Driving to the Alps: 1st time

Dare I say it, but you were obviously doing it wrong?
When I drove in April, we did the following:

Drove down to Canterbury and stopped over with an early night at a cheap hotel 20 mins from the channel tunnel.

Got up at 5am and got on the 7am crossing, on the road in France by 9am, and drove with several stops down to Grenoble, no stopover in France required. Arrived in Briancon at approx 8pm local time, unpacked, had dinner and a bottle of wine, and were in bed by 11.30pm.

Up the next morning for first lift, no tiredness and raring to go.

On the final day, we skied our nuts off and had a good drink at the end of the day. Had a good dinner, and were in bed by 10.30pm. Left Briancon at 6.30am the next morning, and were back on the Channel Tunnel with a few stopovers at around 4pm, and we were sitting down to a curry in Bushey at 8pm.

Driving through the night is seriously bad for your health, especially if you plan on doing something the next day.

Last time I skied til 4.00pm, mandetory coffee and cake with the Haus Frau at 4.15pm, and set off from Niderau at 5.00pm. Drove non-stop to the ferry, and then up to mid-Staffs, where my ski-buddy lives. Dropped him off, and drove back to Scotland, about 4.00pm. Had some tea, then went and played tennis. I was a bit tired though.

Yeah it's not beyond the realm of possibility for me - but as it's my first time I'll take the advice and check out a stop around Troyes.

I don't suppose anyone can comment on Praz-sur-Arly? I've found a hotel there with our dates, 7km to Megeve. I'm hoping that doesn't mean I have to drive every day to get to the nursery slopes...

tin pot wrote:I don't suppose anyone can comment on Praz-sur-Arly? I've found a hotel there with our dates, 7km to Megeve. I'm hoping that doesn't mean I have to drive every day to get to the nursery slopes...

Some friends of mine stayed there a couple of years ago and they thought it was a lovely resort. There was plenty of snow, it was practically empty, and very French. They found enough to keep them busy just in Praz-sur-Arly itself, but it also links up with the whole Espace Diamant (although not Megeve, you'd have to drive there I believe).
I don't know about nursery slopes, but it definitely has green and blue ones.

Ally

Tony_H wrote:Dare I say it, but you were obviously doing it wrong?
When I drove in April, we did the following:

Drove down to Canterbury and stopped over with an early night at a cheap hotel 20 mins from the channel tunnel.

Got up at 5am and got on the 7am crossing, on the road in France by 9am, and drove with several stops down to Grenoble, no stopover in France required. Arrived in Briancon at approx 8pm local time, unpacked, had dinner and a bottle of wine, and were in bed by 11.30pm.

Up the next morning for first lift, no tiredness and raring to go.

On the final day, we skied our nuts off and had a good drink at the end of the day. Had a good dinner, and were in bed by 10.30pm. Left Briancon at 6.30am the next morning, and were back on the Channel Tunnel with a few stopovers at around 4pm, and we were sitting down to a curry in Bushey at 8pm.

Driving through the night is seriously bad for your health, especially if you plan on doing something the next day.

If you're referring to me - then yes of course you can say we did it wrong - I was saying exactly that same thing.
My whole point was - I don't think it's a good idea.
It bad for your health and could be dangerous. We drive through the day because our budget with 2 kids doesn't run to 2 overnight stops.

Dids1 wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Dare I say it, but you were obviously doing it wrong?
When I drove in April, we did the following:

Drove down to Canterbury and stopped over with an early night at a cheap hotel 20 mins from the channel tunnel.

Got up at 5am and got on the 7am crossing, on the road in France by 9am, and drove with several stops down to Grenoble, no stopover in France required. Arrived in Briancon at approx 8pm local time, unpacked, had dinner and a bottle of wine, and were in bed by 11.30pm.

Up the next morning for first lift, no tiredness and raring to go.

On the final day, we skied our nuts off and had a good drink at the end of the day. Had a good dinner, and were in bed by 10.30pm. Left Briancon at 6.30am the next morning, and were back on the Channel Tunnel with a few stopovers at around 4pm, and we were sitting down to a curry in Bushey at 8pm.

Driving through the night is seriously bad for your health, especially if you plan on doing something the next day.

If you're referring to me - then yes of course you can say we did it wrong - I was saying exactly that same thing.
My whole point was - I don't think it's a good idea.
It bad for your health and could be dangerous. We drive through the day because our budget with 2 kids doesn't run to 2 overnight stops.

I agree, and I didn't mean to come across as being smug or anything, but I am glad you feel the same way. I found it fine, but then again I am used to driving and quite enjoy it.

As for your comments about being dangerous - I really cannot endorse that enough, and thank you for pointing that out. There are far too many idiots on the roads as it is, let alone people who have been driving for ridiculous lengths of time. Why do you think lorry drivers have tacho's?
Take note Dave Mac.

AllyG wrote:

tin pot wrote:I don't suppose anyone can comment on Praz-sur-Arly? I've found a hotel there with our dates, 7km to Megeve. I'm hoping that doesn't mean I have to drive every day to get to the nursery slopes...

Some friends of mine stayed there a couple of years ago and they thought it was a lovely resort. There was plenty of snow, it was practically empty, and very French. They found enough to keep them busy just in Praz-sur-Arly itself, but it also links up with the whole Espace Diamant (although not Megeve, you'd have to drive there I believe).
I don't know about nursery slopes, but it definitely has green and blue ones.

Ally

We skied at Praz last season for a day we drove from St Gervais. There are plenty of nursury slopes, We found the skiing bit spread out though.
rgds eggman.

Hi Tin Pot,
I have a bit more time now so I'll take some time to post what we do now that we don't drive through the night.

We've driven 6 times, 4 to Samoens and once to Val Thorens and Les Saisies.

The 1st 2 times I've mentioned were the times we drove all night.

Apart from those 2 we found this worked for us -catch the 8am crossing and drive through the day. If you're lucky enough to be able to use a dvd player in the car beg, steal or borrow some films they haven't seen, give them a DS or on ipod and they should be fine.
Because you won't be so tired your stops won't need to be so long and they can enjoy the stops you make rather than half waking every time - which they do in the night.

The other main problem with driving through the night is what you do when you arrive in resort. If your room or apartment isn't ready where do you go? You have to hang around, exhausted waiting to get in. Tempers will fray!

You don't say how old the kids are but ours are in their teens and they love the journey.

When you arrive after a nice relaxing journey around 5.30 pm you can make yourselves at home, grab a cuppa and then go and get your hire equipment (sensible to book in advance online).
Get a good nights sleep and be raring to go the next day.

If you have plenty of time to stop overnight it's not a bad idea at all, but we do find it drags the journey out.

Coming home last year we left Samoens at 9am and got to the tunnel at 5.30 and were back in Gloucestershire by 10pm ish.

It's a great way to do the journey if you plan it properly.

Hope it works out for you.