Driving to Saas Fee

[hannahm]

We are driving to Saas Fee at the beginning of April. We leave at 7 on Friday evening and will probably drive for a couple of hours in France before we stop for the night. Does anyone know how long the drive is from Calais and any good places to stay (not too pricey) on the way there and back?

Also, what is the best route to take?

Thanksx

Go via Geneva, down through France, follow north side of the lake and along the Rhone valley. It is at least 8 drive to Geneva from Calais and 3 hours' further drive from Geneva, could be more depending on traffic at Visp(where you leave the highway to head up to Zermatt and Saas), allow at least 45 mins from there up to Saas, and weather. If it is snowing and settling on the road you may need to use chains (obligatory to carry them ) or 4wd. Very , where are you staying ?

oh and don't forget to allow for the cost of a Vignette, a licence to enable you to drive in Swiss motorways which you can buy at border or in advance, and the garage at Saas Fee. You park your car in the garage or open air car park at the entrance to the village and are shuttled by electric transport to your accommodation.

Thanks to reading all your glowing posts last year about the Alphubel-we are staying there. We have been to Saas Fee before lots of times but always flown and were childless! We have always stayed in apartments. This hotel though sounds perfect. I'm sure my one and a bit year old will love the creche. He loves nursery here and is very sociable. The whole trip though is getting more expensive by the day thanks to the weak pound! So I'm looking for any money saving tips too!

Any other tips for us? I'm sort of taken it for granted that by the first week of April there will be no snow risk on the road up to Saas Fee. Do you have to have chains all year round?

Thanks
Hx

There was a heavy fall during the week we were over there end of March. The road should be clear but it may still be wise to have chains as police can enforce their use if it is bad and stop those who don't have them but just checked AA and surprisingly it isn't actually compulsory to have them. Do you have 4wd as that is usually sufficient otherwise.

We also always carried a torch and shovel, warning triangle , bulbs etc ! If you park in the open air part of the carpark you could well have snow during the week but I'm sure the Supersaxos would help you out if needs be - say hello from us !!