 Poster: A snowHead
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Just been to Savognin for 5 days which was very pleasant. Am toying with the idea of going to Serre Chevalier maybe March time but would like any inputs if anyone has flown into Turin and driven across the border with a rental car. Is there any do's and don'ts or would I be better off flying into a French airport instead.
Thank you! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The TOs fly to Turin for Serre Che so I would imagine that's the easiest journey.
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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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streaky, the easiest airport is Turin, you will hardly notice the border, but Grenoble is a reasonable journey too. I've heard reports of some smaller car hire companies not allowing you to cross the Italian border with their , but the mainstream companies have no such clauses.
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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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streaky, Our family booked usually book through Holiday Autos who use a variety of hire car business's at Turin Airport. Targarent in Turin who Holiday Autos contracted, their small print demands that you inform them if your travelling to another country. It only became a problem when we broke down.
We've used the likes of Alamo, Avis and Europcar at Turin airport and never had a problem.
The journey is fairly quick and easy as long as there hasn't been a heavy snowfall in the last couple of days. It involves a short stretch of dual carriageway to get onto the Turin bypass and then off for the well signposted A32 towards the Frejus tunnel and Bardoneccia. Then turn off the motorway after about 40 minutes up the Col du Montgenevre. The pass very infrequently closes due to snow. The road has lots of hairpin bends with many of them in short tunnels. At the top of the Col your in France. There is a border hut and a sign that marks the fact you've in France, you don't have to stop for passport control. The road then descends into Briancon and your in Serre Chevalier. Takes about 1 hour 40 on a good run to Briancon.
Hope that is clear.
It is a beautiful drive.
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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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Turin is definitely a good choice. Chambery is best airport in France as you then drive through the Maurienne Valley, take Frejus tunnel and you are on the other side of Montgenevre, Briancon - motorway/dual carriage all the way to Oulx.
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XPeak, But the problem with Chambery is that it is often closed due to the weather and you have to pay about €50 for the tunnel
The amount of reasonably priced flights and the close promixity makes Turin a very good airport for the Southern French Alps.
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streaky, it's about a 2 hour drive max (more like 1 hour 40 as suggested above)from Turin - easy! Just don't miss the turn off sign posted Sauze d'Oulx to take you off towards Montgenevre. It really is straightforward.
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The pass very infrequently closes due to snow
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I've driven the pass on two trips from Turin - once in January and once in the first week of April. Snowchains were needed on both occasions. Best make sure that your hire car has some 
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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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Thanks! You guys are the bestest! 
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mountainaddict, No doubt snow chains are essential in winter. But in terms of having to do the 3 hour extra detour via Grenoble through the Frejus Tunnel and up the Col du Lautaret, because the Col Montgenevre is closed due to avalanche risk is a rare event.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
. Two went through the tunnel and the third guy had protracted argument with woman in booth which we were surmising was - 'The guys up front were going to pay for me, honest...'. Was a loong wait.
