 Poster: A snowHead
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Being an American in London, the whole Saturday transfer day issues in the Alps didn't really cross my mind when booking a holiday. So we have a flight that arrives into Geneva at 1120am on Sat December 28th, picking up a rental car and driving to Ste Foy. Now looking at past threads about GVA and Tarentaise traffic, it looks like I'm going to learn the hard way about not starting a European ski trip on a holiday week Saturday!
Can anyone give me a rough idea of how long the drive will take, assuming no inclement weather? Have a car booked through Avis and have an Avis preferred membership, so hopefully that will keep things moving as far as picking up the car goes. So if we can get out of the airport by 12:30-1, would 4-5 hours be realistic to Ste Foy?
We're staying 10 days in Ste Foy before driving up to the Swiss Alps on a Tuesday, so not worried about the drive back.
Thanks in advance,
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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marcs44, Welcome to Snowheads. The drive without traffic is around 2.25 hours. Saturday 28th will be fairly busy, especially once past Chambery, but shouldn't add another 3 hours unless there is a real problem (accident, bad weather...) so 4-5 hours is realistic IMO
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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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marcs44, 4 - 5 hours should see it, although it might be a little bit longer as that will be a very busy changeover day. The traffic will be pretty nose to tail.
Check you get a winter package with snowchains or you might not be allowed up the hill if it dumps on the day.
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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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p.s. practice putting on the snow chains in the carpark. Take gloves as well.
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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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marcs44, It took us 7 hours on the very same day last year...
Given that all of our travelling party have residences in Geneva or elsewhere in the Alps and didn't have to drive that day, it was a particularly stupid decision to travel on the busiest day of the whole year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for all the replies.
7 hours is pretty painful. I'm assuming the worst of the traffic is from Albertville to Bourg? Maybe we should ditch the car at the train station in Albertville, take the train to Bourg and have our chalet company pick us up, and then I can get the car on Monday. Train takes 1 hr and 15 min. A bit of a far fetched plan but maybe worth it....
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marcs44, if you're away from the airport by 12:30 you should be ahead of the worst of it. I was also driving on the same day last year and it didn't take me anywhere near 7 hours. 3 and a half tops.
There are ways and means to avoid the worst of the traffic. I am not going to say any more on a public forum!
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Thanks Steveomcd. That makes me feel better....
Any chance you could send me a message with some of your tips??
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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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stevomcd, well, we just blindly followed the satnav and everyone else's satnav...
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under a new name, I live in Sainte Foy, local knowledge is king!
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