Driving to the Alps : where to stop?

[feef]

I'll be driving to the alps on Boxing day, to arrive on the 27th Dec. I'm getting the Eurotunnel which gets me into France just before 8pm and I'd really like to make a dent in the drive that evening so I can arrive in Avoriaz at a reasonable hour. Looking at the Forumle1 and the like, they tend to be staffed till about 9pm; so other than getting a few hours sleep in the car in an aire on the autoroute, has anyone any suggestions for getting a few hours kip en route?

[Bluebarge]

You won't be getting much sleep in a car in December temperatures.

In your shoes, I'd get an earlier crossing, but if you're stuck with an 8pm arrival, I'd stop in Troyes, get 5 hours sleep, then head off at 6am and try to arrive in Avoriaz by midday (or later).

It's not usually a good idea to arrive on the most difficult, twisty, possibly snow-covered or icy roads you will encounter in your journey when knackered. So I wouldn't skimp on the sleep.

Get an earlier crossing.

[feef]

Bluebarge said:

You won't be getting much sleep in a car in December temperatures.

In your shoes, I'd get an earlier crossing, but if you're stuck with an 8pm arrival, I'd stop in Troyes, get 5 hours sleep, then head off at 6am and try to arrive in Avoriaz by midday (or later).

It's not usually a good idea to arrive on the most difficult, twisty, possibly snow-covered or icy roads you will encounter in your journey when knackered. So I wouldn't skimp on the sleep.

Get an earlier crossing.

Earlier crossing isn't practical for family reasons, and I intend on having my 4 season sleeping bag with me. I've camped in subzero temps in it and not had an issue.

I'll see if any of the F1 or similar in the Troyes area has a reception open later. It'd still be a good 3hrs to get to Troyes. I'd be more inclined to drive until I'm tired and then just crash (figuratively) wherever I am.

Actually.. looking at the FAQ on the Formule 1 website it states:

said:

24 hours out of 24 and 7 days out of 7, the Automatic Rooms Dispenser*, placed in the entrance of the hotel, enables you to access your room thanks to the bank card with which you made your booking on the Internet.

So if that works, it might not be an issue if I get there late.

Edited by feef on Thursday 16th October 14:41

Edited by feef on Thursday 16th October 14:42

[hornetrider]

Why restrict yourself to a Formula 1? There's an Ibis on the outskirts of Reims which is dirt cheap, could be an option. I totally would not be kipping in the car by the side of the road, you'll have no quality of sleep at all.

[lemonslap]

I stayed the Hotel Kyriad in Dijon, nice clean rooms and good food from the adjoining restaurant.

[longblackcoat]

feef said:

I'll be driving to the alps on Boxing day, to arrive on the 27th Dec. I'm getting the Eurotunnel which gets me into France just before 8pm and I'd really like to make a dent in the drive that evening so I can arrive in Avoriaz at a reasonable hour. Looking at the Forumle1 and the like, they tend to be staffed till about 9pm; so other than getting a few hours sleep in the car in an aire on the autoroute, has anyone any suggestions for getting a few hours kip en route?

I'll be driving to the same place (nearly) on the same day. I just drive through the night, but each to their own. Bear in mind that you can arrive at the F1 hotels after hours and just let yourself in with a card/code, so you really don't need to be there by 2100.

Formule 1 Website said:

24 hours out of 24 and 7 days out of 7, the Automatic Rooms Dispenser*, placed in the entrance of the hotel, enables you to access your room thanks to the bank card with which you made your booking on the Internet.

Were I stopping en route, I'd probably take a crossing 2 hours earlier and get to Troyes, which is around 370km (I think) from Eurotunnel.

[feef]

longblackcoat said:

Were I stopping en route, I'd probably take a crossing 2 hours earlier and get to Troyes, which is around 370km (I think) from Eurotunnel.

I can't go any earlier, it's not practical. I would normally fly but my return trip, going via Chamonix, means it's not practical both in terms of journey times, and what I'm taking with me, so I'm driving.

hornetrider said:

Why restrict yourself to a Formula 1? There's an Ibis on the outskirts of Reims which is dirt cheap, could be an option. I totally would not be kipping in the car by the side of the road, you'll have no quality of sleep at all.

I chose F1 as I know them, they are cheap and, from what I can see now, they allow automatic checkin. I guess if Ibis have receptions open 24hrs then that might be an option.. I should really have checked that first I suppose

[longblackcoat]

feef said:

longblackcoat said:

Were I stopping en route, I'd probably take a crossing 2 hours earlier and get to Troyes, which is around 370km (I think) from Eurotunnel.

I can't go any earlier, it's not practical. I would normally fly but my return trip, going via Chamonix, means it's not practical both in terms of journey times, and what I'm taking with me, so I'm driving.

hornetrider said:

Why restrict yourself to a Formula 1? There's an Ibis on the outskirts of Reims which is dirt cheap, could be an option. I totally would not be kipping in the car by the side of the road, you'll have no quality of sleep at all.

