 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all
Myself and better half are travelling to les arcs on Saturday 10th.
We are picking @hire car up at Lyon airport which provably won't have either winter tyres or snow chains.
Couple of questions, what are current road as like and does anyone know of a cheap place to pick up snow chains on the way from Lyon to les arcs.
The forecast looks like there will be some snow on the sat and the journey could be interesting.
Any advice much appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Research snow socks rather than chains, they are legal "chains" in France. Even cheap supermarket chains can be 60 euros - what is the hire cost?
Last weekend the Les Arcs fb page was telling people they needed chains to get from 1600 to 1800.
It's raining here at the moment.
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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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@Mick8417, Pay extra for winter tyres at point of hire, I cant believe anyone drives into the Alps without them. Same with chains, if its snowing wait in the long queues with all the idiots who have neither, the roads will be jammed beyond Moutiers.
Or go to Austria, Switzerland or Germany where winter tyres are mandatory, nobody hardly ever needs or uses chains but carries them (winter tyres do their job) and the traffic moves in bad weather. 
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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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I agree with your points Mark but am struggling to find any car hire company in Lyon willing to guarantee me a car with winter tyres. At any price?
I can of course hire a 4x4 at an exorbitant amount. But that shouldn't be necessary.
Its not easy compared to hiring from Switzerland which have cars with winter tyres by default
I am flying to Lyon to avoid the chaos at Geneva Airport caused by the motor show. We experienced that last year and it wasn't pleasant.
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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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@Mick8417, Yep not easy that, one of the principal reasons we don't go to French Alps anymore, especially with a hire car for that very reason, logistics getting into and out of the Savoie via Moutiers/ Bourg St Maurice are a nightmare at the best of times, got caught out in bad weather loads of times and vowed never again.
If I was going Saturday i'd go by train from Lyon to Bourg and up on the lift to LA.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Never seen a car hire place offer winter tyres, socks are the way to go
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Just for info if you wanted to gamble - the road as far as Albertville is more or less flat. And Albertville is a big town so I'd expect the supermarkets there would have an adequate supply of socks and chains.
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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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@Mick8417, Stop at the retail park at Chambery at Cham Nord just after the tolls, there is a Hypermarket and Feu Vert (like Halfords) Both sell chains and socks at similar to UK prices. I used socks on hire cars over Xmas and New Year purchased at the Hypermarket - perfectly fine. In fact slightly better than chains in as much that you can drive through tunnels on bare tarmac wih socks - simply can't do that with chains on!
Same at Albertville with Hypermarket and Feu Vert BUT if its bad snow they may sell out of your size and once passed Albertville the chances of finding your size reduce as each town passes...
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I picked up chains in Albertville on the way to Tignes in January with no problem during a snowy week. The Geant Casino had most sizes but not mine - however the Euromaster garage over the road had them for about €40. The road to Tignes was in fact closed most of the day I drove up and I had to use the chains for some considerable distance that week, so they seem to be strong/good quality.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all the advice, im going to pick up some chains/socks on the way somewhere early in my journey suggested.
Forecast looks like we could be getting some snow on the journey saturday.
If anyone knows of any other specific places or recommendations on types i would be grateful.
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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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Mick8417, i don't think you need to worry about chains.
They are very good round here at keeping the roads clear,
And anyway, its going to warm up on Friday, and then rain on Saturday.
This is consistent across all weather forecast sites.
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whats the best way of checking out live road condition ?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Mick8417 wrote: |
| whats the best way of checking out live road condition ? |
Looking out of the windscreen?
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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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| Mick8417 wrote: |
| whats the best way of checking out live road condition ? |
When you see other people fitting chains, fit yours. Dont wait until you hit the hairpins with snow on the road, too late then
Check weather forecast
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FAQ
