 Poster: A snowHead
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My in-laws have a motorhome and have offered to us for a weeks ski. Having looked at last year;s snow fall, I dont fancy driving up the French mountains. However, what is it like driving the Austrian resorts (being lower down) - is it easier when you get near the mountains?
How long a trip is it once you are through the French side of euro tunnel (or which ever tunnel it would be!)
Are there places motorhomes can park for a week and hook up to electric. Was thinking Maria Alm or skiwelt for now.
Is it worth doing this or would you go for flying and hotels
thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jon Ford, do you like living in a motorhome? Is it sufficiently well insulated and winterized to cope with sub-zero nights? Are you on a very tight budget?
If the answer to all those questions is a resounding "Yes".....
Mountain roads are mountain roads, whatever country they are in. Austrian resorts tend to be lower altitude because the snow falls at lower altitude that much further east - and further from the ocean. If snow didn't fall on the roads to the ski resorts they wouldn't be very good ski resorts! In last year's heavy snowfall places like St Anton were cut off a lot, more than once, as were places such as Val D'Isere. But many other resorts were never cut off, though care (and winter tyres/chains) were frequently needed. You'd need to be confident with driving in snow, probably have to have winter tyres (especially for Austria) and/or be OK with fitting snowchains.
I like camping, and camper vans, but I'd rather have somewhere a bit more snug, and a bit more roomy, for a ski holiday.
But some hardy souls do brilliantly in motorhomes. There are some good threads on Snowheads about it, with some very useful information, if you do a search. Some people make it sound easy.... but then some people make skinning up mountains and skiing down couloirs sound easy.
Many, many, resorts have sites with electric hook ups.
Some resorts will be easier to drive to than others. e.g. Les Gets doesn't involve any very steep, windy, roads, La Rosiere does. For Chamonix you can go practically all the way on a motorway.
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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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Jon Ford, where I am it's 5 minutes off the A10 motorway - Valley all the way! Depends where you want to go really. 12 hours from Eurotunnel to Flachau/Wagrain area. Don't know about motorhome hookups, but the tourist information will be able to tell you.
I would probably go for flying into Salzburg and an apartment or hotel - having said that I'm driving over in 3 weeks for a long weekend, but it suits me this time. I wouldn't drive in the winter personally due to the requirement for winter tyres (which I don't have) but plenty of other folk do.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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the fees at the sites with hookups would go some way towards renting a cosy little studio.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jon Ford, Eurotunnel or Calais or Dunkirk (or Hook of Holland) to Salzburg area (Ski Amade / Zell am See / Saalbach etc) about 12 hours in a car, in good conditions, with a clear run on the autobahn and preferably 2 drivers. Probably much longer in an autocamper. Roads in Austria generally not a problem if they are clear, but as Pam wrote, last winter there were periods when traffic couldn't move because of the snowfall, trees down, cars in ditches etc.
Yes, it can be done, but the question is why would you if you're only going for a week? It won't be cheap by the time you've paid for fuel and ferry, plus winter tyres, snow chains, shovels, winter kit for the van etc. and campsites tend to be outside of the ski resorts - go back to the Maria Alm thread and get on the internet 
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quinton, agree totally.
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thanks all. a great response and one that I agree with. We got talking about the motorhome today and seemed a good idea at the time, but you put the realistic spin on things. Wouldnt fancy driving the motorhome in UK snow, let alone foreign one where they get "proper" snow! Plus, like quinton, says if the campsites are outside resorts, could be a pain getting to the slopes. Think will look at flying in (plus will only take a few hours compared to 12hrs from the tunnel, and at least 6hrs from north wales "down south"
We do enjoy the motorhome, but would be V cold, and wouldnt want the cost of all acessories let alone the risk of it not starting after a week of sitting in -20 temperatures!
Flying it is!
thanks again. Sorry about all the posts. So much for staying off the site until November. Still interested in Maria Alm so going to check out flights to Salzburg, 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
So much for staying off the site until November.
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 That's OK, keeps things interesting! However, I can assure you there are some sites in resort, few yards from piste - you just need to find the right place. So that's not a reason to give up on the motorhome idea. The need to have a vehicle fully adapted to low temperatures (if it's not well below zero at night you won't be finding good snow in the morning....) is more critical.