I chose F1 as I know them, they are cheap and, from what I can see now, they allow automatic checkin. I guess if Ibis have receptions open 24hrs then that might be an option.. I should really have checked that first I suppose

Then arrive in France at 2000 as scheduled, drive at a nice sedate 130kph, arrive at the F1 at 1130ish, kip out for the night, and you're just three yours away when you wake up. Sorted!

[Bill]

F1 are fully automated IME.

[feef]

As long as All F1 are automatic, that looks like it'll be the best option. Knowing my luck, I'll get to the only one that hasn't got the automated checking yet :P

[Diderot]

One thing you should remember is the weather. I've been stuck on the Autoroute about 30 miles from Trpyes for 5 hours one night when the big dump of snow came down, so I'd always have a plan to have a room en route in case, especially driving at night. IME of doing lots of Morzine/Avoriza trips over the years is either go for an early morning crossing and do it in one hit (easy enough), or stop at Troyes or somewhere near Langres as a good half way point.

If I were you I'd be going the next morning very early (say 5.00 ish tunnel crossing) and driving through daylight.

[longblackcoat]

Diderot said:

One thing you should remember is the weather. I've been stuck on the Autoroute about 30 miles from Trpyes for 5 hours one night when the big dump of snow came down, so I'd always have a plan to have a room en route in case, especially driving at night. IME of doing lots of Morzine/Avoriza trips over the years is either go for an early morning crossing and do it in one hit (easy enough), or stop at Troyes or somewhere near Langres as a good half way point.

If I were you I'd be going the next morning very early (say 5.00 ish tunnel crossing) and driving through daylight.

Except that he's then arriving at Avoriaz in the dark, and there's not a lot of time contingency should that road up from Morzine be snow-affected.

[Diderot]

longblackcoat said:

Diderot said:

One thing you should remember is the weather. I've been stuck on the Autoroute about 30 miles from Trpyes for 5 hours one night when the big dump of snow came down, so I'd always have a plan to have a room en route in case, especially driving at night. IME of doing lots of Morzine/Avoriza trips over the years is either go for an early morning crossing and do it in one hit (easy enough), or stop at Troyes or somewhere near Langres as a good half way point.

If I were you I'd be going the next morning very early (say 5.00 ish tunnel crossing) and driving through daylight.

Except that he's then arriving at Avoriaz in the dark, and there's not a lot of time contingency should that road up from Morzine be snow-affected.

Yeah, but he'll be there mid pm.

[littleredrooster]

I'd be looking for a Ibis. 24hr reception and most (all?) have all-night snacks available if you arrive after hours. Only slightly more expensive than F1, but streets ahead in comfort, facilities and service.

We use the one in Falaise several times per year after arriving in Caen on the late ferry.

Edit: this seems to fit the bill - 2 hrs from Calais, parking on-site, snacks available etc. etc.
http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-0811-ibis-reims-tinqu...

Edited by littleredrooster on Thursday 16th October 17:29

[feef]

A bit more digging, and it seems that many chains have upped their game since I last did this sort of trip (normally things are far more civilised time-wise), and most offer an automated checkin of sorts.

I see that Premiere Classe and others offer the same sort of automated checkin 24/7 but are a bit more comfortable, so I'll maybe go for that around Troyes. That should leave plenty of time to get to the resort the following day.

Ta

[checkmate91]

hornetrider said:

Why restrict yourself to a Formula 1? There's an Ibis on the outskirts of Reims which is dirt cheap, could be an option. I totally would not be kipping in the car by the side of the road, you'll have no quality of sleep at all.

I stayed in the Ibis on the outskirts of Reims on the way back from the Alps during the summer. It's fine although the bar food is straight out of the microwave (some of it was even warm) and I don't remember there being too many places to eat nearby but, as a cheap, clean bed for the night with cold beer on tap, it's perfect.

[feef]

littleredrooster said:

Edit: this seems to fit the bill - 2 hrs from Calais, parking on-site, snacks available etc. etc.
http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-0811-ibis-reims-tinqu...

I was looking at the Ibis and other AccorHotel chain places, but Ibis doesn't mention reception opening hours nor if it's 24 hrs. Unless I'm missing something somewhere. I COULD call them and ask I suppose, but I can't be arsed right now

[checkmate91]

Ibis are 24 hour reception hotels i.e they are hotels, not guest houses. AnI got it wrong in my earlier post. We stayed in the Ibis Reims Centre in the summer but, hey ho, the city is in a good place for a stopover on your run

[Diderot]

Pay a few quid more and get a Novotel - much much nice, decent food and good rooms.

[magooagain]

I use these a fair bit. http://www.hotel-bb.com/en/universe-bb.htm