 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All
Flying to Grenoble on Friday to try out the early season snow in VT, so I've a bit of a drive and by the look of the forecasts snowchains will be needed. I'm not too chuffed about getting ripped off with the extortionate charges from the hire car places so wondered if anyone knew of anywhere close by that sells them? Last time I flew to Grenoble there seemed to be a supermarket about to open close by, would they have them does anyone know? I know in Italy the supermarkets sell them at great prices and wondered if it was the same in France? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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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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Grimsby Ranger, Who are you hiring the car from? Some agents have a compulsory 'winter pack' after certain dates. Alamo in Geneva has a compulsory 9e per day fee for their option.
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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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Grimsby Ranger, That supermarket at Grenoble airport is not far I guess you could drive over ans see if they have chains , if not pop back to the car hire place and pay their fees or drive into Grenoble checking each supermarket, but it does look although you may need them 
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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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Grimsby Ranger, there's a Super U just round the corner, should have them (turn right out of the airport, follow the signs). If not, then stop at the Geant shopping centre at Albertville and check out Feu Vert (Halfords type place) or Geant itself. You won't need them before you get to Albertville.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi All, thanks for the replies. Very much appreciated. I'll ask when I get there what they're going to charge me then compare to the supermarkets and/or stop off at Albertville, great info, thanks. Certainly looks like I'm going to need them , just hope the wind isn't too bad. Thanks again all.
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If you get to Moutiers before 530 pm, they have them for 25 Euro in the supermarket (Hyper).
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Thanks, Stansted flight in the morning so should be OK. €25 sounds good, gives me an idea on what to pay. 
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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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Grimsby Ranger, don't waste too much time trying to knock off a few euro. and if you're stuck with buying more expensive ones because there's been a big rush on snowchains, with the weather coming in, you can console yourself with the thought that (generally speaking) the more expensive chains are easier to fit. Please tell us a nice snowy story when you return!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Grimsby Ranger, Which company are you hiring a car from? What the rate they are charging? I hired from Holiday Autos, and the winterpack, inc chains, in included in the hire (actual hire is Alamo) and its much cheaper than direct with Alamo.
Have a good journey, and give us a few reports from VT. 
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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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BMF_Skier, I've booked through e-bookers and it's actually Avis, I know they're usually one of the more expensive but I've had it booked ages and got a decent deal on it. I'll ask at the desk when I pick the car up and see. I'll report back on the weekend
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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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Please tell us a nice snowy story when you return! snowHead
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That's what I said, and you did! Having to use chains all the way to Albertville is quite unusual but a useful antidote to all those people who've spent 6 days in 10 years driving to ski resorts and say "you'll only need chains in the resort".
I've got a spare set of chains too, from a previous car, and don't know what size they are any more. They sit looking at me in the garage. I'm happy to give them away (they fitted the standard issue wheels on an elderly Toyota Carina) but I can't bring myself to chuck them in the bin.
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Poster: A snowHead
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FAQ
. It just winds me up how much the hire companies charge for them, especially as 9 times out of 10 they won't be used.....probably more 
. It doesn't matter as they'll fit another hire car sometime. I didn't want to risk it to Moutiers as time was getting on. We needed them for the last few miles to VT but boy did we need them coming home on Monday 
. A big dump on the Sunday night so I thought I might need them for most of the way to the N90, it turned out I needed them all the way and when we got to the N90 it was snowing hard and the carriageways were chaos. Lorries were stranded with cars all over the place, thankfully mainly going in the other direction to us. Got the chains off just before Albertville 