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Last time I was in Arabba one part of the car park was for motorhome use only. I think skiing with a motorhome could be more common than we think for the European. Once the vehicle is fitted with a set of winter tyre it should be good for many skiing resorts, especially the Austrian ones as they don't normally sited at end of a remote mountain road with the 10 to 20 hairpin bends like many of the French resorts.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Lauterbrunnen for Wengen and Jungfrau has a very good carvan/motor home area - got talking to a chap who parked it up there all season - even had internet access as well! Bus goes fairly frequently from campsite to train station.
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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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Jon Ford,
1000's of people travel to Austria and camp the winter season.
Lots of camp sites have static and annually rented pitches but we see a load every year going up and down the road next to us.
I think a bit of scare mongering has gone on here... pick a good resort and you have great bus links, from the site near us you can get to ski 100's of K's.
There is also a great site in the Gasteins that offer busses to 3 resorts every day.
And from as little as €12.40pp pn (see below for a break down) it is certainly a well priced adventure!
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the fees at the sites with hookups would go some way towards renting a cosy little studio.....
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really?...
This is from a site at the end of my road.
As holidayloverxx wrote, 4km off the A10 motorway 70km from Salzburg, with a bus stop outside the camp.
pro Person
€4,80
Wohnmobil
€7,00
Taxe pro Person
€1,10
Strom pro KW
€0,75 lets go for 8kw used on a heater per day = €6
€24.80 per night based on 2 people... so €12.40pp pn
It is cheaper with a camper van rather than an RV too....
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Thanks everyone. Seems it is plauseable but after looking into it may play it safe and fly in. Still need to decide on a resort!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Of course the cost of a site goes some way to renting a small studio - what a peculiar thing to question. My statement was so vague as to be absolutely incontrovertible, but in fact the site quoted would go more than half way, if you avoid fancy resorts/high season. You shouldn't have to pay more than 300 euros a week for a little studio in low season - a few can even be found for under 200. Very short walk to lifts, too - no need to bus at all. Sure, those studios would be small, but bigger than most motorcaravans. Plus you wouldn't have to pay extra for your gas!
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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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The cost of anything goes 'towards' anything... the cost of me buying a rubbish car could go 'towards' me buying a Lambo... just a silly thing to write really...
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Poster: A snowHead
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just a silly thing to write really..
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but even sillier to question it, when 30 seconds arithmetic suggests that the cost of a campsite near a bus route might be around 60% of the cost of renting a warm studio within a short walk of the pistes/lifts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No it's not.
Sub €42 per night appartment for 2 including all taxes, cleaning fees, short walk to lifts/piste access to over 100k are not common or incredibly hard to find, or have been booked out way in advance as they are so cheap. If they are not linked to a large area then they are cheap for a reason...
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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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Sub €42 per night appartment for 2 including all taxes, cleaning fees, short walk to lifts/piste access to over 100k are not common or incredibly hard to find
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not if you know where to look. For 2 or 3 people, a small, cheap, probably quite tatty studio in the centre of Les Saisies for well under 42 euros a night. You could throw a snowball out of the window to the "front de neige". http://www.lessaisies-alm.net/fiche_meubles2.php?vmeuble=75&vposit=2&znumsem=348
I found a similar studio for a SH, visiting the area with just a few weeks notice, a couple of seasons ago.
If they want luxury, and are prepared to pay a bit more, 2 people could have an entire 2-bedroom, high quality, apartment to themselves for 50 euros a night. http://www.locapart-lessaisies.com/planning.htm Ski to and from the door, 185 kms of piste.
Or last year they could - low season weeks 350 euros. "Planning" for next season not yet available. But I doubt whether prices will have changed much, given there is a surplus of accommodation outside the peak weeks.
For people on a budget, accommodation can be the cheapest part of a ski holiday. The apartment linked here, with two double bedrooms, would sleep 4 in great comfort and 6 if prepared to use sofa bed in lounge. 12.50 euros a night for 4, less for 6. The cost of a "plat du jour" and beer on the mountain.
Good quality apartment, few yards from the piste, 185 kms of skiing.
Of course it all changes drastically if you have to go in high season.
