Who's going skiing and where 2020
Discussion
4Q said:
Still not sure whether to risk flying out Thursday to drive my car home as the travel ban seems vague about essential travel. I will be very low risk to anyone sat on my own in the car on the autoroute. Is there anyone in France has a better handle on what’s allowed?
Where is the car, in Geneva? Do you need to get it back to UK or just out of GVA?4Q said:
Still not sure whether to risk flying out Thursday to drive my car home as the travel ban seems vague about essential travel. I will be very low risk to anyone sat on my own in the car on the autoroute. Is there anyone in France has a better handle on what’s allowed?
I think that would be classed as "essential travel" so OK but you will need the attestation, downloaded printed and carried with you.If you need the form let me know and I'll post a link to it for you (haven't got it to hand but will get one of you need me to)
S100HP said:
Where is the car, in Geneva? Do you need to get it back to UK or just out of GVA?
Yes it’s in p29 at Geneva airport, I was hoping to go and clear out the chalet we’ve rented in Morillon until the end of April and drive home. Plus I haven’t turned the water off or heating down as we were only going to be gone for a few days. Don’t really need it in the uk but don’t like paying 120CHF a week in parking indefinitely. Marcellus said:
I think that would be classed as "essential travel" so OK but you will need the attestation, downloaded printed and carried with you.
If you need the form let me know and I'll post a link to it for you (haven't got it to hand but will get one of you need me to)
I have a link to the form thanks MarcellusIf you need the form let me know and I'll post a link to it for you (haven't got it to hand but will get one of you need me to)
Edited by 4Q on Tuesday 17th March 19:01
I drove the length of France today - I left Andorra at 5:30
I was amazed at the number of cars (mainly French) on the roads. The autoroutes were free flowing, even around Paris, but far from empty.
We only saw one example this afternoon of anything that looked like enforcement - at a toll booth, they were pulling random cars over.
IMHO if you can get a flight out, then driving back should be the easy bit - though clearly things are changing daily. There 's enough French cars to stop, so I'd expect a UK registered car heading for home is somewhat obvious....
Service stations open - we stopped twice, one had no food at at all except crisps etc. The second had a few sandwiches but not much.
The tunnel was running a normal service 2 trains per hour and no problems at all there. Flexi lounge was shut and only a drive through service - so I assume the main terminal building was also shut - maybe toilets only? On the train we were asked to stay in the car unless using the loo.
I was amazed at the number of cars (mainly French) on the roads. The autoroutes were free flowing, even around Paris, but far from empty.
We only saw one example this afternoon of anything that looked like enforcement - at a toll booth, they were pulling random cars over.
IMHO if you can get a flight out, then driving back should be the easy bit - though clearly things are changing daily. There 's enough French cars to stop, so I'd expect a UK registered car heading for home is somewhat obvious....
Service stations open - we stopped twice, one had no food at at all except crisps etc. The second had a few sandwiches but not much.
The tunnel was running a normal service 2 trains per hour and no problems at all there. Flexi lounge was shut and only a drive through service - so I assume the main terminal building was also shut - maybe toilets only? On the train we were asked to stay in the car unless using the loo.
Is anyone in the Grand Massif who could lock my chalet down for me as I’m not sure I want to risk going out there and being stuck. I’ve left food in the fridge and the heating and water on and not closed the shutters up. You’d be welcome to the food and beer as a thanks. It’s on the main road into Morillon if anyone’s nearby?
4Q said:
Is anyone in the Grand Massif who could lock my chalet down for me as I’m not sure I want to risk going out there and being stuck. I’ve left food in the fridge and the heating and water on and not closed the shutters up. You’d be welcome to the food and beer as a thanks. It’s on the main road into Morillon if anyone’s nearby?
Just dropped you an email. i know of 2 people in that area still (or was last time i spoke to them)4Q said:
Is anyone in the Grand Massif who could lock my chalet down for me as I’m not sure I want to risk going out there and being stuck. I’ve left food in the fridge and the heating and water on and not closed the shutters up. You’d be welcome to the food and beer as a thanks. It’s on the main road into Morillon if anyone’s nearby?
I can put you in touch with a few people if you're stuck.As I mentioned earlier in the thread my car is currently stuck in parking at Geneva Airport parking as I’m unable to fly out and drive it home.
I thought others in the same boat as me might like to know that I’ve been in contact with the airport who have said that they will only charge me up to the point that I was originally due to pick up the car no matter how long it takes. I’ll need my parking ticket and proof of the original flight and need to visit the parking desk in P2 car park at the airport when I’m finally able to go back out.
