 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
A quick question if I may. In previous posts I mentioned that I am trying to get to Val Thoren from Grenoble (landing at 21:00) on the 3rd March.
However, as the coach only goes to moutiers (leaving at 22:00) I would have to get a taxi at some expense (anyone know how much this might cost, it would be about midnight at this point).
Therefore my other thought was to get a car rental from Grenoble (costing about £140 inc. Snow Chains). The only problem is that 1.) I have never driven in a foreign country before and 2.) never driven in the Alps before.
Is this too dangerous? It would be more practical for me, please give your advice/experiences.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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darrenkenny, Driving in the Alps is no different from anywhere else, no more 'dangerous' than driving at home as it will be the same idiots on the roads although you will have a LHD car .. just take your time, no idea on taxi but mega-bucks comes to mind .. someone will be more specific ...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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darrenkenny, if you have never driven abroad before, you may find an automatic makes the job slightly easier. The number of times I have gone for the gearstick only to find the door handle instead 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Agenterre wrote: |
| ...mega-bucks comes to mind .. someone will be more specific ... |
I'd like to be more specific...
mega-euros.
Hope that helps.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Wear The Fox Hat, Touchee ( swine) !
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Agenterre, Touchee was a turtle not a swine...
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I have driven in the Alps many times and drove to Val Thorens at Xmas. The roads are very good and the drive up to Val Thorens is straightforward, nothing dangerous about it! An automatic will make your life easier if you are not used to a left-hand drive car. I would recommend pre-booking a car park in VT, otherwise you could be parking outside the town.
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You could try :
If it's a charter flight you could try asking all the arrival reps if they have any space on there coach's going up to Val or Les Menuires.For a few quid in there back burner they may allow you to hop on board.
Leg it straight to the car hire shop after youve got ur bags and see if anyone is willing to bum you a ride for a few quid (done this myself a few times)
Hire a car yourself,see if the hire outfit have an office in val , they may have, you may be able to get away with one or two days hire if they will let you drop it off in the resort.
A word of warning on hiring though ,check the car over for damage before you take it and make sure you have a writen note of any damage scratches no matter how small before you take it ! If they can many outfits will sting you for damage that you didnt do ,not repair it then sting the next customer and so on so on.
I wouldnt personally want to be trying to book a taxi from the valley floor at that time of night ,like others say they would charge you what they liked.
Regards Mark
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Hiring a car is deffo the best option, and I second the suggestion of an automatic
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I found changing gears with the "wrong" hand the most difficult thing to get used to, so I agree with this, with the proviso that if you've never driven an automatic, that takes a bit of getting used to as well. You need to keep your left foot very firmly clamped to the floor and never, ever, put it on a pedal. If you're a confident and experienced driver in the UK you won't have any problem; we've all done it for the first time at some time. But if you're a very new driver here, as well, one of the other suggestions, such as bumming a lift, is probably better.
Once you're on the road, bowling along with everyone else, around roundabouts etc you'll be fine. The problem I always find is pulling out onto an empty road, for example from a petrol station, then it's automatic to take the left hand side of a road. I once pulled out of a hotel at 6 am, a couple of hundred yards to a roundabout, round the roundabout the wrong way and towards the péage (toll) booth, only to find a very irate French lorry driver making rude gestures at me. Don't blame him. And I'd been driving in France for many weeks of several years by that time! It's the worst mistake I've made and I got away with it, but I was lucky.
If you have a passenger in the car it will help you look out for road signs, traffic lights, etc which are all a bit differently designed, and placed, than UK ones. Especially as it will be dark. And they can share the cost....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Have you thought about staying in moutier for the night and catching the bus up in the morning or even hitching. alternativly if your kit is in a back pack and you have skis take the lift up from brides les bains and ski over to val.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Say to yourself EVERY time you get behind the wheel.- " Drive on the Right : Death comes from the left". Its a really good way to make sure you look the 'wrong' way at junctions etc, then you will be alot safer. Dont forget most French roads are quieter than ours, . I wouldn't wory about it , hardest part is fitting snow chains in a snow covered layby ,in the dark , when its snowing.
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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| darrenkenny, The number of times I have gone for the gearstick only to find the door handle instead |
| pam w wrote: |
| I once pulled out of a hotel at 6 am, a couple of hundred yards to a roundabout, round the roundabout the wrong way and towards the péage (toll) booth, only to find a very irate French lorry driver making rude gestures at me. . |
| dupes wrote: |
| hardest part is fitting snow chains in a snow covered layby ,in the dark , when its snowing. |
I've done all of the above! (except the rude gesture of the French driver)
In addition, I turned on the windshield wiper when I need to signal for turn! Worst, when I got back home, I do the same because I was too well trained from the hired car!!! 
If you think a few of the above doesn't faze you, you'll do fine. If you're the cautious kind and find the trouble too much, you should look for other options. The worst thing is to worry and get all worked up all the way from the airport to the lodge. You'll likely end up lost or exhausted, not the best way to start a holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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Cheers guys, that makes me much more confident.
I am a confident driver, just unsure of the difficulty of it all + I dont want to be stranded in Moutiers at midnight strambling for a taxi that I will have to get a second mortgage to pay.
An overnight stay would make sense, but its extra hassle and coming back would mean relying on bueses which im just not keen on.
Again, thanks for the advice, it's all very much appreciated.
Darren
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Good Luck darrenkenny, we drove from Grenoble to les deux alpes and it was one of the scariest experiences! However once we had got our heads round the roundabouts it was grand and we could enjoy the lovely scenery.
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