This apartment's website is not entirely accurate however - no way does the bus go every half hour, and it's more like 5 kms, than 3 kms, to the main centre of Les Saisies.
People do seem to find it impossible not to slip in a little hyperbole in their websites......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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OP is looking for 2 people.
That link seems to concentrate on Les Saisies, there are certainly a few sub €300 appartments available in 2nd week of Jan (05/01) but the area seems to be very small, sub 50k of piste... does it link in to any larger areas by lifts/pistes or bus?
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If they want luxury, and are prepared to pay a bit more, 2 people could have an entire 2-bedroom, high quality, apartment to themselves for 50 euros a night. http://www.locapart-lessaisies.com/planning.htm Ski to and from the door, 185 kms of piste.
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irrelevent to OP and 'argument'
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For people on a budget, accommodation can be the cheapest part of a ski holiday. The apartment linked here, with two double bedrooms, would sleep 4 in great comfort and 6 if prepared to use sofa bed in lounge. 12.50 euros a night for 4, less for 6. The cost of a "plat du jour" and beer on the mountain.
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see above...
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This apartment's website is not entirely accurate however - no way does the bus go every half hour, and it's more like 5 kms, than 3 kms, to the main centre of Les Saisies.
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see your comment on thread above...
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a few can even be found for under 200. Very short walk to lifts, too - no need to bus at all
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Sorry pam w, bit bored at the mo, easy target 
"Trip, trap, trip, trap! " went the bridge. "Who's that tripping over my bridge?"
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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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flangesax, Les Saisies is part of the Espace Diamant which has 185km of linked pistes as pam w wrote.
I mainly ski in the same area but there are plenty of other cheap resorts in France, a quick look finds several studios in Les Sybelles (310km) around €200 for that week.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rjs, ta for the info, that certainly extends the range!
But she actually wrote
"If they want luxury, and are prepared to pay a bit more, 2 people could have an entire 2-bedroom, high quality, apartment to themselves for 50 euros a night. http://www.locapart-lessaisies.com/planning.htm Ski to and from the door, 185 kms of piste."
which is totally irrelevent to the thread.
This thread is about driving with a campervan to the alps rather than using the money that would cost to 'contribute' to a small studio.
I just had a 'quick look' and could not find a €200 appartment (for 2 people) in that week.... chuck a link down and I'll have a look.
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This thread is about driving with a campervan to the alps rather than using the money that would cost to 'contribute' to a small studio.
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No, wrong again. This thread is about whether it would be a good idea to drive a motorhome to the Alps, from someone clearly has reservations about the idea and is explicitly asking about the pros and cons. I should have known better than to rise to the bait of your initial "oh really?" You challenged me to justify what I'd said and I, unwisely, responded with accurate information which you then challenged, yet again - you must indeed be seriously bored and desperate for a fight if you think it's worthwhile to doubt my statement about how many km of pistes can be accessed from the properties I linked to, where I have skied the majority of every season since 2002/3. How many websites did you trawl to come up with the absurd suggestion that there is only 50 kms of piste accessible from Les Saisies? It really is rather comical. I can imagine your indignation if I started arguing with you about the statistics in the Ski Amadé.
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No, not really, and yes I am bored... waiting for late night arrivals and early b'fasts = bored trolly Ben....
You are quite correct that I quoted innaccurate Km info - I looked at www.J2ski.com which can be a wee bit off at times! Sorry about that!
http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/France/Les_Saisies.html
I have looked here now http://www.lessaisies.org/les-domaines-skiables/le-domaine-alpin which boasts a much, much, much more healthier 70km in Les Saisies but as rjs, explained it is linked in to l'Espace Diamant, which more than doubles the opportunities to 185km.
Comical, no (well at times yes... I hope.. but purely intentional)... accurate yes.
I am just a believer in facts. You have local knowledge of the area so if you know that any of the websites above are innaccurate then let us and them know! They are there for info and if ti is wrong then that is pretty damned rubbish isn't.... and I think that just may be it.... sites like those and this are really good for accurate info, so lets keep it that way and let people know exctly where to find the cheapest studios seconds form the piste in a fab area!
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I can imagine your indignation if I started arguing with you about the statistics in the Ski Amadé.
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If they are accurate then why would I???
