Driving to the Alps | Ski Famille

Driving to the Alps

Avoid expensive ski flights on peak dates
Travel at your own pace; you can bundle the children into the car at 3am or set off after a sedate breakfast. In short do what suits you
You can make a holiday of the journey. Plenty of guests book an overnight stop to either simply break the journey or explore a new area of France en-route.
With no luggage restrictions the only limit on what you can take is the size of your boot!
Take own skis and boards without paying airline fees for carriage
... and don't forget that you can stock up on wines on the journey home!

Before you leave have your car fully serviced, check your battery and fan belt, top up your antifreeze, and make sure your windscreen solution is strong enough to cope with the weather in the Alps (generally speaking don't dilute).
French Road Safety law stipulates that all vehicles driving in France must carry at all times at least one reflective safety jacket and one warning triangle in their vehicle. You will also need a spare set of bulbs.
Snow chains are a legal requirement if you are attempting mountain roads (even in a 4x4).
Budget for tolls. They’ll cost around £50 each way.
When in resort lift your windscreen wipers away from the front and back windscreens so they are not impossible to move if it snows heavily.
If parking your car for over an hour or so leave in gear with the handbrake off - it can freeze solid overnight.
Start working on your children's musical taste well in advance of a long trip. Visualise nine hours of "Wheels on the bus" ... not nice!
Don’t be intimidated by other drivers when you get to the mountains. Locals will often sit a foot behind you on a mountain road and swoop past if the smallest gap appears. Just stick to a speed you and your passengers are comfortable with. Accident statistics show that locals aren’t as good as they think…

More on driving to the Alps including details of free ferry and Eurotunnel crossings.