 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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Brides is right down in the valley. Likelihood of needing chains down there is extremely low. Technically you need them, legally. I personally wouldn't bother.
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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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Thanks for the information paulio. I knew it was pretty low down, but didn't know if the roads going up to it were likely to be snowed under!
I will not take the chains 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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ReflexReact, if you hire a car on the Swiss side of geneva you'll get snow tyres and chains. You'd not very often need chains to get to Brides les Bains, but it's not impossible - you could get really lucky with heaps of snow!
And that will be a peak day (assuming it's a Saturday) when the police will be extra fussy. Going so late should be good though - the main traffic will have died down.
That late, I'd not rely on buying any. Your flight wouldn't have to be very late (which it might be if there's lots of snow about) to be hitting supermarket-closing time and a detour to find chains will be a pain, at that point.
I once spent several hours stuck in a layby, before Brides les Bains, when the drivers struggled to get chains on. 
Even if the main roads are clear you might struggle to get to your accommodation, if it's up any kind of hill, without winter equipment.
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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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Thanks. The car I hired was from France side as it was so much cheaper. I will actually be in Geneva during the day, and then picking up the car at 7.30pm and travelling on.
I decided against the chains, just hoping they won't be needed!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ReflexReact, The main road up to to Brides is reasonably busy so is usually kept clear of snow, it is the main route to Meribel, Courchevel, Bozel, Champagny and Pralognan.
Not sure what the roads in Brides are like in Winter as I tend to stay on the main road and pass around Brides.
As pam w mentions you could be lucky and have a heavy snowfall the day you arrive, as you will be arriving relatively late the snowploughs may have gone home and the roads in Brides could be tricky.
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ReflexReact, The roads into Brides, and in Brides itself can certainly be tricky during and shortly after new snowfall. If you don't have them, and need them for the last few kms, whatya gonna do?
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Park up and walk I guess 
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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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We have driven from either Lyon or Geneva to Bride-Les-Bain twice a season (mid-January and late March) every year for the past ten years. Not once have we 'needed' snow-chains.
B-L-B is only at 600m but we have also driven at least once during each of the weeks to various local resorts (even La Plagne is accessible within a 20 minute drive of B-L-B and included for 1 day on a week's Three Valleys pass) at higher altitudes without any problem. The roads higher up have sometimes been slippery (in January) but never so bad that we couldn't cope without snow-chains.
Of course, anything can happen, but I'd say that it would be a cold-day-in hell before you'd not be able to get up to Brides-Les-Bain without snow-chains!
I think that if we got to Moutier and found that the roads we're looking impassable higher up without snow-chains, then we'd find somewhere in Moutier to buy some. Hasn't happened yet.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 5-12-11 18:46; edited 2 times in total
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Personally, I've needed chains to get to Brides around a dozen times in the last few years, but admitedly I do the journey a lot more than twice a season.
True, chances are, you are very unlikely to need them, but I hope you're not driving on the same stretch of road as me when you do
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ReflexReact, ....there are two physical laws seldom discussed. One: for any given shut door, your cat will be on the wrong side of it. Two: the tendency for it to snow hard is inversely related to your level of preparation.
Seriously, whilst there won't be much traffic at that time of night, if it's snowing much of the way from Geneva, you'll take more than two hours. I have been on that road in the small hours in a few cms of snow and seen quite a few people in trouble, due to no chains or winter tyres. Basically, check the forecast just before you go. It's mostly fine, that road, but without chains there are plenty of gradients on that route which you won't get up...I know...I've seen it (all from the comfort of a warm car with winter tyres). And I've seen the bent cars which have resulted (including on the grades down into B-L-B town). Then there's the incident with Dave M and the wild boars, and the written-off Clio - but that's another story...
If it's chucking down and you're heading from Geneva, don't assume it'll be fine. It is likely not to be.
In other words - if it's not snowy, you'll be fine. If it's snowy, you won't be.
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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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It is almost always cheaper to buy them in a local supermarket than hire them from the rental company (20-35 euro), but with your late arrival in geneva, the earlier poster is right, this could be risky. Have a google to see if there is a supermarket or a Roady (like a Kwik fit) in Fernie Voltaire that stocks chains that you can pick up on your way out of the airport - as chains are a legal requirement in the winter in Switzerland, you may well be lucky as local will need them anyway if they are crossing the border. You will then have them for the week if, as I would recommend, you decide to pass on the 30 minute bubble up to meribel and drive 20 mins up the hill instead (there's free parking in Meribel village right next to the lift).
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Good grief. 35 Euros is neither here not there in the cost of a ski holiday. I have found myself, in January, having to drive from Moutiers to Bride les Bains when the road to Val D'Isere was closed by snow. Chains were very much necessary (mind you, like everybody else in those days, I was on summer tyres).
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