 Poster: A snowHead
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It's the thought of queueing for hours to deposit bags at one desk, then pay extra for oversize luggage which has to be deposited at another desk (with an even chance of it being lost/damaged). After a short delay waiting for pilot to sober up, we are shown our plane and left to fight for a seat with less elbow/legroom than is required for cattle on their way to slaughterhouse. To ease this discomfort we are offered the opportunity to purchase an in-flight Bushtucker Trial and some overpriced trinket which may or may not be allowed through the scanner on the return journey. 
For those of us who must endure budget airlines,..... Is there an alternative? Living in Ireland, driving is not an option,...or is it? Has anyone tried it with a family and managed to avoid disaster?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hmm, last time I flew (Easyjet LPL <> GVA the other week) there was no queue at checkin at either end, and I thought there was ample room on the shiny new A319 - esp given that the flight was only 1.5 hrs. Can't answer your driving question, mind.
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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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Last time I flew on a budget trip to GVA, I looked for the cheapest as usual. I carry skis, so have to budget for ski carriage as well as baggage charges. Cheapest was BA out of T5 LHR.
Free ski carriage, 23kg luggage, in flight meal, free drinks on board, nice leather seats, plenty of leg room, flight was on time both ways, on-line check in, less than 10 minutes from arrival at terminal to duty free. Way to go, forget Sleazyjet.
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Ferry to Stranraer and then drive to Fort William or Aviemore 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well do you want to ski or not?
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I quite like flying. It's a bit of a pain waiting round in airports but some of them have nice shopping areas...
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big k, I'm going by National Express (train) Eurostar and TGV to Grenoble next month. I got fed up with airport security and baggage hassle.
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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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don't know if any of these go from ireland but nationalexpress do coaches to the alps, http://www.skimeribel.co.uk/ which i used last year and would use again do coach holidays to meribel, http://www.skiweekends.com/ do coach trips to the alps and there are others such as ucpa
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We always drive - find it less stressful. (West country to PDS) However, the painful memories always fade with time, and we tried flying again a couple of years ago. It was so bad at GVA on the way back, we could not actually get into the airport as its was so rammed with bodies fighting to the check-in desks. The flight was also delayed by 3 hours. There was also literally no where to sit for the whole time. This time, I went up to the balcony and took a picture of the mass of squirming humanity below to remind me never to do it again. Now whenever I am at the re-booking stage, I have that photo by my computer so that I never succumb again...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| big k wrote: |
| ... with less elbow/legroom than is required for cattle on their way to slaughterhouse. |
I believe the rules for cattle are very strict and they are intended to make their journey as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Whereas, for humans on aircraft the rules ...
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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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Anything a week or over and I drive, less hassle, more baggage, only have to sit next to my family (not some other pleb  ) and only takes a few hours longer (Staffs to Grand Massif). When I go on the annual group trip we fly, but being without family also makes it a little less stressful (only me and my bag to worry about). Flying is becoming more and more tiresome with the increased security and waiting around.
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Daughter and son in law flew Gatwick - Geneva on easyJet on Monday. No problems, they were through Geneva airport WITH their baggage about 14 minutes after touch down (though the airport was very busy). Flight a bit less than full, tickets cheap as chips, booked many months ago. Really no problem. SiL is well over 6' but did not complain about the legroom. A private taxi transfer to resort would have cost loads more than the airfare (except that I did it, so it was free.  ) Short haul flight, what's all the fuss about?
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You know it makes sense.
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pam w, How dare you not complain about flying! Shame on you!
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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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Timmaah, Must be the Christmas spirit.....
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Poster: A snowHead
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As a fellow island dweller, I'm afraid I just can't see how a 24 hour ferry from Rosslare or a double hop from Dun Laioghaire then Dover with 7 or 8 hours on English motorways before you even get to France is comparable with the minor inconvenience of a dander to the other end of the terminal with your ski bag followed by a 2.5 or 3 hour flight and a couple of hours on a coach where you can listen to your mp3 and/or sleep.
Mind you, I've been wrong before. . . once
CW
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ferry to UK + get on a 'Snowcoach' to France or Austria = 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?
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| I quite like flying. It's a bit of a pain waiting round in airports but some of them have nice shopping areas... |
and you never know who you might meet, eh Queenie
Rob
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cardweg,
I think I'm trying to talk myself into it, Autoroute suggests 1100 miles one way (3 valleys) which should take 22 hours. Only concern would be if I had a mishap on slopes, the return journey would be a bit uncomfortable.
