Driving from Milan Linate to La Thuile

Has anyone out there got any advice about the drive from Milan Linate airport to La Thuile?
Or general advice about driving to the ski resorts in Italy. Eg snow chains versus snow tyres?

Hi Jaffamj. welcome to the forum :-)

OK, I have not actually driven the entire route you requested, but I have driven home from Livigno via the Mont Blanc tunnel, which covers probably about 95% of what you will need to do.

From Milan you need to get on the A4 (motorway) which runs across the top of Italy and simply stay on that till you get to the A5, which will be signposted to the Mont Blanc tunnel. La Thuile is just a few km short of the tunnel and will be sign posted.

It is pretty much motorway all the way and should take about 3 hours subject to traffic and weather. If it is during the day and the weather is good, you will have a wonderful view of the Alps to your right as you drive along the bottom of them.

Here is a short clip I did on my way back, it is just after turning on to the A5 :lol: ..



With regards to tyres/chains if possible I would go with both. Winter tyres certainly are a massive aid to driving in the conditions you are likely to find, but in extreme cases, they will still need to have chains fitted to get you through some stuff. However, if it came to one over the other, I would personally go with the tyres. Assuming you will be hiring, it may depend on what they can give you, but I am pretty sure you need at least one of them for driving in the Valle d'Aosta between Mid October and Mid April.

jaffamj wrote:Has anyone out there got any advice about the drive from Milan Linate airport to La Thuile?
Or general advice about driving to the ski resorts in Italy. Eg snow chains versus snow tyres?

Turin airport is your best bet an easy two hour drive most of the way on Motorway 8)

Don't know if this is your first trip to La Tuile...if so, you really do not need a car while there, depending on where you are staying. The town is very small, very few restaurants...it's all about the skiing! So, yes, it is about a 3 hour breathtaking ride, the Mt. Blanc Tunnel is something to see!
However, I find it far less expensive (we were 6 people), and far less stressful to have a car service pick you up at Linate and deposit you directly at your hotel. I am happy to give you the name of the service I use (I use them in Cervinia also)...they have vans big enough for any size family, and plenty of room for skis and luggage. I know Italy very well, and have found that car services are the way to go!
The skiing is pretty awesone at La Thuile....enjoy!!!!

The train journey is very pleasant from Milan to Pre St Didier takes about 4.5hrs but very effecient and stress free short transfer to resort did this to Courmayeur tied in with a couple of days in Milan closest airport is Geneva !

Merryski wrote:The train journey is very pleasant from Milan to Pre St Didier takes about 4.5hrs but very effecient and stress free short transfer to resort did this to Courmayeur tied in with a couple of days in Milan closest airport is Geneva !

MMMmmm Geneva may be the closets but you are forgetting €60 return through the Mont Blanc tunnel which also has delays, I would defo use Turin.

Thanks to all for your tips.
I couldn't get a cheap flight at a reasonable time to Turin so I plumped for Milan - British Airways, from Heathrow (nearer us than Gatwick) and at civilised time. The price I pay is that it's further to get to La Thuile.

I've thought about public transport but with a bus to the main station at Milan, a train to Aosta, a change, and then a bus to the resort it seemed like too much hassle with three children.

Db10a - I've spent hours trying to get a reasonably priced transfer, but the cheapest was £850 return. I can hire a car for £250 and even with the cost of the tolls, the petrol, the hire of snow chains etc it's going to be a lot less than £850.

Would love to have the name of your car service... I can see that a lift would be less stressful than doing the drive ourselves, but it depends on cost.

Thanks everyone. (This is my first time on a forum like this so I'm chuffed to get helpful replies!)

Hi! I live in Milan and have 2 small children ....DON'T take the public transport option! Planes, trains and automobiles won't have a patch on your day...it would be challenging even without the children! A private transfer sounds lovely but is likely to cost....it is effectively someone taking 2 working days, together with VERY expensive petrol and tolls, so it adds up. Hiring a car sounds strangely cheap... Have you factored in car seats, insurance etc? Chains or snow tyres are Compulsory from about Nov to March, The tyres are great but all depends on the hire company.
On the up side (!) the drive in the day is quite beautiful. Remember Linate is the 'wrong' side of Milan so you will need to take the ring road, but after Milan it is plain sailing and a good road.
Bring a portable DVD and lots of snacks and good luck!