 Poster: A snowHead
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I have driven from Calais to Morzine a couple of times but always via Geneva Airport. I will be doing the trip again at the end of the week but this time going directly to Morzine. Will the direct and quickest route take me into Switzerland or keep me in France thus avoiding the purchase of a Swiss Vinette which i have always had to buy for my previous trips.
Would be grateful for your comments!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Defender, the normal direct route won't involve entry into Switzerland.
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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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if in doubt use michelin.com and tell it you don't want to cross any borders.
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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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Defender, Calais, A26, A5, At Dijon either A6 or A39 (A39 might be quieter) , A40 (Autoroute Blanche) then I think Morzine is junction 18. Follow Chamonix around Geneva, there's a couple of splits / turn-offs. All in France.
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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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I second using A39 - always very quiet
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes - avoid the A6.
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We drive down about twice a year, from Calais, primarily follow signs to Reims on the motorway, then follow signs towards Dijon, then Bourg en Bresse, then Geneva. You will then hit the same stretch of motorway as you do if you drive from Geneva airport, but only on the French side, so you will not go into Switzerland. Top tip if you don't know it, immediately after the first toll once you pass Geneva on A40, come off the very first exit (J15) following signs for Vallee Verte, then follow the signs for Samoen, Mieussy and Taninges, Morzine/Les Gets will also be sign posted along the route at intervals. When you come into Taninges, follow the mountain route as normal. Best of luck, Bon Ski!
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identifi, welcome to snowHeads and yes, that is a nice diversion. We tend to go via Cluses for cheaper fuel and big shop and come home that way (Super U and fuel if needed in Taninges) 
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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 nearly always do the J15 Vallee Verte route just to avoid Cluses - except around 11th December last year when we had a really slow trip from Calais - 12 hours driving time - because of snow etc we carried on and did the Cluses road as we were not sure what the smaller roads were going to be like.
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Thanks folks you've saved me having to ask as i'll be doing the same in 10 days time (along with half of the British ski population)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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robapplegate, if you're doing it at half term you can be sure it'll take a lot longer than usual, especially if you aim to arrive in resort on the Saturday afternoon.
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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, Indeed! Got a midnight Chunnel booked, 3 drivers and no plans to sleep!!!!!! Hoping to be there for a late breakfast 
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You know it makes sense.
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robapplegate, did this a few years ago and hit a massive traffic jam in Cluses. Frustrating but we were warned. So this year we are on the 10pm Chunnel to aim for Morzine 2 hrs earlier. Who knows if we will escape the half term rush up the mountain!
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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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Do not go anywhere near Cluses.....
Even if you don't do the Vallee verte or want a decent Carrefour take the exit before Cluses and it pops you out just before the chatillon col. (also usefull for Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens, Grand Massif, Morzine and Les Gets)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Do agree with marcellus, that Cluses is to be avoided if at all possible, unless going to a particular mobile phone shop, Lidl, or a ENT specialist - when we went through there back in December it was about 8 in the evening on a Thursday so no big problem.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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lol Pamski, an ENT Specialist... there's also an English Dentist in Cluses too!!
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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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marcellus, ooh, haven't needed a dentist but OH had a touch of vertigo type sickness a few years ago and medical centre in Les Gets got us an appt very quickly with a brilliant guy in Cluses and put our (well mine as I was the one really worried) minds at rest that it was nothing really sinister - would have paid the earth to hear that but all covered!
Orange phone shop by Carrefour - useless - SFR a bit better... sorry, thread drift!
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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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Pamski, oddly enough a friend who has an apartment near mine, and I, have both suffered from vertigo up there. My mother had it occasionally (benign positional vertigo, nothing sinister but very unpleasant) and I always have the buccastem tabs with me, just in case. Maybe altitude can trigger it? Makes sense - inner ear.
robapplegate, happy driving. I hope the Tunnel works out less chaotic than last year when folks (including my niece, headed for our place on the Thursday night as she had Friday off school) were badly delayed. You're unlikely to hit Albertville before the shop opens if you don't leave Calais till around 0145 local time. You can get good coffee and pastries in the cafés there (one at each end of the shopping mall).
