Cheaper to fly

[naughtymummy]

We have booked a self catering apartment in Serre Chavallier, where we went last year. It has cost us a fair bit as agreed rent in euros not pounds-duh ! Now trying to cut back a bit . Last year we drove, I just had a lok and we could fly and rent car for approx £430 do you think it will cost more than this for ferry and driving anyone done it this year yet ? How expensive is french petrol ? Any advice much appretiated.

sounds worth the money to me. driving is so slow....

We went to Eurodisney at New Year - petrol was ?1.26 so a lot more expensive than here. We too are driving to our skiing holiday in March as we want to drop in and see some friends on the way but we are really regretting the extra cost now! Go onto via michelin as they will also give you the cost of the tolls. You will then have a better idea of what your total costs will be.

We are going to Bernex (1 hr from Geneva) in Feb half term. Last minute decision as offered free accomodation in friend's apartment only 3 weeks ago. Flights for 4 people from Gatwick to Geneva would have cost over £2k return! So decided to use tunnel and drive. Tunnel is £230 return so we would have to spend a lot on petrol and tolls for it to be as expensive as flying. Also will have our own car so save on car hire or taxi fares from airport.

Would probably be cheaper to fly if going during easter holiday, though, as school hols seem to be well spread out.

If you shop around you could possibly get a return ferry ticket for around £50, tunnel would be a lot more; The drive will be around 900km (550miles), so ?~£70 petrol each way, tolls will be around £60 each way, you may need to pay extra for car insurance & maybe buy some headlight deflectors/fluorescent jackets/spare bulbs/ heavy duty antifreeze etc. Possibly chains for the mountains too.

You might get it for a little under £430 if you have a lot of that stuff already, but not too much I wouldn't think. I suppose you should factor in airport parking if you fly though, and watch out for extra charges for skis & boot bags etc on the flight too...

Why don't you take the train?
Much better for the environment

I'd agree with bluejelly that train is good for the environment - also fun for the DCs. We always take the train skiing but sadly it is not usually the cheapest way to get there. I doubt OP would be able to get 4 people there by train for £430. (unless DCs are under 4 in which case they can travel free on the train).

OP - if you want to look into the train it is possible to get to Serre Chevalier by train I think. I think you can get the train to Briancon or possibly Oulx in Italy.

Snorkle - agree ferry is much cheaper but makes journey a whole lot longer. Would then need to think about overnight stopover at hotel anyway.

Totally agree jack. If cost is overriding issue though and you don't mind a very long day travelling then ferry is the way to go. If speedferries hadn't gone under then that would have been a good compromise - hardly any longer than a tunnel crossing but at cheap prices - sadly no longer an option though.

It usually takes us about 8 hours from Calais to Chamonix, with only short stops for the loo, petrol & to swap drivers.

Oh and ferry has the advantage that you do get out of the car & have a proper break.

We've done all the combinations: drive via ferry, drive via tunnel, fly then hire, train all the way (from Glasgow), fly to Paris and then get the train...

Our favourite option is to fly to Paris and then get the overnighr couchette. Havign said that, it is not the cheapest option.

This year, if we go skiing, it will probably be drive and ferry - for the same reason that Snorkle says: it gives you a chance to get out and stretch your legs and have a proper break. Coming from Scoltand it works out cheaper for 3 of us - but only if you use petrol costs and not full depreciation costs.

Hve flown to Turin and then driven to Serre Che twice in the past, this is preferable to flying to Grenoble as the pass between Grenoble and Serre Che is often closed whereas the one from Italy is usually open.

The Turin drive is less than two hours and nobody arrives grumpy because of a long drive. You can do train with transfers to Briancon and then get a taxi, but Serre Che being such a long resort we found it very useful to have a car to drive to the bottom of the different lifts.

Top tip - and this is a mistake you only ever make once, never leave your boots in the car overnight, the plastic loses all flexibility and are impossible to get on the DCs feet in the morning.

On the "forzen boots" line, I can't put my boots onto boot warmers 'cos they have moulded inners, but I can't leave them in the boot room as othewise I physically can't get them on to my feet in the morning (I have a very high instep). So I have to bring them into the chelt and leave themin the bedroom (on plastic bags!) so that I can wear them!

The boot dryers/warmers found in some chalets/hotels won't affect the moulding of inners/insoles as they are not hot enough. I use them when available as they really do make it much easier to put the boots on in the morning.

If they aren't any dryers/warmers provided, then boots definately end up in the bedroom, usually with hot-blocks inside to dry out any dampness from the days skiing.

apparently you are supposed to leave your boot fastenings closed when not in use...we were told this by some one in the ski shop this time 10 yrs after purchasing our boots!