Roadtripping

Toni,
Going by train is much quicker and easier than driving. It's only 6 1/2 hours from St Pancras to Moutiers direct. All you have to do is go through one luggage and i.d. check at St Pancras and get on the train with your luggage. Then get off in Moutiers and get a bus - half an hour transfer depending on which resort you're going to - and you're there.

What could be easier than that?

I agree it's more expensive though, unless you can get one of the limited cheap tickets for £150. We had to pay £300 each for ours.

Ally

AllyG wrote:Toni,
Going by train is much quicker and easier than driving. It's only 6 1/2 hours from St Pancras to Moutiers direct. All you have to do is go through one luggage and i.d. check at St Pancras and get on the train with your luggage. Then get off in Moutiers and get a bus - half an hour transfer depending on which resort you're going to - and you're there.

What could be easier than that?

I agree it's more expensive though, unless you can get one of the limited cheap tickets for £150. We had to pay £300 each for ours.

Ally

A bus !!!!!! ...... lugging around skis, boots a case, I'll stick to driving thanks :wink:

Ally, how do you get to St Pancras?
How do you get to the bus transfer?
How far from the bus station in resort is your apartment?

Hmmmmmm

Tony_H wrote:Ally, how do you get to St Pancras?
How do you get to the bus transfer?
How far from the bus station in resort is your apartment?

Hmmmmmm

I get to St Pancras on the train - of course - silly question :wink: It's 4 3/4 hours from here to Paddington on the train and then half an hour or so to St Pancras. Check in time closes 1/2 hour before train leaves, so keep about an hour spare. Train takes 6 1/2 hours.

The bus transfer is about 20 yards from the station exit at Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice. Takes about 3/4 hour to Courchevel.

I pick apartments that are close to the bus station - usually about 100 yards, or possibly 200 yards.

Total time approx 13.5 hours

But it takes about the same amount of time to drive to London from here, about 4 1/2 hours. Or, to drive to Dover or Folkestone from here would be about 6 hours, then wait to catch the chunnel train or ferry (about an hour I suppose), then the crossing (35 mins or 1 hr 1/4 on ferry), then 9 hour drive from Calais to e.g. Courchevel. Total about 17 hours.

The train is still quicker from here than driving, even supposing I could drive for 17 hours. I don't think it would be possible for me to go by train or drive without an overnight stop somewhere. And stopping in London overnight at my parents and then catching the Eurostar works out very well for me. The train goes at 10 a.m. so I don't have to leave their house before about 8-15 a.m.

The quickest way for me to get to the ski slopes is by plane, because I can go from Cardiff or Bristol, even though it means a 3 hour drive or so to get to Bristol. But as I'm sure everyone knows by now I am trying to fly as little as possible.

I suppose it depends on where everyone lives in relation to St Pancras, a regional airport, Victoria coach station, or Dover/Folkestone as to which is the quickest and easiest method to get to the Alps. The train is definitely a lot slower if you try going to Austria, Italy or Switzerland. But it's pretty fast if you can get the direct train to Moutiers or Bourg-St-Maurice.

Ally

The best thing about driving, is all the gear you can take. Nothing beats a range of boards, skis, and boots. Plus the knowledge that the baggage handlers are going to wreck them, or lose them.

Ok so based on where you live, driving to the alps is a non starter. I also think taking the train is ridiculously long winded.
So, you should be flying. Remind me, why arent you?

I'd love to drive and take 4 pairs of skis but it is a good 8 hours to the South for me without stops. Might as well fly. Would probably drive if I lived down that way.

Pablo Escobar wrote:I'd love to drive and take 4 pairs of skis but it is a good 8 hours to the South for me without stops. Might as well fly. Would probably drive if I lived down that way.

I can understand why people do not drive when they live 8 hours from the ports, but it is a great adventure and as trencher states you can take so much more extra gear
and just bring it back home again unused :lol: