 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi there!
This is a great site. I'm hopeful one of you will be able to answer my (straightforward) question:
How long should it take - assuming good autoroute conditions and brisk but essentially legal progress - to drive from the French side of the tunnel to Morzine/Les Gets?
Thanks in advance.
Ian
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We did St Gervais (similar distance) at Feb Half term (busy traffic), in very wet weather (slower autoroute speeds) in a very steady, 11 hours. We did take our time and we were pretty slow through the Geneva/Annemasse area. The only traffic we missed was on the turn off for the PDS, where it was backed up. You can obviously take a lot less time by stopping less and driving like a nutter. But as a guide in poor ish conditions, I hope this helps.
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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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welcome to Snowheads, IanTr, 
About 8/9 hours driving time, plus stops. Assuming you're not going at half term!
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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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Please note. The number of stops was pretty frequent with our young passenger!!
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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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IanTr, Welcome to snowHeads
I'd say 8/9 hours also, but with bad weather and traffic, things can go pear shaped.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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IanTr, yes, there's no accounting for snow, freezing fog, horrendous traffic jams at busy weekends, etc etc. If you've not done it before, make sure you practice mounting snowchains in comfortable conditions before you set off. It's a nasty feeling, driving along losing traction, wondering if you dare keep going - I did that on the last few kms of the road up to Les Gets once, in a hired car with my sister, with no idea how to put chains on. We followed a small lorry and prayed that it wouldn't stop. It was a horrendous snowstorm, the places for putting chains on were covered in deep snow... we made it, the road to Les Gets is not steep, luckily, but these days I know how to put chains on and do it sooner rather than later.
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IanTr, yes, there's no accounting for snow, freezing fog, horrendous traffic jams at busy weekends, etc etc. If you've not done it before, make sure you practice mounting snowchains in comfortable conditions before you set off. It's a nasty feeling, driving along losing traction, wondering if you dare keep going - I did that on the last few kms of the road up to Les Gets once, in a hired car with my sister, with no idea how to put chains on. We followed a small lorry and prayed that it wouldn't stop. It was a horrendous snowstorm, the places for putting chains on were covered in deep snow... we made it, the road to Les Gets is not steep, luckily, but these days I know how to put chains on and do it sooner rather than later.
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Now I reckon I am a bigheaded expert on this one as I have done it 5 times and treat it like a military exercise - the kids hate me for it
*565 miles door to door from the tunnel exit to the underground car park door in Avoriaz
*My record is 9 hours with a total of 60 minutes of stopping during that time - so if you don't stop ( which is unbearable with kids, and for the bladder) it is possible to do it in 8 hours if everything is clear ( and I mean everything - i.e no hold ups at pay booth, no jams, no snow on the road upto Avoriaz, no gendarme stops in Morzine to check your headlights, snowchain possession etc)
* I have also taken 13 hours due to much of the above!
*Do not in any circumstances travel on the Saturday - I always travel down on the Friday and stop near Thonon overnight - especially in the school holidays
*The road upto Avoriaz from Morzine is very difficult and treachorous in snow - it consists of 20 hairpins ( yes I count them down believe me) Beware - if its not snowing you'll be OK
Job done
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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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9-11 hours with breaks and depending on whether you drive at 70 or 80 mph. Much easier than the same distance on UK motorways.
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Hi,
I drove it from Zeebruge to Morzine stopping only for petrol in 8 hours approx!! Was hardcore as I was by myself, but worth the drive.
10 days latter, did it back but this time with damaged ligaments, seriously not fun.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Yep, you have got it sussed already - the only alteration to your route would be to get off the 'L'Autoroute Blanche' at junction 15 and cut across to Taninges via Fillinges and Saint Jeoire - it will save you at least 20 minutes and a bit of petrol. As I mentioned it is exactly 565 by my mileometer to Avoriaz - you are correct in that Les Gets is nearer (545) - but not 20 miles nearer
I always find the 1st natural stop is at the Champagne Sud services 20 kms south of Reims - just after you have paid to get back on the motorway - it'll take about 2 hrs 45 mins if you have pushed it quite hard - you've got round the Reims ring road so Champagne Sud you should not be held up again for quite a distance .
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I do it every year. Normally catch a 9pm boat and am in resort about 12pm the next day. This is with 3 or 4 brief coffee/loo breaks.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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I'll be doing the drive to Morgins again this year, Feb half term, and using the chunnel. The last few years we've driven overnight to avoid crowds and just grabbed a couple of hours sleep at one of the services. I use a similar route to the one above before turning off at geneva. This year I want to stop off as we've got an earlier crossing, 3pm, nothing to flash, just to get some proper sleep. Probably stop between Dijion and Bourg en bresse. Anyone got any recommendations for what they've used in the past. Thanks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We stayed here last year and intend to stay there on the way down for Xmas (only 7 days from today ). This is south west of Dijon on the right road for Bourg en Bresse. Clean and tidy, family run small hotel with a decent restaurant.
Cheers,
Peter
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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mac, hotels will be pretty full, it would be a good idea to book in advance.
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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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Thanks all. Looks like we'll try the Ibis at Dijon. Not to far to go the next morning and still time to get saturday afternoon on the slopes.
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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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| oscarkat wrote: |
*The road upto Avoriaz from Morzine is very difficult and treachorous in snow - it consists of 20 hairpins ( yes I count them down believe me) Beware - if its not snowing you'll be OK
Job done |
I've ascended it at 10pm with 4-6 inches of snow on the road and with heavy snow still falling. I had a 4x4 vehicle but was taking it nice and easy (using engine braking toward the hairpins). Still amazed that I was overtaken by a Discovery. Neither of us had snow chains on. Some people must have a weird idea that it's safest to speed through danger to minimise the duration at risk... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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After a lot of searching around on train and airline websites I finally decided to drive down. This time next week I will be on the ferry. Should be good overnight on the autoroutes.
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If you go for a hot meal on the ferry don't forget to take advantage of the microwave ovens to warm the tepid food.
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