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Half Term 23 Car Travel Thread

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
knackered knees wrote:
bpirkle wrote:
I ordered mine last night but still nothing back other than the order confirmation .. sent an email inquiry today but no reply. Paypal payment still shows as pending. R'uh R'oh.


AIUI you only need a Crit Air sticker if you're driving into one of the cities that it applies to. You don't need one for an autoroute/main through road, even if passing through one of the listed cities such as Lyon and Grenoble.


As pam_w said earlier it's really not easy to tell when/where you need one. Even using something like the Green-Zones phone app. it's not 100% clear.
- Most areas are just city centres or similar. For a standard alpes drive that just means people doing overnights in Reims or taking the Mont Blanc tunnel
- Others are regional, so the whole of Côte d'Or/Dijon (part of A31/A39 route) and Arve-Valley, Haute Savoie Annecy, and Savoie/Chambery areas...but even then the whole of the area isn't normally under restrictions as they only apply when/where pollution is bad.

Simples...
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Got the email .. sorted.
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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?
The holiday thread has the English half term split as next week and the week after.
What percentage of you are going this weekend coming?
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We're driving over tomorrow night, staying in St Quentin and driving to Sallanches on Friday. There all week if the snow holds out.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
We leave london on Friday morning for 8:20 eurotunnel crossing and affine on Châtel in the evening - via the cross-country Jura route. We often run into traffic when we join the Swiss motorway in Lausanne at around 5pm which can add 20 min delay to journey but by that point we just go with the flow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Friday 6.20am Eurotunnel and then on to Valmorel. Here’s hoping for a clear run!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
0650 tunnel this Friday. The weather next week has blown my mind was hoping for a single powder day but instead looks like sunbathing and pm slush
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Safe travels, y'all. snowHead
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@Jonny996, I would say the majority will be this weekend (11th Feb)
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James77 wrote:
0650 tunnel this Friday. The weather next week has blown my mind was hoping for a single powder day but instead looks like sunbathing and pm slush


Better than rain!

Let us know about flow / delays at tunnel. Safe journey!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
6.20am tunnel Friday, overnight in Albertville, then La Plagne Saturday

cannot wait
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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.
Hull to Rotterdam Friday evening, big stretch to Lyon by Saturday PM, then get up silly early to be on the slopes Sunday morning in Les Menuires.

Weather forecast is frightening me. 8 degrees sounds scary.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I started reading the Crit Air posts and started worrying I should have got one (we're leaving Friday, so too late now anyway). We're stopping at a hotel outside Reims but looks like we can easily avoid going into the low emission zone. Lyon's the only other one we could encounter but that's also no problem if you stick to the main A46/A432 route. Grenoble's zone looks more tricky to avoid if you're going that way, luckily we're not. It sounds like other cities will be getting LEZ's in the next few years so we'll definitely get a sticker for future trips.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
We stayed last week in a hotel inside the zone in Reims but have a Class-1 Crit'Air sticker (and underground car park!) so not a problem. But I can't imagine there's any serious enforcement.
It's a staged implementation, details are here: https://www.grandreims.fr/fileadmin/reims/MEDIA/13_Qualite_Vie_Environnement/Stationnement_et_mobilite/zfem_aides/A5-docpedago-ZFEM_GB-web.pdf
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
We're heading down to Ashford tomorrow evening, 7:30am eurotunnel over and then a stop in Annecy before heading up to Val d'Isère on Saturday.

Kids still don't know they are not going to school Friday, almost slipped up a couple times Very Happy
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Rob_Quads, how old are your kids?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Managed to change crossing to 8:50 pm on Thursday from Friday morning. Kids out of school for a “family event” and staying at the Novotel in Reims. This now allows us to stop for a few hours on Friday from 10am around Dijon for work calls.
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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?
@Topgeartom, Plus 8c is not unusual at this time of year , clear skies solid freeze at night softening during the day , it will be wonderful . Enjoy a wonderful weeks skiing in the sun .
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Safe travels all.
We are heading down to Ashford tonight.
Daughter not in school tomorrow, we did tell them, they were fine with it “we can’t officially authorise this request, but we hope you have a really nice holiday wink
0830ish train over the. Down to Lyon Friday night for a hopefully steady couple of hours up to Alpe D’Huez Saturday.
Can’t wait! Shame there’s not going to be too much fresh snow to play in, but sunshine and the mountains will be all good for the soul.
I’ve been dry since New Year’s Eve too as always extend dry January till we head off skiing, so that first beer in France on Friday is going to taste damn good.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Eurotunnel does allow charged fuel cans to be carried up to a certain limit - we carry a 5ℓ Wavian ExploSafe™ can just to minimise range anxiety. These have an internal honeycomb that minimises vapour loss when opened and ignition if they're damaged in an accident. They don't include the spout which has to be ordered as well. My strategy isn't to wait until we run out, but top-up at an aire when the range computer indicates that making the next petrol station might be tight (or the next+1 if for some reason there's an issue at the next one, which has happened).

