J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by SwingBeep

Thanks for the heads up Andyoneil, I have changed the link, hopefully this one won't upset your Endpoint Protection.

Glad you managed to get a hire car sorted Wanderer. It does seem strange that it's only possible to hire cars fitted with winter tyres in France and Italy via the hire companies local websites. I would have thought that most of the demand would be from skiers based in other countries.

In theory a travel agent should be able to book a hire car fitted with winter tyres using one of the computer reservations systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_reservations_system Amadeus is the most popular system, the code for winter tyres is STR (see Equipment Codes) http://helponline.amadeuscwa.com/anglais/documents/Amadeus_Cars.pdf

This might be the link Jimbobilini mentioned http://www.sixt.fr/location-voiture-pneus-hiver/

There's loads of good skiing in the Jungfrau region, but from what you've posted previously I don't think Wengen will float your boat. The best place to rack up mileage is on the Grindelwald side, to get there you have to take either the train to Kleine Scheidegg, trains run every half hour and the journey takes 26 mins or the cable car up to Mannlichen. This piste map gives a better overview of the area than the ones on the web site http://www.swisswintersports.co.uk/images/jungfrauregion_pistebig.jpg

If you're thinking of going with Club Med, where do they serve lunch? It would be a PITA if you had to go back to the hotel.

If you do decide to go, be sure to go to the DHO drinks party (details in the weekly program) well worth the 10 franc entry fee http://www.downhillonly.com/site/dhowengen.shtml

Edit: link to piste map changed

It applies to the whole of Germany, it's part of their Road Traffic Regulations. It also applies to foreign registered vehicles, see paragraph 3a http://dejure.org/gesetze/StVO/2.html

In France and Italy there are no laws that require the use of winter tyres, so the hire companies only fit them as an extra, but they don't replace them with summer tyres when a customer that has requested them brings the car back so you might find that the car you are given already has them fitted.

In Germany there is a situational law that requires their use between 31.10 and 31.03 when road conditions are 'wintery' so the hire companies fit them as standard. When the law first came into force they charged extra for them, but now the cost is included in the price. If you hire through an agency you might still be charged extra for them.

Winter tyres are also fitted as standard in Austria between 01.11.-15.04. and in Switzerland between 01.11.-31.03.

They are not fitted as standard in France, but they are available for some models. Try the search string: voiture location avec pneus neige site:fr or http://www.europcar.fr/promotion/pneus-neige

I'm not absolutely certain, but I think if you buy a pass in France it only allows you to accesses the lift system from the French side at the start of your days skiing. This is how it works in Zermatt / Cervinia. There is an article the local paper that states that they have reduced the price of lift passes on the Swiss side, see "LES STATIONS FORCEES DE BAISSER LES PRIX?" http://www.lenouvelliste.ch/fr/en-continu/articles/index.php?idContent=1400411

If you're interested in riding off piste in the Dolomites get a copy of Francesco Tremolada's book "Freeride in Dolomiti" http://www.versantesud.it/en/shop/freeride-in-dolomites/ If you search for the names of the runs you will find loads of videos. Some of them can be bit tricky, especially on a snowboard.

Other areas in the region, but outside the Dolomiti Superski area that are worth a look are Sella Nevea and Sulden am Ortler.