 Poster: A snowHead
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I have recently fitted out my an with lovely new gas heaters and warm bedding and fancy an epic drive to the Alps for a long weekend skiing and kipping in the van
Any recommendations for the easiest resort to drive to in a van where there is no problem parking up and kipping for the weekend
Ta
Dave
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi,
There is a campsite in Meribel, Le Raffort - it is about 2 mins walk from the Olympic bubble which takes you right up to Meribel centre. I can't remember its name. The campsite also has a very nice restaurant, showers, washing room and ski room.
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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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DaveB, do you have the right category of insulation? If not you'll still freeze. One of my friends has a standard UK spec camper and has recently done some research, concluding that his van wouldn't cope. Even with good insulation you also need insulating covers for the windscreen etc - there are loads of vans in our resort (Les Saisies) but they all have them. One of the camper parking areas in Les Saisies is free. No facilities, but super cheap and conveniently located. There's also a paying site, right near the piste.
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Yes, I have full screen covers and all of the panels are filled. I have fitted a proplex gas heater and even with that lot would take a 5 season bag and multiple duvets.
Thanks for the tips, the Meribel option sounds interesting as I love the 3V ski area.
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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 can do it in Chamonix too. Plenty of parking though I don't know what the facilities are like. A friend of mine is doing a season at the moment in his van there and uses the leisure centre for a swim and a shower, this seems to be a popular option.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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On the road between Les Carroz & Flaine there are a couple of lifts with their own huge car parks, There were camper vans parked on them the other week! free too, except no leccy to plug into?
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One morning in January when I passed the vans in Les Saisies their owners were almost all up on the roofs, shovelling off the accumulation of snow. That picture reminded me. Are those little porch things permanent on the site. telford_mike? They look very Swiss, unlike the ramshackle collection of garden shed/allotment type constructions you get on Italian sites.
The water (in and out) tanks need insulating too....
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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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DaveB, I think you're nuts! But good luck and have a great time  .
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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DaveB, Have a great time and let us know how things go. I've been thinking of doing the same thing myself so am really interested to hear how you get on. 
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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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FYI there is a large free car park in Plagne Villages that many campers use. The public toilets and tap are only 100m away. But you'll need to grab your pitch early on a Saturday morning as it seems to be very popular.
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| Stuntman Mike wrote: |
| On the road between Les Carroz & Flaine there are a couple of lifts with their own huge car parks, There were camper vans parked on them the other week! free too, except no leccy to plug into? |
There is also an "official" site near the gondola at Samoens which (I assume) has electric hook-ups?
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks stevo, can you give me a pointer to where Samoens is.
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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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DaveB, Grand Massif 265kms of wonderful pistes. Linked with Flaine, Morillon, Sixt and Les Carroz. The camping a very short walk from the Gondola too!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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DaveB,
Alpe d'Huez has 2 areas for campervans, one is right by a lift and a 50m walk from shops and the leisure centre. It is 10€ a night though, but I believe that includes some electric, some water and a place to empty your dirty water tank if you have one. The 10€ has gone up from 4€ a couple of years ago because it does seem to be very popular, probably something like 60 or 70 vehicles between both sites ? You will find details on the alpe d'huez website.
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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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DaveB, By car - between 7 and 8 hours from Calais.
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DaveB,
A friend took his campervan to Serre Chevalier. The campsite was very close to the lifts. He was so impressed he's intending to spend next winter there in his campervan. (His campervan is very well insulated)
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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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Some great campsites in Italy very close to the lifts but it's a bit of a dog to drive to. Corvara / Colfrosco in the Dolomites springs to mind. The italians live and die in campervans so the facilties are generally very good there.... or you could try the Tamworth snowdome car park for a short drive.... or Scotland!... maybe not.... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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SnowGod, Tamworth now charge for parking, and I wouldn't want to spend the night on that car park TBH 
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The bugs..... oh well.... thats my holiday plans scuppered!
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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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Great snaps. How long did you go for? Did the site have HOT showers!!! Was the van warm enough? Saw van's packed up in Le Thuile a few years ago and it crossed my mind about trying it out.... In other words is it worth it? i.e buying a van, fuel, maintenance etc? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hubby was out for a month and me and the kids flew out for 2 weeks over half term. yes the site had full facilities and very hot showers, washing machines etc we have used the van for the last 5 years and find it very easy and cost effective as a family although it wasn't that cost effective this year with the exchange rate as it was. fuel is duty free in livigno and we fill up in luxembourg en route so diesel on our journey is very cheap. we use the van alot so maintenance isn't an issue as we would have to do it anyway. we have a little one who has been coming with us since she was born just over 3 years ago and the van has been very convenient in that respect, also we can take as many clothes as we want, ski gear, boots, ski's and food without any extra hidden charges. the other thing is we have the flexibility. we arrive in the resort the day before changeover day so we get a whole day a week pretty much with the mountain to ourselves, we can also leave when we want. this year the snow was over 3 metres deep and thats not easy to push a push chair in! we also noticed the bad weather coming in and were expecting heavy snow for the 3 days before we were leaving. we decided to leave early as skiing wouldn't have been much fun for us in heavy snow and also not much fun to drive a 28ft camper! we left and headed over to eurodisney for a few days instead! it can be hard work but we enjoy the travelling, arriving and leaving when we want, not having to cram as much skiing into such a short space of time and also having the odd bbq out in the snow in the glorious sunshine....great fun!!!
hannah
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