Useful information

Driving to the Alps

Here is some helpful information on driving to the Alps, which is the most popular choice for our clients.

Full details on each service are featured in our travel section. If you are unclear on which method you would prefer, please contact our office.

Driving to the Alps is an option more and more people are choosing in order to travel at their own pace, limit their carbon footprint, avoid busy airports, not be restricted in the amount of luggage they can bring, take their own food from the UK or shop in the cheaper hypermarkets en-route and stock up on wine on the way home!
All of Europe is very accessible via an excellent network of motorways and all resorts provide car-parking facilities.

Shopping
One of the huge advantages of driving down to the Alps is being able to do some shopping in one of the several hypermarkets in and around Calais. Avoid England’s expensive prices and stock up on excellent quality, good value wine, champagne and French food before you return home. Please see the map for some hypermarkets conveniently placed for the ferry port and Eurotunnel terminal.

Opening hours:

(Please note that timings may be subject to change)

Accommodation en route – stop overnight – and gain an extra day’s skiing

Accor Hotels - Click here to search for Accor hotels

Campanile - Motel style 2 star hotels with free secure parking. Located throughout France on the edge of towns or commercial centres and ideally situated for motorway access. Rooms have a double or twin beds, private bathroom with tea and coffee making facilities and a colour TV. Family rooms for 2 adults and 2 children under 16 yrs are found in most locations with limited availability. Double/twin rooms can cost between £40 and £63 and family rooms between £55 and £72, breakfast is available and is payable locally for between 7-9€ per person depending on the hotel (free for children under 11 yrs).
Rooms are guaranteed until 23.00 hours but if you think you are going to arrive after 22.30 it is your responsibility to call before 18.00 hours to go through the arrival procedure.

B&B Hotels - New to Erna Low last winter season, B&B Hotels offer budget low-cost rooms throughout France and along the major motorways. Rooms on offer include, double, twin, triple and quad, each with a television and en-suite bathroom. To start off the day, B&B Hotels offer an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet including sweet and savoury products (bread, cereals, bacon, eggs, coffee, chocolate, yoghurts, jam etc.) The buffet is open from 7.30 am to 10.30 am during the week-ends. Most hotels have locked and secure free car parks, some with private payable car parks. Double/twin rooms can cost between £27 and £48 and family rooms between £49 and £83 per night, breakfast can be pre-booked for £7 per adult and £4 per child (prices based on 08/09). An automatic check-in service is available if you arrive after reception opening hours where you can gain access to the hotel by typing in your B&B booking reference number. We still however recommend you call the reception within opening hours to confirm your late arrival that day.

Inter-Hotels - New for 09/10, we are now also able to book Inter-Hotels for overnight stops.  This hotel chain offers 271 two and three star authentic hotels throughout France, including locations close to the main ski regions, such as Chambery, Annecy and Faverges.

Individual Hotels
We also offer a number of individually run hotels located close to the mountains, these are very popular and availability is often limited. Please contact the office for more information. 

• Please note availability on peak dates hotels en-route to the Alps book up very quickly, especially for family rooms. To avoid disappointment please book early. 
• Please contact us with your preferred hotel details and we will check availability and provide you with a competitive quote.
• Quotes are subject to change depending on tour operator availability at the time of booking.

Driving Directions
We now have Google Maps on every resort and accommodation page, which display the exact location of all our properties.  You can also enter you postcode to view detailed driving instructions right to your chosen accommodation. You can also access alternative driving directions at www.viamichelin.co.uk.

Top tips for driving in the Alps:

• The roads leading to the mountains can get very congested at the weekends and in the peak season and the best time to travel is in the early hours of the morning or late at night.
• Ensure that you always have a good amount of fuel in the car and make sure that you have a shovel, torch, gloves, warm clothing and refreshments that are easily accessible.
• Always use the highest gear possible in a manual car, especially when moving off from stationary. Avoid using high revs when moving from stationary or uphill.
• Make sure the engine is warm before setting off on your journey to limit the possibility of stalling your vehicle.
• If you find your car skidding try and steer in to the skid and do not use the breaks.
• If you are hiring a car, please check that you will have snow chains or snow tyres (usually payable locally) and check that you have the snow chains in the car before leaving. Also ensure that you know how to put the chains on!

If you are parking your car outside:

• Park your car facing downhill and if possible in the direction you will be wishing to move off in.
• Lift your windscreen wipers away from the front and back windscreens so they are not impossible to move if it snows heavily.
• Leave car in gear if you are able to, so that you do not have to use the handbrake as it is possible for handbrakes to freeze in position.

Tolls
It is advisable to pay tolls with a credit card as this is a lot quicker, an approximate return price to the Alps is £100 - £140; however this depends on the route you take and your destination.

Snow Chains
Snow chains are a legal requirement if you are attempting mountain roads. Buying snow chains by the roadside can be very expensive and the quality is generally very poor so it is advisable to buy them before you go. We have negotiated special rates with Polar Snowchains who offer easy fit snow chains for all vehicle types. Polar Snowchains can offer Erna Low customers a 20% discount by quoting 008, contact them on Tel: 01892 519 933 or email polar@snowchains.com.

Reflective Safety Jacket & Warning Triangle
French Road Safety law stipulates that all vehicles driving in France must carry at all times at least one reflective safety jacket and one warning triangle in their vehicle, enforced by on the spot fines of between 90 and 135 euros.

Before you leave:

• display a GB sticker
• stick on headlight adaptors
• top up your anti-freeze
• check your tyres

Take with you:

• original of vehicle registration document
• full valid national driving licence
• current insurance certificate
• snow chains
• warning triangle
• first aid kit
• spare set of light bulbs

Speed Limits:

• 130km/hr on toll motorways (110km/hr when raining)
• 110km/hr on dual carriageways (90km/hr when raining)
• 50km/hr in towns
• 90km/hr on other roads

Tolls:

• Approx. £55 each way from Calais to the Alps
• credit cards accepted
• in Switzerland tolls replaced by a ‘vignette’ (SFR40) to be displayed on windscreen

Driving to the ski resorts in France is a popular choice for many people. There is also the added benefit of bringing back wines, spirits and traditional French food by car which would otherwise limit you to what you could carry.

Take care when driving abroad as the road laws vary in many different ways.