{"id":928,"date":"2014-10-31T11:46:13","date_gmt":"2014-10-31T10:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/wordpress\/?p=928"},"modified":"2023-04-13T11:00:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T09:00:17","slug":"driving-to-the-alps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-features\/driving-to-the-alps\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving to the French Alps"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A<\/span>s winter approaches it\u2019s time to think about driving to the Alps again, an annual ritual which is a fact of life for skiers, particularly those who value the independence and economic advantages of self-catering accommodation, along with some pretty tempting cross-Channel deals. Which begs the obvious question: surely there must be a way of turning the dreaded long slog into an altogether more pleasurable experience? To help find the answer we decided to find out for ourselves what might be achievable with the benefit of a little lateral thinking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nSurprisingly, the drive-times from the Eastern Channel ports to Grenoble are just 45min more than to Albertville..\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On the road again<\/h2>\n

The French road network makes driving simple and efficient, but the distances involved remain significant. Clearly, with two drivers it\u2019s perfectly possible to simply press on and go for it, but there are compelling arguments against this, not least breaking the journey with an overnight stop<\/strong> along the way to take the pressure off. Another is that by not driving at or near the speed limit you’ll achieve significant savings in fuel costs, which can then offset the cost of en-route accommodation \u2013 still available at great prices using better budget hotel chains<\/strong> in convenient locations close to major routes and large towns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Book an overnight stop<\/h2>\n

Try to set yourself a target, ideally on the outskirts of a character town like Auxerre<\/strong>, Beaune<\/strong> or M\u00e2con<\/strong>. Then, if you reserve a room by booking ahead online those late nights in lonely service areas will be a thing of the past. Most chain hotels allow you to check in at any time of the night but make sure you have your booking details with you and the bank card with which you made your reservation. Many are located near key autoroute intersections, and close to affordable restaurants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Via Geneva – or Lyon, Chamb\u00e9ry and beyond?<\/h2>\n

Ferry services to Calais<\/strong>, Boulogne<\/strong>, Le Havre<\/strong> or Dieppe<\/strong> allow you to slot neatly onto the French autoroute network. The onward route south is the same, regardless of your destination, until just before M\u00e2con<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re heading for the northernmost ski areas like the Portes du Soleil<\/strong> (Avoriaz<\/a>, Morzine<\/a>, Les Gets<\/a>, Ch\u00e2tel<\/a>), the Grand Massif<\/strong> (Flaine<\/a>, Samo\u00ebns<\/a>, Les Carroz<\/a>, etc. ), the Massif des Aravis<\/strong> (La Clusaz<\/a>, Le Grand Bornand<\/a>) or Chamonix-Mont Blanc (including Les Houches<\/a>, Saint Gervais<\/a>, Les Contamines<\/a> and Meg\u00e8ve<\/a>), Courmayeur<\/strong> (via Mont-Blanc Tunnel<\/strong>) or the Espace Diamant<\/strong> (Les Saisies<\/a>, Notre-Dame de Bellecombe, Crest-Voland<\/a>, etc.) you\u2019ll peel-off past Bourg-en-Bresse<\/strong> towards Geneva<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The same applies to Swiss resorts of Verbier<\/strong>, Crans Montana<\/strong>, Zermatt<\/strong> and Saas Fee<\/strong>. If you\u2019re skiing in France, stay on French territory; should you venture onto the Swiss autoroute system customs officials will demand 40\u20ac for a 1-year vignette. If you need one, however, you can save time queueing at the border by ordering it online: www.tolltickets.com.<\/p>\n

If you have your sights set on places like the Tarentaise<\/strong> (Les Arcs<\/a>, La Plagne<\/a>, Val d’Is\u00e8re<\/a>, La Rosi\u00e8re<\/a>, Tignes<\/a> etc.), the Trois-Vall\u00e9es<\/strong> (Courchevel, M\u00e9ribel<\/a> etc.) or the Maurienne<\/strong> (Valloire & Valmeinier<\/a>, Val Cenis Vanoise<\/a>, etc., plus lift access to Val Thorens and the 3V from Orelle<\/a>), continue south around Lyon<\/strong> then follow signs to Chamb\u00e9ry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Heading for the Southern French Alps?<\/h2>\n

Surprisingly, the drive-times from the Eastern Channel ports to Grenoble<\/strong> are just 45min more than to Albertville, the relevant autoroute exit point being midway between Lyon and Chamb\u00e9ry. Grenoble opens up a wide range of ski area options, with Chamrousse<\/a> right on your doorstep and Alpe d\u2019Huez<\/a>, Vaujany<\/a>, Oz-en-Oisans<\/a>, les Deux-Alpes<\/strong> and Les Sybelles<\/strong> all within an hour or so\u2019s drive.<\/p>\n

Although it isn\u2019t much further, La Grave is currently innaccessible by road from Grenoble<\/strong>, due to the closure of the nearby Grand tunnel du Chambon<\/strong> after landslides. However, you can still reach it via the Col du Lauteret from Serre-Chevalier<\/a> and Brian\u00e7on<\/strong>. You can drive to Brian\u00e7on via Chamb\u00e9ry<\/strong> on the A43 autoroute and the Tunnel du Fr\u00e9jus<\/strong> (which has a preferentiel tarif<\/strong> during these enforced diversions). After the tunnel on the Italian side leave the autoroute at Oulx<\/strong>, following signs to Cesana<\/strong> and the Col du Montgen\u00e8vre<\/strong>. Brian\u00e7on is just beyond the col, so you can continue to access the destinations above.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, there\u2019s cross-border skiing in the Via Lattea<\/strong> (Montgen\u00e8vre<\/a>, Clavi\u00e8re, Sansicario, Sestri\u00e8re, etc.) is close at hand, as is the scenic family station Puy Saint Vincent<\/a>, or you could continue down to the For\u00eat-Blanche<\/strong> (Vars & Risoul 1850<\/a>). If the Col du Lauteret looks too risky, there are other options: Brian\u00e7on is readily accessible from the Vall\u00e9e de la Maurienne (see above) via the Fr\u00e9jus Tunnel<\/strong>, although tolls are pricey at 40.90\u20ac (51\u20ac for a 7-day return). Alternatively, head south from Grenoble and back up again beyond Gap<\/strong>, itself a gateway to lots more fine skiing in places like Orci\u00e8res 1850<\/a>, Les Orres<\/a>, le D\u00e9voluy<\/a>, Pra-Loup and Val d\u2019Allos<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Back to The Routes…<\/h3>\n

French National Routes (prefixed by an ‘N’ on a green background) are long-distance routes within France, and can offer a way of seeing more of the real France. Inevitably, they are generally slower than autoroutes as they pass through towns and take local traffic, but offer an interesting alternative if you\u2019re in no hurry and wish to avoid tolls.<\/p>\n

French Autoroutes<\/h3>\n

Not every autoroute charges tolls \u2013 sections are often free around cities and where no alternatives exist. Tolls (p\u00e9age) are calculated by distance travelled. Take a ticket on entry and pay by cash or card when you exit a p\u00e9age section. Lanes marked CB accept most major credit and debit cards. Avoid lanes marked only by an orange \u2018t<\/em>‘ as these are reserved exclusively for vehicles equipped for automatic payments. If you are driving solo in a right-hand drive car see Sanef Tolling or check out Bip and Go, where for a small fee you can get an electronic tag so you can use the t\u00e9l\u00e9p\u00e9age lanes. It avoids having to scrabble around for change or a bank card and will help avoid queues at major tolls as you will often find 30kmph “drive-through” lanes are fairly clear. You only pay for the months you use the tag and there’s no contract.\"MountainPassions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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