I thought others in the same boat as me might like to know that I’ve been in contact with the airport who have said that they will only charge me up to the point that I was originally due to pick up the car no matter how long it takes. I’ll need my parking ticket and proof of the original flight and need to visit the parking desk in P2 car park at the airport when I’m finally able to go back out.
Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 18th March 13:42
4Q said:
Still not sure whether to risk flying out Thursday to drive my car home as the travel ban seems vague about essential travel. I will be very low risk to anyone sat on my own in the car on the autoroute. Is there anyone in France has a better handle on what’s allowed?
If you do decide to drive back you will need to print off, fill in and sign a declaration stating where you are going and why. If you are caught without one it is 135 eur fine. I was stoped by Gendarmes yesterday 50 m from my houseAbbott said:
4Q said:
Still not sure whether to risk flying out Thursday to drive my car home as the travel ban seems vague about essential travel. I will be very low risk to anyone sat on my own in the car on the autoroute. Is there anyone in France has a better handle on what’s allowed?
If you do decide to drive back you will need to print off, fill in and sign a declaration stating where you are going and why. If you are caught without one it is 135 eur fine. I was stoped by Gendarmes yesterday 50 m from my houseHad an email from skifrance.co.uk telling us to contact our travel insurer for a refund. I thought as an ABTA member they could have been a little more helpful. They can’t have passed all our money onto the hotel/ transfer provider and lift operator so are effectively keeping that and getting us to claim under our travel insurer. They then say try your credit card company who say try your travel insurer who say............
Appreciate it’s difficult times but to be fobbed off in an email isn’t good enough
Appreciate it’s difficult times but to be fobbed off in an email isn’t good enough
Forgot to mention that was chatting to elderly gentleman in a gondola who had some stories to tell;
Apparently Tesla's dont really do ice + road tyres as the one they was travelling in had a moment and put them into the armco on a mountain road
Anyway, before i digress, was talking about them doing the skinning up and skiing down, turns out one of the gents was the guy who accompanied Ranulph Fiennes on his 3 month Antarctica trip. I wish i had asked him so many more questions but he said that the hardest part of the trip was the repacking the sleds in the morning. Unpacking and setting up camp is easy as your warm from the walk but the morning is another story.
Never knew they slept in 3 sleeping bags (ie one inside each other). Not sure if they had a tent each or shared, or if they remained in 'isolation' throughout the night. I had a quick google of him but couldnt find him (though his names Mike).
Apparently Tesla's dont really do ice + road tyres as the one they was travelling in had a moment and put them into the armco on a mountain road
Anyway, before i digress, was talking about them doing the skinning up and skiing down, turns out one of the gents was the guy who accompanied Ranulph Fiennes on his 3 month Antarctica trip. I wish i had asked him so many more questions but he said that the hardest part of the trip was the repacking the sleds in the morning. Unpacking and setting up camp is easy as your warm from the walk but the morning is another story.
Never knew they slept in 3 sleeping bags (ie one inside each other). Not sure if they had a tent each or shared, or if they remained in 'isolation' throughout the night. I had a quick google of him but couldnt find him (though his names Mike).
lemmingjames said:
Forgot to mention that was chatting to elderly gentleman in a gondola who had some stories to tell;
Apparently Tesla's dont really do ice + road tyres as the one they was travelling in had a moment and put them into the armco on a mountain road
Anyway, before i digress, was talking about them doing the skinning up and skiing down, turns out one of the gents was the guy who accompanied Ranulph Fiennes on his 3 month Antarctica trip. I wish i had asked him so many more questions but he said that the hardest part of the trip was the repacking the sleds in the morning. Unpacking and setting up camp is easy as your warm from the walk but the morning is another story.
Never knew they slept in 3 sleeping bags (ie one inside each other). Not sure if they had a tent each or shared, or if they remained in 'isolation' throughout the night. I had a quick google of him but couldnt find him (though his names Mike).
Mike Stroud? A total legend and famous in his own right. Would love to share a gondola with him!Apparently Tesla's dont really do ice + road tyres as the one they was travelling in had a moment and put them into the armco on a mountain road
Anyway, before i digress, was talking about them doing the skinning up and skiing down, turns out one of the gents was the guy who accompanied Ranulph Fiennes on his 3 month Antarctica trip. I wish i had asked him so many more questions but he said that the hardest part of the trip was the repacking the sleds in the morning. Unpacking and setting up camp is easy as your warm from the walk but the morning is another story.
Never knew they slept in 3 sleeping bags (ie one inside each other). Not sure if they had a tent each or shared, or if they remained in 'isolation' throughout the night. I had a quick google of him but couldnt find him (though his names Mike).
Edit as he's not: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Stroud_(physi...
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