 Poster: A snowHead
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As I know you are all super helpful folk ..
Thanks to the new announcement we are now full steam ahead planning our trip for the 30th, which involves driving in a single day, from Eurotunnel to Sainte Foy.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for the journey, and sensible thing to pack. I was thinking a little car pack with consumables like washer fluid etc etc and we have the stuff you need to be in France. Obviously our ski gear!
We were just going to point our nose towards sainte foy and go!
But any tips welcome! Thank you!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Top it up before you go with screenwash that doesn't freeze and save space in the car. You can buy it in Halfords 
Loo roll - some french aires might be basic. Loo roll is always handy.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Practice putting your snowchains one warm sunny afternoon
Take headtorch and thin gloves in case you need to put on in dark
Drinks and snacks for car
Toilet roll for the Aires just in case
CDs/ipod/audio books - French Radio is crap
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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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Amazing thank you for the link! I'm using my phone and the tiny screen made searching hard 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Before leaving home, check anti-freeze, tyres, washer fluid etc
Motor cert
Breakdown Tel no
European Driver Pack
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Head torch great shout!!
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| Boris wrote: |
Practice putting your snowchains one warm sunny afternoon
Take headtorch and thin gloves in case you need to put on in dark |
Plus something to kneel on, a bit of disposable cardboard or a car foot mat.
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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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@cbr I've written a blog piece for our rental apartment website which discusses this exact topic:
Self-drive to the Swiss Alps - Preparation
which you may find a useful read. It covers France and Switzerland. A few bits are Swiss-specific but most of it applies generically. If you're driving to Austria, there may be a few things it doesn't mention (like the Austrian motorway vignette). One of the links in the blog is to the RAC Guide to Driving Abroad, which I've found to be pretty accurate and up-to-date.
What it doesn't cover is the specific Covid documentation and certificates you'll need, because (as we've seen) these change so regularly. But it des have links to the official, source pages for the UK and French governments, which will have this information. If you're crossing via Eurotunnel, I've found that their customer pages seem to be kept updated and are pretty accurate.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 13-01-22 17:20; edited 3 times in total
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@cbr, Welcome to snowHeads you will find he search function top left brings back many threads on the same subject. - That should keep you busy for a couple of hours (:
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sunday is a good day to travel, roads-wise, but be aware that French supermarkets, except in resorts, will be shut. If your car will be marked outside in St Foy, and in the hope that you get fresh snow during the week, a shovel would be a good thing to have, as well as a small stiffish brush to get snow off the windows. If you are already familiar with the route, fine. But if not, don't follow a satnav into the mountains without checking that it's not sending you up roads likely to be closed.
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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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Noting this thread as we have plans to drive, albeit over more than one day
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| pam w wrote: |
| Sunday is a good day to travel, roads-wise, but be aware that French supermarkets, except in resorts, will be shut. |
The Intermarché chain opens on Sunday mornings, not just in resorts.
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You know it makes sense.
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| ster wrote: |
| Boris wrote: |
Practice putting your snowchains one warm sunny afternoon
Take headtorch and thin gloves in case you need to put on in dark |
Plus something to kneel on, a bit of disposable cardboard or a car foot mat. |
THIS! Kneeling in the slush or snow is not pleasant!
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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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| Quote: |
The Intermarché chain opens on Sunday mornings, not just in resorts
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Thanks. I'm out of date, @rjs, that's very useful.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Get a telepeage from Eurotunnel website https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/promotions/emovis-tag/ but probably only worth it if you are going more than once
also
Beam Deflectors
Spare light bulbs (Ridiculous but still French Law)
UK sticker (Not EU stars and GB on your number plate ) Theres a whole thread on that!
Yellow tabard(s)
Breathalyser needed but no fine if you dont!
Warning triangle
Breakdown Insurance (Check it covers vehicle repatriation - I've had two bought back over the years!)
