Alps - plane, train or automobile?
Discussion
Just booked Serre Chevalier for Easter next year 
Leaving from near Bristol (Thornbury) with a family of four, what is the best way to get there for Saturday evening (1/4/17)?
Via Michelin tells me driving will take 14h and cost £430 plus the crossing. Add maybe £120 for the tunnel and we're at £550. But 14h is probably too long for me so will probably break the journey at my uncle's in Montargis. Which makes it a two day journey, Friday morning to Saturday night.
Easy jet haven't released Easter yet but Feb half term Bristol to Grenoble would be £130pp plus luggage and airport parking. So maybe <£700 but then there's transfers or car hire. Transfer about £45 pp so total £850-900 but do able in a day. So £350 more than driving. And I find bus transfers exhausting so whilst not as tiring as driving, not a no brainer.
Anyone know anything about the ski train? With kids?
Any other options?
Ta muchly.
Leaving from near Bristol (Thornbury) with a family of four, what is the best way to get there for Saturday evening (1/4/17)?
Via Michelin tells me driving will take 14h and cost £430 plus the crossing. Add maybe £120 for the tunnel and we're at £550. But 14h is probably too long for me so will probably break the journey at my uncle's in Montargis. Which makes it a two day journey, Friday morning to Saturday night.
Easy jet haven't released Easter yet but Feb half term Bristol to Grenoble would be £130pp plus luggage and airport parking. So maybe <£700 but then there's transfers or car hire. Transfer about £45 pp so total £850-900 but do able in a day. So £350 more than driving. And I find bus transfers exhausting so whilst not as tiring as driving, not a no brainer.
Anyone know anything about the ski train? With kids?
Any other options?
Ta muchly.
Qashqai +2 2lt diesel. Fairly comfortable, literally just drove back from the Ardeche in it, good and spacious for stuff. Particularly with a roof box.
The hotel we've booked is ski in out so we won't be using the car after arrival. Will get snow chains only - not a 4wd model so expect to get stuck when parked but not on the main routes which are generally compacted and cleared.
Kids are 8 and 9 but generally placid and good with whatever so flying or driving is ok. So long as they have their iPads, as you say.
It's been 5 years since we last went skiing so I'm trying to remember whether flying was really much of an advantage. Bristol airport is pretty small so you can be door to plane in about 2 hours even with the ridiculous easy jet queue to drop off luggage. I seem to remember the French airport being much more of a hassle.
The hotel we've booked is ski in out so we won't be using the car after arrival. Will get snow chains only - not a 4wd model so expect to get stuck when parked but not on the main routes which are generally compacted and cleared.
Kids are 8 and 9 but generally placid and good with whatever so flying or driving is ok. So long as they have their iPads, as you say.
It's been 5 years since we last went skiing so I'm trying to remember whether flying was really much of an advantage. Bristol airport is pretty small so you can be door to plane in about 2 hours even with the ridiculous easy jet queue to drop off luggage. I seem to remember the French airport being much more of a hassle.
Thanks All. Sounds like trains are out. I looked into motorail (where you put the car on a train) as apparently there is a route from Paris to Briancon. But it's either been cancelled or I'm looking to far into the future. The other problem is you don't travel with the car- you have to take normal trains. Come to think of it, what's the point taking the car to the Alps to not drive it? So not an option.
So that leaves flying or driving. Driving would be fine and I enjoy the challenge of driving in the snow. But if flying gains a day and is barely more expensive... it's not barely though really. £600 odd for flights, plus airport parking and transfers. Comes to nearly £1k. And we don't get to see my uncle. It's going to be car.
So that leaves flying or driving. Driving would be fine and I enjoy the challenge of driving in the snow. But if flying gains a day and is barely more expensive... it's not barely though really. £600 odd for flights, plus airport parking and transfers. Comes to nearly £1k. And we don't get to see my uncle. It's going to be car.
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