. Had some visibility yesterday morning but today is just mist and rain/snow again.

Supposed to get better Thursday/Friday but not gonna hold my breath.

Dont think I'm gonna bother going out today

I'll be devastated if I don't get any sun or even some good visibility as the views are spectacular.

[Welshbeef]

peterattheboro said:

The weather in Val Thorens has been appalling this week. Had some visibility yesterday morning but today is just mist and rain/snow again.

Supposed to get better Thursday/Friday but not gonna hold my breath.

Dont think I'm gonna bother going out today

I'll be devastated if I don't get any sun or even some good visibility as the views are spectacular.

Sounds like you may as well have been in Scotland skiing.

[popeyewhite]

peterattheboro said:

I'll be devastated if I don't get any sun or even some good visibility as the views are spectacular.

As a ski resort the views in VT are pretty mundane IMO. Great skiing though, had a wonderful week in the sun last Easter!