The other option is for my wife to shoot me with a tranquiliser dart and book me in the hold 
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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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Go for the second option big k
Always seemed to work well for BA Baracus
CW 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Driving and ferries? I seem to recall being stuck at ports waiting for 8 hours for a storm to clear and having punctures/crashes/delays and all sorts, flying is only a hassle if you make it so, it is all to do with how you approach it. I would rather be stuck in an airport for a few hours withh a cold beer than stuck on a motorway (in any country) busting for a peewee
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big k, You could always stay at home and enjoy the slendour of Kiltiernan! Alternatively get a life 
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rayscoops, Tunnel is the way to avoid that... just need to watch out for fire!
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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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| stevo_the_saddler wrote: |
| rayscoops, Tunnel is the way to avoid that... just need to watch out for fire! |
Hell nor high water ...... nor... err.... fire... shall stop me from driving to the Alps
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The only people who complain about flying to the Alps are those that have never done the trip on a coach.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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bar shaker, never complianed about flying to the alps, but I am seriously considering a cheeky weekend by coach from victoria......
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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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| Quote: |
The only people who complain about flying to the Alps are those that have never done the trip on a coach
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or who have never flown to North America, or ever been anywhere much, really. If it's such a pain, stay at home.
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Quote from Frankie Boyle
" There is nowhere I want to be so badly that I'm prepared to be fired towards it at 700 mph in a tin can full of other peoples' farts "
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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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| big k wrote: |
Quote from Frankie Boyle
" There is nowhere I want to be so badly that I'm prepared to be fired towards it at 700 mph in a tin can full of other peoples' farts " |
genius!
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Poster: A snowHead
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gdizzle, genius or a poor comedian!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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and for most of us, patently untrue.
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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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I don't mind the flying so much but like big K said its the damn airports! I will never forget to eat before i get to the airport again after getting stung for about £14 for a full english and 2 teas.
I've not driven from Ireland (with me being from bolton and all) but even with the family found it a fairly pain free experience (am not the father I'm the eldest) only problem we had was me and my dad shouting at each other for not paying for the fuel
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I hate flying but I'm not prepared to stay at home, so a few G & T's to calm the nerves works, I say to avoid airport stress, get there early and go to the bar
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If that was my friend or girlfriend they'd be getting off without me!
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I have been to the alps several times by coach and used to enjoy going through France, Germany, Switzerland etc going on the ferry etc and stopping at Movenpick services happy memories.
I have also flown and its never had the same sort of magic and the waiting in the airports wasnt much fun.
Ok Coaches can be quite cramped but did get you from door to door.
Id like to try the snowtrain one time but im not sure if id want the hassle of driving myself to the alps,
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| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| gdizzle, genius or a poor comedian! |
i personaly love frankie boyle, but each to their own!
also, there are so many people who are on tv who are a let down when you see them live, he wasnt one of them thought he was brilliant!
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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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Done all four:-
driving, can take your time and as much luggage as your car will carry but if you stop overnight it's a nightmare of unloading and reloading, personality and driving style clashes abound and, if with kids, "are we there yet?" will develop beyond your wildest nightmares,
coach, magic on the way out with anticipation and booze, but horrible on the way home,
train, ditto coach and especially waking up and opening the blind to see all the twinkling mountain lights and the snow, ditto coach on the way home but at least you can stretch your legs,
plane, bit of a pain hanging round but like jonm we use liverpool most of the time and it has never been a problem, especially with the very short flights to the Alps,
coach and train toilets are the real downer for me though, I'll do a lot to avoid those! And again, if with kids, an extra rucksack for wipes for those grotty toilets,
conclusion - I have and will travel any way I can to get to the snow
big k, wherabouts in Ireland are you? If not too far from the east coast it won't add on that much time and if you really want to drive, give it a go but it has its own demons. My other pet hate is TO transfers but booking independently and booking a minibus transfer sorts that. Having used all travel options with and without my children, if they were still little, I would only really consider train (a couchette has a big excitement factor for little ones) or plane; the others have too many disadvantages for family travel.
Aneira
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My ski holiday I have just returned from made me wish I was taking the train over the plane to the Alps.
Delays at both ends and general hassle and bother.
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