 Poster: A snowHead
|
Was thinking about driving to the Alps this year with a stop off in Lyon.
What's the nicest resort within a 10-12hr drive, preferably trying to avoid any concrete jungle type resorts, something with a bit of charm would be nice.
Also, I understand winter tyres are compulsory now in Swiss land so I'm guessing that rules out Verbier and Zermatt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
or stop off somewhere other than Lyon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
We like Samoëns - about 875km from Dover which takes about 8 hours as it's motorway all the way to Cluses (tolls about £30 each way), which is only about 20 minutes from Samoens. Once there, there's a huge car park at the bottom of the big gondola which takes you straight up into the Grand Massif (Flaine, etc) area. Don't be put off by Flaine's concrete jungle reputation - Samoëns couldn't be more different if it tried. Old stone village with lots of historic buildings, plus new chalets, and a choice of hotels and decnet apartment complexes.
Peak Retreats usually seem to have some decent ferry/tunnel inclusive prices - book on the tunnel with them and you get a flexiplus upgrades which (as long as you aren't an overheight vehicle) also gets you access to the lounge with free refreshments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Like Okanagan says, Samoens fits your requirements to the letter, except maybe it's slightly less than a 10 hour drive from Calais 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I hear Samoens is not the liveliest of resorts though.
I suppose lively = concrete jungle though?
Austria is a bit far for driving isn't it? Or not as I can get on the German autobahn
Oh, 1 extra requirement, the missus needs a spa nearby as she can't ski for more than 1 day in a row!!!!!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Much like in Switzerland, winter tyres (or all season "mud and snow" tyres) are mandatory in Austria from November to mid April when there's snow, slush or ice on the roads. You can use chains instead, but only ifthe road is covered by a complete or scarcely broken snow cover or sheet of ice. As the fine for non-compliance is up to 5,000 Euros, the vehicle impounded and insurance is deemed void if you are involved in an accident I wouldn't risk it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Okanagan wrote: |
| Much like in Switzerland, winter tyres (or all season "mud and snow" tyres) are mandatory in Austria from November to mid April when there's snow, slush or ice on the roads. You can use chains instead, but only ifthe road is covered by a complete or scarcely broken snow cover or sheet of ice. As the fine for non-compliance is up to 5,000 Euros, the vehicle impounded and insurance is deemed void if you are involved in an accident I wouldn't risk it! |
Is it one of those grey areas? ie what if the road is gritted but the side has snow?
So, France does not have those rules? Obv, I'd take chains anyway but still.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
anyone drive to Austria or is it too far compared to the French resorts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
GordonFreeman, it's not much further. Drove to Hintertux last season and it was an earlier start and a later arrival than driving to the French Alps, but we still did it in a day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Okanagan, +1 Samoens has trhe charm you yearn for plus this Saturday the coverqueen who play in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland http://www.coverqueen.fr/crbst_1.html
Bois de Lune usually has some pretty good late night entertainment with DJ's from Geneva. Thanks fully no clubs - good food and enough to do if you're not a P-head. Even then you'd be catered for although we're rathre short of sawdust. One of the local ferme's also has a savoyarde restauarent in their milking shed!
Chamonix is lively but isn't as charming.
Agree with Pamw that the tolls are more
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
On another tangent, are there any places to get self catered accommodation for just a weekend or am I correct in thinking they're mostly booked up by week long holidayers?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
GordonFreeman, I've booked long weekend self-catering accommodation in Chamonix, Verbier and Morzine.
I'd opt for Chamonix, Megeve or Les Gets as being closest driving from Dover/Calais
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I'd say Eastbourne or Les Gets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
about 875km from Dover which takes about 8 hours as it's motorway all the way to Cluses (tolls about £30 each way),
|
Okanagan, That was a long time ago,, the peage ( Toll ) is 74 € one way,,,,
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Morzine livelier at night than Les Gets. Megeve is fairly quiet from what I hear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
Megeve is fairly quiet from what I hear.
|
yes, not the place for someone who wants to wander round and find a succession of "lively" (ie noisy and crowded...) bars. That's why I didn't suggest it - or Les Gets. Or indeed Les Saisies, despite the "Piano Bar" 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah, come to think of it, last time we did it, a coupel of years ago, we came back off the motorway for most of it, so looking back at the accounts that was probably mostly one way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| halfhand wrote: |
GordonFreeman, I've booked long weekend self-catering accommodation in Chamonix, Verbier and Morzine.
I'd opt for Chamonix, Megeve or Les Gets as being closest driving from Dover/Calais |
any ideas where to look for that?
I can only find hotels on places like booking.com, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
GordonFreeman, there are various websites, like "owners abroad" "holiday-rentals.co.uk" etc. Best bet is to use your favourite search engine, from there you get a feel for the main sites and maybe find owner's own websites for private lets. Some of the aggregator sites seem a bit flaky (not saying they aren't legit, they are just not very easy to use), so once I find a place I prefer to deal direct with the owner if possible.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 23-02-12 11:27; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GordonFreeman, you can also look at the resort websites - there are always links to accommodation, and most will include privately owned and rented places, not just big agencies.
There are vast numbers available in all those places but as sah says, you can just google. If you want France, then if you speak a bit of French you will do better on google.fr once you narrow it down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
GordonFreeman, 2-3 day lets aren't economic for solo ops as the turn around costs aka linen/laundry/cleaning are the same for 1 night as for 7 so they have to be incorporated. I'd suggest Neige a Roc or Les Glaciers hotels in Samoens as they have the support logistics/infrastructure to price and deliver shirt stays. I have vairable rates but still have to add in 120€ for the turnaround. If that's added to a weekend even if I charge 40€ per night that would still work out at 200€ which would be pointless for me and for my guests.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We rent out using www.ownersdirect.co.uk , and most owners I know in the same resort do as well.
I like to have a bit of an email or telephone exchange before renting out and that seems to work for the rentees (?) as well.
2 - 3 day lets don't really work. The sat / sat thing does work well as everything is geared up for it. If we weren't fully booked out for the year then maybe we would be more flexible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
the tolls are far more than that. via.michelin.com will give you accurate toll costs for any journey.
's deals.