J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by tin pot

I did some investigations last year in this forum, but next Friday we're going to do it. I mean, Do It!

Bigger car being delivered in two days with winter tyres, eurotunnel tickets booked for a pre-six a.m. departure and an eleven o'clock return a week later.

Why are we driving?

- Flights for two adults and two kids are a nightmare to arrange, transfers are a pain, and it's expensive and stressful
- Adventure of a long road trip
- Driving in the Alps is fun itself
- Stopping in a few wine regions on the way down for 'supplies'
- Stopping for Christmas markets on the way back, for more 'supplies'

I've got to say, I'm expecting negative points too but hope to mitigate these by setting up an iPad to play movies in the back of the car, and plenty of music and radio adaptations on my iPhone.

Hopefully the wife will take pity in the afternoon and give me a break...

Hi all,

I bought the TomTom maps for the alps last year, and one rather important feature it didn't seem to have was to tell me when a road was going to be closed all winter...before I got to it.

Has anyone else used their TomTom with success?

Cheers.

The traditional start of Switzerland's ski season has been marred by a shortage of snow across the Alps.

The autumn has been the driest on record in the country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16018453

That's a good question(!). I guess I'll know better in two weeks time.

Working of these estimes I'm thinking Chamonix or Morzine depending how much hard work it is once we're there.

Calais - Alpe D'Huez - 8 hrs 30 mins
Calais - Chamonix - 7 hrs 49 mins
Calais - Courchevel 1850 - 8 hrs 52 mins
Calais - La Plagne - 9 hrs 16 mins
Calais - Les Deux Alpes - 8 hrs 37 mins
Calais - Meribel - 8 hrs 46 mins
Calais - Morzine - 7 hrs 57 mins
Calais - Tignes - 9 hrs 20 mins
Calais - Val D'Isere - 9 hrs 22 mins

So, our second season skiing I want to plan ahead rather than do everything last minute (as I am currently!).

We're off to Megeve again mid December, went to St Foy le Tarentaise as well last year but didn't really enjoy it as much.

Late season at Zermatt (based on recommendations last year that we didn't take up) as it's high up and our ski instructor from Megeve teaches there at that time.

Mid season in the February half term I'm not sure though, we'll be driving so preferably not too far from Calais, but accomodation that can be walking distance to the nursery slopes for the kids. I've heard Chamonix requires a fair amount of moving about. We dropped in at Les Arcs last year which looked good but seemed to cater more for single adults and teenagers than young families.

Suggestions?

I'm driving, and if I flew I wouldn't care about luggage costs.

The only reason I'm worried about the cost of equipment is because I'm buying a car tomorrow to drive there. Next year or the year after I'll invest in proper gear.

Thanks for the responses guys, the poll results are remarkably even - and sober for an Internet forum!

Unless I'm missing something, cheap boots and skis will save me money this season. I'm not ready to spend more on boots yet, and I'm yet to see a downside in the responses so far...

It's a cost saving in my eyes, as long as the boots are as good as rentals. Unless the gear is truly godawful, I can upgrade in a year or two...no?

If hiring costs me £2-300 this season, and I wait until next year to buy something more pricey I'm just losing.

Decathlon Surrey Quays seem to be ok in forum posts, though I expect not as good as at Snow+Rock at three times the price.