 Poster: A snowHead
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For various reasons, when we go the SC in January, we are taking a Sleazyjet flight to Nice. I've put the journey into AA, RAC, Michelin and my car's Sat Nav, but I get conflicting advice from them all. The AA take me via Turin, Michelin through Digne-les-Bains, and the Sat NAv somewhere completely different. I have friends who drive through Serre Che on their way south to Provence, but they suggested their route might be closed in the Winter months. Help. I am chief navigator for the journey as we will have a 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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Helen, I'm pretty sure a lot of the route will be closed, I've driven that route in summer and lost count of the cols over 2600m. I think your your best bet is via Turin. Whatever way you go you're in for a lot of driving I'm afraid.
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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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David@traxvax, I know, but my alternative was a drive down to Stansted and a flight to Turin, which was aslo a lot of driving!!!!
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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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Helen Beaumont, use the Sat Nav, then you can't be held to blame if Mr B gets you lost.
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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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Ray Zorro, the only problem is it's in our car, and that will be in the car park at Newcastle Airport!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Helen, have you decided on a route?. I am doing the same trip in Jan and had the same question. I thought Grasse/Dignes looked o.k. I can't see antyhing on the road map that is as high as 2,600 mts on that road. If you go by Turin, you still have to cross Montgenevre which is at about the same height as anything I can see taking the French side.
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Fran, welcome to snowHeads 
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Fran, I've driven the route in summer and there is no way I'd attempt it in winter. The Italian alternative is much easier and quicker.
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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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Fran, when I checked on Michelin, there are a couple of points with 'snow-chain' 'symbols. I know the road through Montgenvre, and as it's a major pass, it's kept clear and welll gritted. David@traxvax, thank for backing up my thoughts on this. Now all I really need is a flight to Turin from Newcastle.
Fran, if you do take the Dignes route, get snow-chains!!!
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If you definately want to fly into Nice then I would take the A8 autoroute to Aix en Provence and then A51 up to Gap...then onto the N94 up to Briançon.
Viamichelin.com says that autoroute route is 304km and the Dignes backroads route is 282km...so it's going to be a lot quicker on the autoroute.
PG is right though Turin is much closer at about 108kms and the Col de Montgenevre is very rarely closed. I would get snow chains though in case sods law kicks in.
As I am based near Puy Saint Vincent, just 15minutes South of Serre Che, you could take at look at my website which has a lot of travel info on it for this area. http://www.alpsun.com 
Hope this helps.
pete@alpsun.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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petel, cheers. As i say, we dont' necessarily want to fly into Nice, but it's our best option as we have a long drive in the UK otherwise, and would rather drive in France/Italy . We could have flown to Geneva, but would have needed another overnight stop due to the flight times. Not sure I'd wnat to cross the Col du Lauteret in the middle of the night !!!! Just exploring all our options, and Nice was the best of them. Ryanair are flying to Bergamot form Newcastle, but not until the end of February.
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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'd recommend the West route mentioned by petel, (although I don't know the Italian side at all).
I live down in Seignus d'Allos and the Col d'Allos is one of the routes that you might take in the summer but, along with most of the others, is closed in the winter. Anyway, it's a very slow road.
Like petel, says the back road up from Digne is a bit minor - we drove down that way a couple of weeks ago when we were in no hurry but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.
Best advice - bin Serre Chevalier and come to Seignus instead 
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I drove that route last March. I took the pass from Turin. It was snowing at the time and I needed the chains but it wasn't bad.
I would definately recommend that if you need chains then to make sure you put them on in the car park before you leave the airport. You don't want to have to learn that they don't fit / you can put them on at 8pm half way up a mountain in a freezing cold snow storm
I have driven to Dignes (on the way to Tignes) last Jan and that too wasn't bad. However I was in no hurry and I didnt mind taking my time. I didn;t need the chains that time but you would definately need them in the car in case.
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You know it makes sense.
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Diarmuid, keep an eye out on the weather for me if you're down there. !!!
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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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Helen, we went down to the coast in September and recommend the trip via Gap. It is 4.5hrs and costs 22 euros in tolls. Driving through Montgenevre in January you will definately need chains, and the police will check if you have them, but on the Gap road it is unlikly you will need them.
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Poster: A snowHead
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ben wright, can't bin the idea I'm afraid, we have a contract to sign for our apartment!chris, cheers. I had begun to think that was the best option anyway, but was more familiar with the route via Montgenvre.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You know, I keep thinking that this thread is going on about what a nice airport Serre Chevalier has. 
Sorry, pointless post. Carry on...
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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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skanky, and I thought it was so much nicer...................................in NICE!!!!
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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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Helen
we did GENOA to serre che last year. the route turin - SC via montgeneve is OK. you MUST get snow chains though, it bucketed down the day we left, and our dreadful hyundai whateveritwas had no chance without them. £30 for them I think.
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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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Helen,
Don't know the area really, but on www.mappy.com you can select routes without mountain passes.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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cardweg, thanks I'll have a look.
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OK it's now only a week away, as I think there are loads of roadworks between Turin and the Milky Way, I'm thinking about the Provence route via Aix-en-Provence, Sisteron and Gap. As we land in Nice around 11.30am we would like to stop somewhere for lunch, Any suggestions ?
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Helen go up to Mougins it's on the way to Grasse so it's only about 25 - 30 mins from Nice via Antibes. Have lunch at the Almondier in Mougins village, it used to belong to Roger Verge, top French chef now retired who alos owned the Moulin de Mougins, mega expensive but wonderful. We used to have an apartment in Mougins so we know the area very well and Le Almondier is one of our favourite places, beautiful location in an old olive mill with wonderful views across the Baie de Cannes. Alternatively Le Petit Prince in Cabris near Grasse, again a terrific restuarant with a Prix Fixe menu that's superb value.
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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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David@traxvax, cheers.
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