 Poster: A snowHead
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I don't have my own vehicle but quite fancy the idea of driving to a European ski resort. Grateful for any advice from anyone who has done this or if anyone can recommend a car hire company that offers this service
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@nahdendee, been a long, long time but Enterprise and it cost a fortune but we had no choice
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Fri 22-09-23 19:13; edited 1 time 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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We rented a big Transit in Havant to transport lots of stuff to our French apartment. It didn't present any particular problems. We probably had to pay an additional charge - can't remember. I just went to a local firm and explained what we wanted and they were very helpful. We did get some chains on a "sale or return" basis but we needed them to get up the hill and they didn't fit any other vehicle, so it was a moderately expensive exercise. But we needed lots of space and were picking up some bits and pieces in Paris - if just going for a holiday it would probably be cheaper to fly and rent a car locally.
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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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Been there, done that - bit takes a bit of digging to work out companies that do/don't let you take cars overseas.
From memory 3 or 4 years ago Enterprises (who have a location at the end of my road) DO...but only for vans/lorries. They DON'T for passenger cars. On the other hand Europcar DO let you take passenger cars overseas.
The other option I used last year with a bigger group/for my 50th was a luxury minibus from vansforbands.com - who I can't recommend highly enough.
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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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I looked into this a few years back. Think it was almost impossible. However you obviously can rent in France and then drive down so really just a case of getting across the channel and then hiring.
Alternatively getting the train sounds like a nice journey, but limits resort choice.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Mjit, Austria without going through Germany or Switzerland?
A bit more helpful...
SECTION 1 - Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
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| Quote: |
really just a case of getting across the channel and then hiring
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That sounds like almost the worst of all worlds to me!
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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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@ster, thanks for posting the link to the vans from a couple of years ago now. Some of the vans were rented for ski holidays last year, evidenced above.
Looking at that original post, one thing to note is that the January prices are actually available for late December too - from about 18th December running into January, providing the lower price for Christmas and New Year ski holidays. This is just because, as I understand it, the usage from bands/groups diminishes in the run up to Christmas as everyone gets ready for, well, Christmas.
Another thing, the 'standard' rate vans include both 9-seater 'standard' vans but also the VW Transporters that are set up as 5-seaters with lots of space for luggage and ski kit. Perfect for a group for 5 who would prefer to drive a vehicle in a more manageable size (than a Mercedes Sprinter).
If anyone is interested, I might be able to see if some discount codes or offers could be posted for SnowHeads. If so, I can ask Ed and Tarrant who are the directors and see what they think.
Some very useful feedback received from this website when I posted that message a couple of years ago. In particular, one person mentioned weight when van fully loaded with people and kit. This led to the latest vans being set-up as 'lighweight splitters' to minimise weight and maximise passenger/load capacity. There are about 20 of these vans available, new this year, perfect for groups looking to travel to the Alps. However, if fully loaded, you still need to keep an eye on the overall weight to remain within legal limits (your responsibility).
Have a look at the Facebook page on the link below too, it mentions the new lighweight vans in production. Sleeper coaches available too - not cheap, but at full capacity can be comparable to air travel plus transfers etc. for a large group travelling at New Year or February half-term.
@Mjit, glad it worked for you. Thanks for the positive comment. Did you travel La Tania? Would be interesting to know how you did the drive - Friday or Saturday out, number of people who shared the driving, did you stop at a hotel en route?
https://www.facebook.com/vansforbands/?locale=en_GB
https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/winter-holidays
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you want to go a bit luxury - try 'The Out' which is affiliated to Jaguar / Land Rover. They specifically add snow chains and Eurotravel permitted. It's not cheap, but I rented a Range Rover Vogue for a large birthday (boot surprisingly small). I would consider doing it again, but perhaps with the new Defender or a Discovery.
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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 really think it would be an expensive way to do it, different to drive when it's your own car, but car hire, and then paying the intercountry insurance has to be more expensive than flying then hiring a car. Maybe I'm wrong but that would be how I would do it.
