 Poster: A snowHead
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I have a bit of a horror of trying to travel in convoy. It can lead to distractions and stops drivers making the right decisions for themselves. Much better for each driver to decide for themselves when to stop, whether for a pee, a coffee, or the night. But I don't think the proposal was to travel in convoy, was it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I don't know how much difference half-term makes but, starting early in the morning and taking the tunnel rather than the ferry we got to Meribel at tea time and watched the skiers coming down their last runs. That was with 2 drivers.
Doing the same to Val Cenis (Haute Maurienne) we got there at dinner time. I assume that would be about the timing for Montgenevre.
We usually leave at the end of skiing and drive till dinner time, finishing the next day.
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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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| sarah wrote: |
Boredsurfing, thanks. That's what I thought, to get as much of the drive as possible done on the Friday. For the return though there is no way we will leave by 6.30am  We are with a large group and loads of kids (but all travelling independently) and will have to get everyone out of the chalet and probably clean it too although haven't checked the conditions. If we can't leave that early then what's the next best option? |
crosbie as mentioned way above "all travelling independently" so I am only concerned with my family and vehicle so no multiple vehicles and kids, no convoy. And TBH I am not concerned with rest, sharing driving, length of journey etc etc. My OP simply asked for advice on how to time the crossing to minimise the traffic chaos on the busiest changeover days of the season - half term.
FWIW our approx plan now is to leave london early friday am to make a tunnel around 7-8am. Drive all day friday when the roads are hopefully not too bad. Stay overnight in a resort hotel or within a stones throw of resort. Be in or drive into resort early sat am, go and ski, get into chalet when we can. Routing depends on location of stopover hotel which I am on the case with.
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| pam w wrote: |
| But I don't think the proposal was to travel in convoy, was it? |
Thanks for that, thought I was going mad 
snowball yes that sounds like what we're hoping for.
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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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sarah, Friday 7:15am tunnel to 8pm Hotel de Paris in Briancon was what I did last season.
BUT, that was a 4x4 people carrier with 5 adults, mild winter weather (70-80mph), NOT half-term, NO KIDS, no dawdling, but via the fairly icy and hair-raising La Grave route (with winter tyres - very handy in the UK at the moment).
It's already been pointed out to me that we are talking about HALF-TERM.
If you don't have any kids, have a nippy 4x4 and sneak up to 140kph (either winter tyres rated for that speed, or pray you can get through the mountains on summer tyres) then maybe, like at any other time of the year you can get to Briancon (or other nearby town with one-nighters available) in time for dinner.
I'm just thinking you may get there in time for dinner at half-term if you really push it, but all the other vehicles with kids and a more sedate pace may need you to let them in via the hotel's back door at 1am...
Incidentally, I'll be in a 3 vehicle drive out to Avoriaz in March (Saturday 7:15am tunnel).
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I can understand that the traffic in the Rhone-Alpes region will be crazy on the half term weekend, does anyone have any experience of the traffic further north? Is there a point at which it gets bad when heading south?
I am planning on heading out to Engelberg at half term, so should be able to avoid the worst of the French roads south of Reims as we'd head further east towards Basel at that point. Or is it worth maybe going via Belgium to get to Basel, or are Belgian roads going likely to be busy too?
Thanks to Boredsurfing for that French Traffic forecast link, very handy, although it is now giving me nightmares:)
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[quote="Boredsurfing"]
Probably worth repeating then 
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[quote="Boredsurfing"]
Probably worth repeating then
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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: |
I don't know how much difference half-term makes
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A lot, that's what.
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does anyone have any experience of the traffic further north? Is there a point at which it gets bad when heading south?
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I've never done it. wouldn't dream of it. But I have driven north on that weekend. On the Friday the road heading south was busy (far busier than usual) but moving OK. We stayed at Reims and heading out to the north (by that time it was Saturday morning) there was a HUGE queue for the peage. all lanes chock a block for several miles - telepeage wouldn't have made a ha'porth of difference. The worst part though is usually the last hours up to resort (or down again, at the end). I've driven up, on the week after, past miles of stationary traffic with people wandering round, smoking, having a chat, brewing up on their picnic stoves etc. Well, maybe not the picnic stoves bit, but you get the drift. A Friday journey down and stay within a stone's throw would be infinitely preferable but it can be very hard to book a hotel room for that night - lots of people with the same idea. Book right away and be prepared for a bit of a trawl through the possibilities.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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pam w, wonderful! Thanks for that, I will have my list at the ready.
Would this be a good time to ask about whether we should get a telepeage or not? 
