Driving to the Alps || Skiing the Alps

Driving to the Alps

Skiing-The-Alps.com is now pleased to be able to offer the latest fuel prices for the following European countries. These have been converted into Euros (except the UK which is still £s Sterling). The UK has STILL got one of the highest fuel prices in Europe! TAX ON FUEL IS NOW DOUBLE THAT OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES! UPDATED: 31/03/2010 Country Unleaded Diesel Austria (€) 1.14 1.03.8 Belgium (€) 1.46.5 1.15.7 France (&#... Full Article

The law throughout Alpine regions of Europe is VERY strict and insists that snow chains MUST be carried in the vehicle when travelling on mountain roads. This even applies to 4 x 4 vehicles and how often have I found myself arguing with owners of these powerful vehicles who claim they can go anywhere, anytime, without chains! That maybe but the law quite clearly states that chains MUST be in the vehicles even if not required. You can be stopped by the police on a mountai... Full Article

One of the advantages of travelling by car is that you can carry your own skis with you. What’s more, unlike with air travel, your car carries everyone’s skis for FREE! By fitting a roof box supplied by The Roof Box Company you can carry at least four sets of skis and poles, usually fit in some boots and ski clothing as well, and leave lots of space inside the car for the passengers – comfort is especially important on a long journey.Many people choose to hire the lates... Full Article

In addition to be few simple precautions and rules, a good set of tyres is essentail for your journey to the Alps. Even when motorways and resort access roads are clear, getting around can prove "interesting" after a sudden fall of snow. In alpine regions it takes more than a few "flakes of snow" to brings things to a halt - as happens back in the UK - but if you have the right tyres on your vehicle these will not only get you around your ski resort and out for the jo... Full Article

Driving to the Alps has never been easier with an excellent network of motorway links direct from the ports of Calais and Dunkirk through to Austria, France, Bavaria, Italy and Switzerland. But it is important to remember than when motoring in the Alps, and regardless of which country, snow chains must be carried at all times when driving along mountain roads. You can be stopped by the police at any time on a mountain road and if you cannot produce snow chains, you wi... Full Article

Dover - The Port Where You Turn Up and Go!

Skiers Need To Book Early Skiers driving their cars to The Alps are advised to book their Channel crossing from Dover early to ensure they can travel at their preferred time. The Dover-based ferry operators have put on extra sailings following the fire in the Channel Tunnel and have pledged to carry the traffic that would normally travel by tunnel, whilst capacity is reduced due to repairs. "It's going to be an especially busy winter for the Port of Dover," ... Full Article

It is now so quick to travel through the Port of Dover, motorists barely notice they have passed through facilities. French Passport officers are now located on the UK side of the Channel so once you reach the vehicle assembly lanes you know that you will be able to drive straight off the ship on the French side and head for the open road. Motorists arriving with time to spare before their ferry departure will find new and improved facilities have been built adjacent ... Full Article

It is essential to be well prepared for bad weather and dangerous traffic situations during the colder months of the year and Vredestein has a comprehensive range of cold weather tyres such as the Snowtrac; Snowtrac 2; Wintrac Xtreme; and the Wintrac4 Xtreme, suitable for a large range of car wheel sizes. The Wintrac Xtreme is a high-performance cold weather tyre designed for speeds of up to 168 mph - not that such speed is permissable in the UK - but the emphasis is ... Full Article

If you have your car regularly serviced a journey to the Alps should not in itself present any problems. There are, however, a few precautions to take before setting out and your local garage can advise. Tell them where you are going and they will check that your radiator has sufficient strength of anti freeze to ensure the car does not freeze. The temperatures in the mountains can be a lot, lot lower than back home and unless you have arranged garage parking your vehicl... Full Article

Before leaving, carry out the following checks: Anti-freeze if of sufficient strength Washer bottle has sufficient fluid and is strong enough to cope with -20c Tyres have good tread pattern Spare wheel is inflated to correct level All electrics under the bonnet have been sprayed to prevent dampness Good route map and road map of your resort area Always carry with you: Snow chains Spare set of light bulbs Tow rope Windscreen wash fluid Warning tr... Full Article

There are a number of useful driving hints to remember when motoring in the winter, not the least of which is to always drive according to the conditions. Winter abroad can be as sudden and dramatic as a cloudless, cold day with brilliant blue skies and sunshine. As you drive towards the Alps from Calais you may well enjoy snow-free roads for the entire journey until you are within a few kilometres of the ski resort. On the other hand as in the UK snow can suddenly f... Full Article

You must apply headlight converters to your headlamps You must have a GB plate or the EU GB symbol on your number plates You must carry a warning triangle You must carry a first aid kit Most countries recommend you carry a fire extinguisher You must carry your vehicle registration document You must carry your driving licence and insurance documents (Most UK insurance companies now automatically extend UK cover for EU countries. You should consider carrying a... Full Article

Most skiers driving to the Alps can complete their journey from Calais or Dunkirk in 8/9 hours depending on the route and how fast they drive! For example, by using the French peage system from Calais you can reach the nearest French resorts in the Tarentaise in approximately eight hours if you travel at the legal speed of 130km/ph (81 mph). Even the Swiss border at Basel is only seven hours driving time and then approximately one to two hours further to the nearest S... Full Article

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