 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm thinking of heading to Les Arcs on the 31st March.
It is a UK school holiday, but not a french holiday.
Is it likely that there would be traffic jams to get into the resort on the Saturday?
Also,
Does anyone know how easy is parking is in Les Arcs 1800?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It is a holiday weekend though, so many people with their own properties could be visiting for the weekend. I doubt it will be as bad as New Year or half-term though.
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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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@Drammeister, I'll wave
Have driven down to Vallandry several times at Easter over the last few years, it is nowhere near as busy as Feb half-term, slightly quieter than Xmas/NY.
However it still gets busy once you are past Albertville as there is only one road into 3V, La Plagne, Les Arcs etc. Depending on where you are coming from it can also get busy around Lyon - as well as ski traffic there will be people heading south to the beaches
We plan to travel Good Friday, stay near Macon and be on road early into resort Sat AM. Everytime we have done that (lunchtime arrival) there have been no queues
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Think about driving on Good Friday if you can - can be busy at the tunnel here but once you're past that there's almost nothing on the roads through France as it's not a holiday.
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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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We are driving down on good Friday. Getting an early tunnel then overnight just past Lyon ready for an early start on the Saturday to get up to Courchevel in the morning. Can’t wait!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It’s Luxembourgish school holidays but I’m not sure how much that will be of an issue for you.
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We are driving down on good Friday - over-nighting in Chambery (heading to Courchevel - well LaTania, Breeze11)
Can anyone advise approx how early we should get going from Chambery to reach LaTania by mid day at latest please??
Thank you
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Last Easter we left Chambery at around 10.30, it took 2 hours to get to Val Thorens. Not noticeably busy on the roads, maybe we were lucky but I don't think Easter is as big a deal as February holidays.
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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 think Easter is as big a deal as February holidays.
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nowhere near. Low season in France.
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| pam w wrote: |
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I don't think Easter is as big a deal as February holidays.
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nowhere near. Low season in France. |
Depends a bit on which French resort the high ones can be very busy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Drammeister wrote: |
Does anyone know how easy is parking is in Les Arcs 1800? |
All parking in 1800 is chargeable, whether inside or outside. I don't think you'll have any difficulty finding space, though.
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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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I'm driving back Easter Monday - very low expectation of Eurotunnel le Shuttle, as several crossings where already fully booked when I made my booking - usually a signal of chaos on the day 
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Thank you for replies - very helpfull - hopefully no problem being in resort by mid morning!
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You know it makes sense.
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@boredsurfin, surprised, thought most people would be heading out still at that time?
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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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@Dippy, we shall also be in La Tania that week. If you are overnighting in Chambery it’s only about an hour to get there. Before the kids we used to leave at 8am and hit the resort by 9am and get a whole extra day skiing in. Can’t do that now with young children.
The drive down should be pretty good, I’ve never had a problem driving into the alps except into resorts such as Val D’Isere where the road really narrows up the valley, but three valleys is always easy. Getting out on the other hand can be tricky.
Good tip is to take the road via Belley, reduces the tolls and it’s a lovely drive
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Poster: A snowHead
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We’ll be heading out there too but flying. In hindsight wish I’d driven but having not done it before we went the easy(ish) route. Would love to know how you get on with the drive for next years trip.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It really is a lovely drive in Spring.
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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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It certainly is. The autoroute bit is dull but with the tag it’s very quick.
Have you got your sanef tag?
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
I love the cross country piece on the D1504 via Belley, it’s a beautiful drive with some really dramatic bits.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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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 the replies, I was thinking of getting as near as possible to the resort on Friday night, so we could sneak in an extra half day on the snow.
Fingers crossed the OH agrees we can afford a second ski week this year!
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@Drammeister, I'm driving down on the Wednesday to start skiing Tursday morning and will probably come back the weekend after Easter. Parking at 1800 looks straightforward - you turn up to the gates of the resort and collect a ticket as you drive in. You pay by card as you leave. I think it is about 80euro for a week. There are a number of carparks then scattered around the bottom of the resort. Where are you staying?
Personally I have never used a telepeage transceiver, but then I have always driven with a passenger to collect tickets and pay. It takes about 10 seconds to collect a ticket and perhaps twice that to pay.
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I usually drive at Easter - not up the Tarentaise valley - but generally the traffic is nowhere near as bad as February.
| johnE wrote: |
| Personally I have never used a telepeage transceiver, but then I have always driven with a passenger to collect tickets and pay. It takes about 10 seconds to collect a ticket and perhaps twice that to pay. |
Since getting a Sanef telepeage "doofer" I'm not sure I could go back. Most things you might buy (e.g. new skis, new jacket etc) you get bored with after a while. But the satisfaction from hearing that doofer beep and seeing the toll barrier light go green never diminishes.
Paying with card/cash might not take much longer - but sometimes there are doofer only lanes with shorter queues.
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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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A warning from Eurotunnel
| Quote: |
Dear Lord Surfin
Important information, French Terminal trial 26th February - 23rd March 2018
As a most valued Frequent Traveller, we wanted you to be the first to know about a trial taking place on our French Terminal between 26th February and 23rd March 2018.
With the objective of improving traffic flow and delivering our customers travelling with the best possible customer experience, we will be trialling a new road layout from Check In, over the next few weeks. Please watch out for signage you may not have seen before, or signs that have changed.
As a regular traveller, your feedback during this trial will be very much welcomed and appreciated. If you travel from France to the UK during the trial, we would encourage you to let us know your thoughts by completing our online form eurotunnel.com/contact.
For additional information, we would advise you to visit our website eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/latest/.