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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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Come, come ladies, is this really necessary 
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Jon Ford, your biggest problem is that the UK specifications for motorhomes are based on either purely summer use in the UK or all year round but again only in the UK. The motorhomes that we see with Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Belgium, etc numberplates are geared up for the very cold winters not only in terms of the insulation but also dealing with the condensation problems that are associated with them. You could leave the heaters switched on all day and come home to a toasty wagon, but the moisture build up even over a short period of time (a lot bought in by the users remember) leads to a terrible fugg and water freezing in the internal parts. Friends of mine used to stay in a motorhome all winter, and it was a big booger too. But one winter's use and they had to get exchange it due to the damp problems. Plus they were always coming to me for baths, drying out and generally enjoying not having to say excuse me every 2 seconds as they moved around trying to do normal every day tasks.
OK you will only be in it for a week, but if that week turns cold as Febraury did last season, you will be looking at temperatures way below -20°C at night. Too late then to find out that the insulation is not man enough when your bits feel frozen enough to snap off!
Accommodation is generally cheaper and more generous in terms of facilities and space than maybe you are used to in France (there are rabbit hutches available for exceptionally cheap prices, but that is why they are free and cheap). In terms of doing DIY for the first time, book a package with a hotel. Many of the Austrian resorts offer all inclusive packages or the hotels will organise them for you. You just buy your flight and book your transfers. Look for Pauschal Angebote when selecting your hotels - they include half board and ski pass usually and some offer even more. All the hotels will help you organise ski hire and ski school if you do not trust yourself to do it. And do not worry about being ripped off as it is highly unlikely. Austrians pride themselves on maintaining a very high percentage of return bookings so it would be very silly to try and rip the punters off and still expect them to return the following year or to make recommendations to others!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ThanksSamerberg Sue, looks like I've started a fight between some sh's! Am weighing up prices of flights but don't know where to start when it comes to hotels. Any recommended websites. Are there ways if getting to resorts other than taxi (1.5hrs taxi could mount up). Do buses/coaches run fro airport? Would have to weigh up total cost to that of a TO as if similar would go with TO for peace of mind. Thanks again, really appreciate the support
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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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Jon Ford, I'll expand on what I wrote on one of your other threads:
Book a flight to Salzburg (if Austria is where you decide to go) - from North Wales you are probably looking at Manchester or Liverpool, so start with Easyjet or Jet 2.
Pick a resort - Maria Alm is small and pretty and a little less expensive than the main resorts in Salzburgerland such as Bad Gastein, Zell am See, Saalbach.
Hotel/Apartment bookings - use the booking services of the tourist offices ( e.g. http://www.mariaalm.at/de/zimmeranfrageform or www.saalbach.com) or apartment rental sites (HolidayRentals/Holiday Chalets etc) or a hotel booking site or phone directly to the hotels (the receptionists will all speak English) or Google or stay at one of the SnowHeads' properties...
Transfers: There are few good bus links (although there is a Postbus from Salzburg Airport to Zell am See) and fewer convenient rail links unless you choose a resort with a station (Bad Gastein or Leogang as examples) so most resorts have a shuttle service, which is either a shared minibus service or a taxi. See for example the Holiday Shuttle to Saalbach. These run door to door, so you are collected at the airport and dropped off at your accommodation ( and vice versa for the return journey). In addition, many hotels also have a minibus service, or will arrange a pick-up for you. There are also of course taxis - book online in advance; don't take a cab from the airport taxi rank unless you can agree a reasonable price. Lots of this information is available on the Salzburg Airport website http://www.salzburg-airport.com/en/passengers-visitors/arrival-parking/bus-train-taxi/taxi-transfer-service/
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 16-07-12 19:27; edited 1 time in total
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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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I would add, on the MH front, that it may not be worth it for only a week. Driving one is not exactly like driving a car - in summer, we generally reckoned on two days from the coast (Zeebrugge/Calais) to Chamonix area. Starting in N Wales, you've got a fair trek to a ferry as well (we're in Scotland, so know about that!). Admittedly, we were limited slightly by our son as passenger, who really didn't enjoy long days of driving; without a passenger, or with extra drivers, that may be easier.
If you expect to drive at the speed limit, you'll also need deep pockets!
