Van to the Alps ?

[Stefvan]

I just drove to Alpe d'Huez for an Easter ski holiday, our first for 8 years. Even though we didn't take the van, I just wanted to share some of the driving experience and some ideas. We were shafted by the strike by P&O on Good Friday, the terminal at Dover was choked and we missed our ferry, which along with appalling traffic in northern france on the motorway (roadworks between Dunkerque and Lille) meant we only got as far as St Quentin near Reims. We stayed at a "Premier Classe" motel which turned out to be probably the worst hotel experience ever, we were plagued by a troop of french teenagers I think on leave from the Army, hanging out on the balcony of the motel outside our room, chatting, smoking, and knocking on the room next door. I confronted them more than once (in the traditional fighting gear of the englishman abroad.. underpants!) and told them in no uncertain terms to Va Faire Encouler but they would be back within ten minutes. Night watchman eventually called the police but even they did nothing ! Delay meant an epic journey the next day (2 small kids) via the peage but the holiday was great, fresh snow, sunshine and general good times. And i was surprised by the number of motorhomes that basically parked right next to the slopes (you could ski in and out). There were 2 motorhome sleeping areas in the resort which cost E10 per night ! and had electric hookup http://www.alpedhueznet.com/travel/alpe ... arking.htm theres a resort map at http://alpedhueznet.com/documents//alpe ... inter-.pdf If you buy a Visalp ski pass (not cheap !) you can use lots of facilities for free, heated outdoor swimming pool, very clean with showers etc. I enjoyed the general vibe there, no braying toffs or poncey parisians who plague my favourite ski area, the 3 Valleys. The skiing suited us well (with the kids) lots of greens and blues lower down (we were staying in an apartment on the eastern edge of the resort, near the motorhome park). in fact we only bought 2 lift passes for 1 day - we mostly used two of the four or five free drag lifts lower down as the kids are beginners. The passes didn't have pictures on, they are like an oyster card, so we could swap them between the kids and between my wife and I. (Although this is not strictly allowed)
The main problem with France is the weakness of the pound, absolutely everything seemed to cost a fortune. Petrol on the peage was E1.50 a litre ! (£1.32 ish) this went down to E1.35 /litre (1.20) away from the peage. Just to give you an idea, a tube of lip sunscreen cost us E9 ! Eye watering !
We decided to pace our return journey so set off early on Saturday, and set the Satnav to avoid the peage, so we bumbled around, up the Seine and across the fields of Flanders all at a steady pace which I realised we could easily have done in the van. The weather was amazing, the scenery was very varied, we came across an awesome flea market in the middle of nowhere, visited a couple of British 1st World War cemeteries. We stayed in a Formula 1 motel on the way back... communal showers and loos but a million times nicer, cleaner and quieter than the Premiere Classe. (Two rooms at E32).
We're not ready to go and stay in the van (it would be too much with 2 small children) but could happily drive there off the peage (save £65 ish each way)

Stefvan

[syncrosimon]

I love reading stories like this, thanks for taking the time to write it out.

Simon.

have a look at Mal's trip, with his costings.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=66260" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Slippery roads + European drivers =




Saw this fellow in Livigno the other week. Kinda puts me off taking the van into those conditions. I left a note with Alan Schofields details under the wiper as I doubt the Italians have the VW fanciers we do!