driving to europe

I'm looking to drive from the UK to France/Austria for next new year,any top travel tips for the do's and dont's also any good sites for booking chalets/apartments etc.

I know its early but first up and all that stuff !! :thumbup:

My one tip would be to take 2 days getting there. When we went to la plagne, we stayed on the outskirts of Lyon in a Forumla 1 hotel ( very cheap ) . This only gave us 2.5 hour drive the next day, and we were at the slopes nice and early to get some extra skiing in.

Hi,
It is possible to get too French resorts in a day
with a early start but at that time of year best to allow or overnite stop and early start, going up to resort in the dark if its snowy is no fun.When going to Austria we stop around Kalsrhue and with a good start can be in the Tirol about 1.If possible best to travel on Sundays on the Autobahns as the lack hgvs make it much easier, the French motorways are a doddle in comparisom. Drive-alive web site might be of help for hotels en route

GOFF

We are driving to Morzine this year. Catch a latish ferry at Dover and then drive down through the night to arrive Saturday morning. Nearly all of us going are drivers so we can rotate every now and again, wouldn't be fair on 1 person.

I have driven many times across Europe, mainly through France and down to Spain, but also through the alps and on into Italy.
Experience tells me that driving through the night gets you there quicker, but its very tiring, even sharing drivers, as no one will really get much rest. I would recommend taking an extra day on your way out at least and stopping over for a night, and then maybe blast it back to the UK. I once did Venice to Lincolnshire in 18 hours, including the channel crossing.

French Motorways are great, despite the tolls, usually really quiet, until you hit areas around the major cities. I would try and avoid travelling at weekends as well, as the roads do get much busier. German roads are fast, but a lot of them are in poor repair now, but at least there are no tolls.

If you are driving down to the French Alps or across into north west Italy, I seriously suggest you dont head south from Calais, but go north to Dunkirk and then east through Belgium, south of Brussels and then across to Luxembourg, and south towards Nancy and Dijon. From there you can either head across east into Switzerland or the more northern French resorts, or carry on down towards Lyon and the main ski areas. The drive through the Tunnel de Frejus will bring you right out at Sauze d'Oulx and onto Turin.

Alternatively, for the Tirol, head from Luxembourg into Germany and Stuttgart/Karlsruhe, and either down to Friedrichshafen or across to Munich and then south into Austria.

Driving abroad is so much better than over here.

Dont overpack, and take a diesel car if you have the option, and I would always recommend Eurotunnel over a sea crossing to avoid weather delays or slowing the journey down too much.

AND dont forget your spare bulbs for the lights!!!

Have fun.

On your return if in France stick to the speed limits as approaching last toll booth too Calais, most weekends during the season the Gendarms will have a mobile speed trap a few kilometers before it,and dont join the line of Brits pulled over waiting to pay their fine. :roll:
GOFF

Hi

Good booking websites are
www.chaletfinder.co.uk
www.chaletsdirect.com

We also have a chalet have a look at www.chalet-chasseur.co.uk

Driving
In France mobile speed camera units will fine you on the spot, this has only happend to us once in two years living in France, they do have static cameras but not sure if they have access to the DVLA information to be able to send a fine.

Switzerland
You will need to buy temporary road tax as you cross the boarder which is about 40chf or £20. They don't like you bringing any food or drink into the country.
There are speed cameras but again don't know if they can send fines. If you are crossing mountains and there is a car train available I would take it. We crossed from Brig to Italy via the Simplon train in January which only cost 19chf or £10, check out http://www.sbb.ch/

I would say snow chains in winter are a must I think maybe a legal requirement in some places. You may also wish to check you anti freeze and screen wash as the UK stuff does not work when it gets really cold, you just end up with a blue sludge on you windscreen. Mayby a spade and some salt is a good idea too.

Have a great holiday :D

French police can only fine you if they pull you over, or if you have a timed ticket at the Peage and you have clearly exceded the speed limit by a certai amount - not sure what that is.

I got flashed by 2 speed cameras in the massif central a few years back, but nothing ever came of it. I found out from a mate in the force that they have no access to DVLA, and its too much hassle trying to pin a fine on an overseas motorist. I dont think thats the same if you are a citized on mainland Europe however....Belgium, Germany, Holland, etc.

Beware the Peage tickets which give time and date on them, they can get you into trouble.
Also, if you see a camera sign and the word "Radar", there will almost definitely be a speed trap set up in the next few hundred metres!!!!

However, driving abroad is still so much better than here.