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Turin to Val Cenis by rental car
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

Hi all, I hope everyone is enjoying the great conditions. Just had a great week in Serre Chevalier and the next one is four of us heading to Val Cenis in the Haute-Maurienne on the 17th March, flying to Turin and picking up a rental. I've managed to get lumbered with the car hire bit of the trip (and being designated driver - harrumph). The Michelin route planner suggest about 2h15m with tolls of some e58. It also suggests that the route is sometimes closed, hence it presumably involves a pass, though as the route includes the Tunnel Alpin du Frejus, I'm a bit confused about that. Leaving aside the issue of a possible alpine pass for the mo, as Val Cenis village is relatively low at 1300m should I go the extra distance and book a car with chains included? Has anyone out there made this trip and gleaned any useful tips?

I consider all car rental companies to be rogues, though some are more roguish than others. I've heard that it is better to take out separate collision insurance to top up the standard rental package rather than buy from the rogues. Any thoughts on this?

Any advice gratefully received.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

To take the Turin Frejus autoroute in winter you need a car equipped with chains and, optionally, snow tires. That's the law.

There is no pass and the road is almost never closed. 58 euros - I think even the tunnel costs more than that, you'll not see much change out of a 100 euro note.
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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?

@Ichabod, Done it a few times, the last climb up to Val Cenis can get snowy and steep enough to need chains.
There is another route over to Val Cenis which hopefully will be closed as in winter it's a marked piste, avoids the tunnel but it won't be open in winter.
I use desperate insurance for car hire as they do try and catch you, having said that since buying it I haven't used it in about eight years.
Edit that's meant to be separate insurance, fat fingers
Embarassed


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 29-01-18 14:04; edited 1 time in total
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

I use these guys and they’ve been very good for hire car insurance.

http://iCarhireinsurance.com

I fly easyJet to Munich and then to Austria in a hire car, I’ve also done the same to Venice. I find the car prices are hard to beat via the easyJet website.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I've looked at the michelin route, it does start with that disclaimer that the route is sometimes closed. Obviously the route is via the Frejus tunnel in winter.

Can only think it refers to the pass (open in the summer, I think) that is direct from Susa to Val Cenis, if that's what it refers to then all good.
That road numbered ss25 in Italy, is the green piste "Escargo" in Val Cenis which you'll be skiing on. It's amusing that as you travel down it you pass through the hairpin turns with the barriers, signs and road furniture all in place Very Happy

Road from Frejus onwards to VC I'm familiar with, as stated not too high but still alpine and needs caution / equipment in the event of snow covered roads so wise to be properly prepared.

Weirdly, we'll also visit VC that week, and I grew up in Camberley! Que spooky parallel existence. Blush

Great place to ski by the way.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

I can confirm that the pass is the escargot run. We drove up there in summer once thinking we would pop to Italy for lunch. We did not find any lunch until Susa and that was a barely cooked pizza! I will not be rushing back to Susa!

In winter you would need the frejus tunnel and it is a gentle drive up from Modane. The road from Modane to Val Cenis does not have hairpins and is one of the easier resort climbs. I would still book the chains though.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Thanks v. much to all for advice and info. Chains it will be and top-up insurance (can be had for £40 / year apparently). @Ski3 - we're through the looking glass...
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