 Poster: A snowHead
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We are driving to Meribel from Calais, Ive got the 'via michelin' route but was after any tips/dont do/ do do/ from snowheads that may have doen this trip. First time for us so we would like to know what to avoid!! 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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When? If half term leave resort before 07:00
Fill tank at Chambery at the Petrol station on the ChamNord slip road
Get telepeage tag from www.saneftolling.co.uk
If you make a toilet stop top up the tank
If you need to stop for petrol everyone goes to the loo.
If you plan to eat on the mootorway stop before French lunch ie before 1pm (Or take a packed lunch)
Keep stops to a minimum.
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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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iskar, when are you going, what timing? Have you booked a crossing yet?
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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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We get a fixed time Eurotunnel ticket out, but a Flexiplus ticket return, this takes a lot of pressure off worrying whether you are going to get to the tunnel in time. Some Snowheads may suggest the extra cost of the Flexiplus is not worth it, but I like the peace of mind. It is also quite satisfying being waved past the waiting hoards!
Audiobooks ... a good audiobook can keep everyone in the car happy, and the driving time passes by much quicker.
For the price of a cheap satnav, you can have the joy of an extra voice in the car, and can reroute if you have to, the problem with a printed route is that you have no plan B if you miss a turning, though we have great joy around the new section of road around Reims when the Garmin takes us across fields!
See you driving down the hill at 7.00!
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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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Harry Potter Audiobooks. That is everything you need.
Whatever you do, do not tell Sat Nav to avoid the motorway going through Reims. You will end up going through the centre of Paris, which is a bad idea at best.
Have a search through here, write down the details of all the supermarkets within a short distance of the motorway - fuel prices much lower.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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WhatBoredsurfing, says
Keep supply of drinks and snacks in the car
Top of wash fluid with right concentration i.e. below freezing
If diesel top up around Albertville so you have winter diesel in car
Take some jumpleaps just in case
Reflective jackets, breathelyser etc as required by French law
Watch out for mobile speed cameras on the way up from Reims to Calais
Is an easy and pleasant drive in my view, always the odd chance of a traffic jam but that'slife.
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Winter tyres and snow chains.
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You absolutely don't need a satnav to drive Calais to Meribel unless you are the world's worst navigator.
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always the odd chance of a traffic jam
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if you're going at half term there is a certainty of major traffic jams and it's worth thinking about the timing of your journey to give yourself a sporting chance of avoiding the worst of them.
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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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Snow-chains are a must and a legal requirement.
If you have winter-tyres great, they are a huge improvement in snow and general cold wet conditions. However, they are not a legal requirement for France and, thousands of UK, Dutch, Belgium cars get to the Alps each year on normal tyres without issue. Apart from the final few miles, it is well cleared and maintained motorway/dual-carriage all the way to Moutiers.
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and a well timed journey avoids the traffic jams as well.
In 30+ years of driving (in France) I can only remember being caught in serious jams a couple of times and both due to serious accidents. Slow moving traffic due to weather around 3 or 4 times. But that's all as Boris, says the roads are cleared and well maintained
I wish I could say the same about the journey in the UK to/from/and at the tunnel!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Calais to Meribel is much easier than getting to Dover (unless you live in Kent of course)
It is much easier with 2 or more drivers
Overnight is easier than during the day - almost no traffic
http://www.audible.com/ is a great source of talking books, download them to a smart phone or a kindle. If you can afford the data download charges you can do this while you are actually travelling.
Buy sandwiches, coffee, fruit juice when you stop to refuel and dump the waste as soon as possible. Keeping the inside of the car tidy and clear makes for a much more comfortable journey.
Obvious really, but when you stop, clean the lights
My favourite route is Calais - Rheims - Dijon - Bourg en Bresse - Lyon airport - chambery
If you feel tired pull into a rest area and rest, but these are often jammed full during the week with lorries with the same idea as you.
Have a peage ticket collector in the LH seat to handle collecting tickets (you will collect 4 of these) and pay by card, not cash
Relax, it is really a very easy drive.
For most of the way the speed limit is 130. There is not much benefit in exceeding it. The journey is possible in 9 and half hours without breaking the speed limit.
As to what to avoid - Paris, Lyon (The autoroute around Lyon is very congested between 7 and 9)
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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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Lyon is tonnes better now the new loop road has been opened (A423?)
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Thanks...as always.
there are 5 in the car, two drivers and we are used to going overnight.
pam we are going easter friday, but will do overnight, and by ferry as its 4 hours to dover for us and the brakes welcome. Whats the best way to deal with the tolls usually in the rest of europe we just pay as required but ive heard about the pre paid thing you can get is it worth it for the one visit??
speed limits not a problem 
we are using a garmin with the 'printed version' as back up. Any clues on best time to get to meribel??
ie early mid morning
thanks again
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You know it makes sense.