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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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Sorry, is the junction before cluses number 18? Off to les Carroz on saturday of half term so trying to prepare myself mentally! How bad is it going to be if I take the 5am euortunnel crossing and try to get there ASAP? Looking for morale support rather than scientific answers!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, well you could be right about that Pam - does make sense. Never happened again thank goodness but one very sick man at the time.
Good luck to all travelling these next few Saturdays.
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normama, no Junction 17.
Here's a map showing my recommended route;
A in the Motorway exit
B is the Carrefour (new, big and cheaper than Cluses)
C is the turn off to Les Carroz and Flaine
D is the turn off to Morillon and Samoens
E is the turn for Les Gets and Morzine.
My disclaimer is that this route to any resort of the Grand Massif or Portes Du Soleil is that it may be take longer than a good run to any of them but the probability during the season is that it will be quicker.
The other thing worthy of note is that on this route there are no hairpin bends.. so if you've done the drive in one hit from Calais then you can get to Les Carroz, Morillon and Samoens without the usual last 5mile pain or if you have kids who suffer from tarvel sickness then also nice route.
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sorry here's a better map (slightly larger)
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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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Have to say (though prefer the Vallee Verte route) that we have never had a problem going through Cluses, even at times you might expect it to be busy (though not Feb Saturdays). Maybe we've just been lucky 
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Pamski,
You're making it sound desparate now 
Do regular drivers of the route also use the auto toll gizmos?
marcellus,
Looks like a good little diversion, I'll bear it in mind and make a judgement call based on traffic at the time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Do regular drivers of the route also use the auto toll gizmos?
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it makes sense if you drive it a lot, especially on your own - saves having to hop out and walk round, and annoy the driver behind.
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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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robapplegate, oh no, sorry about that - excellent medical care locally! We have had a gizmo for the tolls for years now, saves the passenger losing the tickets, dropping the credit card and all that sort of thing. Quite often do the trip on my own and as pam w, says it makes life much easier. Ours is linked to our French credit card. And we lend the gizmo to son or daughter if they are driving down - and they recompense us of course.
Have a good trip.
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Pamski, Sorry, don't understand the medical care comment, I think you're confusing me with another poster.
Thanks for tips and info.
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You know it makes sense.
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robapplegate, not sure what I was making sound desperate then...
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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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Pamski
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Good luck to all travelling these next few Saturdays.
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That bit 
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Poster: A snowHead
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robapplegate, have you ever done that drive at half term?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pam w,
No, that's why some of the comments are worrying. Plus remember the comments last year. We usually do Austria but fancied a change!!
Still no point worrying too much, it's all booked and we're raring to go 
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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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robapplegate, well I think people travelling these next few Saturdays do need good luck - from what I read on here afterwards. We never travel in February on Saturday or Sunday but that is because we don't need to as we no longer have children in education. When we did we used to ski Christmas/New Year and occasionally February half term - in Austria.
We disappear back to UK for a few weeks (starting tomorrow) - but I daresay we only hear the horror stories - if you set off, get the ferry or the tunnel, drive down the road ok and arrive at your hotel or accommodation on time then there is not much to report is there.
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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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The route from GVA to PDS/GM in Silly Season isn't really that bad....... the hold up is the Toll at Bonneville, so left hand lane, doofer and you're sorted... probably add around 30minutes delay (to an hours drive time) at the worst.
If you can, plan your trip to go at the wrong time.... ie on a Saturday arrive early morning as it gets busier as the day goes on and leave Saturday night as it's worst in the morning.
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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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If you can, plan your trip to go at the wrong time.... ie on a Saturday arrive early morning as it gets busier as the day goes on and leave Saturday night as it's worst in the morning
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this is the key tip. And gives you two extra days skiing if you're well organised.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well I've got the first part sorted but hadn't considered leaving saturday night as I like a full day on sunday to get everything sorted ready for work on monday, including catching up on sleep. Not able to avoid half term as I'm a teacher and one daughter is still in college. Christmas /new year is always Austria so 1/2 term is a greedy fix to feed the rat.
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hadn't considered leaving saturday night
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no problem, just make sure you leave before 7 am saturday morning
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pam w,
Generally try to be away by 6 wherever I am. Sometimes the rest of the family hate me.
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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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robapplegate, Or leave Friday evening (after a full day's skiing of course) and stay overnight somewhere (probably too late to book now). Did that the last couple of times when I was going at half term.
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billb, I'll bear it in mind for next time
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FAQ
