Should i drive, or am i mad for thinking about it??

We have driven several times to France and are going to drive for the trip to Folgarida in Italy with the J2Ski holiday first week of Feb (if you can change you dates, you could come with our group, there is room in the hotel).

It is a long way for one person to drive, although some are happy to do it. We take it in turns and this year there are 3 of us driving, so we expect it to be much easier. We are also stopping overnight, to arrive fresh in resort. Driving straight through was a killer, even with several drivers.

The good thing about driving is that you can take as much luggage as you like and if you get bored or have no snow you can drive to another resort to ski.

Down sides already explained above. We do have winter tyres and chains and all the other stuff that the French insist you carry. We also have one of those Sanef toll machines that bill you when you get back for the toll roads, which makes life a little simpler.

If you like driving, why not.

depends how many are going in the car as to whether its worthwhile ..you could do it in a day with 2 drivers ..if you are leaving from the south of England and its an easy drive...even if you don't use the autoroutes...I'm doing it on my own ...but I am going out for a month

I drove to Tignes for a week on my own this year. It was great and would do it again.
I live in London. I finished work a bit early on Friday, got the Eurotunnel and stayed overnight in Troyes. Arrived in Tignes on Saturday afternoon. Had 7 days skiing, stayig in Troyes again on Saturday night, catching the Eurotunnel Sunday lunchtime.

I had snow chains but didn't need to use them. I have a comfortable car, but wouldn't fancy the journey in an uncomfortable car.

I went by car to Chamonix last year and to be honest it was pretty rubbish. Slow, not even that cheap in the end and horrible driving conditions when i went. I hitchhiked one year when busgets were really low, but thats another story !! wouldnt advise it but it was an adventure. Unless you really want your car to use when you are there then, have you thought of taking the bus. There is the snow express if you are happy with a 20odd hour journey. I did that a few years ago.

It is always worth driving to France easy drive have an overnight stop and be refreshed when you get to the alps,this year 18.30 shuttle overnight in Reims and a six hour drive to resort on the saturday :thumbup:

I too have the same dillema, however, mine differs slighly as my daughter has booked a package deal to Tignes with her partner over Christmas and it will be her 21st Birthday whilst she is there.

Due to only having 5 days off over Christmas there are no packages so that leaves a DIY. So fly or drive, flights are expensive so that leaves train or Drive which I am considering.

My guage was last weekend as I drove to Disney in Paris, this took 6.5 hrs, 3 to Dover3.5 tunnel and France. When I arrived there I asked could i do another 6 hrs? The answer in my head was "no chance"

I have concluded that, as others have stated, that it needs an overnight stay to break the Journey up as the fatigue of driving all the way will ruin the first day at resort.

Leading back to my dilemma, for 5 days, travelling for 2.5 ish of them, my feelings are that on the way there will be exciting, stay overnight and get there PM on the first day, skis on off we go BUT the thought of the drive on the way back really does not entice me with nothing to look forward too.

So probably going to throw a party for her and book a package in Feb !

TP

All your advice much appreciated. plan A is to find a late package deal although sadly i can't be to flexible with the week i want to go so think this may hinder me finding a gem of a deal. Plan B is to be ready to drive if necessary.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/10484200/Ski-Save-money-by-driving-to-the-slopes.html

Worth a read???

Steve