Just a tip - when it's busy, try and avoid refuelling at service stations where there's one facility for both N and S-bound traffic. Apart from the hassle of navigating (and going in the oppostie direction if you get the exit wrong) you can get much more traffic, obviously, if it's a combined N+S facility.
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Surely the best way to avoid range anxiety is to fill up when you get to a quarter tank remaining (around 125 miles in my car). Boot is full enough without a fuel can!

To keep banging the drum on my favourite travel hack Casino supermarkets have their fuel for E0.85/litre offer running this weekend https://www.supercasino.fr/landing/carburant/ Great for anyone self catering.

Fill up and take your receipt and payment card into the store to the customer reception (Accueil) desk and they give you a credit for the difference between pump price and E0.85. If you manage to squeeze in 50 litres you should hit the maximum credit of E50. Go round and do your shopping and so long as you spend over E100 you can use the credit against the bill. We try to time the empty fuel tank and lunch at the same time and have a break, refuel car and passengers and do the pre arrival shop. Probably takes around an hour so for the more press-on it wouldn’t suit but to be honest I don’t enjoy getting to resort in one hit without at least a couple of decent stops.

Strangely the Geant Casino website doesn’t have the same offer showing but it usually applies there as well.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@DJL There are always unforseen circumstances. Like the closure of a string of petrol stations on the southbound Autoroute des Anglais last year. Or if you're sharing the driving, one of the drivers not noticing the fuel reserve. Or - as happened to us - one of the N+S stations being so jam-packed with ars that we saved a bunch of time by being able to go to the next one. Or - again as has happened to us twice - the 24hr automated station pumps simply refusing to talk to anyone who didn't seem to be French. Or when driving cross-country finding that the stations on your planned refuelling section are shut, for some reason. No one intentionally gets low on fuel. But it happens. And when it does - or if it is threatened - then having a small reserve can be useful, and is allowed on Eurotunnel, is all I'm saying.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
That's a very worthwhile offer @DJL, if convenient to fit in location wise.

I run the tank down to empty in UK use when convenient to check mileage, gauge accuracy etc and by use of supplementary supply to refill. Just gives more informed view of true capacity range, reserve section etc.

Makes it easier to judge and make fuel stop decisions for me.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
LaForet wrote:
having a small reserve can be useful, and is allowed on Eurotunnel

Following your suggestion, last year I got one of these (5 litres):
https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/automotive/fuel-containers/explosafe-fuel-containers/f/44065
Definitely peace-of-mind (and it includes a spout).
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Just boarded train nice and smooth getting busy but running to time.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Just about to board the train. Sainte Foy incoming - in time for a glass of vino later !
ski holidays
 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.
At Folkestone now - trains about 15 mins behind schedule. Terminal busy but otherwise ok !
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
BANG! And they are off !!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Good holiday everyone.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Safe travels everyone, just hope everyone remembered to pack their shades.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Waiting waiting waiting in Newhaven Eh oh!
Hopefully get to Lyon by Midnight, then a slight detour to Sainte-Foy (hey €25 lift pass Eh oh! ) on the way up to Tignes tomorrow.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
How strict are they being about about the arrive between 1-2 hours ahead of your crossing?

We have a 8.20am booked at Easter (Fri 31st), and are around 2.45 from Folkstone, so an early start needed. Are they likely to give me grief if we don't get there until, say, 7.30?
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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?
SHAP wrote:
How strict are they being about about the arrive between 1-2 hours ahead of your crossing?

We have a 8.20am booked at Easter (Fri 31st), and are around 2.45 from Folkstone, so an early start needed. Are they likely to give me grief if we don't get there until, say, 7.30?


I spoke too soon. We early arrived approx 830 and were offered a 1020 train. Still haven’t got on it. Delays getting longer and longer
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SHAP wrote:
How strict are they being about about the arrive between 1-2 hours ahead of your crossing?

We have a 8.20am booked at Easter (Fri 31st), and are around 2.45 from Folkstone, so an early start needed. Are they likely to give me grief if we don't get there until, say, 7.30?

No, they won't give you grief. You may miss your departure depending on how stacked things are but tbh it's never that clear to me what train we are because of the procedure of loading and number of trains at peak times and the trains don't leave with Swiss time punctuality.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Made it to Ibis Macon Sud Creches in good time. Funny little hotel.
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@Layne, Cheers. Will aim for an hour or so early, but won't sweat it.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Listening to Radio 2 Drivetime... it seems that EVERYONE is driving down for skiing right now!!!!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@jamescollings, I'm not Crying or Very sad Laughing
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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.
Us retired people came back last week!
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Were finally on our way! Making our way round the M25!
Safe travels everyone Eh oh!
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