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Don't say no to toll roads on the gps, you'll end up in Belgium and Switzerland...
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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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iskar, I don't think Easter will be a problem - tunnel might be a bit busy, but it's low season down here in the French Alps, at least in the bits mostly inhabited by French people!
For one journey, there's really no need to get a péage badge, especially with someone in the passenger seat who can do the necessary with a credit card. Where does your Garmin take you? they do funny stuff, sometimes.
Don't forget speed limit is 68.3 mph if the road is wet.
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Poster: A snowHead
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iskar, I don't think Easter will be a problem - tunnel might be a bit busy, but it's low season down here in the French Alps, at least in the bits mostly inhabited by French people!
For one journey, there's really no need to get a péage badge, especially with someone in the passenger seat who can do the necessary with a credit card. Where does your Garmin take you? they do funny stuff, sometimes.
Don't forget speed limit is 68.3 mph if the road is wet.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For one off trip not worth bothering with tag, just pay as you go. If using credit card there are often CC only lanes which can be quicker
Easter Friday I've driven many a time and the queues are not bad at all, is tail end of ski season and not so many people going.
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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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Boris, Yes, but all of Belgium is heading for the Med. The Saturday after Good Friday must be a excellent time to invade Belgium, there will be no one there.
iskar, The journey to Dover on Good Friday can be a nightmare. You will find all peace and calm on the other side. Brakes on a car are always welcome
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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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| Boris wrote: |
| Lyon is tonnes better now the new loop road has been opened (A423?) |
What have I told you before about this secret empty shortcut of a road 
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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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Boredsurfing, ooops yes I forgot we weren't telling anyone 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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as already mentioned saneftolling - well worth it - a lot less effort, even if roads quiet - you dont have to wake sleeping passenger!
We prefer to take the A39 - always seems quiet and quicker?
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If you are paying cash and cc, the tolls are single sided so either pull up so that the passenger can pay or leave room to open the door and get round.
Fit your beam benders before you get on the Ferry. Unless you're sure of stopping over there in daylight. Buy two sets of them, they can fall off.
Snowchains are cheaper on the autoroute then in the UK.
Fit winter tyres anyway. Mine were more use on the way to Dover then they were in France, except for the loop round La Tania where I saw some foreign muppet slipping around.
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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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Yep. And even when they do get the legislation sorted, the fine is a massive €11, as it says. If you get stopped in France whilst driving a UK car you're going to get turned over and done for anything and everything they can find, so if you're at all worried or you draw attention to yourself by driving a flashy car or particularly quickly, make sure you have the more expensive stuff covered first.
Ought to demonstrate just how seriously to take that bit of legislation.
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It can be very tempting to, and easy to do accidently, exceed the 130 km/h limit on empty roads (or 110 km/h in rainy weather), but if you do be on a lookout for unmarked mobile speed traps in cars....I saw at least three one-way last time I did the journey
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
If you get stopped in France whilst driving a UK car you're going to get turned over and done for anything and everything they can find
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not my experience. Might depend on how flashy you, or your car, are.
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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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| pam w wrote: |
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If you get stopped in France whilst driving a UK car you're going to get turned over and done for anything and everything they can find
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not my experience. Might depend on how flashy you, or your car, are. |
And at least an attempt to speak French helps as well
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many thanks for all the advice, much appreciated. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Drive from Valmorel back to Calais by my self last year.
Going to do both journeys by myself next time.
Any advise on how to best cope with the Toll boths as an only driver sat at the wrong side of the machines. I had to keep climbing over the passenger side each time and it was the only difficult part of the journey. Apart from that Im loathed to ever fly again.
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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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Super Eagle, there aren't that many toll booths - before I had my telepeage tag, it wasn't exactly an insurmountable problem. I usually got out and walked around. Quite good to stretch your legs on a 12 hour drive. If it bothers you, get a telepeage tag. It does make life easier.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| DavidYacht wrote: |
though we have great joy around the new section of road around Reims when the Garmin takes us across fields!
See you driving down the hill at 7.00! |
Ah.... Glad it wasn't just me then. Imagine my surprise.... My first ever drive to the Alps. It's 1am, the other 2 are asleep and the so far very reliable sat nav has me in the middle of nowhere for quite a while. Something quite surreal about driving somewhere new..... On my 'own'...... In France...... In the dark..... On a road that doesn't exist. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Gassy222, we always laugh about it as well but your experience must have been far from funny at the time!
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