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Ah, thanks for that pam_w... so traffic is pretty much b*ggered by Reims then (if not further north). There's some pretty big road works in the Reims area too. I'll take the Belgium route then. Sadly the earliest crossing we can make is about midnight on Friday night, so we'll probably do that and stay in an Ibis somewhere in the north and try and get on the roads early on Sat.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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sah, it all depends on timing, and weather. A lot of the roadworks which were slowing things down a bit at various points on the autoroute down from Calais had disappeared when we came down in December. No problems anywhere, but was a random Sunday with good weather. I know nothing about the "Belgian route" though I did drive to Switzerland via Belgium and Luxembourg once. That was because we were visiting friends in Belgium. Generally I stick to Calais/Reims/Bourg en bresse/Geneva.
Avoid Lyons if you possibly can. Always seems to be problems there on busy days. Depends where you're going, I suppose.
As for telepeage, there seem to be far more French drivers using it these days - it's gradually catching on. There would come a point, obviously, at which it was no advantage at all but I find it useful especially when driving alone, or when the OH is asleep (which is most of the time he's in the car....). It seems less painful when you don't have to keep producing cash or swiping credit cards.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Avoid Lyons if you possibly can. Always seems to be problems there on busy days. Depends where you're going, I suppose.
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Well, since we're heading to Engelberg (via Basel) I'd be pretty lost if I got near Lyons:) But good advice in general of course.
Looking online the Belgian route only adds about an hour to the predicted journey time for my trip so I think I'll go for it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm on a roll tonight, just ordered the telepeage too
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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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sarah, I trust your vehicle is less than 2m high (including roofbox)?
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crosbie, Now, now, dangly bits is a myth. Disco with roof box @ 2.5m got under last week, also there is a telepeage lane to the far right every time that is for high vehicles. Go right with your telepeage not left (but don't tell everyone)
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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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stevomcd, Have you used the back road from Bourg to Macot, N.D. du Pre Moutiers? The stretch between Bourg and Aime saved me at least 2 hours the weekend before last!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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thefatcontroller, ah, but I thought that the telepeage for high vehicles could only be used if you'd purchased the more expensive version for commercial vehicles?
It would certainly be handy to use a telepeage given my vehicle is 2.1m without roofbox, and 2.7m with. Perhaps if the car is under 2m then they let you off if your roofbox requires the high vehicle lane?
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crosbie, 2.3 with the roof box but we probably won't use it, we can fit everything inside the vehicle 
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| Quote: |
thought that the telepeage for high vehicles could only be used if you'd purchased the more expensive version for commercial vehicles?
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you can use it for any vehicle, but it will of course add the commercial rate to your bill. 
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
thought that the telepeage for high vehicles could only be used if you'd purchased the more expensive version for commercial vehicles?
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you can use it for any vehicle, but it will of course add the commercial rate to your bill. |
It doesn't, did it last week and seen the bill and its at car rates. Let me explain though. At most tolls on the right hand side there were telepeage booths that allowed high sided vehicles through. I noticed one or two had special cordoned off lorries routes but most go left for telepeage, look to the right there are telepeage booths to.
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thefatcontroller, presumably you specify which rate you want when you order it (car vs commercial). I suspect they do spot checks when high vehicles (large vans) use the high vehicle lane on a car rated telepeage.
It probably works just like a child ticket on the London underground. There's a beep and the staff can quickly glance to check that it was indeed a child.
I suspect if cars with roofboxes use the high vehicle lane on a car telepeage that the staff don't bat an eyelid at the alert tone, but if it's a large commercial van going through on a car rated telepeage then voom, "You're nicked sunshine!" or the equivalent in French.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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thefatcontroller, yes, I didn't really think it did - hence the wink. I've noticed a great expansion of the T booths - I went through one on the A40 a few days ago where both the outside "reserved" lane were occupied but several of the combined "T/credit card" lanes were free. Far more T-badges around, that's for sure - before long the fastest way through will be the lane with the little man. Like the time I found a long queue at the "nothing to declare" customs lane at some airport and went through the red lane, where there was nobody waiting, and told them about my bottle of brandy.
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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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pam w, Sorry, reading at pace . Begs the question why they put the fecking dangly bits up in the first place as lorries can't fit through those booths? Not every toll has dangly bits, the first toll out of Calais looks to have a firm board across, didn't try that one.
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I did see a GB plated car going through a height-restricted lane with two bikes on the roof.... or rather, starting to go through.
The difference between the layout of all the booths is a bit bewildering. But if in doubt, you can always drive through a manned booth and hand over the péage badge.
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You know it makes sense.
