Going skiing in the van...
Discussion
Anyone got any hints, tips or recommendations?
We have a 6 berth Transit based MH on Michelin camper tyres. It has a large garage under the rear double and we'll take a dehumidifier. Three youngish kids will be learning, and the two of us are rusty.
SWMBO has found a site in Austria with "ensuite" facilities which is tempting.
The main stumbling block can see is the waste water tanks are outside the envelope so we'll need loose tanks or piping so no water pools in them.
We have a 6 berth Transit based MH on Michelin camper tyres. It has a large garage under the rear double and we'll take a dehumidifier. Three youngish kids will be learning, and the two of us are rusty.
SWMBO has found a site in Austria with "ensuite" facilities which is tempting.
The main stumbling block can see is the waste water tanks are outside the envelope so we'll need loose tanks or piping so no water pools in them.
ked. And we only got away for a couple of hours while the kids had a lesson. 
So...
10 days away, 1500 miles and 7 days skiing.
We stopped both ways in an aire in Mesnil-Saint-Pere that was about 4hrs from Calais and 5hrs from the Alps.
The campsite (Camping Le Giffre, Samoens) was a bit tired but facilities were spotlessly clean and well heated. It's beside a public park with lakes, cycle tracks and a playground as well as sports facilities. It's 3/4 of a mile from the centre of town but the lift is 200m away and there's a boulangerie and pizza place even closer. The village is at 800m, and the lift takes you up to 1600 in 10 minutes or so.
The snow was fine - a bit slushy and overused on the south facing slopes down into Flaine but otherwise perfectly adequate. Apart from breakfasts, we only ate in once while we were there but should have taken a BBQ as some of the evenings were perfect. And despite a shaky start for one of them they can all ski and get about on blues and easy reds.
It was ace.
The view facing the other way from the picture I posted earlier:
The campsite is at the right hand end of the lakes:
I got a silly helmet off ebay...
10 days away, 1500 miles and 7 days skiing.
We stopped both ways in an aire in Mesnil-Saint-Pere that was about 4hrs from Calais and 5hrs from the Alps.
The campsite (Camping Le Giffre, Samoens) was a bit tired but facilities were spotlessly clean and well heated. It's beside a public park with lakes, cycle tracks and a playground as well as sports facilities. It's 3/4 of a mile from the centre of town but the lift is 200m away and there's a boulangerie and pizza place even closer. The village is at 800m, and the lift takes you up to 1600 in 10 minutes or so.
The snow was fine - a bit slushy and overused on the south facing slopes down into Flaine but otherwise perfectly adequate. Apart from breakfasts, we only ate in once while we were there but should have taken a BBQ as some of the evenings were perfect. And despite a shaky start for one of them they can all ski and get about on blues and easy reds.
It was ace.
The view facing the other way from the picture I posted earlier:
The campsite is at the right hand end of the lakes:
I got a silly helmet off ebay...
Edited by Bill on Monday 4th April 14:19
There was too much snow, the lifts weren't running because of a power failure, we had 6+" of snow over night and it continued for most of the day. So we went sledging, built snowmen and had snowball fights for hours, went skating and then had more snowball fights on the way home and then built a toy igloo.
It was ace.
It was ace.
We are, thanks. 
I reckon the lowest we've seen is -5, but last night wasn't below freezing and we were too hot with the rad on 1/2.
(I would use gas, but we're a little low and thought I could fill up in the resort and CBA going back down. Looking at our usage I reckon we'd be ok but coffee and bbqs took priority.)
I reckon the lowest we've seen is -5, but last night wasn't below freezing and we were too hot with the rad on 1/2.
(I would use gas, but we're a little low and thought I could fill up in the resort and CBA going back down. Looking at our usage I reckon we'd be ok but coffee and bbqs took priority.)
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