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 13-01-22 17:51; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Don't forget a warning triangle 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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@boredsurfin, breathalyser reqt was scrapped wasn't it?
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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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@holidayloverxx, sort off, apparently its still required but there's no fine for not having one! How French is that!
Same as a spare set of lightbulbs, some cars the headlight unit is one fitting costing over £1000  Most folk couldn't begin to change it!
I have a 20+ year old set of bulbs in the car just in case I get stopped by some arsey Gendarme looking to make up his tally of tickets.
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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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| Boris wrote: |
Practice putting your snowchains one warm sunny afternoon
Take headtorch and thin gloves in case you need to put on in dark
Drinks and snacks for car
Toilet roll for the Aires just in case
CDs/ipod/audio books - French Radio is crap |
You are right, I am well out of practice, never having had to do it in anger. Only a day to get that done and I am pretty busy tomorrow... Also the head torch, there is an ordinary torch in the car but seems like a good idea. Ditto toilet roll. Not sure about the snacks, would need to get those through customs.
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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: |
Not sure about the snacks, would need to get those through customs
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Biscuits, chocolate - good standbys. I always have cheap chocolate in my car - bottom shelf stuff - because then I know I'll only use it in an emergency. And sealed bottles of still water. You'll be glad of those when you're camping out in a school gym in Bourg St Maurice in a blizzard.
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| pam w wrote: |
| You'll be glad of those when you're camping out in a school gym in Bourg St Maurice in a blizzard. |
Don't want to think about it! But yes, plan for the worst.
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| boredsurfin wrote: |
@holidayloverxx, sort off, apparently its still required but there's no fine for not having one! How French is that!
Same as a spare set of lightbulbs, some cars the headlight unit is one fitting costing over £1000 Most folk couldn't begin to change it!
I have a 20+ year old set of bulbs in the car just in case I get stopped by some arsey Gendarme looking to make up his tally of tickets. |
I really think there is no reqt to carry one any more. There was a clause in a bill a few years ago that scrapped it.. maybe it didn't go through
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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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@holidayloverxx, it’s the same a our (UK) law that a Hackney Carriage must carry a bale of hay between its rear wheels.
As @boredsurfin, says, it’s a law but no fine for non compliance.
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| pam w wrote: |
. . sealed bottles of still water . . . |
Good stuff, but I also prefer to ensure that I have taken all those freezable bottles of liquid out if I'm stopping overnight or longer anywhere that sub-zero temperatures prevail.
Once I had a sealed bottle of cola split when parked up in resort.
I expect it was partly the altitude as well, but the freeze/thaw mess it created was so awful and it never cleaned up properly, not to mention the lingering aromas.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I’m sure you’ll be fine with what you’ve got but this is what I take with me.
Lithium battery pack (in car battery is flat at end of the week)
Thermos of tea.
Gardening pad (to kneel on) plus Waterproofs to change into if you need to put snow chains on.
I also make sure I can shift lug nuts and spray with white grease before I put back on.
Spare tyre is a unidirectional snow tyre.
Snow tyres have been put on so that they rotate in correct directions (drove for a whole season with all tyres incorrect).
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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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@cbr, great place to ski, hope you enjoy the week.
We ordinarily drive in one whole journey there too, ovenight outward and day return and enjoy the whole adventure.
If you've got indoor parking booked there, access is usually good to get luggage in. If not, the reception on most of the buildings will give you a temporary pass to drive in and unload with likewise to conclude the week in exit. Just makes it easier to work round.
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You know it makes sense.
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A collapsable shovel or two (Avy shovel) for digging car out if you get a dump and have outside parking.
A brush from your accommodation is much better for clearing the snow off a car than the little plastic scrapers that we have over here or doing it with your hands..
Clear off the roof, bonnet and front as well.
Put your chains on before you REALLY need them not after! You may be the only one putting them on, but everyone else may be on more suitable rubber than you.
Have a good drive down.
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