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X-trail plus roofbox goes through all the TP lanes . Good fun on the first time through the non-stop ones, hubby normally proceeds with caution just in case we clip the barrier overhead.
Never have yet, so why I don't know 
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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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Hi All, am driving down to Les Arcs on 1st week of easter hols, leaving from Cardiff. Have got 8pm tunnel on Friday eve. It's me, my other half and our 4 yr old, so does anyone have any ideas as to the best place to stop over. I don't fancy driving through the night with my little one. Coming home, not too worried, coz we're going to ski all day saturday, then leave late and get the tunnel on Easter Sunday. Any comments greatly appreciated.
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Poster: A snowHead
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bladeski, when do you get access to your accommodation on the Saturday? that could make a difference - skiing from the back of the car is OK for adults, but not much fun with a 4 year old.
An 8 pm tunnel will get you to France at about 9.45 local time. The 4 year old will probably be fast asleep at that point. But if you're going to stop, better get a decent night's sleep, so I'd aim to stop fairly far north in France. It's just an overnighter - generally the routes from the autoroutes into towns have lots of signs for hotels of various degrees of lack of distinction. For example
http://agence.voyages-sncf.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/nojs=1/htid=1622925/crti=1/carte-hotel?TAHotelCode=1622925&TAAuthorName=VoyagesSNCFHotelMaps
That leaves you with a long journey the following day - though if you can only get into your accommodation late in the afternoon (which is common) that won't much matter.
To get a bit further into the journey it's good to get (just) south of Reims - which is about 2.5 hours driving from Calais.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We can't get into the apartment until after 4pm. So not fussed on skiing that day either. Hubby thought it would be worth stocking up on supplies in bourg before we get to resort. Haven't done self-catering before, nor self-drive either, so it's a bit of a learning curve all round really!!!!!
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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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bladeski, yes, it is well worth stocking up in a valley supermarket, though you might also like to think about taking some stuff out with you (this last trip we even bought a couple of cases of BOGOF wine from Tescos which, like the "special offer" coffees were cheaper than in France). You might like to have a look at this thread http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=58542&highlight=self+catering
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Thanks so much, I'll have a look at these. Agree with you re: coffee, french stuff - disgusting!! 
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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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pam w, I never find the coffee cheaper in Tesco, it is always less expensive in France, what sort do you buy? Wine is far better quality in France surely? Our Tesco had an awful selection. Why not stop at Majestic in Calais? they do still have some great offers.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Helen Beaumont, I buy whatever decent brands of coffee are on special offer. For example I bought a great many BOGOF Douwe Egberts which lasted me ages. Certainly there's some very cheap brands of coffee in France, but they're very basic. Bought a new kind yesterday- not tried it yet, but the packet was pretty... At full price, coffee is a similar price in UK and France, but we seem to have better "special offers".
Wine is of every conceivable quality in France - from absurdly expensive to undrinkably disgusting. Some of my BOGOF offers from Tesco were French. For example this current one http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?id=265548522
£5.70 a bottle, delivered. Don't think you'd find it cheaper in France. And I'm not often wanting to dawdle in Calais on our way down. And I do enjoy the good New Zealand whites - I also enjoy many of the French whites, but half decent ones seem to cost around 8 or 9 euros. (To me, 9 euros is about as expensive as I go, I'm afraid...)
Lots of things which used to be cheaper in France aren't now, when the pound is not worth much more than a euro. I've noticed a huge difference since the days when I bought euros at 1.62 to the pound. I used to go back laden with coffee, olive oil, wine, chocolate etc. But not now.
Simple basics like eggs can be considerably more in France - and not only in resort shops, either.
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bladeski, Live not far from you and own a place in les Arcs so know the route etc...Will PM you my mobile number if you want to give me a shout easier than lots of messaging here.
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sah, I did the Belgium route at easter and it was a complete nightmare. Just seemed to be volume of traffic as people criss crossed Europe. Anyhoo, Belgium turned into a giant car park that didn't clear until Strasbourg when it was already midnight and 2 hours still to drive. I've vowed never to drive in Belgium again.
I went back up through Nancy and Metz, probably not the most direct route but anything is better than Belgium.
Like I said, I've only done it once so I may just have been very unlucky, just a bit of friendly advice.
Andy
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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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thefatcontroller, that would be great!!! I'm a teacher so don't finish school till about 2.30, and with a 4 hr drive to Folkestone the 8pm tunnel was a sensible option. Fingers crossed we can get on an earlier one to give us more time on the other side. 
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bladeski, Check your PM's.
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FAQ
and you too 
Get a telepeage 