The biggest advantage would be that you can follow the best snow, but given all the disadvantages outlined above, for one week, a MH is probably not the best choice.
If you're DIY, you may find hiring a car is not much different in cost to booking transfers, depending on party size and how far your chosen resort is from the airport.
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Poster: A snowHead
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thanks again Samerberg Sue and quinton. DIY booking seems a bit easier now its been explained. I was the same last year when we did our first TO booking without ski classes "where will we ski/will we end up on a black run", but I loved the freedom of skiing all day/every day without waiting for people (or having people waiting for you), and will deffinately ski "on our own" from now on. There are only 2 of us (me and wife) so no kids to worry about...yet! (cant wait to have kids old enough to take skiing...think I just start saving up for that holiday now though!)
Will start looking into prices of flights/transfers/hotels. Again, wont be booking till at least october/november, but at least I will have an idea of where we want to go and just book it as supposed to starting to look in November
Yellow Pyranha, think I've talked myself out of the MH idea now. Too much hassle and worry - hard enough to drive them in UK summer, let alone Euro winter!
thanks again everyone. really appreciate it!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jon Ford, Don't leave it too late! Depending on when you want to go, you may find that accommodation and/or flights are already sold out by Oct/Nov. My advice is to start looking and booking around 1st Sept. assuming that you consider it too early to book just now.
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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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Jon Ford, Re the DIY route, as regards accomodation apart from the excellent advice about looking at the resort tourist office website for lists of accomodation, or contacting the hotel directly if you have a particular hotel already in mind, another useful website I've found is www.tiscover.com through which you can book accomodation in Austria, Switzerland or Northern Italy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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thanks quinton, & Alastair Pink, . Have saved that link in Favourites and will check out tomorrow. quinton, , I want to book now, but want peace of mind that had good snow fall. Was thinking og booking v early december so we can see where has had good fall. If going through TO, will leave till then, but if DIYing may have to book before hand
thanks again
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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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Jon Ford,
Regarding "DIY"... it can seem a bit daunting... but if you break it down into the component bits it helps. There are of course downsides and upsides to it. There have been many a feisty debate on here and no doubt elsewhere. Truth is, you'll only know if you do it.
Regarding "good snow".. if you've the option i.e., travelling low season and/or with flexible dates... then why not.... However, if you travelling at busier times or with more fixed dates there is no logic to waiting IMO. Plus sometimes things don't move for weeks.. or they could change very quickly - so getting it right isn't easy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks Layne, due to no kids we are flexible. We've always gone last week Jan or first week Feb due to being bit later into season but before half term. Was thinking of going mid Jan this year as last 2yrs have had great snow fall v begin of Jan then nothing till after we have skiid. I know u can't predict though. Good thing is because we r flexible with resorts and dates we should find somewhere that suits us by booking in November ish. I just want a short list of resorts and hotels we can choose from so I'm not rushing round in December. Hence all the questions now. Whatever we don't choose this year will be a choice for.next year.....unless having kids takes preference.... Thanks again for.advice
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some of us are more than a little fed-up of people being put off France by information gleaned from 20-year old experience (good or bad being irrelevant) and misreading of web sites
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fixed it for you.  Two examples of just that in last 24 hours. And I am still waiting for any examples of the inaccurate "wild generalisations" putting people off Austria, to which you refer - not just in this thread, but anywhere. There are, on the other hand, many, many, examples of negative generalisations about France.
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if you know that any of the websites above are innaccurate then let us and them know!
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I really couldn't be bothered - they are often very inaccurate but it is so simple these days to look at the resorts own websites, which should be up to date.
Anyway, although I am happy to help individual SHs looking for somewhere new to ski, I, unlike some SHs posters, have zero commercial interest in any ski area. I'd sell up if our area became as busy as places like Flaine. If I ran the Les Saisies tourist office I'd be writing to J2ski, though; their site is at least 6 years out of date!
I like facts, too, and am not aware of having posted any inaccurate facts to Snowheads.
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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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Jon, before kids we used to start looking about two weeks before. If DIYing and getting flights most people seem to get the flight booked up asap as they prices tend to go up even if for off peak times. And then book the accomodation late.
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FAQ