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| biddpyat wrote: |
| I really think it would be an expensive way to do it, different to drive when it's your own car, but car hire, and then paying the intercountry insurance has to be more expensive than flying then hiring a car. Maybe I'm wrong but that would be how I would do it. |
Having now read the full terms and conditions I tend to agree with you. Oh well, will now try and research a train travel option
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You know it makes sense.
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| biddpyat wrote: |
| I really think it would be an expensive way to do it, different to drive when it's your own car, but car hire, and then paying the intercountry insurance has to be more expensive than flying then hiring a car. Maybe I'm wrong but that would be how I would do it. |
Not at half term it isn't!
When I did the trip in a hired car we had 5 people/2 drivers + luggage but none of us owned a large car so were looking at 2x cars, 2x Eurotunnel, 2x tolls, 2x fuel, 2x very tired drivers. We just went with a Ford Galaxy sized car and even checking in the first hour after flights were released the cost for the car for the week was less than the return flights for 1 person. With hindsight we actually decided we should have gone a little bigger on the car (the 3rd row seats were a little crampt for an adult) and not priced based on "It's not worth paying twice as much for a slightly larger car." but rather "The larger car is still less than it would cost for 2 of us to fly.".
And the trip I did with the VansForBands luxuary minibus we were a group of 12. Yes, 3x cars/Eurotunnels/tolls/fuel did come out a few hundred quid cheaper - but 1x car + 1x minibus was a much more social way of doing it. And still cheaper than 12 people flying at half term.
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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: |
rented a Range Rover Vogue for a large birthday (boot surprisingly small). I would consider doing it again, but perhaps with the new Defender or a Discovery.
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But you wouldn't need anything like a Range Rover or a Disco. Neither have a stunning amount of room and you don't need 4WD. A car like an Octavia Estate would be more economical and have at least as much - probably more - luggage space.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@nahdendee, obviously you would have to cost it as it would depend on when and where you were hoping to go, but I can't imagine this idea being cheaper than flying and hiring a car from the airport closer to your final destination, once you add in all the costs of fuel, crossings, tolls, overnights, etc.
Flights to Italy and car hire in winter are cheap as chips, but maybe not quite such a bargain in other Alpine countries.
So yes, you can still drive to a ski resort, but without the channel crossing and the 10 hour schlep across the most boring part of France! 
The advantages of having a car in the mountains is that you can choose better value accommodation that is a short drive from the lift bases, plus you can visit a number of different ski areas.
The disadvantages could be driving in winter conditions, having to fit snow chains and possibly having to clear ice and snow if the parking is outside. In some resorts with limited parking, a car could be a hindrance.
Bear in mind also that some alpine countries insist (in certain conditions, on certain roads, between certain dates) on you having winter tyres and/or snow chains, neither of which would likely be supplied on a UK hire car.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Neither France nor Italy require snow tyres and chains are very easily acquired.
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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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In case anyone is interested, Vans for Bands have some promotional rates for 9-seat 'luxury' vans available this year for SnowHeads travelling from the UK to European ski destinations.
There are 5 x van rentals available for/to SnowHeads at £700 for 7 days' rental then £100 per day thereafter. Once (or if) those 5 x van rentals are exhausted, there is a rate of £980 for 7 days' rental then £140 thereafter. These prices will be for the latest 72 plate 'luxury' splitter vans (Mercedes Sprinter) with 9-seats and include winter tyres, snow chains, breakdown cover, and insurance for 2 x drivers. Collection from our location near Oxford, but delivery/collection can be arranged at extra cost. Dates available or this promotion - from Friday 15th December 2023 to Monday 19th February 2024 (we've tried to include the main Christmas, New Year, and February half-term dates in the promotion). There is an insurance excess, but this can be reduced at extra cost. Only a 15% deposit required to reserve your van - so if the snow doesn't look too good for early season skiing and in the run up to your ski holiday, then you can cancel and not lose the costs of, say, 8 x flights and 8 x transfers.