Thank you for your most valued custom
We remain etc etc |
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@bobsterman, The only queue I came across was when I got in the lane and the car in front took ages to get started for some reason - a good two minutes
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Drammeister, snap! We're booked in Les Arcs (1950) that week too. It'll be our first time driving.
We've got a hotel just outside Lyon for the Friday night, and according to Google Maps, it's about another 2.5 hours drive. We're planning on leaving pretty early.
Speaking of which - supermarkets! We're self-catering, and would like to stock up a bit. How is this best achieved, given some of the food would be chilled and we wouldn't want to leave it all evening and night in the car? But at the same time, surely we need to head up the mountain asap and not faff about in a supermarket. Which may not even be open given we were thinking of leaving the hotel around 7am. Is that too early?
How do people get around this food/traffic dilemma?
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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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@sparklies, For Les Arcs we would stock up at Super U in Bourg St Maurice. By the time you get there you would be past the likely places for traffic delays eg. Chambery. Unless you have masses of space in the car it is also best to leave the food shop till the last moment so you don't have to drive for hours with bags of shopping at the children's feet!
If you are staying overnight in Lyon and getting up at 7am you will probably be ahead of most of the traffic.
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@snowymum, brilliant, thank you! I was wondering where the bulk of the traffic was, so that sounds absolutely fine. Will be nice to have a break before doing the trickiest part as well!
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You know it makes sense.
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@sparklies, It is only a 20 minute drive to Bourg from Arc 1600 or a 7 minute funicular journey. You do not have to stock up on your way upto the resort. In fact I will either drive down onThursday night to the intermarche or get the funicular down and stroll to Aldi
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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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@sparklies, we'll wave on the way past as we head the other direction - we're in the week before. As John E says, Aldi is a reasonable bet - and closer to the Funi: but the SuperU is past the roundabouts in Bourg thus 'better' and closer, and anyway no-one (who's not in 1600) wants to give up an afternoon's skiing just to save a few cents.
Super U also has decent petrol price, albeit quite long queues - we usually send one in to shop, and one to get petrol (even if just topping off ready for the trip home, it's good use of time): then try to find a parking space, and each other!
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Poster: A snowHead
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And things like cheese, butter, bacon, haunches of venison, can all be frozen before you leave home. Keep them together and throw a ski jacket over them - they'll be fine.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Arctic Roll wrote: |
@sparklies,
Super U also has decent petrol price, albeit quite long queues - we usually send one in to shop, and one to get petrol (even if just topping off ready for the trip home, it's good use of time): then try to find a parking space, and each other! |
There's a new multistory built on the back half of the super u carpark. Has a height restriction of 2.2m.
Also, Intermarche next door to Super U is open 8.00 - 12.30 on Sundays.
It's Lidl, not Aldi - not trying to be picky, but just incase anyone who doesn't know where it is has to ask for directions.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 26-02-18 14:17; edited 2 times in total
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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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@boredsurfin, interesting - would be interested in any feedback on what they are doing. At a guess they're going to switch back to the old method of clear check-in, into the car park (so you can shop) and then take people through in a more managed way through customs. I.e. like they do in the UK
Would make more sense and save the huge tailbacks trying to get into terminal
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thank you all, great advice! Think we will aim for the SuperU by the sounds of it. Just so long as we're ahead of the worst of the traffic.
@pam w, I was planning on taking out a few deer on the Ashridge Estate locally to bring with us. If we strap them to the top of the car, they'll be air-dried by the time we get there for sure 
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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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If we strap them to the top of the car, they'll be air-dried by the time we get there
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The mental image of the sparklies clan driving through France with a deer strapped to their car has made my day! 
@sparklies, for our family trips I've bought a cool box that I fill with frozen food - some pre-cooked stew, sauces, chili so that I'm not cooking each evening, and some other stuff like bacon. That food has remained frozen for well over 36 hours so no problem for the drive down.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
It's Lidl, not Aldi - not trying to be picky, but just incase anyone who doesn't know where it is has to ask for directions.
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Thanks for the clarification @Scamper. I must be the be a brand maanger's nightmare - I always think of them as the same place.
I have a personal preference for the Intermarche over the Super U - it just seems less frantic, but has a smaller fish counter. Both stay open until 7:30 in the evening so no need to loose an afternoons skiing.
Out of curiosity has anyone tried the leclerc hypermarket in Aime? From what I can see it doesn't offer online ordering and customer pick up.
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| johnE wrote: |
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It's Lidl, not Aldi - not trying to be picky, but just incase anyone who doesn't know where it is has to ask for directions.
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Thanks for the clarification @Scamper. I must be the be a brand maanger's nightmare - I always think of them as the same place. . |
Me too - people ask where I bought something and I'll answer "Lidl...no, Aldi... or was it Lidl? Hang on, I'll find the box!"
There is a Super U pick up place just as you leave Bourg, directly on the road to Les Arcs.
Wasn't sure if "foreigners" could register to use online shopping.
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Out of curiosity has anyone tried the leclerc hypermarket in Aime?
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Would be interested in any views as well - was going to give it a go this year instead of stopping in Albertville. Tends to only be a few fresh things we pick up as also take a cool box with frozen mince etc
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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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@Boris, Should be ok for you - has lots of fresh. But everytime we go there we end up in the Aime Casino supermarket as well because Leclerc doesnt have stuff that you get in Casino - plus beer is cheaper in Casino. - For a 'big shop' we always go to SuperU in Bourg (and Lidl in Bourg if needed.)
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Please could i ask where you would stop for a shop if you were heading for Courchevel?
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FAQ
