Driving a minibus to Le Corbier Fance

I hope to take a small group of boys from a Special School in Hampshire to Le Corbier. Has anyone driven this route (from Calais)? If so, how much will it cost in tolls etc and do you have any advice for me?
Thanks
Joseph

You can work out timings, distances and stop overs using Via Michelin. It will also work out your fuel consumption, where you need to fill up and toll costs.

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

You will need to rent or buy snowchains for the driving wheels of the vehicle you are using. Chains use may be obligatory on the road up to the resort. If you are using a 4 w/d check with your manufacturer which wheels need chains.

I travel to the alps each year by bus or car and did the driving last year. We drive it none stop with two drivers. Presume you have more than just yourself? It's going to be a long way with a bus full of kids so you might want to break it up!

I never sort the money but about £30-40 each way for tolls rings a bell. Check the requirements for tachographs etc, especially with kids on board, we hire a 9 seater people carrier/bus because I understand the requirements are less. Coincidently anything bigger seems to come with a speed limiter which is ideal if you want to do 62mph all the way.

Finally good co-drivers are important to keep the driver company when the rest of the bus is asleep, especially driving none stop.

Dan

I did Beauvais to Chamonix last year and paid about £30. One advice... don't come of the motorway. It is much more expensive to do small chunks of driving on a motorway than stay on for a long time. There are some nice service stops along to have break.

ViaMichelin reckons just over fifty quid for the tolls which sounds about right. French Autoroutes are generally excellent and well worth the extra cost of the tolls.

When are you planning to travel?

Advice?

Plan to not drive on Saturdays if you can. Each season usually generates tales of at least one "perfect storm" when big snow arrives on a peak-week changeover day and causes chaos - plan to avoid that if you possibly can and mitigate it if you can't (warm clothing in car, torches, gloves, etc.).

Make sure you have snow chains to hand and have practised fitting them.

Preferably fit winter tyres to your car for much better grip in general and to reduce / avoid the need to put the chains on. They're not that expensive and will make your drive significantly safer and less stressful if it does snow.

Also, check the AA's latest tips on driving in France; things like needing to have hi-vis vests *in the car* (not the boot) at all times, the rules on spare bulbs, warning triangles, first aid kits etc. are not always well understood and can lead to on-the-spot fines and worse.

So, as it's a school, make sure you do your homework in good time! 8)

And have a great trip - I've seen and heard of French resorts doing a lot to assist groups that may have particular needs.

Thanks for the tips.
Joseph