We mentioned the vans on this site a couple of years ago, got some good feedback and some people rented the vans for ski trips. Apologies if anyone believes this to be 'spam', but just genuinely trying to make some promotional rates available. We're interested in people trying the vans as an alternative to flying or using their own cars, and would be grateful for some feedback and photos from anyone hiring a vehicle. We have also made a voluntary donation to the site.
Good for Christmas, New Year and Half-term group ski holidays. Also, particularly interested in any group looking for a January ski holiday that would like to book a van and a crossing, but then leave the resort choice to the week before when it's known where the best snow in Europe can be found. For anyone of administrator/moderator status on this site, there is an even better rate available for 1 x van rental if they'd like to give it a try.
@ster, as you have hired a van previously then one of the reduced rates can be made available to you.
Link below, but doesn't show the new 72 plate vans yet. Any interest, please contact Vans For Bands.
https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/winter-holidays
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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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I wonder how much would it cost to get one of these Sprinter vans across the channel ?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
rented a Range Rover Vogue for a large birthday (boot surprisingly small). I would consider doing it again, but perhaps with the new Defender or a Discovery.
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But you wouldn't need anything like a Range Rover or a Disco. Neither have a stunning amount of room and you don't need 4WD. A car like an Octavia Estate would be more economical and have at least as much - probably more - luggage space. |
Having owned an Octavia Estate and a Discovery, I know which one I'd pick to get 5 adults and multiple pairs of skis to the Alps. 2 or 3 people then yes Octavia up to the task
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@Vans For Bands, thanks for posting - may be an option I'd consider in future now partners are beginning to join the adult children!!!
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| Timberwolf wrote: |
| I wonder how much would it cost to get one of these Sprinter vans across the channel ? |
Depending exactly when you go/return around £180 each way on Eurotunnel for a standard ticket.
I think I may have posted this already, earlier in the thread but we had a Vans For Bands van for the Feb. Half Term drive last year. We were a group of 7 adults/6 children, one of the adults a non-driver so while taking 4 cars worked out a little cheaper on the spreadsheet (from memory by around £500) it would also have meant some drivers not getting breaks from the wheel (which we all wanted), a lot of empty seats, and a rather anti-social couple of days. The choice of going for 1 van + 1 car worked well though, meaning big screen entertainment for the children but in a mixed group (so less sibling fighting) - and the option for the off duty van driver to jump from a soundtrack of children's DVDs and conversation to rock/metal and adult conversation in the car.
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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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@Timberwolf, having had a bit of a look round to try and asses probable costs for a crossing, it does seem to be somewhere between £300 and £500 return for one of these vehicles (as a very rough price guide and varies depending on dates required). For pricing purposes, the vans are 7 metres in length and on most booking applications will match up with 'minibus'.
@Mjit, sorry, yes, it was you that hired a van last year. Obviously, you're welcome to take one of the reduced prices rentals if it is of any use to you.
@Boris, yes, if it ever suits you. And the insurance allows for any driver over 21 - so you can share the driving with the adult children.
Overall, if anyone is interested in these promotional rates then please get in touch. Really interested to find out how people get on, which crossing they take, how much it all adds up to. In all honesty, I don't think it can be described as a 'budget' option - but the price can be competitive compared to the costs of flights and transfers, and the flexibility that a van can provide may provide you with added value.
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| Vans For Bands wrote: |
| @Mjit, sorry, yes, it was you that hired a van last year. Obviously, you're welcome to take one of the reduced prices rentals if it is of any use to you. |
While the van hire was simple and straight forward the cat hurding to get the group itself organised... Last year was for my 50th and not sure I'll be able to face it again until maybe my 60th! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Buy a cheap 'good runner' estate off eBay, add RAC European breakdown cover, and voom!
Then, when you get back, sell it.
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FAQ
